This past Tuesday, March 15, was Chutney’s due date. He ended up making his surprise appearance on 2/12, so we’ve had him for over a month now but I had been wondering how big he’d be on his due date. Now I know – 9 lb, 12 oz/4.400 kg. That’s a weight gain of 2 lb, 7 oz/1.250 kg in his first five weeks of life!
While I am extremely happy that he is growing well, I couldn’t help but think that he would probably have been a 10 pounder, had he come on his due date or later (if you account for the fact that newborns lose some weight right after birth and then have to make up for it). If you’ve been following this blog, you know that I was hoping he’d come a little early because he was measuring big, though I was hoping for maybe a couple of weeks early, not five, so I sure am relieved that I didn’t have to push a 10 pounder out – WHEW!
Otherwise, Max is visibly growing and we are all in love with him. He is still a little jaundiced, which at five weeks after birth is a little bit of a concern. His doctor suspects breast milk jaundice and per her instructions I took him off the breast for 48 hours in the hope that it will lower his bilirubin count. I don’t heart the idea of giving him formula and pumping exclusively for two days but hopefully this will help him kick the jaundice’s butt.
Max has also been having gastrointestinal issues. He has extreme difficulty pooping. He gets all red and strains a lot, while arching his back, pushing with his feet, flailing his arms violently and crying his little heart out after almost every feeding. A friend of mine, who is a doctor, thinks he is colicky. I’ve been talking to his doctor and trying different things per their instructions (drinking prune juice/eating prunes, eliminating gassy, constipating, spicy and dairy products from my diet, massaging his belly, pumping his legs, doing bicycles with his legs, applying warmth to his belly, giving him gas drops, etc.) with little to no effect. He is not constipated, just seems to be having a real hard time going #2 (#1 is no problem).
I read in an online discussion group that many newborns, especially premature ones, don’t yet know how to use their digestive system properly. Pooping seems to bother them quite a bit because in order to do it right, they have to flex some muscles, while at the same time relaxing others. Apparently, it takes some newborns a while to figure out how to do that. I had never heard that. We did not have that problem with our daughter. It seems plausible but then again, I don’t know. Max’s doctor recommended giving him a probiotic called Lactobacillus Reuteri, which I bought at Whole Foods the other day and will try after our 48-hour formula escapade is over. Have any of you used Lactobacillus Reuteri? What did you think?
I know some will think this is too much information and it probably is. The only reason I am oversharing is that some of you mommies out there may have encountered these problems and may have a solution. If you do, please let me know in the comments. I will greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
My daughter, born at 34.5 weeks had the same problem with pooping. She also had colic. Her twin sister had no problems with colic or pooping. We ended up just waiting it out after we ruled out everything else. Never tried the probiotics. One thing that helped was laying her body belly-down, head facing the crook of my elbow, across the length of my forearm and gently bouncing. I spent about 6 hours a day doing this, which, with another infant, a 2 year-old and a 6 year old to take care of was super-awesome!
ReplyDeleteWe had similar stuff. Ended up being reflux and a milk protein intolerance. I gave up dairy while breastfeeding and it really helped. infantreflux.org has lots of good suggestions too.
ReplyDeleteThree of my boys were born at around 36 weeks and all of them were jaundiced. We did a lot of letting them lay in a puddle of sunshine in only a diaper. Apparently sunlight breaks down bilirubin in a way that artificial light does not. Good luck and again congratulations.
ReplyDeleteWell, luckily, we had wonderful weather today and I was able to take Max out in the stroller for some much needed time in the sun. Hopefully, that will help get rid of the jaundice.
ReplyDeleteNo advice but wanted to wish you luck! I hope everything resolves soon.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are getting some good advice. Wish I had something helpful to add, but all I can do is send some well wishes your direction and prayers that the little guy gets over this soon and continues growing strong.
ReplyDeleteI had one colicky one, and they recommended avoiding dairy, garlic, onion, caffeine, beans, cabbage - basically, my whole diet. It didn't solve his colic, but it sure made ME cranky and whiny. Sad to say the only thing that helped was time. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry little Chutney and I didn't get to share a birthday (March 16), but I'm glad you guys have gotten more time to enjoy him. I don't have any advice to offer, but I hope things get easier soon!
ReplyDeleteI guess I should have read this before I saw you. I hope it gets better. Wish I had something to offer. Maybe mylicon and then five minutes later try the two-finger belly wiggle?
ReplyDeleteAnya was really jaundice too. We supplemented with formula to break it and then it all went kind of downhill from there. It sounds like you're having much better luck.
That is no fun for either of you! With my last one, who was also the one born closest to his due date, he had difficulties and was almost lethargic. Not the same thing I realize, but one of the things I learned is that a milk protein allergy is very common in newborns and even more so if they were born early. The other ingredient that may be affecting him would be wheat. Just some food for thought :)
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