Sorry I can't really keep up with daily updates anymore, but my nerdy "Peetie's Eaties" spreadsheet isn't working currently as I'm working out some computer issues, so I'm going to continue to record daily oral intakes and some details here, so I don't forget them. I also write a lot of stuff here, because I'm way behind on Sofie's baby book and if I just add this info into posts I know I can go back and find it here later. So sorry for the massive amount of detail in the last post. That was more for me than for you!
Friday night I worked my usual night shift so Kenny got the honor of the first night of waking up every 3 hours to try to feed Sofie a bottle. He was a little too sleepy and accidentally slept through the 1:00 am bottle, but he got up at 4:00 to try. She took maybe 1/2 oz, so he put the rest through the NG (3 1/2 ounces) over 15 minutes and she did fine with it.
Dr. Y. said that if we have to give anything by NG at night to be sure to do it over 10-15 minutes to mimic an actual feeding. That would allow the food to enter her stomach at the same rate as it would if she drank it from the bottle, and would also encourage rapid stomach emptying into her small intestine, something that's important for proper hypothalamus function and the hunger mechanism.
Kenny gets up with Sofie just as much as I do, if not more. The "problem" is that she has slept through the night all night, every night for several months, so getting up every 3 hours to feed her will take some getting used to again on our part! The good news is that she usually stays asleep when we do offer her a bottle at night, so she probably won't know the difference. She also tossed and turned a lot with continuous NG night feeds, so I think she'll actually get better sleep by us getting up to offer her a bottle twice a night. I'm always up til' 1:00 or 2:00 am, so the 1:00 am bottle is no biggie for me. The 4:00 am bottle will be the killer. I'm not a morning person in the least bit and Kenny has to get up for work, so I feel like I should be getting up for the 4:00 am bottle during the week when he has to get up for work the next morning. But it will be so worth it if it helps Sofie eat better.
Speaking of eating better, the night feed clearly did not zap her hunger today. She took a record breaking 21 1/2 ounces by mouth today! Yay Sofie! Her weight was also up by 4 ounces, so we're heading back in the right direction.
14 hours ago
7 Responses:
You go Sophie keep up the good work!
I have to say I am a little jealous Owain never sleeps through the night!
Amber
I am so happy that Dr Y was more supportive. It is really hard to hear that a doctor thinks you are making a mistake with your child when all you are trying to do is be the best parent you can be in the situation. It is nice to get some validation for your hard work.
I had to laugh when you said you were getting up every 3 hours to feed Sofie. Kinley still sleeps through the night, but she used to go to bed around 9 PM when she got tubefeeds. Now she is up until closer to midnight and then wakes up at 6 AM for her morning bottle. I laugh because when Kinley slept through the night I though that was normal. Apparently "healthy" babies get up to eat every 3 hours. Who knew!?!
I love the progress and the support! Yes, "normal" babies it is every three hours...none of mine were ever normal. Noah was every two hours for the first 3-4 months. If he had been my first, I would have never had another! How many say that?
Glad Miss Sophie is progressing - I hope that this gets easier with time!
With thoughts & prayers,
Elizabeth
I too had a tinge of jealously when I read she's been sleeping through the night so well and for so long!...but then again you two did desearve some sort of break! :)
Mr. Finn didn't sleep through the night until 2 weeks before his first birthday! He would nurse twice, maybe even three times a night. I was petrified that he'd NEVER want to stop nursing.
Sofie and her 21.5 ounze intake most definitly rocks the casbah and so does Dr. Y by the way. Super glad he was so supportive of your unplugged plan.
Make sure Mose knows about her recent success. She deserves one heck of a gift from Santa this year!
Jen so glad to hear that Sophia is finally getting the hang of eating! It is just amazing what these little ones have to go through, isn't it.
Anyway just dropping by to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Very HAppy and Healthy 2009!
~Terri
WE wanted to Wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR and a belated Christmas. We so enjoy reading about how Sofie is progressing and you do such a great job with the narrative. Still have you and Sofie in our prayers and so glad she is gaining and improving every day.
Sue & Dave
Just wanted to stop in and wish you guys a Happy New Year. Carson was placed on a NG tube on Dec 10th and it is a whole new ballgame for me as well. He ended up going from 12.8 down to 11.2 in about 3 weeks and he is still bouncing from 11.5-11.8. He has since started passing out and now they think he has Left Ventricular Hypertrophy. So just remember that when your up, so am I.....sigh.... I'm hoping this to shalk pass.
Take care,
Kaci and Carson
PS Is it okay if I put you on my blogroll? I have been following your family since you were in the hospital and just makes it easier to jump right on.
Post a Comment