Nov/Dec 2009 Babies

Tara2009 · Post by **Tara2009** » Fri Jan 08, 2010 7:28 am

aspotoftea - I too use the saline drops(Little Noses brand). I do one side at a time. I put 2 drops and wait for a minute. Once the mucus loosens, I extract it with the nose bulb. Faith does freak out when I do that, but once its done, she looks so relieved and can sleep peacefully. But I hate doing this because it breaks my heart to make her cry.

Tara

Trying for another Angel · Fri Jan 08, 2010 9:09 pm

Hi Ladies, I came to join you all on this thread finally. I hope Dys is doing ok. Has anyone heard from her yet?
Connor is doing good. I quit breastfeeding after only a few days. I switched over to formula and it's so much easier! We have him on Similac, but we are going to soon try the Kirkland brand from Costco since it's way cheaper. Hopefully he will tolerate that one ok.

I have no idea what I'm going to do once I go back to work. I may look into finding a nanny, but I have no idea where to start on how to find one? I hope I can take off a few months from work. I can't imagine leaving him with anyone right now.

Hope all is good with everyone

aims327 · Post by **aims327** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 1:48 am

Trying - I'm so glad you joined us! Sounds like Conner is doing just fine. I agree with you that using formula is easier. I'm still pumping though. Ren does so much better on breastmilk than formula, so he's being my motivator to keep going with breastmilk. I started using Target brand formula with Piper and she can't tell a difference. So, you will probably be fine with the Kirkland brand. Going back to work was really hard on me. I just survived my first week back. By today, I didn't look like I was depressed at work.

aspotoftea - I also use saline drops for the twins. I like using the mist kind but it really freaks Piper out so I use the drops on her and the mist on Ren. They don't like getting the mucous sucked out but like Tara said they are relieved once they can breathe better. It sounds like you have your twins on a good schedule. I bet Violet will adapt to the schedule soon. I haven't had much luck getting Piper and Ren on a good schedule. They are only happy in their swings. I've been able to keep them on the same feeding schedule until this week. The doctor told us this week that Piper doesn't have to eat every 3 hours anymore since she's 9lbs but Ren who is only 6lbs 4oz still does. So, we try to let Piper sleep as long as she wants during the night and feed her every 3-4 hours during the day. I'm still pumping but not enough for them to be on BM 100%. I thought my supply would go down when I went back to work but I think it is increasing. So, hopefully I can give Piper more liquid gold soon.

Has anyone tried Playtex VentAire bottles? I bought some this week and I love them! Ren has been spitting up his whole bottle lately and he hardly spits anything up with these. I hate the Dr. Brown's bottles. They are a pain to clean with all the parts. Then if the parts go bad, the bottles leak everywhere during feedings.

nancy1 · Post by **nancy1** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:54 am

Hi ladies,

sorry I haven't been able to write for a long time.
I went back to work on Dec 8, part-time, only 4 weeks after the delivery, and it's been really hard. While my body recovered pretty well from the delivery ( I had a nasty tear), I am still exhausted from the lack of sleep.

My peanut gets up every 3 hours or so at night. I take care of him from 10-2 and DH from 2-6. But I also pump once or twice at night, so bye bye sleep. I don't want to quit on the pumping since the pediatrician said my milk was of very good quality and he's 100% on it right now. After losing about 12ozs the first week, he put on about 4 lbs which he said was great progress.

He is now taking in about 4-4.25 oz every 2 hours daytime and every 3 hours night time. What are your darlings eating? Mine is now 8 weeks old.

For those of you going back to work, I know it's really hard but hang in there; it gets easier.

ASPOTOFTEA: it's great to find you here. The other NOV mommies seem to be MIA! :-)

Happy New Year everyone and l look forward to get to know you ladies and share stories about our babies' progresses with you all.
NAncy

cymplicity27 · Post by **cymplicity27** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:40 pm

Amy, I LOVE the Playtex VentAire bottles!! We first tried the wide nipple ones and went back to get more and they only had standard. I find they like the standard nipple ones even better. All the Avent bottles started to leak and I thought I was doing something wrong until I talked to a friend who had the same problem. I tried Playtex Drop-ins and hated how the measurement wasn't really accurate when the little bags had collapsed in the packing. We'd have to measure in another bottle and then poor into the bag! Too much work. The VentAire bottles have by far been the best!

Trying, definately try the store brand! Chaz will drink Similac, Enfamil and store brand all the same. So unless I have coupons or checks for the name brands, he gets store brand. Unfortunately Jos' high calorie formula doesn't come in the store brand or she'd be on it too!

Tea, the twins use to be on the same schedule until DH went back to work. Since I have them some nights by myself I stagger them. Or try to. It hardly ever works and I usually have one screaming baby before I can finish with the other

. When DH is home we usually feed on demand based on whoever wakes up first. It's usually Chaz every 3 hours and we'll go ahead and feed Jos at that time too.

I'm still having major issues with Joslyn's vomitting and lately she seems more and more uncomfortable. Even when she is able to keep the milk down, she grimaces, squirms and just looks uncomfortable. She'll drink up to 3 oz during a good feeding but most of the time it's only 1.5 to 2 oz. We've made several calls to the pediatrician but he always says that as long as she's gaining weight she's fine and the vomitting is more of a nuisance than anything else. Easy for him to say! Who wants to see their baby in pain?? So DH says he'll call Monday and MAKE them see us for an appt. Something has to give. I may try changing her formula to see if it helps. Seems I'm not going to get much help from her doc.

nancy1 · Post by **nancy1** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 7:13 am

cimplicity:
regarding the vomiting issue. My peanut had a few episodes and when I mentioned it to the peds, he said as long as it's not projectile vomiting that happens consistently, it's ok. If the vomiting is at almost every feeding, then they do a minor surgery to currect something in the stomach.

Taking care of twins! IT must be really hard when DH isn't here. I have a hard time with one crying at times...LOL
Take care,
NAncy

aims327 · Post by **aims327** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:03 am

Cynthia - I called our ped about Ren throwing everything up. All they told me was as long as he has wet diapers and isnt' losing weight not to worry. I know what you mean about see them in pain. It is so hard. I would tell you to try putting cereal in the formula but it will just get stuck in the nipple. It works with breastmilk but I can't get it work with formula.

Tara2009 · Post by **Tara2009** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:14 am

About vomiting, my ped also told me that as long as she doesn't vomit at every feeding and is not projectile, she is fine. Faith doesn't vomit anymore, but she spits a lot. I switched to Enfamil A.R which is supposed to control spitting. I hated it. It has rice starch and so when you mix the formula it is so thick and clogs the bottle's nipple. I switched back to Enfamil Gentlease.

By the way, Faith smiled at me and DH yesterday and today!! It was so different from her sleep smiles. She looked straight into my eyes and gave a smile as if she understands who I am. DH and I were thrilled.

Tara

cymplicity27 · Post by **cymplicity27** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:00 pm

Thanks ladies. I guess there isn't much that can be done. Jos is projectile vomitting, sometimes up to about 3 times a day. She had a good day on Saturday and didn't vomit at all! But then vomitted twice yesterday. I was going to try the Enfamil A.R. but then read about the thickening issue and clogging the nipple and some said it helped with the reflux but then caused constipation.

Amy she does have plenty of wet diapers and is gaining weight so I guess we just have to deal with it...sigh. Hopefully she grows out of it soon.

I tried Enfamil Restful Nights last night...what a load of crap! Chaz was up every 3 hours like normal

. It's suppose to thicken a little in their tummys to hold them over longer, hence more sleep for everyone. However, the stuff gets so thick IN THE BOTTLE that it takes forever for him to drink and then he can't even drink his normal amount. So save your money there

Tara, I know your heart just melted seeing that smile!!

We still have to work extra hard to get a smile out of the twins. It involves stroking their cheeks or tickling their bottom lip...to me it doesn't count then, lol! Maybe because they were a little early and smaller at birth it's taking them a little longer?? I don't know but I'll be glad when they don't just stare at me like I'm crazy

Tara2009 · Post by **Tara2009** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:01 pm

Cynthia - is your ped Ok with the projectile vomiting 3 times a day? I didn't intend to worry you, but you might want to double check. Because I heard that projectile vomiting needs to be treated.

Tara

cymplicity27 · Post by **cymplicity27** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 5:18 pm

Tara, no he's not concerned

. Keeps saying that she's healthy and growing otherwise. And trust me, I emphasize it every time I speak with him but he assures me she's fine and there's really nothing we can do but wait for her digestive system to get stronger.

Usually it's only once or twice a day but for me that's still too much!

nancy1 · Post by **nancy1** » Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:22 pm

My peds told me if the condition becomes chronic (i.e almost at each feeding), then surgery is warranted.
Nancy

Tara2009 · Post by **Tara2009** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 12:36 am

Hi Ladies,

Couple of problems for which I wanted get some input from you all:

1. Faith sometimes cries for no reason. Even after she is well fed, she keeps crying non stop. Does this mean she is colic? Any remedies?

2. Also, when I make her sleep, she falls asleep in my arms but when I lay her down in her bed or her swing, she wakes up and cries. I don't want to pamper her too much by picking her up immediately, but DH just melts when she cries and goes to pick her up immediately. Has anyone come across this situation?

Tara

cymplicity27 · Post by **cymplicity27** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 1:39 am

Tara, I don't think you can pamper her too much at this age. We try to console them any way we can for now. I have to rock Joslyn until she's in a deep sleep before she will be content in her swing or crib. I can put Chaz down drowsy and he'll go to sleep without a fight. Every baby is different. Do what feels right for you and don't worry about spoiling her yet. My pedi said you can't spoil them until about 6 months of age. Joslyn loves to be held and sometimes will cry and cry unless someone is holding her. So, I hold her

. I think colic is only when nothing you do can stop the crying. If she stops when you pick her up, she just wants to be held I think.

Do you swaddle her? This works wonders for the twins!

kutekellie99 · Post by **kutekellie99** » Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:42 am

Hey Ladies!
I have been MIA for so long now! I have just been so busy...I know you underdstand. My husband helps me NONE so everything is on me. So, I barely have time to get on the internet every couple of days and check email and post a few pics on Facebook.
Sounds like everyone is enjoying being moms...and worrying a lot! I do the same, every little thing Gabriella does I wonder if she's ok or if she's sick or hurting. I don't know about your babies, but Gabbi is extremely gassy, I mean gas every five minutes. So I have started giving her gas medicine at every feeding and she's doing much better. She was so grumpy from the gas, she was just not happy at all. The gas medicine helps a lot, she's much happier!
She weighed in at 10 pounds 15 ounces at her last doctor appointment.

As for me, I'm doing better. I have just been diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I had NO symptoms of it before she was born and after her birth it came on full force. It's been really hard to take care of her when I have a flare up...I've had to depend on my mother in law to take care of her when I am sick. I tell you, I never realized how sick you get with Crohn's. But I do the best I can to take care of Gabbi.

By the way cymplicity, I use the Playtex VentAire bottles too! I had been given the Dr Browns bottles at my baby shower, but they leak and there's just too many little parts to clean. So I bought the Playtex bottles myself at Target and I LOVE THEM too!! Never leak and easy to fill and not too many little parts.
Well, take care everyone!!

Nov/Dec 2009 Babies

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