preemiemomlife-blog

[preemiemomlife-blog]

Breaking Past Anxiety to Advocate

I have always been an anxious person. While I was younger, I always just thought it was to please my parents. Then, during college, it became more than that. Social situations completely freaked me out. As long as I knew someone and had someone to talk to, I was fine. However, every fiber in my being told me I needed to go home. With everything going on in the world right now and added financial…

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Beautiful Day, Beautiful Girl

It’s currently in the high sixties and my daughter are out playing in her sandbox getting ready to get out the chalk. Three years ago, I never thought we would have these days. While in the NICU, we lived day to day. We’d take one step forward and it seemed ten steps back. We couldn’t look to the future. We didn’t know if we were even going to make it home. While on bedrest in the hospital, we…

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Tackling a Sick Toddler

It’s March. We should be near the end of cold/flu season, right? Not in this household. The only thing worse than your toddler being sick is being sick as a parent at the same time. You’re exhausted, don’t feel well, and cranky. And then you are still supposed to function as a parent, taking care of your little’s basic needs. We have been very lucky when it comes to Charlie’s illnesses. While…

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FINALLY!

After a month and a couple weeks of being home, we finally have an appointment with a Pediatric GI!

I really have no clue why we weren’t referred to one at the start. We have a G-Tube for unknown eating issues, clear acid reflux, and we’re already on specialty formula.

I finally broke down on Sunday after a particularly difficult weekend of feedings and throw ups. Several of them were large enough to claim several sheets, blankets, toys, AND soak through the doubles up puppy pads in the pack n play as well as projectile EVERYWHERE. Poor Belle...our cat. She was a victim in the puke-a-palooza.

Our appointment isn’t until the end of September, but at least it’s something. Clearly the Zantac she is on isn’t cutting it. We need a diagnosis. We aren’t even sure if the only problem with her feeding is just reflux. Hence the need for a GI.

Here’s to finding answers!

[preemiemomlife-blog]

Today has been rough.

I love my daughter. I really do. But man, today was difficult.

We had a decent day until about 5pm when I tried to give her a bottle. I had to wake her up as she had been asleep for about 3 hours off and on.

She slept through her 2:30 bottle so I went ahead and hooked up her G-Tube after a good 15 minutes of attempts.

The 5:30 bottle consisted of a lot of playing with the nipple of her bottle. To ensure we do not have or develop an oral aversion, I allow her to have her play time. After 30 minutes, she had taken only 10 mLs of her 80 ml feed.

After hooking up the remaining feed, there was a lot of crying. Knowing she has bad acid reflux, I waited for the storm to start. The first was a projectile that nailed the side of her pack n play. I got to her in time for the second, to sit her up so we got the majority into a burp cloth.

Normally, once she has a throw up, she’s good for the day. Eventually she was able to calm down and fall back asleep.

My husband was leaving for a trip so as soon as he got done doing livestock chores, he finished packing, and held her for 15 minutes after her feed.

After holding her upright for a good 30 minutes post feeding to reduce symptoms, I wrapped her belly and gave her some good tummy time.

At 8pm, I gave her the nightly meds. It wasn’t 10 minutes later while eating that I hear choking noises. I run over to see a mucusy throw up all over her mouth and clothes. During the run over to her, I knocked over a glass and got a piece embedded in my foot.

We took our next bottle slowly. Partially asleep and slow sucks, but took 20 mLs without screaming so that’s always a win.

Once again hooked her up for her G Tube feed with lots of screaming followed by yet another large vomit.

We just can’t catch a break today. To make matters worse, my husband left on a mini vacation and tomorrow is my 30th birthday.

Hopefully, tomorrow is a little better.

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The Rollercoaster Continues

So we were really hoping that as soon as we got home the rollercoaster would slow down a bit.

Ha.

We were really lucky. We have a 23 weeker that came home with minimal diagosises and no oxygen. Our biggest issue was not eating so we have a G Tube.

We were told that her stamina will increase once she’s home. Bottle feeding will become easier.

Our reflux has only gotten worse. Our Zantac, which our Pediatrician prescribed days after our discharge, has not helped any. She does not want to talk about switching formula from Alimentum to anything thicker or with cereal until she’s 9 months actual.

It’s so frustrating. She could do so well, but she’s in pain when she eats. While she’s still gaining weight and not throwing up a significant amount, I can hear her swallow her reflux, she’s hoarse after every feed, she arches her back and screams during feeds.

I’m at a loss of what to do. I just want my baby to feel better.

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My first blog post!