Babies are here! Small update post # 40! Pics #62 Update #83 and #93 - Page 3

[skybluepink02]

Originally Posted by mischievium

: CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME BENJAMIN AND EMALINE!!!! :

How exciting! Those are some BIG 33 weekers! Good job, skybluepink!




Ok... I'm sure you're all over it, but the former NICU nurse in me won't let me go without asking if you been given good support for pumping and breastfeeding? I'm sure you probably looked into it, but renting a hospital grade pump for home can *really* make a difference in helping to build/ maintain supply if you go home before the babies do. As well as trying to pump at least every 3 hours (some say 2-3 hours) until your supply is up, then you can give yourself one 4-5 hour strech at night (but... obviously, pay attention to whether doing that negatively effects your supply and go back to every 3 if it does). Like I said, this is probably stuff you already are doing/ know, but I've read several stories of people on MDC w/ babies in the NICU who were not given a pump and instructions/ support ASAP (one who had twins and who was not given a pump for like 5-6 days !) and I just wanted to make sure that you are being given support if you choose to breastfeed (I think I remember you mentioning you were planning to, I apologize if I'm wrong).

Again, congrats on your BIG babies and I hope their NICU stay is short and uneventful!

Thanks for checking on me. I"m lucky, because this hospital has great support. Right now I'm pumping every 3 hours for 20 minutes with a 6 hour break at night. Once my milk comes in fully I'll pump every 2.5 hours with a shorter break at night. I'm getting a fair amount of colostrum, enough to cover the bottom of the bottles and the lactation nurse come to see me every morning to make sure I dont' have any questions.

I'm sure I'll spend lots of time on the nicu forum here and the breastfeeding forums, but I'm glad to have someone in real life to tell me how to do it too, since I've never breastfed before.

[Ilek]

Oooooh! CONGRATULATIONS !!! ::::::::::

Our first babies, that's so exciting ! I'm really really glad they're sooo big ! You did a great job, mama

[jennifercp8]

Congratulations!!! :::

It sounds as if you are all holding up well!

[mamato2boys]

Congratulations! It sounds like they are doing great! I hope they are able to head home soon

[BethSLP]

: Benjamin and Emaline!!!!!

::

YAY, mama!!! I am sooo happy for your family during this wonderful time. What an amazing blessing to have 33 weekers with such healthy strong bodies!

I am so glad they are doing well and that you are getting great BF support. What fabulous news! Made my day :.

XOXO
Beth

[Gnatty]

Yay babies! So glad they're doing well!

[PicklinQueen]

: yaaaaay! congratulations mama, and all the very best wishes for you and your family!
the birthings have begun: how exciting!!!!!

[ShineliketheSon]

Thanks for the update...so glad they are being so supportive of BF at the hospital! Good job mamma!!!!

[MissyLissa]

Congratulations!! I'm so glad to hear how well they are doing and how BIG they are!! 6 lbs is quite impressive for 33 weeks! lol

[SallyN]

Congratulations!!!

We have two mommies in my local group that are successfully bf-ing twins... one set is about 3 months and the other set about 9 months. It's hard work, but you CAN do it! *cheer cheer cheer*

[JenMidwife]

: Congratulations mama! : Wow, I just can't believe those weights! Way to grow those babies!!!

Originally Posted by skybluepink02

Am I really the first April Mommy? I'm so happy for all of us that we've gotten our babies so big! I'm glad we don't have any very early preemie mamas. I feel so bad going in the nursery and seeing the tiny babies. I hate that mine are in the NICU, but they're doing so well and so much better than they could be doing, all things considered.

YEP! It's wonderful isn't it?!

[Quate]

Just poking my head in to say congrats! (We were posting together in the TTCAL forum for a while.)

[wobblykate]

Thanks for keeping us updated. So glad you're getting the support you need. :::

[nancy11]

Like, whoa. Grats to you and yours!

[MI_Dawn]

Congrats!

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! :

[skybluepink02]

I'll get pictures as soon as I can. We've got cameras here by the dozens, but no usb cords! It looks like I'm going home tomorrow, so I should be able to get you guys a peek at them then.

[jenholle]

Congratulations!!!!!

[monica3674]

Congratulations!!:

[fruitful womb]

WOW! We already have an announcement!:

You're so amazing! I can not beleive that they weigh in at such a healthy weight!


Now, a word of caution, although you probably have to worry LESS with NICU nurses BUT you have to be weary of floater nurses who go to NICU but are not at all as knowledgeable.

Protect your ds from anyone who might retract his foreskin.

You might want to put a 'nocirc and do not retract his foreskin' sitcker in with this bassinet just in case. The stickers can be found at the bottom of that page.

Here is the AAP guidelines on the care of the intact penis incase an uneducation care provider tries to tell you otherwise.

This too, is also good to have in your ds's file as an extra precaution.

And Mothering article,"What to say when the doctor says CUT" by Dr. Fleiss

Congratualtions!!!:

Happy Birthday to your precious little ones!!! I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE PICTURES!!!:::

[skybluepink02]

Originally Posted by fruitful womb

You might want to put a 'nocirc and do not retract his foreskin' sitcker in with this bassinet just in case. The stickers can be found at the bottom of that page.

Great idea. I talked to the doctors and his regular nurses, but I didn't think about floaters. I thought about it before he was born, but not after. It's hard to keep anything in my head these days. I think my brain cells are leaking into my breastmilk! I'll probably print my own out rather than order them so I can get them quicker. Luckily they haven't needed any catheters at all yet, so I haven't had to have that fight, but I did tell the doctor not to retract for cathetarizations, just in case. He's willing to do a clean catch because he says they try to minimize any unnecessary pain to the babies because it's so hard for them to recover from it.

If anyone has any ideas of anything else I might be forgetting, please remind me!!


Oh yeah, great news.... My milk came in! Both babies are having feeds that are totally breastmilk now! Not all of them are, but as I pump more, I can get more of that good stuff in their bellies. It was wonderful to go up there and see them getting my own milk in their bellies.