Tips and Tricks

So, while I don't consider myself an expert, we have started to learn tips and tricks that are working or seem to be working for Aaron's digestive issues.  He is still on soy formula, taking Omeprezole for acid reflux and Similicon for gas.  He is also taking a homeopathic for candidiasis, which could also be contributing to gas.  I thought I would share some tips and tricks that seem to have been helping him through his constipation, spit up and flatulence.
1) Feed him before he's screaming!  Once he starts screaming, he swallows a ton of air and it's all over!  Spit, spit, spit.
2) Feed him holding him semi-upright.  This helps to get the bubbles up towards the top, not settled down in the bottom of his belly.
3) Let him get into a rhythm to eat.  Don't take the bottle out too often.  We burp about every ounce and I warn him when it's coming.  "Next break" we are going to burp.
4) Burping.  You gotta do it.  BUT, if a burp doesn't come, stop and let him eat some more.  Also, he usually screams when we try to burp, so after he finishes his ounce, we put in the pacifier for him to stay calm, give his food a second to settle, then sit up and burp.  With the paci in his mouth.  This has worked GREAT!
5) Similicon.  We give it after he's about 2/3 done with eating, that way it mixes in with what he's already eaten to help break up the bubbles.
6)  Don't over feed.  Aaron seems to think that he is still starving when he's done eating.  I don't think his brain recognizes that he is full fast enough, so he needs a little time to realize his belly is full.
7) Sit up for 10-20 minutes after eating.  While this has led to him being used to falling asleep while being held, it has almost all but eliminated spit up after he lays down for a nap.
8) We also do the Omeprezole.  2 hours after his morning bottle and 30-60 minutes prior to his next bottle.  This is tricky at times, as he likes to eat every 2 hours sometimes, so we've gotten creative to distract him from being hungry.  Snuggling and getting super warm to take a nap with his paci to distract from the hunger seems to help and then he'll sleep for 30 minutes.
9) Glycerin Suppositories:  Due to transitioning to formula, that formula being soy and all of his gas and spit up issues, we've started to use these.  It seems to help soften up his stools enough for him to be able to pass them more independently.  Previously, we had to push on his belly and stimulate his rectum with a rectal thermometer to help him pass stools.  We do still stimulate him to get him to go but it is getting softer and we are hoping we are getting through the constipation.
10) Juice: We've mixed in apple juice and prune juice into bottles to help motility in the little one's colon.  Hasn't seemed to work for us, except the stools are a little softer but still quite firm.
11) Chiropractic care!  This has been one of the things that has significantly helped our fussiness.  Aaron has some strain from delivery on his right side, possibly due to having to wait 20 minutes to finish pushing while the doctor was traveling to the hospital.  After a half dozen adjustments, he is less fussy and able to sleep more comfortably for more than 20 minutes at a time during the day and goes to bed more easily in the evening.  I know many people don't 'believe' in chiropractic care, my husband was one of them.  After adjustments, our little one seems happier and less fussy, which makes mom and dad less fussy as well.

Anyway, these are just a few of our tricks.  Obviously they will not work for every baby but I wanted to share them for those who are struggling with some of the same issues we have.  ALSO, PLEASE be sure you talk to a doctor before you make any changes and try any solutions for your baby!  Karo syrup is often a "home remedy" though it has been linked to cases of botchulism, just like honey.

I'm done...

I have decided to quit pumping.  This decision has been at least two weeks in the making.  After struggling and many tears over nursing, frequent pain and feeling like I never got a break, we have decided to stop pumping breast milk.  Aaron has had issues with SEVERE gas for the past several weeks and we are attempting to rule out a milk sensitivity as the cause.  Due to this, I am not allowed any dairy in my diet, nor coffee, chocolate, onions, garlic, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, basically anything that may give anyone gas.  By the way, milk is in EVERYTHING!  Not to mention, I felt deprived of everything I usually eat and it made me just want it more!  I ate dairy one day and the poor kid suffered through intense intestinal gas for a day and a half.  I finally swallowed my pride and decided to stop nursing.  It wasn't fair to Aaron for me to continue to feed him breastmilk because, "Dammit, I am going to breast feed."  He was so uncomfortable and I knew that it was my fault that he was feeling so awful.  We've gone exclusively to a soy formula now, which we are hoping makes it easier to discover what is causing him such intense pain.  He's also taking an acid reducer to help with spit up, which seems to work at times and not at others.  This was a tough decision for me, but I know that Aaron will still be a healthy child, even though I wasn't able to nurse him and I, will also be much happier and less stressed knowing that I don't have to try to search for time to pump on top of feeding him during the day, as well as stress about the foods that I am eating and the time it takes to prepare and the cost of buying dairy-free.  I'm hoping that it will allow us more time to bond and cuddle and I won't feel resentment towards him for the extreme diet restriction.  What a horrible feeling!  While I didn't want to make the decision, my mom, husband, and close friend helped me rationalize the benefit of doing so and I am mostly at peace with my decision.
Now I am dealing with attempts to more quickly dry up my milk while being as comfortable as possible. I am pumping about 5 minutes at a time a few times a day to relieve some pressure and taking ibuprofen for swelling.  I've read about using cold cabbage leaves in your bra, as well as sage tea but don't think I'm going to partake in those at this time.  We'll just use ice packs, anti-inflammatory medication, continue to drink fluids and decreasing pumping as I am able.  Not enjoying dealing with leaking and the pain of engorgement but it's gotta happen some time.  Better now than while I'm back at work, I guess.  Anyone else out there got any suggestions for more quickly drying up, or easing the ache?  I'd love to hear it!

Nursing...a full time job.

When I took time off from work for maternity leave, I expected that caring for my child would be a lot of work.  I intended to nurse him as much as possible and expected to get some reading done and movies watched.  I did not realize how time intensive just nursing was going to be, not to mention all of the other cares a newborn needs.  Nursing has proved exceptionally challenging.  For something that is supposed to be natural and my body is made to do it, it sure has rebelled.  Now for the TMI section:  My right breast produces at least 3 ounces less than my left, every time, no matter what.  Strange, yes.  Annoying, hell yes. Not to mention...the latch.  Right, no problem, no pain.  Left, painful!  Some days less so but always uncomfortable.  In addition, nursing exclusively means I am up with him all night to feed, which occurs every two hours if I'm lucky.  No matter what I eat, my milk does not keep the little guy full.  Then there is the spit up and gas.  Aaron spits up...A LOT!  We've tried different formulas, siting upright after eating for more than 15 minutes(which has gotten him used to falling asleep while being held), burping more often, less often, sigh!  As far as gas, we've tried burping more, rubbing his belly, bicycling his legs and Mylicon. Mylicon seems to have helped but now he's constipated.  No poop in 4 days.  We've made trips to the doctor and are now eating a dairy free diet, supplementing soy formula and also taking a $55 acid reducer compounded just for babies.  Which is challenging to give due to timing.  Poor guy isn't sleeping very well either, as gas pains wake him up every 20 minutes and he thinks that he is starving.  We are starting to learn when it is just belly pain or true hunger, but are not always accurate.  So until we get this solved, we are waiting on a poop and bouncing baby to shake out the gas. If you stop by to visit in the near future, parden my selfishness in not sharing the baby for long and asking you to put him down if he falls asleep.  We are looking to get back on routine and its taking some time.  Thanks in advance!