S took 4 bottles!
Pretty good considering that we had a doctors visit and that messed up our schedule. Poor baby got her monthly rsv antibodies shot. Because she's a higher risk baby she gets these. I think she is sore tonite from the shot. I hate to hear her cry so much.
We're putting her to bed now. Well, I'm pumping now. Skipping the last feed. I supplemented the rest of half the feeds today by tube. She took around 80% of the regular amount.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
new approach
Today we stopped feeding S her full feeds (115cc's x 7/day) by tube and tried bottle feeding whatever she would take. The thinking is that she should feel hungry before trying to suck.
Its Working so far!!!
She drank by bottle 6 times today! She has never done that before! We are going to skip the last feed tonite rather than tubing it and see if that will help her appetite tomorrow. She is worn out and done for the day. I let her drink what she wanted today and didn't tube the rest like I usually do. Her total milk intake for the day is 20% less than usual. For now, I'm not worried about giving her less milk. I have the suspicion that we are tubing more than she needs, she's got quite the double chin! But I'll check with the doctors and see what they think too.
Very exciting news : )
Its Working so far!!!
She drank by bottle 6 times today! She has never done that before! We are going to skip the last feed tonite rather than tubing it and see if that will help her appetite tomorrow. She is worn out and done for the day. I let her drink what she wanted today and didn't tube the rest like I usually do. Her total milk intake for the day is 20% less than usual. For now, I'm not worried about giving her less milk. I have the suspicion that we are tubing more than she needs, she's got quite the double chin! But I'll check with the doctors and see what they think too.
Very exciting news : )
Our feeding and weaning history so far...
I'm going to try to give weaning updates everyday. Hopefully, all of us parents who are trying to wean can learn from one another. Here is a great forum group-
Baby S was in the NICU for 24 days. For the first two weeks, she was fed basic nutrients intravenously. During the second week they began to tube feed her a little breast milk starting with 5cc's.
We started to bottle feed S sometime around the the third week. At first, she was drinking small amounts, like 30cc's. She was taking it very well. While I was pregnant I was always hungry and she would kick in my belly after I ate. She loves food! When we started feeding her from a bottle I could tell that she still loved to eat. She would suck the milk down with gusto.
The nursed upped her feeds everyday and S continued to do great until the amount reached 50 or so. She would drink 40cc's and then get really sleepy and refuse to drink any more and the remainder of the feed would be fed by tube. The NICU feeding specialist also noticed some coughing and decided to order a swallow study. There, it was discovered that S had silent aspirations. In other words, she was swallowing down the wrong tube sometimes. It wasn't much, but a drop of milk here and there in her lungs could build up and make her very sick and could lead to pneumonia. Which she already had once when she was born.)
After only four days of bottle feeding the order was to stop all feedings by mouth and feed only by NG tube. Baby S was able to go home from the NICU with the NG tube. We fed her exclusively by tube at home for about a month and a half.
Then it was time for another swallow study and S passed!!! She had no aspirations. We were given the green light to try bottle feeding three times a day (out of 8 total). S was doing pretty good. Usually drinking at least 2 out of the three. She would completely reject one and then throw up allot on another feed. S has acid reflux and is taking Zantac. When we first started the bottle feeding, she was throwing up ALLOT. It seems to be getting better but she still needs the Zantac.
After three days we were told to up the bottle feeds to 6 a day (out of 8). I think this was too aggressive. Baby S only took 6 once I think. Usually, she would refuse a few and throw up during a few. And she would never finish everything but I think we were trying to feed her too much anyways. I've been using the weight/ calorie calculations that the GI specialist gave us but I think its still too much for my baby.
We kept trying to get 6 bottle feeds a day for a week and by then, S was developing a oral aversion. I would put her in the feeding position on my knee and she would arch her back and start wailing immediately. Probably the acid reflux was turning her off of drinking. And, I think it was very hard for her. She hadn't developed the skills or muscle tone yet to drink 6 times a day.
So then it was back to square one and we stopped all oral feeding.
This was really hard for me and I spend allot of those first days crying. I was also upset about the likelihood of not breastfeeding. I really wanted to breastfeed and I'm still trying now and then but it looks pretty bleak. I remind myself that my baby is alive and learning to drink on her own and that is more important than breastfeeding.
So we exclusively tube fed again for two weeks. Then tried to bottle feed once a day. She took them well. Usually about half the amount. Their were lots of spit ups. After 4 days went to two bottles a day. Did that for 3 days and she did about the same- good. The next 3 days, went to 3 bottles a day. Things slowed down. Started to get allot of refusals. It looked like S was going back getting mad every time she ever would see a bottle!
That brings us up to yesterday...
Babies and Children with a Feeding Tubebe
So first, here's a detailed run down of our feeding history:Baby S was in the NICU for 24 days. For the first two weeks, she was fed basic nutrients intravenously. During the second week they began to tube feed her a little breast milk starting with 5cc's.
We started to bottle feed S sometime around the the third week. At first, she was drinking small amounts, like 30cc's. She was taking it very well. While I was pregnant I was always hungry and she would kick in my belly after I ate. She loves food! When we started feeding her from a bottle I could tell that she still loved to eat. She would suck the milk down with gusto.
The nursed upped her feeds everyday and S continued to do great until the amount reached 50 or so. She would drink 40cc's and then get really sleepy and refuse to drink any more and the remainder of the feed would be fed by tube. The NICU feeding specialist also noticed some coughing and decided to order a swallow study. There, it was discovered that S had silent aspirations. In other words, she was swallowing down the wrong tube sometimes. It wasn't much, but a drop of milk here and there in her lungs could build up and make her very sick and could lead to pneumonia. Which she already had once when she was born.)
After only four days of bottle feeding the order was to stop all feedings by mouth and feed only by NG tube. Baby S was able to go home from the NICU with the NG tube. We fed her exclusively by tube at home for about a month and a half.
Then it was time for another swallow study and S passed!!! She had no aspirations. We were given the green light to try bottle feeding three times a day (out of 8 total). S was doing pretty good. Usually drinking at least 2 out of the three. She would completely reject one and then throw up allot on another feed. S has acid reflux and is taking Zantac. When we first started the bottle feeding, she was throwing up ALLOT. It seems to be getting better but she still needs the Zantac.
After three days we were told to up the bottle feeds to 6 a day (out of 8). I think this was too aggressive. Baby S only took 6 once I think. Usually, she would refuse a few and throw up during a few. And she would never finish everything but I think we were trying to feed her too much anyways. I've been using the weight/ calorie calculations that the GI specialist gave us but I think its still too much for my baby.
We kept trying to get 6 bottle feeds a day for a week and by then, S was developing a oral aversion. I would put her in the feeding position on my knee and she would arch her back and start wailing immediately. Probably the acid reflux was turning her off of drinking. And, I think it was very hard for her. She hadn't developed the skills or muscle tone yet to drink 6 times a day.
So then it was back to square one and we stopped all oral feeding.
This was really hard for me and I spend allot of those first days crying. I was also upset about the likelihood of not breastfeeding. I really wanted to breastfeed and I'm still trying now and then but it looks pretty bleak. I remind myself that my baby is alive and learning to drink on her own and that is more important than breastfeeding.
So we exclusively tube fed again for two weeks. Then tried to bottle feed once a day. She took them well. Usually about half the amount. Their were lots of spit ups. After 4 days went to two bottles a day. Did that for 3 days and she did about the same- good. The next 3 days, went to 3 bottles a day. Things slowed down. Started to get allot of refusals. It looked like S was going back getting mad every time she ever would see a bottle!
That brings us up to yesterday...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Weaning of the NG tube
We started weaning our baby girl S off the NG tube December 2nd.
Things are going good overall but it feels like we are treading water most days. Taking one step forward and one step back. I try to stay positive. I know that S will be rid of tube feeding for good someday. Its just that that day feels so far away and last month I thought it would be just around the corner.
Things are going good overall but it feels like we are treading water most days. Taking one step forward and one step back. I try to stay positive. I know that S will be rid of tube feeding for good someday. Its just that that day feels so far away and last month I thought it would be just around the corner.
Pumping Exclusively- Building up your milk production.
I pump exclusively for my 3 month old. Not by choice but because I have to for medical reasons. We never had a chance to breastfeed. My supply is really good now and I have a freezer full of milk. I'm making 32 oz a day which is at least 4 1/2 more oz than my baby is drinking.I'm actually running out of room in the freezer!
I thought I should share a few things that have helped me:
-If you really want to increase your milk supply rent a hospital grade breast
pump. I have the medela classic. I'm renting it from Kings Pharmacy on Bedford.
Its $75/ month and its worth it. I don't know if they have any pumps available
now but you can call the medela hotline at 1-800-835-5968 to find all of the
places that rent pumps near you.
I also have a medela pump in style and the harmony hand pump and they are no
comparison to the hospital grade pump. I use the pump in style and harmony in my
car or when I'm out as a backup.
-Devote a few days, at least two but I'd say four is better. (If you work, take
off Thursday and Friday off and have Thur-Sun.) Pump for 15 minutes every 1 1/2
to 2 hours all day for 2 - 4 days (unless your breastfeeding and want to do
that). This means if you start pumping at 9am and finish at 9:15, you start
pumping again at 10:30 or 11. Get as many pumps in as possible and be shure to
get at least one in in the middle of the night between 1 - 5 because that is
when your milk producing hormones are the highest. When I was doing this I got
up to 11 pumps a day!
-When pumping, massage your breasts. Start at the base and push towards the
nipple. If there are any hard knots, work those out. You might not need to do
this, feel it out.
-Keep a log of every time you pump to keep track of everything. I note the time
started, amount of time, volume of milk for each breast and at the end of the
day I add up the milk volume.
-Cut slits in a sports bra to hold the pump shields. This way, you can be hands free! It makes a big difference in comfort.
-Have a clock visible from your "pumping station" so you never have to guess the time.
-Use lots of lanolin if your breasts are sore. It helps with lubricating the
pump shields too. (Blisters can happen.)
-Do lots of kangaroo care, holding your baby to your chest skin to skin. This
stimulates your milk production. And if skin to skin isn't possible, hold your
baby close.
-Drink LOTS of water. I was drinking at least 90 oz and sometimes 150 oz. (Now I
don't drink quite as much.)
-Drink lots of nursing tea. I was drinking at least two cups a day.
-Cut out ALL caffeine. (I eat some chocolate but that's it.)
-Get lots of sleep and rest. For me, it was hard to do this because I was going
to the NICU everyday but I know that this helps.
-Eat healthy foods. Lots of Fruits and Veggies.
-Oatmeal is good.
-Drink one Guinness at night if you drink alcohol! It totally helps.
The most important thing is to pump ALLOT and regularly with a hospital grade pump for a few days to jump start your supply. Its allot of work but should help. Stick with it and it will get easier! After my production went up I went down to 8 times a day which is still every 2 -3 hours. Recently I went down to 7 times a day and I just went to 6 because my production is so good! So far, my production hasn't decreased much.
If you have any other tips, please share.
Good Luck!
I thought I should share a few things that have helped me:
-If you really want to increase your milk supply rent a hospital grade breast
pump. I have the medela classic. I'm renting it from Kings Pharmacy on Bedford.
Its $75/ month and its worth it. I don't know if they have any pumps available
now but you can call the medela hotline at 1-800-835-5968 to find all of the
places that rent pumps near you.
I also have a medela pump in style and the harmony hand pump and they are no
comparison to the hospital grade pump. I use the pump in style and harmony in my
car or when I'm out as a backup.
-Devote a few days, at least two but I'd say four is better. (If you work, take
off Thursday and Friday off and have Thur-Sun.) Pump for 15 minutes every 1 1/2
to 2 hours all day for 2 - 4 days (unless your breastfeeding and want to do
that). This means if you start pumping at 9am and finish at 9:15, you start
pumping again at 10:30 or 11. Get as many pumps in as possible and be shure to
get at least one in in the middle of the night between 1 - 5 because that is
when your milk producing hormones are the highest. When I was doing this I got
up to 11 pumps a day!
-When pumping, massage your breasts. Start at the base and push towards the
nipple. If there are any hard knots, work those out. You might not need to do
this, feel it out.
-Keep a log of every time you pump to keep track of everything. I note the time
started, amount of time, volume of milk for each breast and at the end of the
day I add up the milk volume.
-Cut slits in a sports bra to hold the pump shields. This way, you can be hands free! It makes a big difference in comfort.
-Have a clock visible from your "pumping station" so you never have to guess the time.
-Use lots of lanolin if your breasts are sore. It helps with lubricating the
pump shields too. (Blisters can happen.)
-Do lots of kangaroo care, holding your baby to your chest skin to skin. This
stimulates your milk production. And if skin to skin isn't possible, hold your
baby close.
-Drink LOTS of water. I was drinking at least 90 oz and sometimes 150 oz. (Now I
don't drink quite as much.)
-Drink lots of nursing tea. I was drinking at least two cups a day.
-Cut out ALL caffeine. (I eat some chocolate but that's it.)
-Get lots of sleep and rest. For me, it was hard to do this because I was going
to the NICU everyday but I know that this helps.
-Eat healthy foods. Lots of Fruits and Veggies.
-Oatmeal is good.
-Drink one Guinness at night if you drink alcohol! It totally helps.
The most important thing is to pump ALLOT and regularly with a hospital grade pump for a few days to jump start your supply. Its allot of work but should help. Stick with it and it will get easier! After my production went up I went down to 8 times a day which is still every 2 -3 hours. Recently I went down to 7 times a day and I just went to 6 because my production is so good! So far, my production hasn't decreased much.
If you have any other tips, please share.
Good Luck!
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