Newborn questions

nblondheim · March 2014

When do you worry about lo being sick? B was more spitty the past few days (he does have reflux though.) This morning he wouldn't take his nuk which is uncommon (seemed in pain) and cried during his bottle. Now he's congested and I just sucked a bunch out of his nose but you can still here it. He's been sneezing and coughing more too. He's not running a high or low temp. And he's eating and having wet and poopy diapers. When do you get worried/call pedi/take them in?

Eta: spelling

nblondheim · March 2014

@FarmBoysWife‌ Thank you! Just don't want to let something go I shouldn't especially since they were preemies!

BethRN1987 · March 2014

FarmBoysWife said:
@nblondheim‌ ohh! I forgot you had premies! Maybe @laura8388 or one of the others?

Usually for us it has to go past a general cold. So sniffle sneezy cranky lo. But if he stops eating for a long time, won't drink, or things just never get better we call.

Don't wait to long if refusing feeds- we missed two feeds and become dehydrated - not trying to scare just sharing what I had learnt. Does your doctor have a call center where you can call and ask? Then they tell you what to do or to go in.

nblondheim · March 2014

He's not refusing feeds thankfully! He just cried at his morning feed and eventually took it. They do but DH is trying to tell me everything is and will be fine. He wants me to wait until tomorrow to call.

ntdane · March 2014

@nblondheim‌, I would typically mirror the symptoms that @FarmBoysWife‌ described. With Owen and his RSV, there was no obvious temp change or congestion but a sudden development of an occassional rough cough and then a struggle to catch up breathing after it. With him still being so small (under 6 lbs and 3 weeks old) we took him straight to the ER. Go with your gut and if ever unsure I would call. Hope your LO feels better soon!

AshleyO925 · March 2014

TallAsh said:

Jenstwins said:

Piper's umbilical cord fell off yesterday at 7 days old. Now her belly button still sticks out almost like a donut. It isn't red or swollen or anything and there still seems to be a tiny bit of scabbing there. Is this normal?
Yep! It'll fall out soon. Plus babies usually have outies until the get bigger and put on some subcutaneous fat. Just wait it out!!

Good to know! Both of my bigs had "pretty" belly buttons (as pretty as one can be)... This kid's looks like an anteater snout or something. seriously! Look at that sucker!!

Thanks that's a relief. That is exactly what Piper's looks like too!

legallyginger · March 2014

Having a ftm freakout here. I just changed Jack and saw that there is some sort of blister at the base of his penis/top of his testicles. It is close to where the OB had to use silver nitrate during his circumcision. It has been totally healed for a few days so we stopped putting vaseline on it recently.

I have no idea what this blister could be. It doesn't seem to hurt him, and its not red or swollen, just a large, deep blister. I'll be calling the pedi tomorrow, and his one month is Wednesday anyway. Just curious if anyone had any experience that could make me feel better. @babycaps or @tallash maybe?

[Deleted User] · March 2014

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jasi704 · March 2014

I'm losing my mind over here. DS is almost four weeks old now, and he hasn't been a very good sleeper for the past two weeks. He maybe takes one or two 1-hour naps during the day. He'll have one 2-3 hour stretch at night. And then maybe another one or two 1-hour stretches at night. During the day, I'll attempt to put him down for a nap, but he usually wakes up after 20-30 minutes. So in total he gets about 8ish hours of sleep per day. Isn't that really low? I thought newborns were supposed to sleep like 14-16 hours a day. Am I doing something wrong?? I thought maybe it was just a phase or a growth spurt but it's not getting any better. Any advice or similar experiences you ladies can share??

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Aturl · March 2014

Is 8days too soon for the plastibell (sp?) to come off for a circ? We were told closer to two weeks for it to so I'm a little worried it isn't healing right? Also anyone have ideas on how to get LO to take the second breast at a feeding? He usually won't do a full 10 min on one side either. I undress him, change his diaper, and tickle his back and feet but he will sleep through all that. Sometimes it's not even that he is asleep he just isn't interested.

dannie2011 · March 2014

No clue on the plastibell. For not taking both sides he is probably just full.

nblondheim · March 2014

I couldn't take it and called our pedi. If he gets a fever, stops taking feeds, or his breathing gets more labored we need to go in. The nurse is calling in the morning to check on us and if he stays congested for a few days we'll be going in. Thank you everyone for the advice!

jennybean80 · March 2014

At night we just quietly change diapers and feed. No cute talk, singing, play time etc. It's just calm and low key. Plus I just turn on a low light so it's not bright.

mevensen · March 2014

We have had a surprisingly easy time (knock on wood) with days and nights after the first couple days home. I just make sure to give LO a bottle before we head up stairs, change into some jammies, swaddle her up (we only do this at night) and turn her white noise app on my phone on. So far she has been waking up at roughly 2 or 3 and then again at 5. We have been going back to sleep for an hour or so (so I can snuggle with DH

before we get up for the day. Not sure if it's the bedtime routine that helps or not, but I figure that it can't hurt.

lindsey1031 · March 2014

@NorthernLghts - Put on the TV, open the blinds, put some music on and go outside with her during the day. Keep things low key as you said you do at night. I BF in the dark and am just too tired to say or do anything with the baby in the middle of the night, then I put him down after swaddling him and put on a white noise machine. Also, I feed him in short stretches during the day and offer lots of feedings in the evening, basically every time he fusses. I do this in hopes of tanking him up so he'll sleep longer at night. We get 3-5 hour stretches with this routine. Hopefully it sticks! GL to you!

ProudMommy030614 · March 2014

sebullows said:
I have a question about diaper changing boys. Do you apply ointment/cream (such as butt paste) at every change, even if they don't poop? I give LO a quick wipe down if it's just urine, but I don't apply anything unless he's pooped. Is it a matter of personal preference or will that wet diaper give him a rash eventually?

We use a little coconut oil each time. Did this with ds2 also and it worked great! We are all about prevention lol

ProudMommy030614 · March 2014

Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible

coreyeliz · March 2014

ProudMommy030614 said:
Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible

Have you tried a nipple shield? They're kind of a pain, but they help. My LO is tongue tied. We got it partially snipped on Friday, but it's a thick tongue tie so they couldn't do the whole thing. Both have helped, but she hasn't latched like I hoped afterward. She's too used to the shield.

coreyeliz · March 2014

I meant to ask, anyone have a read on how much spit up/vomiting is normal? LO has projectile spit up out her mouth and nose 4 times over the course of last night. I talked to the night nurse at my pedi's office and we're calling back to be seen at 8am today, but I don't know if I'm being overly worried. No fever.

Side note: I hate my thermometer.

pepperedmoth · March 2014

OK, dumb FTM question --- WTH is the difference between baby pajamas and what they wear all the time anyway?

I have a coupla cute outfits for going out, but other than that my newborn clothes collection is nothing but onesies and sleepers anyway....I plan to swaddle or use sleep sacks...is that what you mean when you say you put on pajamas? All baby clothes look like pajamas to me!

AshleyO925 · March 2014

@pepperedmoth‌ I have been using gowns for bedtime. They are really easy to do middle of the night changes and then I put a sleep sack on her to keep her warm since she hates swaddling.

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jasi704 · March 2014

ProudMommy030614 said:
Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible

I got DS's tongue tie snipped when he was like a week old. My nips were getting scabby! I couldn't take it. Besides my LC told me some kids grow to have speech impediments due to a tongue tie, and it's much easier to get it cut when they're this little. The snip took all of about one minute and I nursed him as soon as I got home. I could notice a difference in his latch immediately.

ntdane · March 2014

ProudMommy030614 said:
Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible

Try using a different position to nurse every time. This will help so they aren't damaging just one area of your nipple. Also make sure you are getting them to open their mouth as wide as possible and getting as much areola in their mouth as you can. Those things have all helped me. We're getting Owen's tongue clipped on Wednesday.

Pankers · March 2014

@ProudMommy030614‌, I use a nipple shield on one side. She has no problem latching on the other side, the nipple shield helps with a flat nipple but she is also tongue tied. She kills my flat nipple.

pepperedmoth · March 2014

snow527 said:
Sorry if this has been asked already. How does baby stay hydrated before milk comes in? DD had 2 small wet diapers yesterday which is good for day one, and I know she's supposed to have 2 or more today. Is colostrum enough? I just worry since there's no way to tell if/how much she's getting out.

Colostrum is enough! It's amazing.

ProudMommy030614 · March 2014

coreyeliz said:
ProudMommy030614 said:
Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible
Have you tried a nipple shield? They're kind of a pain, but they help. My LO is tongue tied. We got it partially snipped on Friday, but it's a thick tongue tie so they couldn't do the whole thing. Both have helped, but she hasn't latched like I hoped afterward. She's too used to the shield.

The hospital lc mentioned it. I am going to have to check it out. Idk if it needs snipping yet we goto the ped tomorrow. Thank you

ProudMommy030614 · March 2014

ntdane said:

ProudMommy030614 said:
Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible

Try using a different position to nurse every time. This will help so they aren't damaging just one area of your nipple. Also make sure you are getting them to open their mouth as wide as possible and getting as much areola in their mouth as you can. Those things have all helped me. We're getting Owen's tongue clipped on Wednesday.

Thank you

pepperedmoth · March 2014

@Laura8388‌ yep sleeper = footed onesie in my book at least....

Pankers · March 2014

LO is scratching her eye and it got all junky like with the blocked tear duct, but now it has swollen a little and there are little red bumps. Is this baby acne? I've bathed it in warm water like the tear duct issue. I will call pediatrician, but wondered if you'd experienced this?

erinsullivan427 · March 2014

Pankers said:
LO is scratching her eye and it got all junky like with the blocked tear duct, but now it has swollen a little and there are little red bumps. Is this baby acne? I've bathed it in warm water like the tear duct issue. I will call pediatrician, but wondered if you'd experienced this?

We had this and it turned out to be infected. Any redness or swelling and I was told to call. 7 days of antibiotic drops and it is much better. I would definitely take her in. He just stopped the drops yesterday and in the mean time the blocked tear duct has cleared as well.

Pankers · March 2014

Thanks @erinsullivan427‌, appointment booked for tomorrow

lindsey1031 · March 2014

NorthernLghts said:

This is helpful, thanks @lindsey1031. Currently trying the feeding trick as she was super fussy a second ago despite eating at 8:30 for a good 20 mins on one side. Having a tracking app has been super helpful to me. Letting her feed longer and supplimenting with a little formula brought her weight up 5.5 oz since Thursday!

I am also loving my baby tracker app! We are using BabyConnect and it is so helpful!

nblondheim · March 2014

Any ideas to help with lo's congestion? We've been suctioning out his nose, running a humidifier, and a bath last night.

ProudMommy030614 · March 2014

AmyG* said:

ProudMommy030614 said:

ntdane said:

ProudMommy030614 said:
Any helpful suggestions with a tongue tied breast feeder. Omg my nips are killing me! Going to make a LC visit ASAP but I like to get as many opinions as possible

Try using a different position to nurse every time. This will help so they aren't damaging just one area of your nipple. Also make sure you are getting them to open their mouth as wide as possible and getting as much areola in their mouth as you can. Those things have all helped me. We're getting Owen's tongue clipped on Wednesday.
Thank you

You may find dr says it's no big deal/not a bad tie because a lot of pediatricians seem to think it's not an issue, and you can just go to formula if it hurts too bad. But if the tongue tie is causing nipple damage then it's a tongue tie that needs to be clipped. You can run into issues with speech, but also ability to stick their tongue out, to lick an ice cream cone and french kiss etc. so ask the pediatrician and an LC and if they don't agree, see someone else for another opinion. Make sure they check for side, lip and posterior tongue tie, not just under the tongue.

In the meantime, nurse primarily on one side per feeding as the main meal, then offer side #2 as dessert when they are not as strong of nursers--this gives one side more time to heal in between nursing sessions. Use a different position to nurse in at every feeding if you can or at least use two different positions, often laid back nursing, football hold or side lying nursing allows baby with tongue tie to get a deeper latch, so switch between those if regular cradle hold seems to hurt more.

If you nurse in cradle position, try an asymetrical latch, with the bottom lip touching the areola close to the nipple first and then stuff in as much on top as possible, hold nipple closer to baby's nose so they reach upward and their head tilts backwards so they can get a bigger "bite" and latch deeper.

Apply lanolin or other nipple creme often like you own stock in the company. cool compresses and motrin help with swollen tissues and pain, warm soaks of the nipple (even in the sink or a big bowl of warm water) helps to speed healing.

Get help in person. if someone says latch is good and tongue tie is not an issue, but you are still damaged and in pain and you give it a day or two without improvement, then get another opinion. some LC's are better with latching advice than others, like some are better with advice for pumping or premies than others are. they all should know the basics but have more experience with certain areas of nursing.

If you HAVE to use a nipple shield on both sides, do it, just use it as a tool to ideally only use for a short time. keep an eye on diaper count, cause shields plus latching issues may mean baby doesn't quite get enough milk and milk supply may suffer.

Omg thank you for all of that great info! This is LO #3 and have never had any issues before and am lost!

Pankers · March 2014

nblondheim said:

Any ideas to help with lo's congestion? We've been suctioning out his nose, running a humidifier, and a bath last night.

my sister recommended saline spray and then sucking out the snot. We just bought some today and plan in using it tonight.

DEL14 · March 2014

Aturl said:

Is 8days too soon for the plastibell (sp?) to come off for a circ? We were told closer to two weeks for it to so I'm a little worried it isn't healing right? Also anyone have ideas on how to get LO to take the second breast at a feeding? He usually won't do a full 10 min on one side either. I undress him, change his diaper, and tickle his back and feet but he will sleep through all that. Sometimes it's not even that he is asleep he just isn't interested.

@Aturi Colton's came off on day 6. We just had our two week check up (1 week after his circ) and the peditritian said everything was healing nicely.

Yenemous · March 2014

pepperedmoth said:
OK, dumb FTM question --- WTH is the difference between baby pajamas and what they wear all the time anyway?

I have a coupla cute outfits for going out, but other than that my newborn clothes collection is nothing but onesies and sleepers anyway....I plan to swaddle or use sleep sacks...is that what you mean when you say you put on pajamas? All baby clothes look like pajamas to me!

I keep DS in a onsie during the day and change him into a sleep and play at night. I know he's still too young to understand but I'm working on a nighttime routine with him and changing him into pjs is one of the things I do to help get him ready for bed.

Yenemous · March 2014

Does anyone else have issues burping their LO? My DS is a terrible burper. I try to burp him multiple times during and after a feeding but he just won't do it. I've tried several positions: over my shoulder, across my lap on his belly and sitting him upright and holding his chin. I've tried bouncing him beforehand to try and get things going but it doesn't help. I can seriously sit there for 20 minutes patting and rubbing his back and the little stinker just won't burp. I hate it for him because he ends up with painful gas and I feel like I must be doing something wrong. Any advice or tips?

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