[blparent] questions

[Dena Wainwright]

there are 30 CCs in an ounce. So, if they tell you to give him 20 CCs, 
you'll be giving him two thirds of an ounce. In terms of measuring, you can 
get very small bottles (like 2 and 3 ounce sizes). The very top line on the 
bottle is the maximum measurement. So, if you have a 3 ounce bottle, the top 
line is 3 ounces. Some bottles have tactile lines on them. E.g., I know the 
Dr. Browns bottles do.

You can use a small funnel to pour in the milk or formula. Also, if you're 
using formula, you can buy premade formula in quantities as small as 2 
ounces, so obviously, if he drinks all of it, he'll be drinking 2 
ounces...half of it, and he'll be drinking 1 ounce, etc...

It didn't take me long before I could literally measure the number of ounces 
in a bottle just by holding it in my hand. I was accurate down to the half 
ounce. I know half an ounce is a lot right now, but when he's taking in 2-4 
ounces a feeding, that method can work OK. You can also get syringes that 
hold very small amounts (like a half to a full ounce). You can use those 
initially with a finger feeder to get the milk into him. We used a finger 
feeder with Elise initially to prevent nipple confusion, but abandoned that 
when I began pumping exclusively.

You won't necessarily need to supplement. Obviously, if he's not gaining 
weight quickly enough, or if you have supply issues, then supplementing will 
be necessary, but you can do a lot to up your supply. My best advice is 
pump, pump, pump. The more you demand milk from your body, the more it will 
hopefully make. Initially, you don't get much. I hardly misted the bottom of 
the collection bottle at the beginning, but at the height of my pumping 
experience, I could get a full collection bottle per side.

Speaking of pumping, the other suggestion I have is, if you don't have a 
really good pump, I would seriously consider renting or buying one. The best 
brands, from what I've researched and heard, and from my own experience are 
Medella and Ameda. I had an Ameda and loved it.

Regarding the nurse's questions, I know she's concerned about your ability 
to care for your baby, but I would make sure the questions are being asked 
respectfully, and from the point of view of genuine curiosity, and not from 
the standpoint of "I'm going to grill you, and if you don't answer all of my 
questions the way I want you to, I'm going to call CPS." All new mothers 
(sighted or not) know very little about the day to day care of an infant. 
Before I had Elise, I had never changed a baby's diaper. I was fortunate, 
because my nursing staff was amazing, and allowed me to ask questions 
comfortably. When Elise was a day old, I said to my nurse "I think she needs 
to be changed, but I don't really know how to do it. Will you show me how to 
do it properly?" She guided me through the process the first few times, and 
then watched me do it alone a few more times, and by the time we left the 
hospital, I felt much better about it. I don't think the issue is whether or 
not you know everything; it's about whether or not you're willing to learn 
what you need to effectively care for your child. Because he is a premature 
baby, you will need to learn things about caring for a baby that many of us 
never did. Because my baby had reflux and colic, I now know more about both 
of those issues than I ever hoped to.

You will make mistakes. Every single one of us on this list has. Every 
single sighted parent I know has, too. It's just a part of parenthood. All 
you can do is to do the best you can every day. There will be great days, 
where you feel like you've got this parenting thing down to a science, and 
other days when you will wonder how you were able to convince anyone to let 
you leave the hospital with this defenseless creature. It is the most 
challenging (and the most rewarding) job you will ever do.

Dena



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Leslie Hamric" <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2010 2:06 PM
Subject: [blparent] questions


> Hi all.  I have some questions.  When you have a baby who's breast fed, 
> how
> do you know whether he has a wet or poopie diaper?  Is it something that's
> determined by feel and if so, how do you know the difference?  I guess the
> poop doesn't smell from breast milk.  The nurse I talked to today said 
> we'll
> probably end up having to supplement with formula so I'll have to do both
> breast and bottle feeding.  What's the best way to pour formula in the
> bottle?  Since Michaels a premie, I need to keep track of how many cc's 
> he's
> taking in.  The cc's can be determined in ounces too.  How do you keep 
> track
> of how much he's taking in without being able to see the measuring lines 
> on
> the bottle?  The nurse I worked with today has been asking me questions I
> don't know the answers to and it's kind of overwhelming.  I figured the 
> best
> thing would be to post on list and hopefully get some good ideas like I
> always have.
>
> Leslie
>
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