Connolly Twins » June 2004 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

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Mon, Jun 21, 2004 8:20 PM
We're 100% Breastfeeding!

Both Libby & Harry are breastfeeding exclusively as of today. Mom finally tried nipple shields and they worked! Our pumping days are numbered.

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Thu, Jun 17, 2004 6:20 PM
Libby's Weight Check

Libby had a Ped appointment today and weighed in at 6lbs, 5 oz -- just a few oz away from her birthweight! She's been eating 1 1/2 oz of breast milk at each feeding, so we're not surprised that she's gained her weight back quickly.

She has a herniated belly button -- which is a relatively common occurence and should heal itself by the time she's 2 or 3. This morning, it looked as if her belly button had actually closed, but the ped showed me that if she cried or strained, you could see down into her belly button.

She also has a blocked tear duct and wakes up with lots of gunk in her left eye. Poor baby.

Nevertheless, we're still cleared for baths!

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Wed, Jun 16, 2004 8:26 PM
Libby's cord fell off!

While changing a very poopy diaper, Libby's cord fell off. Onto the full spas at Salon Connolly!

Today was a good day. We had a few visitors and we've upped the amount of milk per feeding and the number of feedings per day. The result are really sleepy babies that don't cry (except through diaper changes). Mom and Dad actually made dinner together and enjoyed most of it in peace.

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Tue, Jun 15, 2004 2:25 PM
Lactation Consultant Visit

Henry and Libby and Mom had a visit from our lactation consultant today and both babies did wonderful with latch. As a direct result, mom started pumping double what she had previously pumped and babies are now receiving supplements of breastmilk in addition to their breast feedings.

Of course, it all lasted until around 9PM when Libby was feeling tempermental and Henry was too tired to latch. (sigh).

We'll keep trying again tomorrow!

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Fri, Jun 11, 2004 9:53 AM
Henry's Second Bili-check

Henry went back to the doctor today for a bili-check and he gained 2 oz between 5PM yesterday and this morning. His color was looking slightly better, too! He is less lethargic because this time he cried when his foot was poked. Elizabeth stayed home with Grandma Priddy while Mom and Dad took Harry to the doctor.

Grandma Priddy left for Kansas today. We'll miss her! Libby Carol won't know what to do without someone calling her by two names.

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Thu, Jun 10, 2004 9:47 AM
First Doctor Visit

Henry and Elizabeth went for their first doctor visit today. They met with Dr. Rao at U of M in Brighton. Elizabeth had no issues, but does need to gain weight back from birth more quickly. Henry has a good case of jaundice and was acting pretty lethargic from the side effects. Henry, even more than Elizabeth, needs to gain weight too.

Both babies had Hepatitis B vaccinations and Henry had some extra pokes to check bilirubin levels. We received a call from Dr. Rao around 9PM letting us know that Henry's bilirubin levels are borderline and he will not have to have a bili-blanket or light treatment.

We're not supplementing much more with formula and mom is pumping breastmilk like a mad woman. Henry is too lethargic from the jaundice to take to the breast and Libby is having some latch issues. We're going to focus on pumping and feeding bottles and then address latching issues next week.

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Tue, Jun 8, 2004 7:13 PM
Longest Day of Our Life

I think all of those involved: Mom, Dad, Grandma Priddy, Libby and Harry would all agree that June 7, 2004 was one of the longest days of our lives. Not the worst day...but the longest and most tension filled.

Breast feeding wasn't going so well. Mom was trying to resist supplementation so that the babies would latch and do their breastfeeding without nipple confusion. The day began with hungry, screaming babies and ended with hungry, screaming babies. We supplemented 10ccs of foumula every 3 hours, but it still wasn't enough food for the babies.

So...Libby and Harry got bottles that night. It made them feel good. It made mommy and daddy feel good. We didn't get any sleep that night, but at least we put food in their tummies. Sigh. What a day.

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Tue, Jun 8, 2004 12:00 AM
Home from the Hospital

We can home from the hospital late tonight. It was quite a feat actually getting discharged. First, Henry had not had a bowel movement and he needed "documentation" before he could be released. Dear Harry finally produced his get out of jail ticket around 5PM.

Because we only had one car (a two door Civic), three adults and two babies, we had to make arrangements to get Grandma Priddy home before Mom, Dad, and the twins could get home. So, Stephen packed up most of the gear and made a trip home to drop off Grandma and came back for mom and babies.

As we were finally ready to leave, we placed the twins in their car seats and realized that we had no idea how to actually strap them into their seats. There were strap tension issues that could not be easily resolved -- and of course we didn't bring owners manuals -- so after an hour of fussing the with seats a nice nurse came in and helped us.

We left the hospital, weary, around 11:00PM and arrived home around midnight. Not a peep from Elizabeth and Henry the entire ride between Ann Arbor and Howell. We had wondered if we had left the children there.

Mom and Dad have several stories about the few hours after arriving home that involve crying(screaming) babies and crying mommies, the search for the golden formula supplement cup, and the missing tiny plastic piece to the rented breast pump -- but we'll save that for another time.

To all mommies to be: the night you come home from the hospital is no time to erect the pack-n-play, sterilize bottles, and figure out how to make your breast pump work for the first time.

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Sat, Jun 5, 2004 11:37 PM
Induction, Part 2 - Birth Story

Sorry -- you'll have to wait! I'm not through writing this yet...

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Thu, Jun 3, 2004 1:34 PM
Induction Day! (Part 1)

I've made it to 37 weeks, 2 days and will finally be able to see my squirmy worms in person today or tomorrow. I'm being induced at 37 weeks because I've been taking Lovenox throughout my pregnancy. Lovenox is a type of heparin and it thins your blood -- I had blood clots and a subchorionic hematoma early in my pregnancy. You have to time getting off Lovenox because anesthesiologist will not give epidurals or spinals if you haven't been off the Lovenox for at least 24 hours (risk of spinal hematomas). So, going into labor on my own was not something my OB and I wanted to risk.

I went to the OB yesterday morning and discovered that I was 100% effaced and 1cm dilated. My NST was good and no contractions. Those menstrual-like cramps I had all weekend (and posted about) were dilation and effacement in action. My OB was ecstatic because were both that might not respond to prostaglandins -- causing a 48 hour (or more) labor or a c-section. It now appears that all I'll need is pitocin. I can't tell you what sort of happiness the news about my cervix has caused!!

The plan WAS that I would take my last Lovenox shot Wednesday AM and I would be checked into L&D sometime Thursday AM - providing me with that 24 hour withdraw off Lovenox that I'll need in order to have an epidural/spinal. Around 3PM, my OB calls and says that L&D's High Risk wing is very full (full moon) and that I probably won't get a bed until Thursday evening, so take another Lovenox shot tonight. So -- stupid me waits until 10PM to take my shot (forgetting that if I get called in around 6PM, I'll have to wait 4 hour for an epi...)

I received a call this morning from the charge nurse at L&D and the plan is to have me come in around supper time - 6 or 7PM tonight. They'll call me at 4pm this afternoon and let me know exactly when to come in. I'm hoping for a 7 or 8 o'clock start time, but I've hired a doula and maybe she'll just have to earn her keep.

The other labor signs are appearing just as if I was going into labor on my own. I've started having diarrhea, I've started loosing chunks of my mucous plug, and my cervical discharge has changed in amount (massive) and color (brownish). I had my first real contractions last night that were time-able and spread from my uterus to my back. They started around 1:30 AM and peetered out around 4AM and I was able to go back to sleep for a while. I don't know if my body is just helping me out or if I might have gone into labor on my own soon anyway.

I was hoping to have the babies today (June 3) because it's my sister's birthday, but an early Friday AM delivery wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Today's job is to stay home and in bed and nourish myself with things that will give me energy tonight. I'm still doing the sleep for three hours, up for 3 hours, back to sleep for 3 hours cycle. I'm really hoping that I can get some good sleep during the day today and not end up exhausted at delivery time.

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Wed, Jun 2, 2004 10:17 PM
37 Week Appointment

I'm 1cm dilaed, but close to 100% effaced! This is great news and Dr. Perry feels that we should be able to have a pitocin-only induction (sparing myself from cytotech and a bunch of other induction drugs). We're definitely on for tomorrow (June 3).

Babies were reactive on NST. Little girl was extremely reactive -- heartbeats in the 190's-200's and back down to 120's. Little boy was less reactive, but still doing wonderfully.

The plan is that the L&D nurse will call me tonight and we'll then know what time I'll go in tomorrow. Dr. Perry would like to see me in by 3:00PM so that we can get started early.

(later in the day) - Dr. Perry calls and tells me to take my anti-coagulation shot tonight. L&D is full (full moon) and we won't be able to come in until late evening. Stephen and I are both disappointed. We were hoping for June 3 babies so that they could share a birthday with Aunt Mary!

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Tue, Jun 1, 2004 10:32 PM
Memorial Day Weekend

All weekend long I've been scared to death of going into labor on my own and not being able to have an epidural. Isn't that the strangest thing?

I've been experiencing lots and lots of menstrual-like cramps that wake me up at night and really hurt. Nothing timable -- just really uncomfortable. I wonder what's going on down there!!

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