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lemondrops

lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 January 2011 - 21:12
Well, he certainly is a boob man isn't he? Best piece of news I've heard all day. Good for you meals and hopefully Jackson will be back home in no time. xxx
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 19:26
I have the sleepy wrap, baby bjorn and Mei Hip. The sleepy wrap is fantastic for newborns, the Mei hip gives excellent support when carrying larger babies/toddlers. From where did you get the sleepy wrap, lemondrops? I bought mine online http://www.sleepywrap.com/
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 19:23
Thanks for the replies ladies. I must admit though I'm a bit of a cheater... I'm taking motilium tablets, a side effect of which is that it increases prolactin production and hence milk supply and I'll probably be on them until I decide to stop expressing. I've hired a hospital grade breast pump so it takes about 20 minutes to express and then another five to ten minutes of hand expression after to empty my boobs and that seems to be working for me. TanyaR, I am amazed that you got your DS to sleep through at six weeks... how much was he taking during the day? Another problem is that DD is such a lazy feeder, her suck reflex isn't very well developed so it takes at times over an hour to finish a 60 to 70 mL feed. I'm hoping this will end once she hits full term. Thanks again for the advice.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 16:20
I have the sleepy wrap, baby bjorn and Mei Hip. The sleepy wrap is fantastic for newborns, the Mei hip gives excellent support when carrying larger babies/toddlers.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 10:05
That is great news Meals! I think the doctors' strategy is spot on too. Hopefully you'll both do well and he'll be ready for discharge within the week. xxx
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 21:32
How did it go today meals? Thinking of you and the little one. xxx
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 21:31
LD, you have mail and can remove you address. Are you sure? I didn't get anything yet.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 18:52
sent to both clever bubbles and ysy.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 15:30
Wow first of all 100 - 300mls thats great, and i think you have enough to keep you going for a while. My DD is now nearly 1month, i pump every 3 - 4hours day and night. I feel i get more if i push it out to the 4hours but then the next pump at three there is less, so i have to be really diligent with my pumping to maintain my milk. DD takes 100mls per feed in the day and i give her 120mls for 3 feeds at night to get her to sleep longer which she does. I think that if you continuously drop the pumping for a few days then it will go down gradually, but one here and there it wont matter. Eventually she will drop feeds as she sleeps longer and then your body will follow. We follow a strict wake every 3 hour to feed in the day and let her sleep at night, she is 4 weeks (adjusted age 1week) and she has 7feeds in a 24hour period so approx 800mls. However this is alot and my little porker is now 4.1kgs (put on 1100grams in one month) I feel its enough for her however i am concerned that when she has another growth spurt how will i keep up? Leshell, thanks for that. At least I know I'm good for quantities, although I've already had a couple of supply scares already due to her not feeding off me directly. Do you mind me asking why you decided to pump and feed rather than exclusively breastfed? I'm just curious as whether it's because she was born alittle early. My DD was born premature and the reason why we're pumping is because of her poor suck reflexes.
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 15:25
Hi Keno, my email is lama dot cookson at gmail dot com, can you drop me a line with your phone number and maybe when I've got a moment to breathe I'll give you a call if that's ok with you? TIA
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 09:58
That's very interesting. GoddessUli. I had read in the Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears though that studies comparable to the Wakefield study were conducted independently came up with the same finding. It's a shame the study was so shoddily done, as now no one seems to know one way or the other. On a side note, it's a shame you don't post anymore. Always enjoyed and appreciated what you had to say.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 09:54
Also want to add that both the paed and LC I've been seeing for DD confirm that feeding issues are not uncommon in babies up to even 35 to 36 weeks. They actually see a lot of babies at that gestational age for such problems, so what you're going through with Jackson is quite a common problem actually, but hopefully should resolve itself in time.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 21:31
Hi meals, you and Jackson are both doing an amazing job. I agree what the others have said. Some babies do really well with the whole sucking/breathing/swallowing routine while others take longer. I know this time is hard for you especially when you miss the "normalcy" of your family. But what you're doing is exactly what it'll take to bring Jackson back home sooner rather than later. Trust me on this, you'll soon be back to your normal, mundane family routine sooner than you know it. Till then, just take one day at a time. xxx
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 20:00
Ladies, thank you so very much. I think I have now finally accepted things and it was partly due to your beautiful reassuring responses. Thank you so much for sharing! On a bright note, Cecile brought round the supplementary nursing system; and we've tried it a few times for the past couple of days. DD has taken approximately 10mL from the tube in about ten minutes, and then a fair amount after by bottle. I don't think she took anything from the breast itself; but the fact that she latched on and then commenced to suck albeit weakly is a significant improvement. In general she's also been much better feeding at the bottle and we're not having to syringe feed her as much anymore. At this stage I still doubt very much she will breastfeed or at most breastfeed exclusively. I've decided that I will continue to pump and feed her EBM until she is at least 4 months adjusted or hopefully even 6 months adjusted. But more importantly I am finally learning to just relax and start enjoying this new exciting relationship with this growing little being, and stop worrying about the logistics of it all. Thank you so much ladies. I am finally at peace with this. xxx
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 19:45
IMO it depends on the package. I only provide my maid with a monthly salary, out of which she buys anything she needs for herself. My family back home on the other hand, provide their maid with a basic salary and then buy for her all she needs in terms of food, clothing, phone cards, etc. They typically buy for the maid a set of work clothes as well as a few smarter outfits for going out or for when there's a do in the house or if there are guests. Both ways work.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 21:47
Thanks for the tips ... I think I will skip what to expect in the toddler years ... I am already disagreeing with What to expect in the first year ... the first 6 months was great and then they start talking about purees and do BLW, not much on breastfeeding in it, no mention or acknowledgement of Elimination communication etc ... If the next book is about parenting etc ... I'll give that a miss! Sugarbeach - GF and Baby Whisperer were not for me ... (I wouldn't touch GF with a barge pole!) As far as finding mums is concerned ... I am trying my hardest here in France but there isn't that NCT culture unfortunately ... Then you definitely wouldn't like the WTE toddler years book - the first chapter advises mothers to wean their children off breastfeeding at 12 months. I'm assuming you'll have none of that!
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 21:38
Hi Lemondrops. I desperately wanted to breastfeed my DD 1, so much so that I pumped for 12 weeks in the hopes that eventually she'd latch on. I cried and cried, but eventually got over it. I am still breastfeeding DD 2 who is almost two years old and I can say that I have an equal bond with both my children and I believe bonding has nothing to do with breastfeeding. It is ok. You will feel sorry for a while, but you will get over it and know that you have done your best. Thank you AnonDubai. I think one of the reasons why I am finding this difficult is because I keep comparing how things were with DD1 versus DD2. It's a relief to know that my insecurities are pretty much unfounded.
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 21:37
{{{HUGS}}} to you LD! I know everything seems gloomy and grey today, but i thought i would just share this little poem with you that might get you through those really **tough** moments! [i'>You have so much more to look forward to...[/i'> * Giggles under the covers every night. * More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate. * A partner for blowing bubbles, baking cakes * Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how you performed that day * finger-paint * play hide-and-seek * catch lightning bugs * never stop believing in Santa Claus. You have an excuse to: * keep reading the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh * watching Saturday morning cartoons * going to Disney movies, and wishing on stars * You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect hand prints set in clay on Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. * taking the training wheels off a bike * removing a splinter * coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs You get a front row seat to history to witness the: * first step, * first word, * first bra, * first date, and * first time behind the wheel. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree! In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, So one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost :) Beautiful poem... thanks Plumie!
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 21:36
Thank you so much ladies. I almost cried reading everyone of your beautiful posts. In some ways I feel so silly for feeling the way I do. I should be grateful to have a healthy baby girl who is finally home with us after almost a month in the NICU. After a few bumps and bruises she is on the steady path to weight gain and she is still drinking and receiving all the benefits of my breast milk albeit not directly from me. I am finding the bonding difficult probably because of the difficult times we'd been through and are still going through on account of her lazy feeding habits, but as she grows and flourishes I am sure I will learn to bond with her in ways I can not imagine. Thank you for reminding me what is really important. xxx
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 14:28
Oh LD you are so far from being a failure in any respect. You have given J the best possible start in life and tried absolutely everything to bf - I am in awe of your efforts! What you have overcome and achieved to date is incredible and you should b so proud of yourself. If it is of any consolation - I felt exactly like you do when I had to stop last time. And believe me when I say - there are some wonderful ways to bond with Jumana unrelated to bf-ing... Lots of skin to skin time, taking her in the bath, ensuring one on one time with each other away from everyone and everything else... It will all be ok - that's a promise. (((hugs))) and it will get easier. A xxx edited by meals on 04/01/2011 Thank you meals. I think I will feel better just accepting things are they are and moving on. At the moment it seems like such a difficult decision; I feel no bonding whatsoever when feeding DD but I think that is partly because it has been so difficult getting her to take her feeds; hopefully once this gets easier with time, I'll be able to enjoy it more. Today is important in that I need to realise it is not working and move on. I also have a husband and daughter whom I haven't paid any attention to in the last 6 weeks; I also need to schedule some time for myself (to sleep). I need to factor that in as well. All in all, this is sad day for me, but I need to mourn and move on as the situation right now isn't working. :(
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 14:12
*Hugs* Lemondrops. You are absolutely not a failure - you are a fabulous mummy, and how you feed Jumana does not change this fact one bit. You will still be loving her, caring for her, providing her and nurturing her - just differently than you expected. Have you seen an IBCLC to discuss feeding? Most premature babies have difficulties feeding until their actual due date, so if you are still considering breastfeeding then I would strongly encourage you to get a consult. Many preemies just "click" round about then. An IBCLC may be able to suggest techniques which you may not have tried yet, and can also talk through your feelings and emotions and explore various feeding options (including bottle feeding) with you if direct breastfeeding is not going to be an option. Thank you BFC; I've actually been seeing a lactation consultant for this ever since DD was discharged from hospital. DD has ever since been a difficult feeder and we've had to resort to syringe feeding at times just to make sure she gets the calories in her. She also takes the bottle but that too is difficult and it is not uncommon for her feeds to last an hour; top that up with the three hourly feeding and pumping schedule and I'm pooped! I was so hoping to get her to breastfeed to eliminate all the extra work just to get some breastmilk inside of her, but that's not to be. Today the lactation consultant has come by to try and see if she would be willing to go on the breast with a supplementary nursing system. Although we've put fair effort into it; DD took less than 5 mL from the SNS then refused to take her top up bottle or to be fed by syringe; so we had to put her to bed a hungry baby and try again in three hours.... the cycle continues. :( I am basically going to try to get DD to accept the breast over the next few days with the SNS and if that doesn't work, I will have to officially throw in the towel. I'll have to make due with feeding her my EBM for as long as I can i.e. just before I drop unconscious with exhaustion!
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 January 2011 - 11:00
I need to come to terms with the fact that I will not be able to breastfeed DD2 who was born premature at only 31 weeks. I've been holding out hope that once she grows bigger or approaches her due date things will change but still no miracles. DD hardly latches on the breast and doesn't even suck. I don't know why but I am devastated that I will not be able to bond with her the way I did with DD1 (who I breastfed until she was 2 years old). I feel like such a failure and I'm am just so resentful of the circumstances that have led to this. Today, we're giving it one last shot with a supplementary nursing system but I'm not going to hold my breath. :(
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 22:39
I have the baby whisperer ... and DD has the Gruffallo .... Has anyone read What to expect in the Toddler years? Is it any good? I don't think it's as good or useful as the First Year book - and you find yourself not necessarily agreeing with what is written - i.e. the second year is more about parenting choices than it is about giving recommendations or factual advice.
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 19:46
have seen her name come up in a previous thread, so she must be good. will give her an email. what happens if you dont want a natural birth? e.g. u want epidural, pain relief etc? does she still support with that? Yes. She is supportive of whatever decision or course of action you would like to take. I also second Cecile.
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 11:40
Terhal.com also arrange "ecoadventures" - bike rides from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea to camping plus hiking trips in Wadi Rum, etc. http://www.terhaal.com/ Contacts: http://www.terhaal.com/travel-jordan/contact-us
lemondrops
378
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 14:09
Please note ladies, the fees for NICU care have changed very recently in all Dubai Government hospitals. I can give you the fees for Al Wasl Hospital, but don't know if they also apply to Dubai Hospital: Per Diem Accommodation charges for NICU care: Level 1: AED 2,200 Level 2: AED 2,900 Level 3: AED 3,400 During DD2 27 day stay at NICU, all we paid for was the NICU stay; we were not charged for any tests, medications or consummated. Still the bill came to a hefty AED 59K, that we had to pay for in cash (or by credit card if you have the limit) and then claim back on our insurance. Unfortunately, the days of affordable healthcare in Dubai are now long gone :(
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 11:11
For both of my pregnancies here, I never received any reports for any tests/blood work I had done. In fact the OB never really discussed the results in depth if they were normal. Both OBs I saw though made sure to contact me immediately if I had any abnormal results or if I needed follow up.
lemondrops
378
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 January 2011 - 09:54
Can anyone help me with this: As part of the application, I need to submit my birth certificate; but it happens to be in Arabic. Do I need to provide a certified translation or just attach a copy of my translation with it? For DD1, all I had to do was translate it myself and attach that to the original, but don't know if this is still applicable with the new process?
 
 
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