Help! Panicking Big Time!

[bcking 3,157]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

Yep agree.a definitely poignant ad that tears at the heart strings! .. Parents (88 y/o) still in Melbourne.. we lived in the US for 10 years in the 80's and both children born here.. hence their dual citizenship.... even though they were 6 and 8 when we returned to Australia, they have both moved to the US as adults, found life partners, married, made babies (and needed people like you bcking !! .. latest one is 5 weeks old!) so we faced the lousy decision of being there or here.. We moved Sept 2 2016.

Home? Home is where I sleep at night.. my heart has home in way too many places. Children and grandkids here are ecstatic, parents in Melbourne definitely understand but are finding it very hard. I fly back for a weeks visit next Saturday.

Congrats on the newborn in the family! They are a wonderful gift.

[Ina2017 40]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

Yep agree.a definitely poignant ad that tears at the heart strings! .. Parents (88 y/o) still in Melbourne.. we lived in the US for 10 years in the 80's and both children born here.. hence their dual citizenship.... even though they were 6 and 8 when we returned to Australia, they have both moved to the US as adults, found life partners, married, made babies (and needed people like you bcking !! .. latest one is 5 weeks old!) so we faced the lousy decision of being there or here.. We moved Sept 2 2016.

Home? Home is where I sleep at night.. my heart has home in way too many places. Children and grandkids here are ecstatic, parents in Melbourne definitely understand but are finding it very hard. I fly back for a weeks visit next Saturday.

Wow thats an incredible journey. I love what you said 'home is where I sleep at night.' This is so true and such an apt description. I wish you and your family all the very best in your journey, much love! 

[Ina2017 40]

2 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

Thanks bcking!!

 

I have been doing the night shift for my daughter... so all she has to do is breastfeed him, I will settle him down and then take him in to her for the next feed. He is struggling a bit with reflux and gas and dairy protein issues, but some changes to feeding pattern, small meds and NO dairy seem to bring hope! We just need him to know that at 12 lb he CAN go for longer than 3 - 4 hrs at night between feeds!! Somehow he has failed to read the newborn manual!

Oh gosh so much to look forward to! Gulp! 

[bcking 3,157]

2 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

Thanks bcking!!

 

I have been doing the night shift for my daughter... so all she has to do is breastfeed him, I will settle him down and then take him in to her for the next feed. He is struggling a bit with reflux and gas and dairy protein issues, but some changes to feeding pattern, small meds and NO dairy seem to bring hope! We just need him to know that at 12 lb he CAN go for longer than 3 - 4 hrs at night between feeds!! Somehow he has failed to read the newborn manual!

They never read the manual

 

As long as he is gaining weight a bit of reflux isn't a problem, and unfortunately pretty much all babies tend to be gassy. Many parents swear by simethicone, which you can get over the counter. However just keep in mind there have been no randomized trials that show it makes any difference.

 

Dairy intolerance is also always a possibility. However serious milk protein allergy would present with failure to thrive (difficulty gaining weight), very frequent watery stools and also commonly bloody stools. As long as there is weight gain I wouldn't worry (20-30 grams per day, roughly).

[Ina2017 40]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

Thank you so much Inabars.. your story is no less awesome and incredible. I likewise wish you all the very best for the "journey"... and that you find all the best things about each day that you spend in Perth until it is time to move "home"

Don't lose the joys of pregnancy in amongst the anticipation of the move.. you wont be pregnant with your first ever again!! Enjoy!!

You are re-focusing me beautifully. I have to admit that I've been freaking out about this whole immigration thing and going through the pregnancy without my husband so much that Im clearly not taking the time to enjoy the fact that my first child is on the way. Thank you @Dee elle

[bcking 3,157]

Just now, Dee elle said:

He is a bit of an enigma actually, in that the initial reflux was very distressing to him.. he would go from happy and content to off the richter scale screaming in 2 seconds flat with the classic body posture for GIT pain..  now improving though with meds, . as far as OTC gas drops.. I am all for placebos!!  He has the classic signs of the milk protein allergy with stool appearance.. it is resettling itself with a better balance between first and hind milk . Older sibling had protein allergy too so not unexpected.

I had better stop hijacking this post or one of our moderators will chastise me!!

Ya if they show clear signs of significant pain from the reflux, or difficult gaining weight, it's worth trying the meds (Ranitidine/Zantac or a PPI). If they started you on a PPI keep in mind that can take awhile to kick in (PPI = Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, any of the "zoles"). You can try the simethicone drops, even though most doctors would kill me for saying that since it isn't "evidence based". It doesn't hurt, and like I said some parents swear by it.

 

Sounds like you are addressing the milk protein allergy with mother's milk. Just keep in mind that transition can take some time. If there are significant problems I'd suggest switching over to Elecare (a formula that is amino acid based, so the proteins are broken into their smallest parts) for at least a couple of weeks while mom goes "dairy free". She should continue pumping, but can just dump that milk until the milk protein clears out. It'll get better being exclusively fed with mother's milk as well, but it would just take some time for her milk to respond to her diet whereas the formula would be much quicker.

[Ina2017 40]

 

4 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

my pleasure!!!    PM (private message ) me any time! Freaking out is definitely a normal repsonse to ALL of this... but you will get there!!

Thank you! You might regret making that offer - I freak out lots these days 😂😂😂

[Ina2017 40]

Quick question while i have you @bcking how soon after birth can a baby travel? This would be a very long haul flight (over 30 hours) from Australia to USA...

[bcking 3,157]

Ya simethicone won't touch the reflux, it's intended use is gas, so burping and "discomfort" (from gas "down below" so to speak).

 

Good luck

[Ina2017 40]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

Trust me.. I don't offer if I am not serious.. you don't need someone saying "call me" and then not answering!!

Thank you, I really really mean that. 

[bcking 3,157]

4 minutes ago, Inabars said:

Quick question while i have you @bcking how soon after birth can a baby travel? This would be a very long haul flight (over 30 hours) from Australia to USA...

There are no rules. It is a very long trip which makes it even harder.

 

You may not like to hear it but I would say wait until at least 2 months. Infants get their first complete set of immunizations (assuming a similar schedule in Australia) at 2 months. That protects them from a number of bacterial illnesses, and the biggest issue with a plane is that it's a cesspool. 

 

It would also depend on the time of year. January/February is summer in Australia so it may not be as bad. Winter season you have a lot more viruses and people are a lot sicker. Presumably flying towards the US the people would be mostly from Australia where it is summer, so that helps.

 

There really isn't no absolute though. The thing you would worry about with the infant is not necessarily getting sick on the plane, but getting something and then getting sick a couple days later. The other benefit of waiting until he/she is 2 months is that, at least in the US, a doctor treats a 2 month old with a fever very differently than a younger baby. The immune system protects them more, and they are at less risk of meningitis. If a 1 month old came into the ER with a fever, most doctors would do a spinal tap to make sure they don't have meningitis. A 2 month old, who is well appearing, could be watched.

 

Sorry I couldn't get you a straight forward answer

Edited April 15, 2017 by bcking

[Ina2017 40]

2 minutes ago, bcking said:

There are no rules. It is a very long trip which makes it even harder.

 

You may not like to hear it but I would say wait until at least 2 months. Infants get their first complete set of immunizations (assuming a similar schedule in Australia) at 2 months. That protects them from a number of bacterial illnesses, and the biggest issue with a plane is that it's a cesspool. 

 

It would also depend on the time of year. January/February is summer in Australia so it may not be as bad. Winter season you have a lot more viruses and people are a lot sicker. Presumably flying towards the US the people would be mostly from Australia where it is summer, so that helps.

 

There really isn't no absolute though. The thing you would worry about with the infant is not necessarily getting sick on the plane, but getting something and then getting sick a couple days later. The other benefit of waiting until he/she is 2 months is that, at least in the US, a doctor treats a 2 month old with a fever very differently than a younger baby. The immune system protects them more, and they are at less risk of meningitis. If a 1 month old came into the ER with a fever, most doctors would do a spinal tap to make sure they don't have meningitis. A 2 month old, who is well appearing, could be watched.

 

Sorry I couldn't get you a straight forward answer

No, thank you, I thought it might be safe to wait until he/she is about three months old so what you're saying is definitely very helpful. My husband was of the opinion that we could fly out 2 weeks after birth - my reaction was - and pigs fly. 

[bcking 3,157]

Just now, Inabars said:

No, thank you, I thought it might be safe to wait until he/she is about three months old so what you're saying is definitely very helpful. My husband was of the opinion that we could fly out 2 weeks after birth - my reaction was - and pigs fly. 

2 weeks are you are barely comfortable in a routine.

 

2 months is good because you'll have the first round of vaccines, immune system is better, feeds are on a nicer schedule (Every 4 hours, and the baby can sleep even longer if he/she is comfortable). You'll also do better with the flying adjustment for the baby as well (the problem with ears is not as bad the bigger they are).

 

One thing to remember is to try to time your feeding to around the time that the flight is taking off. Sucking on a bottle/breast is the best way for the baby to "equilibrate" the ears. It's the baby equivalent of chewing gum.

[Ina2017 40]

3 minutes ago, bcking said:

2 weeks are you are barely comfortable in a routine.

 

2 months is good because you'll have the first round of vaccines, immune system is better, feeds are on a nicer schedule (Every 4 hours, and the baby can sleep even longer if he/she is comfortable). You'll also do better with the flying adjustment for the baby as well (the problem with ears is not as bad the bigger they are).

 

One thing to remember is to try to time your feeding to around the time that the flight is taking off. Sucking on a bottle/breast is the best way for the baby to "equilibrate" the ears. It's the baby equivalent of chewing gum.

Thank you - you are worth your weight in gold! 

[Ina2017 40]

11 minutes ago, Dee elle said:

My daughter brought her 6 week old over to Australia 3 years ago.. I have travelled with 3 month olds... Qantas will have minimum age - I think it is as low as 1-2 weeks but I really cant imaging travelling that far that soon on your own!! Will your husband be able to come and travel with you?... hey I could be your travel nanny!!! :-)  not that far fetched!!

Oh wow, I definitely be calling you for advice when the time comes @Dee elle. For now, like you said, I'm going to try and take it easy and concentrate on growing a baby while working towards my Ph-d in I-130 applications  😀😀😀