Re: feeding problems

[Guest guest]

Darla,

So sorry to hear that you are continuing to have problems with Zipporah. I have been in that postion several times where you know things are not right but you can't find the help you need to solve your problems. Hopefully you will find that your problems resolve quickly. I remember when my twins were born and I started breastfeeding both of them. That lasted two weeks and then I started only breastfeeding the one who was having the most problems with reflux and gas. That lasted another 4 weeks and then when they told me all the foods to avoid I ended up giving up on breastfeeding him entirely. I was also a little tired to say the least. He also had severe reflux but was not a spitter-upper but had very bad abdominal pains. He went on zantac at 6 weeks of age and also on bethanechol. He went through 5 different formulas until we found one he could tolerate the best. Fortunately he was able to be off of meds by 18 months of age. Whenever he complains of a stomachache now I do worry a little more because of his history. Lucas who is totally tube fed did not get treated for reflux until he was about 3 years of age. Doesn't make sense to me but that is how it worked.

Hopefully Zipporah will be able to work this out on her own. Otherwise you know you need to be persistent. I know there is that fine line between tolerance and knowing that something must be done. Hang in there. I will be saying an extra prayer that all will go well.

Loriann

[Guest guest]

I know Sheldon's problems weren't as bad as Porrah's but we went

through the same kind of thing. I was so worried and would tell the

doctors that I couldn't wake him up and he couldn't nurse and they

never seemed concerned. They said he must be doing okay if he wasn't

losing weight. As a newborn Sheldon would sleep 9 hours and then we

couldn't wake him up enough to nurse and when he did nurse he just

couldn't figure out how and would go back to sleep. I knew something

was wrong with him for months and they just never seemed

concerned.

I realize this is no help to your situation Sorry. We ended up

switching pediatricians and the new one is better with Sheldon's

problems.

I don't know why they wait until things are so bad before doing

something, I find it frustrating.

I am continuing

to have more problems feeding Zipporrah and it is beginning to stress

me out. Zipporrah has been nursing less and less and of course

is very cranky and hungry. Of course, when she nurses less then

I produce less breast milk and so I have been pumping after each

feeding and making sure to pump at least every 2 1/2-3 hrs. This

is very tiring and I am always worried that as soon as I pump she will

want to nurse again. When this has occurred I try to use a

bottle that has a larger whole and squirting some into her mouth.

She likes this for about 1 oz. and then refuses more. My

pedaitrician said that she probably nurses enough to get rid of the

hunger craving and then stops due to muscle fatigue in her mouth.

But then she says to keep doing what I am doing as I am doing ok with

her. I feel like she is getting worse the older she gets, but I

know how depleted Asenath got so I have been working " overtime "

to make sure Porrah keeps gaining weight. I know she lost a

pound this past week but she is still on the upper level of weight

gain for her age so this gives her pediatrician a false view of how

it's going. When I do not pump regularly I don't

make hardly any milk anymore and causes problems when she actually

wants to nurse fully on her own. I know that if she was bottle

fed only, she would be totally malnourished. I just don't want

to go through what we went through with Asenath concerning food.

Asenath could nurse fine at least so she always had something to fall

back on. Even when Porrah puts out little urine, has strong

urine odor, nurses little, and is cranky, the doc still says I am

doing great keep it up. HOW DO I KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

I must admit I am tired and stressed which doesn't help the milk

supply issue. Why do my docs want me to wait till my kids are do

bad before helping them, knowing they are prone to strokes?

Wouldn't it be better to be proactive in these issues-at least IV use

when indicated? Help! Any suggestions? Sorry I am

going on, I have been thinking about writing this note for several

days...

Darla: mommy to Asenath, Zipporrah,

and the gang

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or

questions.

[Guest guest]

I know Sheldon's problems weren't as bad as Porrah's but we went

through the same kind of thing. I was so worried and would tell the

doctors that I couldn't wake him up and he couldn't nurse and they

never seemed concerned. They said he must be doing okay if he wasn't

losing weight. As a newborn Sheldon would sleep 9 hours and then we

couldn't wake him up enough to nurse and when he did nurse he just

couldn't figure out how and would go back to sleep. I knew something

was wrong with him for months and they just never seemed

concerned.

I realize this is no help to your situation Sorry. We ended up

switching pediatricians and the new one is better with Sheldon's

problems.

I don't know why they wait until things are so bad before doing

something, I find it frustrating.

I am continuing

to have more problems feeding Zipporrah and it is beginning to stress

me out. Zipporrah has been nursing less and less and of course

is very cranky and hungry. Of course, when she nurses less then

I produce less breast milk and so I have been pumping after each

feeding and making sure to pump at least every 2 1/2-3 hrs. This

is very tiring and I am always worried that as soon as I pump she will

want to nurse again. When this has occurred I try to use a

bottle that has a larger whole and squirting some into her mouth.

She likes this for about 1 oz. and then refuses more. My

pedaitrician said that she probably nurses enough to get rid of the

hunger craving and then stops due to muscle fatigue in her mouth.

But then she says to keep doing what I am doing as I am doing ok with

her. I feel like she is getting worse the older she gets, but I

know how depleted Asenath got so I have been working " overtime "

to make sure Porrah keeps gaining weight. I know she lost a

pound this past week but she is still on the upper level of weight

gain for her age so this gives her pediatrician a false view of how

it's going. When I do not pump regularly I don't

make hardly any milk anymore and causes problems when she actually

wants to nurse fully on her own. I know that if she was bottle

fed only, she would be totally malnourished. I just don't want

to go through what we went through with Asenath concerning food.

Asenath could nurse fine at least so she always had something to fall

back on. Even when Porrah puts out little urine, has strong

urine odor, nurses little, and is cranky, the doc still says I am

doing great keep it up. HOW DO I KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

I must admit I am tired and stressed which doesn't help the milk

supply issue. Why do my docs want me to wait till my kids are do

bad before helping them, knowing they are prone to strokes?

Wouldn't it be better to be proactive in these issues-at least IV use

when indicated? Help! Any suggestions? Sorry I am

going on, I have been thinking about writing this note for several

days...

Darla: mommy to Asenath, Zipporrah,

and the gang

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or

questions.

[Guest guest]

I know Sheldon's problems weren't as bad as Porrah's but we went

through the same kind of thing. I was so worried and would tell the

doctors that I couldn't wake him up and he couldn't nurse and they

never seemed concerned. They said he must be doing okay if he wasn't

losing weight. As a newborn Sheldon would sleep 9 hours and then we

couldn't wake him up enough to nurse and when he did nurse he just

couldn't figure out how and would go back to sleep. I knew something

was wrong with him for months and they just never seemed

concerned.

I realize this is no help to your situation Sorry. We ended up

switching pediatricians and the new one is better with Sheldon's

problems.

I don't know why they wait until things are so bad before doing

something, I find it frustrating.

I am continuing

to have more problems feeding Zipporrah and it is beginning to stress

me out. Zipporrah has been nursing less and less and of course

is very cranky and hungry. Of course, when she nurses less then

I produce less breast milk and so I have been pumping after each

feeding and making sure to pump at least every 2 1/2-3 hrs. This

is very tiring and I am always worried that as soon as I pump she will

want to nurse again. When this has occurred I try to use a

bottle that has a larger whole and squirting some into her mouth.

She likes this for about 1 oz. and then refuses more. My

pedaitrician said that she probably nurses enough to get rid of the

hunger craving and then stops due to muscle fatigue in her mouth.

But then she says to keep doing what I am doing as I am doing ok with

her. I feel like she is getting worse the older she gets, but I

know how depleted Asenath got so I have been working " overtime "

to make sure Porrah keeps gaining weight. I know she lost a

pound this past week but she is still on the upper level of weight

gain for her age so this gives her pediatrician a false view of how

it's going. When I do not pump regularly I don't

make hardly any milk anymore and causes problems when she actually

wants to nurse fully on her own. I know that if she was bottle

fed only, she would be totally malnourished. I just don't want

to go through what we went through with Asenath concerning food.

Asenath could nurse fine at least so she always had something to fall

back on. Even when Porrah puts out little urine, has strong

urine odor, nurses little, and is cranky, the doc still says I am

doing great keep it up. HOW DO I KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

I must admit I am tired and stressed which doesn't help the milk

supply issue. Why do my docs want me to wait till my kids are do

bad before helping them, knowing they are prone to strokes?

Wouldn't it be better to be proactive in these issues-at least IV use

when indicated? Help! Any suggestions? Sorry I am

going on, I have been thinking about writing this note for several

days...

Darla: mommy to Asenath, Zipporrah,

and the gang

Please contact mito-owner with any problems or

questions.

[Guest guest]

I would try a SNS, you put the breast milk in it and this tube goes down to your nipple and the baby sucks, then they get both milk from the breast and the tube, I use this with Mirella when she has to nurse, (otherwise i pump and use a bottle) as I know she gets very little out of the breast, also you might try avents sippy cup, you can put the breast milk in it too, as young as 3 months can use the cup. Also I haven't used these but heard they might work too: Haberman Feeder and Hazelbaker Finger Feeder , them and the SNS can be found on the site: BreastFeeding Basics, Practical Solutions for Breast Feeding Problems

or http://breastfeeding-basics.com/

I was able to get the SNS through our hospital's lactation dept, they have been most helpful in me being able to still give Mirella my milk even with her sucking issues, how old is your baby, Mirella is almost 4 months. Also what type of pump are u using, to be most effective for regular pumping you need a really good pump, we rent ours through a medical supply company. I HTH. I know how hard it is when the baby can't nurse, I have cried many tears because I can't, and I worry so about her health...

J, Mom to 15, mito unknown, Mirella, 3 months, status unknown (showing some signs but could be because she was early)

[Guest guest]

I would try a SNS, you put the breast milk in it and this tube goes down to your nipple and the baby sucks, then they get both milk from the breast and the tube, I use this with Mirella when she has to nurse, (otherwise i pump and use a bottle) as I know she gets very little out of the breast, also you might try avents sippy cup, you can put the breast milk in it too, as young as 3 months can use the cup. Also I haven't used these but heard they might work too: Haberman Feeder and Hazelbaker Finger Feeder , them and the SNS can be found on the site: BreastFeeding Basics, Practical Solutions for Breast Feeding Problems

or http://breastfeeding-basics.com/

I was able to get the SNS through our hospital's lactation dept, they have been most helpful in me being able to still give Mirella my milk even with her sucking issues, how old is your baby, Mirella is almost 4 months. Also what type of pump are u using, to be most effective for regular pumping you need a really good pump, we rent ours through a medical supply company. I HTH. I know how hard it is when the baby can't nurse, I have cried many tears because I can't, and I worry so about her health...

J, Mom to 15, mito unknown, Mirella, 3 months, status unknown (showing some signs but could be because she was early)