Oh @garland, hope you’re feeling better soon. That was my biggest fear the week GS was born. I actually had a cold the week I was dealing with my H in the hospital and couldn’t see GS anyway. It cleared up quickly, for which I am grateful because last night my S and DIL brought him for a sleepover! We’re so lucky they live so close (45 minutes without traffic, or almost two hours, like today, with bumper-to-bumper traffic!)
We haven’t seen him since the night before my H’s surgery, so it was a real treat to have them overnight. I offered to help in the middle of the night, but they let me sleep and I took over this morning. He didn’t seem to care for the pack 'n play, but I think it was just the unfamiliar surroundings overall. It’s amazing how much he changed in just 10 days but he still has that new baby smell - I was worried I’d missed it.
@runnersmom I think that it’s going to be one of those really quick colds; I’d barely notice it under normal circumstances. But I’ll give it a day or two so that no one worries. D’s been texting about feeding difficulties–baby lost weight --like they do-- and she’s under pressure to use a bottle if baby doesn’t eat more. She’s absolutely fine and we think D needs a new pediatrician if she’s going to get that kind of “advice.” Sorry i can’t be there to fight for her. H used to be a pediatrician and had reservations over the one they picked but didn’t want to interfere. I so feel for her because those first few weeks are so draining and scary. Easy for me to say it will get better; I remember still how tough it was.
Glad your family is doing well and you got some good baby-scent time in!!!
Had a scare today. DIL, due end of May, had some sort of NIPT blood test for chromosomal abnormalities (and gender). I guess they can detect the baby’s DNA in the mom’s blood. Well hers came back inconclusive (not enough baby DNA) twice. Evidently inconclusive has been correlated with a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities. So she had an ultrasound and some other blood test and evidently between those two tests and her age (27) the chances of chromosomal abnormalities is very, very low.
oh @tx5athome, that must have been terrifying. I have mixed emotions about all these early tests…so many false positives and so much stress versus having important information early on. I’m glad to hear they were able to reassure her.
As for pediatricians, I’m convinced my S and DIL found a gem. The office is receptive to crazy new parent calls about every little question and the answers are appropriate and reassuring. Three days ago my S was with the baby when my DIL went for her follow-up with her OB. He started spitting copious amounts of breast milk in a way he had never done before and my S called the pediatrician, followed by calling me. I reassured him as best I could but the doctor called back and said, “Runnersmom’s S, you have a laundry problem, not a medical problem!” She has been quite reassuring about the VSD as well, letting them know that the babies in her practice have thrived after this diagnosis, whether they closed on their own or had to have surgery.
As for your GD, I agree with you that babies all lose weight initially, and it may depend on how your D’s milk has come in. Our GS didn’t have a problem taking breast milk from a bottle (my DIL had to start pumping in the hospital because he essentially destroyed her nipples in the first two days) and then going back to the breast when she healed. He likes to eat regardless of whether it’s from the breast or a bottle, though I know some babies have trouble going back and forth. Did they recommend she pump and offer that in a bottle if she’s not nursing effectively yet. I must also say, though I pooh-poohed this at first, a professional lactation consultant really helped my DIL. She is making plenty of milk, but GS wasn’t latching effectively and she showed them how to do it in a way that is better for both of them. Their pediatrician told them that if he wasn’t latching correctly, nursing was just not going to provide him enough milk and her breasts wouldn’t heal. She pumped and bottle fed exclusively for three days in the first week and she is now nursing again. If I had the medical experience your H does, I think it would be near impossible for me to maintain my “keep my mouth shut unless asked for advice” posture here!
As my GS approaches his one month birthday we received some pretty great news from the pediatric cardiologist. Apparently the odds of him needing heart surgery in the first year have dropped from 50/50 to 20% and my S and DIL have been told to treat him “like a completely healthy little boy.” Whew.
I also think I must have forgotten how quickly babies grow and change in the first weeks and months. Being wrapped up in my H’s surgery and recovery has meant I haven’t seen the little guy as often as I’d like and he changes so much every day. FaceTime is a wonderful thing! Hope everyone here is well.
D-i-l is due in 3 weeks–I hope they are ready! (My niece just delivered almost 3 weeks early…)This weekend I got to practice holding a newborn. It has been a few years, but, yes I felt like a pro!
H and I bought airline tickets/made hotel reservations to visit for granddaugher’s baptism at end of January. I can’t believe how fast time is passing!
S and DIL live 2.5 hours away, so I have them send me a picture of my granddaughter every day. Actually I call her my baby…she 10 weeks old and, of course, adorable!
My S, DIL and 18moGS are coming for a week at Christmas. D is also coming home for a week. Can not wait! They all live a plane trip away, so what fun to come. Youngest D is already here, after study abroad. The baby is going to be the star of the show.
Obviously not a grandparent but thought I’d share this feel-good news here.
My sister and my parents (our dad, her step-mom but really the only mom she’s had since her teens) have long had a rocky relationship. It came to a head before her wedding and resulted in her severing all ties with my parents before her wedding last year.
Yesterday, she gave birth to the first grandchild of the family. Emotions have been running very high since of course my parents wanted to see them. Today, they went to the hospital and figured that either they let her see them or that was it.
I just received a picture of my mom holding her grandson. I don’t have any more information on how it went but she at least got to meet him. I’m so relieved.
Same, @shellfell My parents want nothing more than to have a relationship with them but my sister has a lot of untreated mental health problems. Out of her 3 siblings, 2 parents, and 2 step-parents, I am the only family member who came to the wedding and that she talks to on any kind of consistent basis - and that only started when she got pregnant.
It’s always tough when there is an estrangement and even more so when it’s rekated to untreated mental health issues. I’m sure we all join you, @romanigypsyeyes, in hoping that this fragile bond will grow for everyone’s sake!
Thanks for sharing all these sweet stories. Some of them make me tear up.
We asked GS if he wanted a baby brother. He answered no. We asked him if he wanted a baby sister. Again, he answered no. Then we asked him if he wanted to be an only child. He answered with an enthusiastic yes. Too late!
We just went to GS’s Christmas Concert - his group was about forty or fifty children ranging from 21 months to about 3 years old. They ‘sang’ five songs. GS didn’t sing one word, but he was really good at shaking his jingle bell and making hand motions. His ‘reindeer antlers’ (hands on sides of head) were almost perfect.
D-i-l and S had a very long day. D-i-l started having contractions regularly around 7pm last night. They phoned doctor/nurse around 2:30am, and were told to head to hospital, where D-i-l was checked. Not much was happening, so they were sent home. D has very low platelets and was treated with steriods by a hemotologist last week. Baby is measuring small. At 38.5 weeks, about 6 lbs. D-i-l had a follow-up with hemotologist scheduled today. While continuing to have regular (though farther apart)contractions throughout the day, D kept that appointment. Unfortunately, her platelets fell even more this week in spite of the steroids. She is to get a platelet infusion tomorrow. Contractions have gotten weaker and farther apart. Hoping they can get some sleep tonight.
I’m quite anxious myself! Anyone here have any experience with low platelets (hers were 27K today)?
My daughter will be 12 weeks tomorrow and hasn’t told anyone other than my SIL’s parents and us; plus a few of their very close friends. The grandparent will be told this weekend as the kids are visiting his family. They wanted to wait after her ultrasound before telling the outside world.
Three months ago I had no grandchildren, in a little more than six, I will have two! Can not wait
