Improvement

Well, his stomach has definitely improved.

I kept him on a light diet most of yesterday. Or, well, I tried. He's been taking 50-55cc per feeding lately. I was trying to give him more like 45. He was having none of that. I kept having to go back to refill to appease him.

He was up all day. He had woken at 7:30 and not slept until long after we got home. Around 2, he nodded off for a bit. I woke him to eat at 4 and he went right back to sleep. Then woke again at 5 and was up until almost midnight. He'd had a few good screaming fits, but really, by the late evening, he was in a good mood, just refusing to sleep. He was clearly overstimulated. I patted, I sang, I read, I swaddled, I unswaddled, I massaged. I turned everything off and left the room. He'd sleep for a minute or two, then wake up and cry until you held him. Then he'd show you his happy face and stare at you all bright eyed.

I was a zombie.

Finally at midnight, I gave the Swaddle Me a try. And he was out like I'd drugged him. Seriously- I'd already tried swaddling, but for whatever reason, this thing worked like magic. And he slept all night. He woke to eat, of course, but he slept 4 hours, ate, slept another 4 hours, ate again, and then really dozed almost all day. He definitely needed it.

So did I. I got some sleep myself, and managed to actually do some laundry and clean up the house. Amazing.

And the leaking improved. I've changed his dressing a few times, but at this point, there's barely just a little discharge. I can still hear air squish out of it when he gets riled up, but no more clothes soaking. And it looks SO much better.

I'm still paranoid. Robbie's history has taught me not to go counting any unhatched chickens. But I'm cautiously optimistic for the time being.

I've been feeding him unfortified breast milk only. As much fresh as I can muster. I figure while he has a gaping (well, it's way less gaping now) hole in his stomach, at least the stuff leaking out of it can have antibacterial properties.

But soon I'm going to have to add formula to his diet. Not just breast milk fortified for calories, but actual formula.

My supply is complete shit. If I pump for 30 minutes and mash the crap out of my boobs, hand expressing until my skin hurts after pumping, I can eek out 40cc. As I said, he's taking more like 55 at a feeding.

Fortunately I had a ton in the freezer from when he was first born. But it's gone fast. Really fast. I'm down to 40 bottles in the freezer. Sounds like a lot, but considering I had probably 200 when he was discharged from the hospital a month ago, you can see why I'm nervous.

I'm pumping as often as humanly possible. When the choice is sleep, eat or pump- I pump. I'm drinking by the gallon. I'm even eating pretty darned well, all things considered. Sleep.. well.. I do what I can.

I'm taking Fenugreek by the handfuls.

My last hope at this point is the Domperidone that I ordered. It hasn't come in yet but I'm hoping it helps. A lot.

But int he mean time, once his tummy heals, I'm going to try giving him 2 bottles a day of half breast milk/half formula. I'm not sure how his stomach is going to handle it.
Even with the fortified breast milk twice a day, every couple of days I have to give him a break and cleanse his system a bit so he's not miserable.

He just does not tolerate formula well.
And I really don't like giving it to him. If my stupid freakin' boobs would cooperate, it wouldn't be necessary.

After such a great start, they've really dwindled.

I suspect it's hormonal, since my periods have returned. I had one at 8w post partum, another at 15 weeks, and now again at 18 weeks. I find this sign of fertility incredibly infuriating. For more reasons than I even care to get into. I'm sure you can guess.

So, keep praying for hole-healing, and weight gain. And maybe we can throw a cow on the spit next to all the moose. We need more milk.

--Trish


Oh yeah.. A few PICTURES!!!!

Not quite sure what those lights are...


But I think I like 'em...



My new playmat



Just checkin' it out


I wonder how it tastes?




Sure makes a nice place to sleep!