Babies are here! Small update post # 40! Pics #62 Update #83 and #93 - Page 5

[smocklets]

They are adorable, and you are a glowing momma! I hope they can come home to you soon.:

[Jennbee]

Congratulations! I think that I may be the last one in this DDC to tell you that.
Wow, they are a good weight at that many weeks.

[skybluepink02]

Update:

Emaline is in an open crib. She's maintaining her temperature, digesting feeds, and on two bottles a day. I get to start "practicing" nursing tomorrow! She's well on her way to moving to the 7th floor, which is the "transition" nursery. She'll have her own room and I can stay with her all day and just feed her and cuddle her.

Ben's a bit slower, but that's expected with boys. He's off oxygen, and will practice maintaining his temperature tomorrow. If he maintains his temperature and keeps his oxygen up all by himself, he'll move to an open crib tomorrow or the next day. I told him he better catch up cause his sister is kicking his butt!

They're both just as beautiful as can be in completely different ways. Emaline is dark haired, with a small, delicate little face and features. Ben is blonde as can be with the chubbiest little cheeks and a puckery mouth and a big round belly. Emaline likes to be all snuggled up in her baby burrito, but Ben stretches out like a cat every so often and likes to sleep all sprawled out. It's so cute!

[herins]

Ohmygoodness, that is awesome news! How wonderful for Emaline to be moving to her own room!!!

[mom2sol]

Yeah!
that makes my heart happy

[lilgreen]

Sounds like they're doing great!!! yay!

I can totally picture them from your description and it melts my heart. Soooo precious

[wobblykate]

oh, I bet you're just itching to get them home. so glad they're progressing :

[steedalyn]

I am obviously late to this party but I just had to say Congratulations! What beautiful babies!

[Lindsay1234]

Wow! I am so thankful that the first early babies born on this board are so healthy!! An I have to say again, BEAUTIFUL names! Emeline and Ben fit perfectly together!!!

[momtokimari]

Sounds like they are doing great! Don't let Emaline be lazy when she nurses. I noticed my daughter, because she was tube fed for so long, thought that a few sucks and she should be full. Her head is going to seem so small in comparison to your breast too. Get lots of pictures. One day you'll barely remember how easy it was to nurse them holding them in just one arm... and you'll need to be reminded while 20lbs of wiggling toddler whines for the boob.

[IncaMama]

EEEEEE!

well, congratulations first of all if i didn't say it already (i think i did LOL) but also - can we see some pictures please??????

[michanders4]

Originally Posted by IncaMama

EEEEEE!

well, congratulations first of all if i didn't say it already (i think i did LOL) but also - can we see some pictures please??????

There are beautiful pictures in post #62!

[skybluepink02]

GREAT news. I nursed today! Emaline latched on pretty easily. I haven't had my lactation appointment yet. (It's tomorrow) but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. I had no idea what I was doing, but apparently she did. It was awkward at first, but I eventually got my nipple into her tiny little mouth. She kind of sat there at first, but I jiggled my breast a bit and she started to suck. She'd suck a few times, then stop, and I'd jiggle again. I don't think she actually got anything, but I'm just so excited that she latched on!

Next time I'm going to express a bit until the milk is flowing and to extend the nipple a bit so that she gets a bit more instant gratification. She's still not quite there on the suck/swallow/breathe thing. Usually she forgets to swallow, but occasionally she forgets to breathe, which is a bit scary.

Also, I've moved to pumping every 2 hours with a 5 hour break at night. I'm also pumping for 3-5 minutes after my milk stops coming out, rather than the 20 minutes that the lactation counselor told me. I'm going to shorten the night one soon. I'm already seeing great results. I'm getting an ounce and a half to 2 ounces on each side per pumping. That's an increase of 8 oz per day from the day before!

One more great update. They are both getting exclusively breastmilk, no fortifiers or anything. Just straight mama milk all day long.

[*Amy*]

Oh that is wonderful news!! : Congratulations, Mama! I was smiling through your whole post, thinking about what a wonderful moment that was for both of you. And hooray for no supplements!

[michanders4]

Originally Posted by skybluepink02

GREAT news. I nursed today! Emaline latched on pretty easily. I haven't had my lactation appointment yet. (It's tomorrow) but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. I had no idea what I was doing, but apparently she did. It was awkward at first, but I eventually got my nipple into her tiny little mouth. She kind of sat there at first, but I jiggled my breast a bit and she started to suck. She'd suck a few times, then stop, and I'd jiggle again. I don't think she actually got anything, but I'm just so excited that she latched on!

Next time I'm going to express a bit until the milk is flowing and to extend the nipple a bit so that she gets a bit more instant gratification. She's still not quite there on the suck/swallow/breathe thing. Usually she forgets to swallow, but occasionally she forgets to breathe, which is a bit scary.

Also, I've moved to pumping every 2 hours with a 5 hour break at night. I'm also pumping for 3-5 minutes after my milk stops coming out, rather than the 20 minutes that the lactation counselor told me. I'm going to shorten the night one soon. I'm already seeing great results. I'm getting an ounce and a half to 2 ounces on each side per pumping. That's an increase of 8 oz per day from the day before!

One more great update. They are both getting exclusively breastmilk, no fortifiers or anything. Just straight mama milk all day long.

That is such great news!!!! I'm so happy for you!!!!

[laurilj]

That's fantastic! I can't wait to nurse. I'm so happy for you!

[fruitful womb]

I am so happy for you!!!

Your kiddos are beautiful and they look so healthy!!!

Thank you for all the updates and the pictures.: Truly makes my day.

Congratulations mama! You have incredible instincts!!!

[smocklets]

Thanks for taking the time to share your positive news with us. It sounds like you are doing a terrific job! Enjoy every moment!:

[wobblykate]

What lucky babies!! Congrats! ::

[JenMidwife]

Originally Posted by skybluepink02

Update:

Emaline is in an open crib. She's maintaining her temperature, digesting feeds, and on two bottles a day. I get to start "practicing" nursing tomorrow! She's well on her way to moving to the 7th floor, which is the "transition" nursery. She'll have her own room and I can stay with her all day and just feed her and cuddle her.

Ben's a bit slower, but that's expected with boys. He's off oxygen, and will practice maintaining his temperature tomorrow. If he maintains his temperature and keeps his oxygen up all by himself, he'll move to an open crib tomorrow or the next day. I told him he better catch up cause his sister is kicking his butt!

They're both just as beautiful as can be in completely different ways. Emaline is dark haired, with a small, delicate little face and features. Ben is blonde as can be with the chubbiest little cheeks and a puckery mouth and a big round belly. Emaline likes to be all snuggled up in her baby burrito, but Ben stretches out like a cat every so often and likes to sleep all sprawled out. It's so cute!

How exciting to see their differences between them already! So glad they are doing so well health-wise :

Originally Posted by skybluepink02

GREAT news. I nursed today! Emaline latched on pretty easily. I haven't had my lactation appointment yet. (It's tomorrow) but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. I had no idea what I was doing, but apparently she did. It was awkward at first, but I eventually got my nipple into her tiny little mouth. She kind of sat there at first, but I jiggled my breast a bit and she started to suck. She'd suck a few times, then stop, and I'd jiggle again. I don't think she actually got anything, but I'm just so excited that she latched on!

Next time I'm going to express a bit until the milk is flowing and to extend the nipple a bit so that she gets a bit more instant gratification. She's still not quite there on the suck/swallow/breathe thing. Usually she forgets to swallow, but occasionally she forgets to breathe, which is a bit scary.

Also, I've moved to pumping every 2 hours with a 5 hour break at night. I'm also pumping for 3-5 minutes after my milk stops coming out, rather than the 20 minutes that the lactation counselor told me. I'm going to shorten the night one soon. I'm already seeing great results. I'm getting an ounce and a half to 2 ounces on each side per pumping. That's an increase of 8 oz per day from the day before!

One more great update. They are both getting exclusively breastmilk, no fortifiers or anything. Just straight mama milk all day long.

What wonderful news! : Both for your babies & for you to have that kind of success is fantastic! :

Re: pumping, I haven't had the NICU mom experience, but I was a pumping student mom from the time dd was 2 weeks old (part-time). I never had any supply issues & was never trying to build my supply... I was lucky enough to let-down very easily on the pump & would get tons of milk for the first 5 or 10 mins & then it would slow to just a drop here & there. So as long as your supply is in good shape (I think pumping every 2 hrs is fantastic!) I think your intuition is right about not feeling obliged to pump for the full 20 mins. Does that make sense?

I bet your freezer & your neighbor's will be overflowing w/ your frozen milk before you know it!