Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Update on the Sick Family...
My mom and I managed to work as a team and get the kiddos to the pediatrician successfully this morning. The results:
Ben: Still has a slight fever. Otherwise? He's "fine". She told me to keep giving him Motrin for the fever and keep him on the Claritin for his allergies. He was weighed in at a WHOPPING 30 pounds. Heh. The nurse said, "Your little brother is going to quickly outpace you!"
Simon: My gosh. Could this child BE more laid back? He didn't even cry when I took his clothes off. He cooed and stared at the doctor the whole time she examined him. The only time he really cried was when she pricked his heel and hey, I'd have cried too. :( Ready for this? HE weighs in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. 10-15th percentile for weight, 50th for height (20 inches still), 50th for head. (we make kids with gigantic heads) Anyway, this means, in the span of a week, he has gained almost a FULL pound. He is almost busting out of the newborn diapers. I told you all the kid can eat! I have to give him iron drops because he is getting mostly breastmilk still... does anyone have any comments on this? I have heard it's controversial and not especially necessary. And at what point is he eating enough formula to be getting the iron he needs? Yeah, I could ask the doctor, but frankly, I think the internet and other mothers are a better resource. So anyway, he is perfect and healthy, other than his freaky deaky belly button and a slight cold, which she just told me to use saline drops for. (He's going to LOVE that) We get to go back in two weeks for his 1-month visit.
Me: My doctor informed me when I got a hold of her today that the antibiotic can take up to 48 hours to start working. That makes me feel a LITTLE better. She said if I still keep spiking a fever by late tomorrow afternoon to call her and we'll try something stronger. I still say there is the distinct possibility that I have whatever Ben has just to a larger degree. Either way, I hope I kick it soon. My house is a total sty, Ben is neglected and Tom is irrated because he has to keep leaving work early. Bleh.
Ben: Still has a slight fever. Otherwise? He's "fine". She told me to keep giving him Motrin for the fever and keep him on the Claritin for his allergies. He was weighed in at a WHOPPING 30 pounds. Heh. The nurse said, "Your little brother is going to quickly outpace you!"
Simon: My gosh. Could this child BE more laid back? He didn't even cry when I took his clothes off. He cooed and stared at the doctor the whole time she examined him. The only time he really cried was when she pricked his heel and hey, I'd have cried too. :( Ready for this? HE weighs in at 7 pounds, 3 ounces. 10-15th percentile for weight, 50th for height (20 inches still), 50th for head. (we make kids with gigantic heads) Anyway, this means, in the span of a week, he has gained almost a FULL pound. He is almost busting out of the newborn diapers. I told you all the kid can eat! I have to give him iron drops because he is getting mostly breastmilk still... does anyone have any comments on this? I have heard it's controversial and not especially necessary. And at what point is he eating enough formula to be getting the iron he needs? Yeah, I could ask the doctor, but frankly, I think the internet and other mothers are a better resource. So anyway, he is perfect and healthy, other than his freaky deaky belly button and a slight cold, which she just told me to use saline drops for. (He's going to LOVE that) We get to go back in two weeks for his 1-month visit.
Me: My doctor informed me when I got a hold of her today that the antibiotic can take up to 48 hours to start working. That makes me feel a LITTLE better. She said if I still keep spiking a fever by late tomorrow afternoon to call her and we'll try something stronger. I still say there is the distinct possibility that I have whatever Ben has just to a larger degree. Either way, I hope I kick it soon. My house is a total sty, Ben is neglected and Tom is irrated because he has to keep leaving work early. Bleh.
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Isaac's pediatrician specifically told me he wouldn't need iron drops. Jacob's pediatrician (2 years later, and in a non-hippie town) recommended them, in combination with vitamins A, C, and E (I think she suggested Enfamil's Tri-Vi-Sol with iron? If there is such a thing?). I probably gave Jacob 5 doses of his vites before we gave it up. He was so little when we started that he just spit 90% of it back out, and I wasn't about to try re-dosing him for fear of giving him iron poisoning.
Regardless, you might try the vites for Simon if your pediatrician recommended it. Vitamins (in prudence and moderation) are always a good thing I guess. A friend of mine still gives her 16-month-old vitamin drops. But don't feel like Simon's going to keel over and die if he doesn't get htem.
I hope you all get better soon. Sick babies are one thing, but a sick mommy turns it all into total chaos.
Regardless, you might try the vites for Simon if your pediatrician recommended it. Vitamins (in prudence and moderation) are always a good thing I guess. A friend of mine still gives her 16-month-old vitamin drops. But don't feel like Simon's going to keel over and die if he doesn't get htem.
I hope you all get better soon. Sick babies are one thing, but a sick mommy turns it all into total chaos.
i didn't even finish reading your post but had to respond. the whole point of being able to breastfeed all the way to 6 months without any suppliments is b/c they (the baby) have enough iron stored that lasts until 6 months.
so i would say phooey on the iron drops!
so i would say phooey on the iron drops!
Erin,
My pediatrician also said to do the vitamins for Emma (never for Jake and he's three - and was also soley breastfed). Honestly, we didn't even do them for Emma more than a handful of times until her 6 or 9 month visit. She is perfectly fine and is a chub to boot. I almost think they are erring on the side of caution. Are you still taking your prenates?
Good luck - get well soon to all of you!
~Lynn
My pediatrician also said to do the vitamins for Emma (never for Jake and he's three - and was also soley breastfed). Honestly, we didn't even do them for Emma more than a handful of times until her 6 or 9 month visit. She is perfectly fine and is a chub to boot. I almost think they are erring on the side of caution. Are you still taking your prenates?
Good luck - get well soon to all of you!
~Lynn
My pediatrician "lightly" recommended Poly-Vi-Sol for both of my exclusively breastfed babies, but both of them experienced tummy trouble when we began them, so we quickly gave them up. When I read Kellymom.com and saw that they did not feel that the supplements were necessary, I felt fine tossing them and both kids' iron levels measured fine when tested. Good luck with the choice about vitamins and the mastitis (ouch! I had it too!) and congrats on giving Simon so much breastmilk!
Beth, Chapel Hill
Mom to Mac (3/04) and Cate (3/06)
Beth, Chapel Hill
Mom to Mac (3/04) and Cate (3/06)
My pediatrician "lightly" recommended Poly-Vi-Sol for both of my exclusively breastfed babies, but both of them experienced tummy trouble when we began them, so we quickly gave them up. When I read Kellymom.com and saw that they did not feel that the supplements were necessary, I felt fine tossing them and both kids' iron levels measured fine when tested. Good luck with the choice about vitamins and the mastitis (ouch! I had it too!) and congrats on giving Simon so much breastmilk!
Beth, Chapel Hill
Mom to Mac (3/04) and Cate (3/06)
Beth, Chapel Hill
Mom to Mac (3/04) and Cate (3/06)
I hope you all get better soon! yikes! As for the vitamins...We gave Haley the poly vi sol drops when she was a baby, but just because she was so early and it was part of her to do list when we left the nicu. Easton I think it was suggested again by the nicu, we did it a few times and stopped. I was never told at all to give them to Hudson. So I guess all drs are different. :)
Hey Erin!
Hope everyone starts to feel better soon!! Just wanted to add that as a Mommy who breastfed all four babies, I was never told to suppliment with iron, in fact was told that breastmilk is all that's needed for the first year. All of my children were tested for anemia at a year, and no one ever had an iron problem. Go with your gut!!
Also, it's been awhile so I might be off my rocker, but I seem to remember that babies seem to get a "cold" around Simon's age, when all of mommies horomones leave their little bodies. Or, it's late, and I'm just making that up!!
Take care and feel better soon! Have had breast infections and they can be nasty!! Hope Simon is still letting you get pretty good sleep!!
Kristin
(March Munchkin mom)
www.babyhomepages.net/schauers
Hope everyone starts to feel better soon!! Just wanted to add that as a Mommy who breastfed all four babies, I was never told to suppliment with iron, in fact was told that breastmilk is all that's needed for the first year. All of my children were tested for anemia at a year, and no one ever had an iron problem. Go with your gut!!
Also, it's been awhile so I might be off my rocker, but I seem to remember that babies seem to get a "cold" around Simon's age, when all of mommies horomones leave their little bodies. Or, it's late, and I'm just making that up!!
Take care and feel better soon! Have had breast infections and they can be nasty!! Hope Simon is still letting you get pretty good sleep!!
Kristin
(March Munchkin mom)
www.babyhomepages.net/schauers
I vaguely remember giving Emily some poly-vi-sol drops, but not until she was older-- maybe the 4-6 months or so. I think I remember it giving her really stinky b.m's. I have low iron, so I was worried about that affecting her, but now I'm not so sure it even mattered. I gave them up for her after she started eating more solid food.
My daughter was breastfed exclusively until she was eight months old. We did supplement her with iron after six months, but only after a blood test showed that she was slightly low. I'd ask for a blood test, because as I recall, babies come with their own supply of iron from being in utero which does last for about six months. I think the test was just a prick on the heel. I was glad when we finally could stop (due to a blood test at the next doctor's visit and the start of solids), because that stuff stained everything it touched.
BF babies don't need iron drops. The iron in BM is better absorbed, so it is not necessary. One less thing to worry about ;)
You are doing great!!
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You are doing great!!
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