Infant Reflux or GERD

As most of you know, Delta and Emma have acid reflux. This is where the acid in the stomach comes up and gives heartburn type symptoms. They both have to burp really well, and get tummy aches easily. The other thing that we were dealing with is Delta's reaction to milk products. Well, I wasn't drinking any milk or eating milk products. This helped her to be able to digest the breast milk better. The end of June I started drinking milk again and Delta did okay with it. Until now.
About two weeks ago Emma started having a hoarse voice and coughing. I thought it was a cold. When it didn't go away, I took her to the doctor to see if it was the reflux irritating the esophagus. We believe it is. We increased her dose of zantac to see if this would help. Tuesday Delta started having the same thing, so we increased her dose as well.
Wednesday came and they seemed to be getting worse. I called a friend whose sons both had reflux to ask her for tips. She shared some tips with me that we are trying. Making sure to burp them really well after feedings. Give them Mylicon Drops right after they eat. Swaddle them tightly. We did have some tricks that we are sticking with. We sit Emma up in the corner of the couch or in the swing to sleep. When I feed them. they both sit up on my lap facing each other. When I play with them lying on the floor, I will kick their legs and kind of squish their tummies with their knees. This seems to help get the gas out.


Wednesday evening I decided to call the pharmacist to see how long the zantac takes to kick in. He said it should have started to improve their symptoms already. So I went on line looking for things to try to help. I came across a website that said dairy products are typically the cause for acid reflux in breastfed babies. Well, Hmmm, I just started drinking milk the end of June. And that is when the trouble started to escalate. So, No more milk I guess. I will miss ice cream, pudding, and cheese, but if I can have my happy girls back, I will sacrifice these things. The website said that after 2 weeks you should see an improvement if this is the cause, so the end of July they should be enjoying life again.
Hurray!!

www.mylicon.com

http://www.acid-reflux-tips.com/your-breast-milk-and-your-babys-reflux.html Pin It

Morning and Bedtime Routines Down!!

I've been trying to find a way to help Jayden and Katia with the daily routines when I'm in the middle of something that can't be paused. Like while feeding Emma and Delta Tae. I've seen some of you use this technique that was found in the Ensign. It is called "They Can See What to Do". http://lds.org/Static%20Files/PDF/Magazines/Ensign/English/2008/EN_2008_06_21___02206_000_025.pdf

I didn't want something with many pieces (which I had been using for a year), but I did want something that would go through all the steps. Then I remembered something I did with the older kids to help them get ready for school. I had a game sort of path that they would move a marker through all the steps to getting ready. Here is the bedtime path.



I let Jayden help with choosing picts to use. Then I laminated them and found an orange star button to glue on the magnet which he can use to mark his place. Now he just has to look at the chart to see what to do next.
For those of you who need to change the chores, go to
www.theideadoor.com
and click on chores to see some great ideas. Pin It

4th of July: a new HIT

The past few years the parade has been more of a headache than we like. We get there an hour early and find a spot, only to be told that the space was already chosen by a family, so we would have to move. This wouldn't have been so bad, except that usually by then all spots were taken. Last year we had to move 3 times. Well, with two infants, we didn't really want to go and try to find a good place and end of moving. Well, we did the end of the parade thing, and it was a hit. (Thanks Jeanette for thinking of it.) The floats have to slow down and wait for each other. We were able to interact with them and there was no fighting for a spot. The kids were able to gather candy without too much fear of being hit. We used the portable shade to protect us from the sun. One-third of the babies slept the whole time. It was nice and peaceful. We all had a great time and are definitely going again next year to the same place. Such nice people to let us use their front yard to enjoy the 4th. Pin It

Ari's News

Here is some exciting news.

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3 1/2 days old

Delta Tae

Emma Beth
The last few days have been hectic. As most of you know, Delta Tae and Emma Beth are now in the NICU. It has been up and down for them. They were both put in the tanning bed for jaundice.

Emma Beth tanning with ski goggles

Tae in the tanning bed (bilirueben light)

Today they are both out. They are both on oxygen.


Emma 2 days old
Emma started out not eating on her own, and we use a technique called SNS. This is where she is given her binkie and then you place a tube beside it in her mouth, and slowly put milk in her mouth for her to swallow. She is now eating on her own and doing very well at it. Her oxygen levels will sometimes go down when she eats. We've found that if we let her set the pace, then she will do better. She currently weighs 4lbs12oz, which is not bad, and it continues to rise now. Last night she stayed awake for about 90 minutes and I just enjoyed her as long as I could before putting her in the tanning bed. I hated having to put her ski goggles on while she was still awake, but she has been out for 45 min and should have gone back in after just 30.

Delta Tae has an IV in for her nutrients as well as a tube in her stomach. She is starting to improve. She has a long road ahead of her. She has not eaten for longer than a day. She had suction to remove anything in her stomach. This has been turned off. She is going to start trying Pedialyte this after noon. She will then try a formula which is already digested to see how she does with that. Then I can start feeding her again. Her last weight was 4lbs13oz. I finally got to hold her again today for a while. This was so good!! She stayed awake for just a few minutes. Then I just held her for as long as I could before going home.
It has been good to sleep in my own bed. I feel that I may catch up on my sleep. I also am glad to be with my family more. I am going to the hospital every 6 hours to feed Emma Beth and to pump. Then I just pump every three hours between that and take it to the hospital with me.
Well I will let everyone know how things are going. Don't forget to watch the YW General Broadcast tonight on KBYU at 8:00. I am so excited for Elyse, and for Julia who gets to go. Elyse looked so great. And for those of you who want to try and watch out for her, she has on a salmon colored shirt and is singing first soprano.

Love you all and I'll update soon. Pin It