Outside Babies (NICU / Early) Check-in 4.11

mdlorenz

Some of these questions might be more pertinent for NICU babies, but all the outside babies can play along.

How old is/are baby(ies) (outside days/weeks - gestational age for the NICU LOs)?

How much does baby / do babies weigh?

Recent struggles / frustrations and triumphs / milestones?

What is coming up next (goals for baby/babies)?

Rants / raves / questions?

Random: Any Easter plans (family / activities for other kiddos if STM+)?

mcvgal

How old is/are baby(ies) (outside days/weeks - gestational age for the NICU LOs)? 5w3d / 36w4d GA

How much does baby / do babies weigh? 4lbs, 14oz

Recent struggles / frustrations and triumphs / milestones? The weekly change in doctors has been so frustrating. One doctor makes one recommendation but the leaves. Then the new doctor thinks we need more time.

What is coming up next (goals for baby/babies)? We are starting 2 fortified bottle feedings per day to see if she will gain an ounce per day. If she improves in weight gain, then we might be able to go home on Friday. (unless a new doctor shows up and changes orders.)

Rants / raves / questions? Rant- I wish the doctor would have stated a minimum weight increase requirement a while back. I would have ok'd a bottle feeding even sooner had I known.

Random: Any Easter plans (family / activities for other kiddos if STM+)? Hopefully to make it to church as a family of 5 and then family dinner /easter egg hunt at my sister's house.

ETA: Lucia GA is 36, not 35 weeks

Squirtgun

@mcvgal I hear you on the Doctor changes! So frustrating!  What is the weight increase requirement? Are you close? Fingers crossed for a Friday release! 

How old is baby? 11 days/ 34wks1day

How much does baby weigh? 4lbs 12oz

struggles/frustrations/milestones/triumphs? This week Thomas has had some major milestones- off breathing support, off bili light, in open bed! We still have the eating hurdle to get through. 

Rants/raves/questions? Nope. 

Gtky easter plans? Church then quiet day with just immediate family! 

mdlorenz

@mcvgal - Totally agree with you on the change of teams! And you are doing an AMAZING job mama - it sounds like Lucia is mostly nursing? That's awesome, and a couple of fortified bottles is very standard for early babies. I know the delay part is so so frustrating, but I hope you guys are home soon!
@Squirtgun - hooray for all of those milestones!!!! That's amazing. Graduating to the feeder/grower stage is so nice (but you're also sitting around waiting for a baby to wake up and eat, which poses its own challenges). Hope it's a short transition for you guys.

How old is/are baby(ies) (outside days/weeks - gestational age for the NICU LOs)?
5w2d (37w3d adjusted)

How much does baby / do babies weigh?
Yesterday (4/11), Claire was ~ 6 lb 3 oz and Owen was ~ 4 lb 12 oz

Recent struggles / frustrations and triumphs / milestones?
I'm just now getting over resistant mastitis (the infection wasn't completely controlled with the initial antibiotics and I got to experience fever/chills/aches *twice*!) and I'm now only making enough milk for one baby (eventually, that is - they aren't eating as much as they will in a few months). My storage capacity is just not high enough to make a twin milk supply a healthy thing for me to do. Hard pill to swallow. 

But... the babies are coming home either today (4/12) or tomorrow!!! I almost can't believe it. 

What is coming up next (goals for baby/babies)?
Homecoming (as above)

Rants / raves / questions?
DH was amazing while I was very sick. Enough said.

Random: Any Easter plans (family / activities for other kiddos if STM+)?\
Adjusting to life with babies at home?

SKZW

@mdlorenz: It seems like the emotional roller coaster is the new normal? You have my sympathy for the mastitis, and the supply issues too. But it's awesome to have things to be grateful for in the midst of it all: to have been able to fully rely on your hubbs! And a homecoming soon! 

mcvgal

@mdlorenz I am so happy for you and the twins going home soon. Glad you are feeling better as well.

@Squirtgun The doctor wants to see that Lucia can gain about an ounce a day just nursing. She had been 100% nursing since 9:00 Sunday morning and only gained 5 grams each day. Doctor said she may be exerting too much energy/wasting calories when she nurses for more than 15 minutes. However, at her midnight weight check last night she gained 2 full ounces and is now 5lbs! She also got her first bottle last night after weighing in at had no problem going back to breast at 3am.

jayandaplus

@mcvgal Sorry to hear about the doctors switching. I'm sure that's really annoying! Hopefully things progress well the next couple days and you can take Lucia home Friday! Hang in there!

@Squirtgun So glad to hear Thomas is doing so well! What a little trooper! Congratulations on all the milestones.

@mdlorenz I'm so sorry to hear about the resistant mastitis, but I'm glad you're on the mend from it now. Good job DH for being awesome through all of that! It's terrible times like that you need a good spouse to lean on. Sorry about the milk supply difficulties. I understand that's a hard pill to swallow, but at least you're producing enough for them to get some. Remember the victories, not just the downsides. And it's GREAT that they're coming home this week! What a beautiful gift.

Thinking about all of you mamas and your babies!

Kipperoo

I guess I sort of belong here...although we (very thankfully) avoided the NICU.

How old is the baby? 1 day!

How much does baby weigh: 5 pounds, 14 ounces (down from birth weight of 6 pounds, 2 ounces) 

Struggles/frustrations/milestones: I'm 24 hours into pumping and kind of forgot how much I hated it with my DS. DD's latch isn't great, likely because she is so early and also because I have flat nipples. With the pump, I'm just getting a few drops at a time and we are supplementing with formula to keep her weight up. I'm totally fine with the formula, just feeling like this is going to be a losing battle already and we just started. 

Rants/raves/questions: @mdlorenz , was it you that posted about the email update sharing app?? I think so but mobile search sucks...if so, can you please pass along the name of it?

So many potential homecomings in the future for this little group!!

@mdlorenz, I'm sorry you are having supply issues. Hopefully the mastisis clears soon and you can get those little ones home!

@mcvgal, hopefully the bottles help get her weight up and Lucia makes it home for Easter!

@Squirtgun , high five, Thomas, for hitting so many milestones so quickly! He's a little rockstar! 

mrsrep123

All of you, @mcvgal @Squirtgun @mdlorenz @kipperoo, are amazing. It's crazy to see some of your babies have been on the outside for 5+ weeks already. Keep up the great work and like @jayandaplus said, "remember the victories not just the downsides."

Squirtgun

@mdlorenz oh my goodness, I'm so happy for you that you get to bring your little ones home!!!  Hooray!! 

starphish18

@Kipperoo If you're talking about the photo sharing app that sends updates to email, it was Tinybeans. I love it!

jayandaplus

Yay @Kipperoo! I'm just so excited for the update. I'm sorry breastfeeding and feeding in general are a struggle. Estelle will get the hang of things! Hang in there!

BabyMC517

starphish18 said:

@Kipperoo If you're talking about the photo sharing app that sends updates to email, it was Tinybeans. I love it!

Isn't it great?!? I've only shared it with a few people, but my mom likes all of my posts and writes little comments.

Kipperoo

BabyMC517 said:

starphish18 said:

@Kipperoo If you're talking about the photo sharing app that sends updates to email, it was Tinybeans. I love it!

Isn't it great?!? I've only shared it with a few people, but my mom likes all of my posts and writes little comments.

Yes!! That's it! Thank you, @starphish18!

chickyclg

Thinking of you ladies!!

@mcvgal the difference in doctors is frustrating, I'll never forget being 2 days away from bringing DD home and walking in the NICU after a Neo change and she was back on a feeding tube.  It made me a mess, she did Brady later that day so the NG tube ended up not making a difference.

@Squirtgun yay for the open crib!!

@mdlorenz. EEK! I hope they get to go home today.  Sorry about the supply issues, hopefully it will boost a little once they get home.

@Kipperoo congratulations again!!

SWoodd2012

Like usual, I'm late to the party!  sorry if I missed updates in other threads.
@mcvgal sorry about the doctor changes. I would hope they shared notes and talked before switching so they could be on the same (or almost same) page. Were you and your little able to come home today? 

@Squirtgun  Happy to hear those milestones were hit! I hope eating improves soon for you guys! 

@mdlorenz  Sorry to hear about the supply issues. FTM but just try to be as positive as you can. I kept telling myself (and the nurses when I was in the hospital) as long as baby is healthy I don't care what he eats. If we have to go to all formula then we will.  Were you and the babes able to come home?

@kipperoo Yay for no NICU! congrats on your little ladies arrival!  I have similar "losing battle" thoughts, just have to try and try to be positive. don't give up but don't stress!

Hope all the littles are improving and that all us mommas are getting the rest we need.

How old is/are baby(ies) (outside days/weeks - gestational age for the NICU LOs)? 15 days (37w4d)

How much does baby / do babies weigh? as of 4/12   5lbs 2.5oz. 2.5oz shy of birth weight. 

Recent struggles / frustrations and triumphs / milestones? He has started being rotten at night. I'm struggling bad with sleep. I just can't nap during the day because I "need" to get stuff done around the house.  I did manage to actually cook dinner for the family last night. today has been microwave meals though. Henry's siblings have given mommy a lot of trouble today..anxious for Sunday when DH will have the day off!

What is coming up next (goals for baby/babies)? next appt is on Wednesday morning so his weight needs to be past his birth weight otherwise we'll have to try a higher caloric formula. 

Rants / raves / questions?  I pretty much wrote off breastfeeding at the hospital as Henry's mouth was too small compared to my size. the shield hurt so I didn't really try. He has been on the bottle (either breastmilk or formula) since we got home. It's started to bother me that I didn't give it a go, so I'm trying to start now. anyone know if it's possible to do successfully? I know it's only been 2 weeks but didn't know if babies tend to have formed their opinions on boobs vs bottle yet. 
I've also been dealing with feeling guilty over not doing skin to skin immediately after birth. I had told the nurse yes before starting pushing but then when asked afterwards I was too shocked/in a daze I said no. not sure why I'm feeling guilty now but I can't shake having given up that contact. (Sorry for the bold)

Random: Any Easter plans (family / activities for other kiddos if STM+)? goal is to get the entire family up for church; we'll see how successful that is. Might do lunch/dinner with my parents, but nothing has been planned.  Tomorrow is the Easter Egg hunt at our church that I've told the older kids they've lost but we'll probably go just  so I don't  lose my mind  for an hour or so.

*sorry for the venting I needed to ramble somewhere. thank you

schnitz9

mdlorenz said:

Some of these questions might be more pertinent for NICU babies, but all the outside babies can play along.

How old is/are baby(ies) (outside days/weeks - gestational age for the NICU LOs)?

How much does baby / do babies weigh?

Recent struggles / frustrations and triumphs / milestones?

What is coming up next (goals for baby/babies)?

Rants / raves / questions?

Random: Any Easter plans (family / activities for other kiddos if STM+)?

6 days old (34weeks)

4 lbs 5 oz

Will is doing great. Breathing on his own, off the billi lights, taking most feeds by bottle (gets a little tired and has to take the rest in his tube). He's gaining weight too.

As for me it's been a different story. With my history of PPD and PPA it hasn't been easy. I had a massive panick attack my first day home (tues) and I've been working my way back since. Each day gets a little better. Starting tues my meds will be increased so he won't be able to have my BM. While at first it was crushing news to hear I knew that me being well was better for him than my milk was.

goals is continuing to up his feeds and next graduate to an open bed where he can start trying to regulate his body temp. 

For those moms taking babies home, should I be worried that they started talking to me today about taking him home after next week? I feel like 35 weeks is just too soon! I feel like he needs more time and he's just too little and it terrifies me.

My mom has been here for the week to help out and my dad joined us today. They are going to take our 2 year old for the whole day tomorrow so my DH and I can got to the hospital together. Sun will be church and my inlaws (my family is Jewish and my DH family is catholic). We may leave joey at my inlaws and head over the hospital to give Will his Easter basket.

mcvgal

@SWoodd2012, Lucia was discharged early this morning. Big brothers finally got to meet her and it just feels good to finally be home.

@Schnitz9 we brought DS1 home at 35 weeks and a few days. I remember thinking he was so small, but we got used to it.

mdlorenz

Sorry for the delay - I'm going into semi-lurker mode since I can't mobile-Bump.

@SKZW - Roller coaster indeed! 

@Starphish18 - Thanks for answering the question! I’m so sad I can only post on TB via laptop now. I’m going to be AWOL/lurking for the most part because of it…

@Swoodd2012 - We are home!

@Schnitz9 - So many hugs. PPD/PPA is so hard. Thinking of you. Try to remember to take it one day / hour at a time. Your health and wellness is definitely the priority, as hard as it is to sacrifice giving him all of your milk. I’m not your provider, but are the folks making that recommendation using good sources? (LactMed, InfantRisk - the latter is a resource you can call and ask about specific meds and doses — they are *awesome*). And about taking baby home, the NICU will not send you out unless they are *really really* sure you and baby will do well. It can be super scary when you have a little peanut (Owen was 4 lb 13 oz when he came home this week).

@mcvgal — Hooray for home!!!