Hellobee Boards

Hope everyone is enjoying the new year!
@neekierose - we are not using the vitamin D drops. Our ped hasn't said anything about them even though I asked about jaundice at her 2week appt because she looked a little yellow.

@NeekieRose: I bought the drops but only remember to give them about 1/3 of the time. Oops. (Most Chicagoans have low vit D given our winters)

@NeekieRose: we picked them up right after she was born, but I'm horrible at remembering them and when I do I doubt she gets more than 1/4 ml (she isn't a fan). I do need to make a better effort though, we don't get out much in the winter months and I'm already D deficient.

@Mrs. Pink: Oh, I didn't cry at the PKU test, I was kinda pissed during that. Ha. It was way more than a pinprick, that was a small cut on her heel that was gushing blood. At least it seemed that way to me at the time.

I think they can test for vitamin D deficiency, but neither Reagan nor I have been tested. Getting sun has never been an issue for me. Also, in my limited research it seems that the sun is really the best place to get vitamin D, so that's what I am going to focus on instead.

I know she is growing, but I don't see that much of a difference. Like when I posted the one month and two month pictures, I don't think they are that different. And I hope she doesn't decide to stop being so cuddly anytime soon!

So I have a question for mamas in the healthcare field, or anyone really. Maybe @Ash: can help?!

I got a bill in the mail today. I've already gotten the itemized hospital/c-section bill. This was separate. When I opened it, it took me by surprise because the only thing listed was "newborn resuscitation" with a charge next to it. Now, when Nathan was born, it took them forever to get him out (he was stuck/they vacuumed him). Then, I remember the anesthesiologist looking over the curtain and telling us "he's out!" but we didn't hear him cry for a long time. It could have felt longer than it actually was, but it seemed like at least a minute. I was freaking out a bit, but everything turned out fine.

The doctors or nurses never said anything to us about resuscitation, either in the delivery room or during the hospital stay. It kinda freaks me out that he maybe wasn't breathing and we never knew? Or maybe this is a common occurrence? DH thinks that maybe that's just how they code the APGAR scores (can't remember, but I thought he said they were like 8 and 9...), but I don't see why there would be separate charges for that?

side topic- do you guys do full baths every night or just every other day? Caroline likes baths but I feel like I heard somewhere that it can dry out their skin?

Our ped told us about the vitamin D drops as well. When we were supplementing we were great about giving them to her...one drop in her morning bottle, easy peasy! Now I remember maybe 2/3 of the time.

We do baths every few days too...like @MrsDragon: our Caroline doesn't like them and mama can't bear to hear the unhappy crying. Which, of course, probably means we should do them more often so she gets used to it. I'd like to start doing every day as part of a bedtime routine eventually but we're just not there yet.

C hit 7 weeks yesterday and weighed in at just over 9 lb this week! After having such a slow weight gain at first, she gained a pound and a half in about two weeks...this mama is so proud!!

@sarah.clarisse: vitamin isn't transferred through breast milk - that's why it's recommended because a deficiency can cause rickets. That being said, I suck at remembering to give them as well.
As for the cloth, we were doing sposies until we ran out and had no choice but to break out the cloth. I looooooooove the bg freetimes way more than the 4.0s. We ordered more sposies (7th generation) but once they're gone we'll officially start cloth again.

@lilteacherbee: what the heck! Apgars wouldn't be charged separately. And with scores of 8 and 9, I don't think he required an actual resuscitation. I'm so confused by this. I'd be calling about that charge - it's crazy!

It's funny how much all of the babies hate bath time - ds loves it! I put a washcloth on his belly (and boy parts) and keep him warm by pouring water on him the whole time. He never cries! I guess I'm lucky lol!

I'm really behind - sorry guys. It's usually pretty crazy around here and dh isn't home very often (He's a huge help when he is though!). Hope everyone is well. We have been weighing ds on our home scale and he was 13lbs yesterday at 5 weeks. Little chunky boy!

@lilteacherbee: That is crazy about the charge, I would definitely call and find out. We didn't get an itemized bill, or any bill at all. It would be interesting to see all the itemized charges.

I go back to work on the 20th and Reagan will start daycare I can't believe I only have 2 more weeks left. Besides @lilteacherbee, is anyone else going back in the next couple weeks?

@Mrs. Pink: Reagan actually has yet to have a bath. We did a few sponge baths before her umbilical stump fell off, but since then she has been taking showers with me. She loooovvves them. I put her in her bouncer seat outside the shower while I wash myself, then pull her in and wash her. She gets a shower every 2 out of 3 days on average with soap only being used half the time. Then I make sure to lotion her up after each one.

We are going to try to start a bedtime routine in preparation for returning to work so I think it will involve actually doing baths, storytime, feeding, then bed in her crib (she is only taking naps in there right now). But I think she has about outgrown her bassinet. (See picture)

@lilteacherbee: Ugh, I'm dreeeeading the 2 month shots--we go in on Monday for ours. So odd about the bill, I'd call for sure.

@Mrs. Pink: Ha, baths... We're typically doing them every other day to every 3 days. Usually I'll bring her in with me. It's so freaking cold up here and our air is super dry, I don't want to do it more than we have to...plus, she HATES getting out and usually ends up scream-crying which I can't stand, too sad.

@sarah.clarisse: We're still doing cloth during the day and disposables at night. So far no complaints about cloth, washing seems to be fine so far, but I'm still watching for any stink issues. I got my bigger diaper bag, so that's been a lifesaver! I'm not in a hurry to get out of them at night because LO has been co-sleeping doing from about 8:00-9:00ish until 4:00 in the morning in bed (feeding in bed), so I don't want to have to get up to change her if I don't have to!

@Ash: LO looooves bath time itself, but once it comes to getting out...that's when the meltdown starts.

@NeekieRose: I was able to look online at our charges...so crazy. I think between LO and myself, we racked up a bill close to 40,000. Thank gawd for DH's awesome insurance!!!

Not much else going on, DH takes off on Monday for pretty much the rest of the month. LO is doing great, I think possibly coming out of her Wonder Week leap as she doesn't seem to be as miserably fussy--her sleep has been a lot better, too! I haven't really started any kind of "routine" at bedtime yet, as of now, I don't think a bath will be part of it. We pretty much change her into a disposable diaper, making sure to diaper cream her up good, then have all the nursery lights off, I'll nurse her, and she'll either get drowsy/sleepy during that, otherwise I'll rock her until she's sleepy/sleeping. Since she's going down between 8 and 9 at night, I'll usually just go to sleep with her. She's up a few times at night to eat, but we just feed in bed so it's not like we're actually "up." Around 4-5 I'll bring her in to get changed, then I cross my fingers that she'll go back down!

I'm going to my work party tonight and leaving LO with DH for 3-4 hours... I'm kiiiind of dreading it to be honest. I do all the feeding (EBF), sleeping, etc., so I'm hoping he's able to calm her down and such if she gets worked up. He's super involved and everything, and loves her, but if we're both around and she gets fussy, she's always defaulted to me to either feed/calm/etc. Anyway, I know it's good to get out and have him "figure it out," but I just hope she doesn't scream-cry the whole time. Also, it's our first time dealing with bottles in a month!

On the work front, I'm basically going to tell my boss tonight that I'd like to come in sometime next week to talk about my "return." I'm supposed to be back on the 27th, but I'll basically be saying I don't plan on returning. Ugh. Anyway, that's about it I guess (ha, sorry for the novel). Glad everyone is doing well!

I think we'll start doing baths more since she likes it-- might as well take advantage of that-- I've been trying to teach her to splash which I know is something I'll probably regret but oh well....

Now I understand why we didn't get told about Vitamin D Drops-- she's on formula 100% now so it's probably mixed in there-- I wonder why of all things our bodies don't transfer Vitamin D? Kind of random.

I've bought the Wonder Weeks book and am excited to read it-- I hear so much about it that I feel like I've missed something Hopefully with Hubby home today I can hop in a bubble bath or something and start it.

Re: clothes again- as happy as I am that she's growing, I hope that our 0-3 fit for a little while more- I foolishly bought a crap ton of them.... this kid has a closet that rivals mine sometimes... I just love baby clothes!

@FarmWifeGina: Cute smile! I love baby smiles, seems like such a little thing but when I see baby girl smile there is no way to feel anything but pure joy.

Thanks everyone, I'm definitely going to call on Monday. It just seems weird to me that they never mentioned anything about it.

Other than that, it's been great around here Last night, we had a "play date" (pretty much the moms getting together to gossip haha). I work at a small pre-k center (7 teachers) and last year, 3 of us were pregnant and all due in November! One baby was born 2 weeks before LO and the other was born 4 days after LO. It was so fun to see the babies together! Of course, my chunker was the biggest lol. There's a pic on FB for those of you who are my friends on there (btw, if we're not, we totally should be!)

Also, we nursed twice yesterday and once today without using a shield!!! I was so proud of my boy! I don't really mind the shield (wouldn't have been able to nurse without it in the beginning), but it's kinda annoying to have another thing to remember/wash/keep up with. So maybe in a week or two we'll be completely off of it!

@FarmWifeGina: LOVE the smile!! The first time N smiled at me, I was so happy! Everyone else saw him smile first and they would call me over, and he'd stop! Happened like that for at least 3 days and drove me nuts. But now he doesn't stop smiling! I love it

@Mrs. Pink: wow, she has grown!! I love that she's only a day older than my LO! That's so funny that you posted that because I did the same thing! I took a picture a couple of nights ago of LO in his rock n play and I thought "hey I think I've taken this picture before." I went back through my pics and I had taken one of him in the same sleeper when he was only 10 days old. The second one was at 7 weeks! So crazy how different he looks and how he definitely has grown into that sleeper!

Dudes, last night went so awful. Hahahaa, it was just all-around bad. I took off for my work party around 5:30ish, and I guess by 6:15 LO was in full meltdown mode. Like, purple-faced scream-crying. Poor DH tried everything he could (which I think probably attributed to her freaking out--I think he just switched from trying to rock, then bounce, then set down, then change, then feed, then pick up again, then try this/that/etc...) to calm her down and it was just a fail. She wouldn't take the bottle (3.5 oz of breastmilk...ugggggh), but I'm not sure if it was because it was a bottle or if it was because she wasn't hungry and too worked up.

I guess she finally started calming down in the swing, and was just sitting there when I came home. I feel badly for DH as I think it may have shaken his confidence a little bit. It's tough because he travels so much for work that he isn't around her as much as I am, and when he is, I still have to do all of the feeding, so it's...tough. Anyway, the rest of the night was a little off. It took a loooong time to get her down for bed, and she was pretty restless throughout the night. She was also up early and didn't want to go back down...until I finally got up with her and got ready for the day, then she decided to nap!

Today has gone well, she's been napping a LOT, which I guess I shouldn't be surprised by! It's been night and day from last week when I think we just kicked off the start of the 2nd Wonder Week leap, she's been so much happier and content, so that's been good! She's currently taking a 2 hour nap in the swing, which has been awesome!

I'll report back after the 2 month appointment tomorrow...DREADING it.

Those of you who LO's rarely get a bottle of expressed milk,
How much is LO drinking from the bottle?

M just had her first bottle and it was sort of a fall. She took 2 oz, probably wore 1/2-1 oz and my mom had to really work with her to even take that. We were going to use the Comotomo bottles but decided to use the Medela Calma since we know she has an issue with nipples (meaning won't take a pacifier). I'm currently nursing her because she refused to take anymore from the bottle pushing it away and out of her mouth, but was obviously still hungry and rooting.

@anbanan15: do I count? Ds takes 4oz a pop. He keeps my boobs busy!

@anbanan15: Avent bottles and silicone nipples have been working well for us. The Medela bottle was a no go.

@Ash: Yup you count I'm sure she gets more at the breast.

@sweetooth: Maybe we should try the Comotomo. I think we will give the Calma a few more tries first. It just makes me nervous since she won't suck anything besides boob. I never believed things like nipple confusion or babies refusing certain bottles existed, DS was so easy when it came to this and liked the first things we tried, but I don't want to find out about them either.

@anbanan15: We've always used Comotomo. Medelas didn't work at all, nor did Lansinoh's mOmma (probably would have but theinside of the bottle had a lot of ridges the milk got caught on). With that being said, she hasn't had a bottle in a month--the one on Saturday was a fail so I'm going to try to try again this week maybe.

@Mrs. Pink: Honestly, I don't think we plan on doing any kind of college saving anytime soon.

@sweetooth: Enjoy the downtime!! Man, it was a LOT happening, wasn't it? With all of the holidays and such, safe to say I'm kind of glad it's over!

We go to our appt. in about an hour...dreading it. I gave LO a bath this morning so we won't have to do it for a few days in case she's sore. I'll also have to ask about vitamin D drops. I somehow have 2 bottles and haven't used them yet (though she's only been EBF for the past month, so she was getting some from formula before). I'll let you know how it goes!

@anbanan15: I feed LO 1-2 bottles of BM a day and he takes 4oz.

So I called about the resuscitation bill. They looked it up for me and said he just needed some extra help when he was born regarding some fluid. They suctioned him out and gave him oxygen for a bit. She said "don't worry, they didn't do any actual CPR or anything serious like that." And then she said she would bill insurance since we have since added him onto ours. So a productive call! I feel much better.