So, $140 later... (I should become a lactation consultant in my later years...)
Okay this is what I know, or was confirmed for me.
Mary Catherine has a terrible suck. She now will use a nipple shield and the SNS until she improves. I will then have to wean her off of two things. We're hoping that her suck will improve. The LC was hopeful, but concerned.
Henry's suck is okay, but his frustration level makes it so he will not latch correctly without the SNS to give him constant milk. I will work on weaning him off the SNS by closing the valve off and on while he is nursing to encourage him to draw from me.
So, the plan is to continue to nurse one baby, with all contraptions necessary, while someone else feeds the other baby. For a few more weeks, it will take a circus to get this accomplished. Thank the Lord in Heaven for my girls and Jason, as well as good friends and family who have been recruited to help off and on.
I mourn for the ease of nursing my babies without all this pomp and circumstance.
The LC did recommend the Podee bottle because it is harder to suck the milk, which will strengthen their muscles. My sister is going to drive and get that for me at Babies R Us, which is 45 mins from us. This bottle should be better for everyone because the girls won't have to hold the babies completely upright when they feed them.
As far as my milk supply, I am now taking Fenugreek Seed three times a day and I will start Reglan. The LC said that each baby should be getting 2 oz of milk every three hours. She said they may drink more because it's in a bottle and flowing faster, but they don't 'need' more at this point. So, if I don't have more than 2 oz of breast milk and they are still starving, I will give them some formula.
Right now, I'm still ahead a little bit on milk. I know it's the Lord supplying my needs. He wants me right there, not too cocky, not too prideful...just right there leaning on Him for my every need.
6.30.2009
Another Lactation Consultant
I'm meeting with another lactation consultant today.
Pray that she can help the twins and I figure this out. I'm down to the wire. I only have two feedings of frozen milk left, so if I don't pump enough at the end of each feeding for the next feeding we'll have to use formula.
Pray that she can help the twins and I figure this out. I'm down to the wire. I only have two feedings of frozen milk left, so if I don't pump enough at the end of each feeding for the next feeding we'll have to use formula.
6.28.2009
Milk...
So, things here have been crazy. Jason and the kids left for Charlotte on Thursday, which left me alone with the babies. If the babies were tandem nursing that would not be such a big deal. However, it still takes two people to feed the babies every three hours.
Thankfully, my sister spent the night Thurs, worked from here on Friday, and came back at dinner time on Saturday to spend the night again. In between those times, my friend/neighbor Sharon came over and helped me feed them. I am very blessed by wonderful family and friends.
What I usually do is nurse one twin with the SNS and someone else bottle feeds the other twin. I have been trying to put the twins on to nurse at the same time initially and then have someone take one twin to bottle feed after a few minutes so they don't forget what it's like to nurse. The problem is that they still have fairly weak sucks so they get on, but my milk will not come down. I tried pumping today right before I put them on, but it still did not help.
I have started to feel like Henry is really enjoying the bottle too much and has very little patience for nursing, even with the SNS. So the last few feedings I have done only SNS with him and no bottle at all. The SNS is basically an upside down bottle with a very thin tube that goes into the baby's mouth. So, I can see that he gets 2 oz, but he gets it while 'nursing'. At first Henry protested quite a bit, but the last two feedings he has done better and finished his 2 oz bottle via SNS.
Mary Catherine is much more patience and will try to latch over and over, but even when she does it to no avail because her suck is so weak. It's like a tickle. Hopefully it will not backfire that I'm concentrating on Henry so much.
My pumping is not going to well. I'm barely producing enough to make it to the next feeding. I only have four feedings worth frozen. I feel like the woman in the Bible who only had enough oil for one more loaf of bread. The Lord kept providing b/c of her faith, but I'm sure she was a little nervous at first.
Please pray that my milk production will increase and that the twins will begin to nurse well. I know once they nurse it will help my milk, but it's such an arduous task to teach them.
I'm going to a La Leche meeting on Th. If I don't feel like I get any help there, then I will make an appointment with another lacation consultant. I want to make sure we are doing things correctly.
Thankfully, my sister spent the night Thurs, worked from here on Friday, and came back at dinner time on Saturday to spend the night again. In between those times, my friend/neighbor Sharon came over and helped me feed them. I am very blessed by wonderful family and friends.
What I usually do is nurse one twin with the SNS and someone else bottle feeds the other twin. I have been trying to put the twins on to nurse at the same time initially and then have someone take one twin to bottle feed after a few minutes so they don't forget what it's like to nurse. The problem is that they still have fairly weak sucks so they get on, but my milk will not come down. I tried pumping today right before I put them on, but it still did not help.
I have started to feel like Henry is really enjoying the bottle too much and has very little patience for nursing, even with the SNS. So the last few feedings I have done only SNS with him and no bottle at all. The SNS is basically an upside down bottle with a very thin tube that goes into the baby's mouth. So, I can see that he gets 2 oz, but he gets it while 'nursing'. At first Henry protested quite a bit, but the last two feedings he has done better and finished his 2 oz bottle via SNS.
Mary Catherine is much more patience and will try to latch over and over, but even when she does it to no avail because her suck is so weak. It's like a tickle. Hopefully it will not backfire that I'm concentrating on Henry so much.
My pumping is not going to well. I'm barely producing enough to make it to the next feeding. I only have four feedings worth frozen. I feel like the woman in the Bible who only had enough oil for one more loaf of bread. The Lord kept providing b/c of her faith, but I'm sure she was a little nervous at first.
Please pray that my milk production will increase and that the twins will begin to nurse well. I know once they nurse it will help my milk, but it's such an arduous task to teach them.
I'm going to a La Leche meeting on Th. If I don't feel like I get any help there, then I will make an appointment with another lacation consultant. I want to make sure we are doing things correctly.
6.23.2009
Weight Check
We took the twins for their weight check.
Henry weighed 6 lbs 3 oz, which means he gained 9 oz in 4 days. They wanted him to gain 1/2 oz to 1 oz a day, so he blew that out of the water. He gained half of what he lost. Another 9 oz and he'll be back to birth weight.
Mary Catherine weighed 5 lbs 9.5 oz, which means she gained 5.5 oz. Her birth weight was 5 lbs 12 oz, so she is very close to that now.
Henry got 2 oz of formula on that Friday, but since then they both have had breast milk via bottles and SNS tubing. I'm so glad that I had the courage to follow my gut and ignore the pathetically rude pediatrician.
I'm not saying formula is bad, and who knows how all of this will end up, but at this point it is important to me to give them breast milk and try my hardest to get them to nurse well.
Thank you all for the prayers.
Please pray that they will learn to nurse so that I can feed them at the same time and I don't need so much help from everyone. Jason has lost quite a bit of sleep helping me every night with the bottle feedings. He does it so willingly, but I just don't see the need for both of us to be tired, if we can help it. He has to go to work to support this family. I get to be at home where it doesn't matter if I'm incoherent or smelly or sleep deprived.
Henry weighed 6 lbs 3 oz, which means he gained 9 oz in 4 days. They wanted him to gain 1/2 oz to 1 oz a day, so he blew that out of the water. He gained half of what he lost. Another 9 oz and he'll be back to birth weight.
Mary Catherine weighed 5 lbs 9.5 oz, which means she gained 5.5 oz. Her birth weight was 5 lbs 12 oz, so she is very close to that now.
Henry got 2 oz of formula on that Friday, but since then they both have had breast milk via bottles and SNS tubing. I'm so glad that I had the courage to follow my gut and ignore the pathetically rude pediatrician.
I'm not saying formula is bad, and who knows how all of this will end up, but at this point it is important to me to give them breast milk and try my hardest to get them to nurse well.
Thank you all for the prayers.
Please pray that they will learn to nurse so that I can feed them at the same time and I don't need so much help from everyone. Jason has lost quite a bit of sleep helping me every night with the bottle feedings. He does it so willingly, but I just don't see the need for both of us to be tired, if we can help it. He has to go to work to support this family. I get to be at home where it doesn't matter if I'm incoherent or smelly or sleep deprived.
6.22.2009
Sun Night/Mon Morning
I have just a few minutes before I have to start the feedings again.
They drank bottles around 2:45 am. I was back in bed at 4 am after feeding MC, pumping, cleaning the bottles, the pump, refilling the bottles with the newly pumped milk for the next feeding.
They woke up next at 6:30 am. I was going to try to nurse Henry and then wake MC, but she couldn't wait so I took her in to Jason. (He finished his night sleeping in the living room b/c he finished with Henry and had him back in bed before I was finished with all my stuff.)
Henry would not latch on, so after 10 mins of screaming, I fed him a bottle.
They were back in bed around 7:30-7:45 am.
At 9:30 am, I woke MC and nursed her for about 10-15 mins. She drank about 10-15 ml from the SNS tubing. She then drank her bottle. At 10:30 am, I was finished with her and woke Henry and did the same with him for the next hour. I was glad they both attached and drank, even if it's not coming out from me very well. They got some practice.
After that I pumped, cleaned the pump and bottles, and refilled bottles for the next feeding. Then I warmed my lunch and sat here to write this.
It's already time to wake MC again and start this all over again. I'm thinking that I will just give her a bottle of milk and then pump. Or maybe I'll see if she will sleep as long as Henry and try to attach both of them with SNS tubing. I just cannot bear another two hours right now.
I need a shower.
They drank bottles around 2:45 am. I was back in bed at 4 am after feeding MC, pumping, cleaning the bottles, the pump, refilling the bottles with the newly pumped milk for the next feeding.
They woke up next at 6:30 am. I was going to try to nurse Henry and then wake MC, but she couldn't wait so I took her in to Jason. (He finished his night sleeping in the living room b/c he finished with Henry and had him back in bed before I was finished with all my stuff.)
Henry would not latch on, so after 10 mins of screaming, I fed him a bottle.
They were back in bed around 7:30-7:45 am.
At 9:30 am, I woke MC and nursed her for about 10-15 mins. She drank about 10-15 ml from the SNS tubing. She then drank her bottle. At 10:30 am, I was finished with her and woke Henry and did the same with him for the next hour. I was glad they both attached and drank, even if it's not coming out from me very well. They got some practice.
After that I pumped, cleaned the pump and bottles, and refilled bottles for the next feeding. Then I warmed my lunch and sat here to write this.
It's already time to wake MC again and start this all over again. I'm thinking that I will just give her a bottle of milk and then pump. Or maybe I'll see if she will sleep as long as Henry and try to attach both of them with SNS tubing. I just cannot bear another two hours right now.
I need a shower.
6.21.2009
Last Night...
I have a small break in between the chaos, so I thought I would update.
Last night for both of the middle of the night feedings, we bottle fed the twins. The LC recommended that so that we are not up too long. It was a good recommendation because the twins are so terrible at their suck that it takes them at least 30 mins to drink 2 oz.
After they eat then I pump.
Jason fed and changed Henry and I had Mary Catherine. I am so thankful for his help. It's not easy to lose sleep and Jay loves sleep more than food. :) He happily and lovingly helped me both feedings. Let's hope that sweet demeanor stays for the next couple of weeks.
This morning (8:30 am) MC slept longer, so I had time for Henry to nurse with the SNS tube. He did well and drank 20 ml from the tube while staying attached. He still doesn't attach perfectly, but we're working on it. it took about a dozen attempts to get him to stay on. Afterwards, I had Kerrigan feed Henry a bottle while I had MC nurse with the SNS tubing. She also stayed attached and drank 20 ml via the SNS.
I still don't think that they are getting much from me b/c when I pump I get the same amount, but they are learning at least. So, they 'nurse' for 15 mins and might get close to an ounce, including what they get from the SNS. A lot of work for a little reward.
All of this is so new for me. I'm not used to needing help, but at this point it's absolutely necessary.
(As I sit and write this, my friend and neighbor, Sharon, just called and offered to come help feed a baby while my family is at church. God is so good to work through people.)
Last night for both of the middle of the night feedings, we bottle fed the twins. The LC recommended that so that we are not up too long. It was a good recommendation because the twins are so terrible at their suck that it takes them at least 30 mins to drink 2 oz.
After they eat then I pump.
Jason fed and changed Henry and I had Mary Catherine. I am so thankful for his help. It's not easy to lose sleep and Jay loves sleep more than food. :) He happily and lovingly helped me both feedings. Let's hope that sweet demeanor stays for the next couple of weeks.
This morning (8:30 am) MC slept longer, so I had time for Henry to nurse with the SNS tube. He did well and drank 20 ml from the tube while staying attached. He still doesn't attach perfectly, but we're working on it. it took about a dozen attempts to get him to stay on. Afterwards, I had Kerrigan feed Henry a bottle while I had MC nurse with the SNS tubing. She also stayed attached and drank 20 ml via the SNS.
I still don't think that they are getting much from me b/c when I pump I get the same amount, but they are learning at least. So, they 'nurse' for 15 mins and might get close to an ounce, including what they get from the SNS. A lot of work for a little reward.
All of this is so new for me. I'm not used to needing help, but at this point it's absolutely necessary.
(As I sit and write this, my friend and neighbor, Sharon, just called and offered to come help feed a baby while my family is at church. God is so good to work through people.)
6.20.2009
Wake Med Today...
So, the lactation consultant called me back from Wake Med. I decided to go over there since it was today versus Monday.
It took awhile and we learned a bit and now we have a 'plan'.
In short, basically the twins are not good nursers. Most likely due to being born early and being small with little mouths. So, because they are not good nursers, they do not nurse correctly, so my let down doesn't come down.
We weighed the babies and then I 'nursed' and then she weighed them again. MC is a better nurser, but even she was pitiful. After almost 15-20 mins of nursing, she only gained 5 ml. In case you don't know how much that is, 30 ml is an ounce. 5 ml is about the amount you put in a medicine dropper. So, obviously there is a nursing issue. It's honestly a wonder how they were not worse off than they are at this point.
Our plan is to continue to nurse and work with each twin on his/her technique, while having an S-n-S tube going down into his/her mouth near the nipple so that she/he is getting breastmilk via the tubing to encourage a continuous latch on. They are off and on so much that we don't have any rhythm and so no let down, which causes frustration, etc...
Now, while I'm doing that with one twin, the other twin will get expressed milk via a bottle. Hopefully being fed by one of my girls or Jason. Already the fun of bottle feeding the twins is wearing thin. We have to feed the baby sitting up so that he/she doesn't get lazy by having the milk pour down his/her throat. It's not easy for the kids to do that, but they try. If the twins don't wake at the same time, then I will probably do it all myself. However, I've spent the last two weeks waking them at the same time, so usually they are up at the same time.
After 'nursing' that twin will also get a 2 oz-3 oz bottle of milk.
After that bottle, I will pump. I'm going to get a hospital grade pump on Monday.
Hopefully within the next couple of weeks, the twins will figure out how to nurse better and we can go back to tandem nursing. Until then, I will be spending A LOT of time doing all of the above and preparing for the next feeding. I have no idea how anything else will ever get done.
The other kids don't need to eat do they?
It took awhile and we learned a bit and now we have a 'plan'.
In short, basically the twins are not good nursers. Most likely due to being born early and being small with little mouths. So, because they are not good nursers, they do not nurse correctly, so my let down doesn't come down.
We weighed the babies and then I 'nursed' and then she weighed them again. MC is a better nurser, but even she was pitiful. After almost 15-20 mins of nursing, she only gained 5 ml. In case you don't know how much that is, 30 ml is an ounce. 5 ml is about the amount you put in a medicine dropper. So, obviously there is a nursing issue. It's honestly a wonder how they were not worse off than they are at this point.
Our plan is to continue to nurse and work with each twin on his/her technique, while having an S-n-S tube going down into his/her mouth near the nipple so that she/he is getting breastmilk via the tubing to encourage a continuous latch on. They are off and on so much that we don't have any rhythm and so no let down, which causes frustration, etc...
Now, while I'm doing that with one twin, the other twin will get expressed milk via a bottle. Hopefully being fed by one of my girls or Jason. Already the fun of bottle feeding the twins is wearing thin. We have to feed the baby sitting up so that he/she doesn't get lazy by having the milk pour down his/her throat. It's not easy for the kids to do that, but they try. If the twins don't wake at the same time, then I will probably do it all myself. However, I've spent the last two weeks waking them at the same time, so usually they are up at the same time.
After 'nursing' that twin will also get a 2 oz-3 oz bottle of milk.
After that bottle, I will pump. I'm going to get a hospital grade pump on Monday.
Hopefully within the next couple of weeks, the twins will figure out how to nurse better and we can go back to tandem nursing. Until then, I will be spending A LOT of time doing all of the above and preparing for the next feeding. I have no idea how anything else will ever get done.
The other kids don't need to eat do they?
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