Diary of a pumping lady! (do not read if you are offended by boobs :)

Hi everyone, 

Since my blog has covered everything from infertility, loss, joy, pregnancy and complications why not throw in their some more TMI stuff such as boobs and pumping/breastfeeding.  Since the boys are in the NICU for 5 weeks so far I have exclusively pumped for their every meal and we have worked on breast feeding a bit. Luckily, both boys have a good sense of what a breast is for and I think we might have a good chance for breastfeeding once we are home and able to really work on it "comfortably."  

At this point the boys are each eating 50 CC's of milk every three hours and they eat 8 times a day so if we do that math they are eating 27 oz a day.  Luckily, I am pumping roughly about 40oz so i am able to keep up for now :) However, pumping is no joke! Every 2-3 hours around the clock I hook myself up for about 20-30 min so I can maintain and up my supply for the boys. Most days I am a zombie and waking up at 12:30am, 3:00am and 6:00am can be very hard but, I really enjoy knowing the boys are getting strickly breast milk while in the NICU. I am setting little goals for pumping. I want to make it to three months with pumping and if we can transition to both pumping/breastfeeding that would be great. I would love to set my goal for breast feeding to six months and then if it works out well we can extend that goal.

However, the things nobody tells you when pumping...sizing of the parts, itchy/burning nipples, plugged ducts, mastitis etc.  So far in five weeks I have had one plugged duct and one milk blister. I am pretty sure after five weeks I am learning that my right flange (breast shield)may be too big causing my nippy to turn every shade of purple and blue I have ever seen! I am not going to lie it is awful.  When I had the plugged duct I spent four hours pumping, heat, massaging, showering so this DAMN thing would let the milk pass. With the milk blister (bleb) I spent almost the  same amount  of time until I read if you take a sterile needle you can lift the skin and relieve the milk pressure. Thankfully that worked, but the damn blister keeps coming back!! GAH! 

I am hoping that once the boys are home and we can work more on breastfeeding things will become a little easier in the pumping  dept. I just have to figure out a routine. I guess I will put them to the breast at every feeding and hope they get some milk and then follow it up with a bottle to make sure they are full. Then I will pump to make sure I am empty as well. Now all I will need are extra hours in the day to make sure we can accomplish all this in a timely manner and still manage to not look like a zombie :)  

So, please, feel free to give me ANY tips on pumping along with breast feeding. I did make a pact with myself that if at any point I am hating life pumping and breastfeeding does not work out, I will not be misterable and force it. I have nothing against formula and If need be in order to get quality time with my kids I will just have to make the switch.  I have worked too hard for these babies to miss out bc I am constantly at the pump and frustrated. 

In regards to the boys! Maddox passed his car seat test :) and Mason's numbers went up with the meds for the Anemia (didn't get Maddox's numbers yet) So, he might come home this week!  Maddox I dont think is too far behind. Both boys are within an oz of eachother at 5pounds 5 oz and 5 pounds 4 oz. They look so good!

Thank you for making it this far!!

Shannon

Mason and Maddox Update

Hey everyone, 

The boys test results came back and it looks like Mason is anemic and Maddox is anemic has acid reflux and apnea. All of these things will get fixed with time. Here is information on Apea in premature infants 

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/aop.html

As the article states, apnea in preemies born before 35 weeks is almost expected. It is not uncommon for the babies heart rate to drop for 15-20 seconds when they sleep. Once the infant gets passed apnea it does not return, but it is very scary when it is happening.  To manage the apnea Maddox will receive caffeine orally and  this will stimulate him enough to not happen. This will remind his brain to continue breathing.  

Acid reflux wil be managed by zantac and should go away on its own.  

The anemia that both boys have pretty much means that they lack red blood cells. The red blood cells carry oxygen and this is the reason their o2 is dropping.  They are recieving injections to boost the red blood cells and they will have blood drawn again on Sunday to see if the red blood cells have increased. If the medicine does not work they will recieve a blood transfusion.  That sounds pretty scary, but the doctor said almost all babies in the NICU recieve a blood transfusion at one point or another. She said our boys are in the minority that they have not needed one already. 

With all that said, it sounds scary, but these are all pretty common in the preemie world and they will all correct themselves with time. Mason,  if the meds work and he shows no more signs of Bradycardia, could come home next week. Maddox might be there for a couple more weeks, but might come home sooner on a monitor.  We will def keep you all in the loop. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers... As of last night, the boys are 5 pounds 2 and 5 pounds 3 oz :)

Pic 1- Mason

Pic 2- Maddox

Thank you,

shannon and Mike

The Ups and downs...

Hi everyone, 

Unfortunately, the morning Mason was supposed to come home he had an episode of bradycardia and the doctors said he would not be able to come home :(. He along with Maddox had a few more over the weekend and they both are having a test done tomorrow to see what is causing the heart rate drops etc. We are thinking that this could be acid reflux, but wont know for sure. Emotionally I have been doing very well; but, today was a tough day. Not just because of having two babies in the NICU but I woke up to my left breast really engorged and lumpy.  From 7am-11:30 am I took 3 showers, endless heat compresses and massaging.  After I searched website after website I saw what I think was a small white blister and some breastfeeding sites said to pop it with a sterile needle and when I did that milk started to drip out. I did get about 3oz on that side, but since then it has been 1 or 2 oz every time i pump.  I did learn that I was pumping 2-3 hours from the time I END the last pump and was told by the LC that I should be pumping 2-3 hours from the START of the LAST pump..ugh...this is exhausting! I know it is the right thing for my boys so I will do what I can to get them this milk, but I am going to be in for a rude awakening when they come home and I am attached to the pump and trying to care for both of them. Pray that I will figure it out PLEASE!!!!

We went to the NICU today and they are just so beautiful!! Every time I looked at them today I would start crying.  I know they are in the right place and they are getting the care they need, but I just hate leaving them every night. I know they don't know that I am not there 24/7, but my heart just hurts so bad. I just want to kiss them and cuddle them all day and night. They have such cute chunky cheeks and their facial expressions are adorable. I still can't believe they are mine.  i feel like I just go and visit somebody else's babies every day. I hope that whatever is keeping them there is something that clears up on their own with time and they will come home perfectly healthy little munchkins :)

At this point, Maddox is just about 5pounds and Mason is 4 pounds 12 oz ;) such big boys!!

Thank you for keeping up with us!!

shannon

Today is a big day!!

Hi everyone, 

Today is a big day! Mason is coming home. However, Maddox is still having some drops in heart rate so he will not be. Hopefully, he is not too far behind his brother. I am looking at the positive and thinking this will be a nice way to ease into mother hood. Taking one baby home and learning the ropes one at a time. Maddox is in great hands and he is where he needs to be until we find out why he is having episodes of bradycardia.  

I definitely have everything i need, but I just don't feel ready, lol.  Where is my mommy manual? Where are the instructions for each kid :)?  Last night I was at the pump (where I am every 2 hours!!) and I was  thinking in my head.."ok, they eat every 3 hours...I pump every 2 hours...it may take them an hour to have a diaper change, feeding and burping... when do I sleep!?" I am panicking! lol..How does this work!??? Then I need to work on breast feeding.  How do i know they are getting anything? I know these are all normal worries. The boys are going to take a few weeks to even get the hang of breast feeding since they are only 36 weeks corrected age.  Full term babies still need direction and help with breast feeding, so I know this will take time. Then I thought I may never leave the house, however, where would we go anyways besides the doctor?  So, I am using winter as an excuse to become a hermit with the boys and learn what we need to learn. 

If you have any tips on easing into motherhood, breast feeding twins or even one baby, getting on a schedule, items I def need that i may not have thought of please let me know!! I will take all the advice I can get :)

A very excited mommy, 

shannon :)

Update Day 27 in the NICU

Hey everyone!

Sorry, I have been slacking with the blog updates, but things have just been go go go since they got here.  The boys are doing well. Mason is 4 pounds 6 oz and Maddox is 4 pounds 9 oz.  Mason is in preemie clothes and Maddox is stretchin the limits with his. He will be in newborns from now on :). They were supposed to be moved up to the more relaxed nicu, but after we left on sunday night he had a little episode and they decided he needed to stay and be monitored where he is. Since then he has been good and we have been asked to bring the car seats in tomorrow for their car seat test. This is where they place them in their car seats for an hour and a half to see if they have any issues.  If they have no issues then that is pretty much their ticket home.  If they don't pass then they just wait a day or so and try it until they pass. Their tubes are out of their noses and they are eating every meal through a bottle. We think the reason for Maddox's episodes are he doesn't like the fortifier they are adding to his bottle. Mike and I were there both Saturday and Sunday night and both he and Mason refused their bottles. The poor guys were making faces of disgust and gagging on the milk. I took one whif of the their bottles and I would have gagged myself.  The fortifier (vitamins and extra calories) they add to the breast milk must seperate the milk and gives it a smell that is awful! So, the nurse made us new bottles without it and the boys gulped it down.  Since then, they have held off on the fortifier and the boys are drinking the milk with no problem.  We joke about how they like their breast milk plain with nothing in it...from the tap :)

They are getting so big! They have filled out and their cute little cheeks are getting chunky :) I have to say they are beautiful and Maddox is completely dark and Mason is blonde! I love that I can walk in the nicu and not have to ask for any help. I go in, take their temps, change their diaper, feed them and kangaroo (skin to skin) They are just so sweet <3

We are so excited to finally bring them home..hopefully within the week, but are absolutely terrified!!! Mason has turned blue on Mike twice and luckily we noticed it and new to act. Everyone keeps telling us they will not send us home with babies if they are not 100% sure they are ready..boy i hope so!  I am going to miss the monitors telling us what is going on, but i just have to trust in God that we will be fine and they will be over those episodes!

I am sorry i have no photos to post...the area they are in is so dark and i am not allowed to take pics with a flash. I promise I will get some soon!!

We did get our mini van!! It is a Chrysler Town and Country and it will be perfect for us, the dogs, the boys and all of our baggage! 

Also, lucky me, I had to have a basal cell carcinoma removed on my shoulder and just happy i was able to get that out before the boys came home. Now i just need to get organized and set up our routine. Bottle routine, sleeping routine etc...feel free to let me know of any good tips for getting bottles ready, sleeping etc!

Thanks!

Shannon and Mike!

Twins Update: Day 18 in the NICU

Hi everyone!!

Boys are 18 days old and doing well. Mason and Maddox have both "graduated" to the intermediate section. Still breathing on their own, no iv's and both have started drinking from a bottle. Mason is 3 pounds 10 oz and Maddox is 3 pounds 14 oz.  Mason has taken as much as 32cc's in a bottle and is being bottle fed every other feeding. Maddox is a little behind in the bottle department.  He has taken up to 10cc's but, is only getting a bottle 1x every 12 hour shift.  Today I bottle fed Mason and he took about 14cc's before he got frustrated and went on bottle strike..lol. I get so nervous bottle feeding and then having to burp them. They are still so tiny to me and they tend to gag a little bit with the bottle becuase it is still so new and they are only 34 weeks old gestationally.  Mike fed Maddox and from what he says he wanted nothing to do with the bottle and if he did drank a little he spit it back up. i am not too concerned at this point, bc at 34 weeks they are still so little and some babies don't even take a bottle til a few weeks later.  So, if anything we are still a little ahead of the game. 

One thing that we can't get enough of is they are starting to smile and do little coo's.  When we talk to them they look around for us and follow our voice and smile. It is the best feeling in the world. They are starting to fill out quite a bit and when they have their little hats on they actually look a lot alike. However, you take off their hats Maddox has an abundant amount of dark hair and poor Mason has prince williams hair line, but it is light brown with blonde!!! I am so excited for them and what is to come. The only thing I am starting to get nervous about is when they do get to go home we will be getting them circumsized. I know tons of babies get this done and they never remember it and it heals quickly, but I just feel bad putting them through something else painful :(. This is the time to do it since they are so little, but I just feel bad. If you have any been there done that's please let me know to ease my mind. Our OB said he will do it before they leave the hospital so at least it's a doctor I know and trust.  

Twins Update: 10 days old :)

Babies are 10 days old already!! Gestation wise they would have been 33w1d. They are doing so good.  Both are off of IV's and receiving strictly breastmilk through a tube in either their nose or mouth. Still breathing room air. Mason yesterday had an episode where his heartrate dropped causing his oxygen to go down so they put his little tube back on and was just giving him pressure. These things happen in the NICU and luckily they have great monitors to alert the nurses when that happens. Since early this morning he is doing good without it again. They are just so cute. Mommy is doing good. I am exclusively pumping which is a huge job in itself. I pump every 2-3 hours and need to learn that it is not going to increase every pumping. I am up to 2-3 oz total every 2-3 hours at 15-20 min intervals. If you have any secrets to increasing milk supply please  share!! I am doing really good, but that would be for one baby. I am just making it with two babies. We are running milk up there every day and night sometimes just so they have breast milk and not have to be given formula. Def feeling the pressure! lol. 

Now that they are 33 weekers we have continued kangaroo care, but we are also letting them explore the breast to see what they are capable of doing. Mason new what to do! lets just put it that way! We gave him the breast and he latched on two or three times and then got lazy. We are not expecting them at this age to breast feed. They usually will not even begin doing that until 34 weeks and at that point you have to let them learn it. However, i will say, he knows what they are for, just not really ready to do it yet.  Maddox opens his mouth and checks it out, but has not latched. We were shocked that either of them showed much interest. I hope they are breastfeeding champs because pumping is annoying...lol. I hate having to get all the parts, clean them, dry them, sterilize them. It will be so much easier when i can just attach them and that is that and hopefully, they will bring on more milk! 

They are still so tiny!! The nurses are starting to just hand them to me and let me tell you IT IS TERRIFYING! They can't hold their heads up and I feel like I am goign to snap one in half when i have to hold them and bring them into my body.  The doctor said she has sent premies home as early as 34, 35 weeks and I can't imagine these two little guys at home with me...ALONE!...WITH NO MONITORS...ALONE! LOL.  I know we will be fine and the doctors will not send a baby home unless they are absolutely positive they are ready, but holy heck it is scary! 

Other than that, my hormones are raging. I cry at commercials, I cry if Mike looks at me wrong, I cry when someone gives me a card, gift or asks about the babiese, I cried while pumping at the nicu bc i had no control over the tv and the SPCA commercial was playing and i had to LISTEN TO THE WHOLE COMMERCIAL because I couldnt change the channel!! I cried last night in bed bc i was so afraid i was going to get sick and not know i was sick and would pass it on to the boys and they would get really sick!!! ugh....this is all normal! it is... i looked it up :) lol.  

Anyways, that is the update!!!  Talk to you soon!

Shannon