General baby questions - please give advice/experience

M

momtocrazel

New member
Hello
My 5 mo baby had her first cold couple of weeks ago and continues to have a near constant runny nose (clear). some mom's tell me a runny nose is just normal for babies this age? The ped recommended nasal saline drops with xylitol. does anyone use these? also, she does this odd thing - something in between a cough/sneeze - sound familiar to anyone? should i be concerned? her most recent throat culture was negative (10/13.)
Second question - to the breastfeeding mommas out there - what did you do for night time feedings? did you wake up and give enzymes every time? when we started enzymes, our cf doc did not seem too concerned about her missing these doses at night so neither did i but as she gets bigger (and of late seems to be nursing 3-4x/night) i wonder if i am doing her a disservice by not getting out of bed to fetch her zenpep. 75-100% of her poop typically sinks (we practice elimination communication so we know if it floats - kinda weird to some but works for us and has the added bonus of being able to monitor her absorption - i am still not sure about what oily vs normal poop looks like but i can tell if it stinks and if it sinks.)
sorry for the long post - thanks for your help/advice/experience
 
M

momtocrazel

New member
Hello
My 5 mo baby had her first cold couple of weeks ago and continues to have a near constant runny nose (clear). some mom's tell me a runny nose is just normal for babies this age? The ped recommended nasal saline drops with xylitol. does anyone use these? also, she does this odd thing - something in between a cough/sneeze - sound familiar to anyone? should i be concerned? her most recent throat culture was negative (10/13.)
Second question - to the breastfeeding mommas out there - what did you do for night time feedings? did you wake up and give enzymes every time? when we started enzymes, our cf doc did not seem too concerned about her missing these doses at night so neither did i but as she gets bigger (and of late seems to be nursing 3-4x/night) i wonder if i am doing her a disservice by not getting out of bed to fetch her zenpep. 75-100% of her poop typically sinks (we practice elimination communication so we know if it floats - kinda weird to some but works for us and has the added bonus of being able to monitor her absorption - i am still not sure about what oily vs normal poop looks like but i can tell if it stinks and if it sinks.)
sorry for the long post - thanks for your help/advice/experience
 
M

momtocrazel

New member
Hello
<br />My 5 mo baby had her first cold couple of weeks ago and continues to have a near constant runny nose (clear). some mom's tell me a runny nose is just normal for babies this age? The ped recommended nasal saline drops with xylitol. does anyone use these? also, she does this odd thing - something in between a cough/sneeze - sound familiar to anyone? should i be concerned? her most recent throat culture was negative (10/13.)
<br />Second question - to the breastfeeding mommas out there - what did you do for night time feedings? did you wake up and give enzymes every time? when we started enzymes, our cf doc did not seem too concerned about her missing these doses at night so neither did i but as she gets bigger (and of late seems to be nursing 3-4x/night) i wonder if i am doing her a disservice by not getting out of bed to fetch her zenpep. 75-100% of her poop typically sinks (we practice elimination communication so we know if it floats - kinda weird to some but works for us and has the added bonus of being able to monitor her absorption - i am still not sure about what oily vs normal poop looks like but i can tell if it stinks and if it sinks.)
<br />sorry for the long post - thanks for your help/advice/experience
<br />
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
Three or four times a night?? How are you doing with that? You need your sleep too! I would give enzymes to my two when they woke up in the middle of night. I just kept the enzymes and applesauce by where I would feed them. My kids never had runny noses so I am not sure. My son did a cough/sneeze noise. It went away.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 9 and Jack, 7 both with cf, Grant, 21 months and Paige, 6 weeks both without cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
Three or four times a night?? How are you doing with that? You need your sleep too! I would give enzymes to my two when they woke up in the middle of night. I just kept the enzymes and applesauce by where I would feed them. My kids never had runny noses so I am not sure. My son did a cough/sneeze noise. It went away.
Sharon, mom of Sophia, 9 and Jack, 7 both with cf, Grant, 21 months and Paige, 6 weeks both without cf
 
S

sdelorenzo

Guest
Three or four times a night?? How are you doing with that? You need your sleep too! I would give enzymes to my two when they woke up in the middle of night. I just kept the enzymes and applesauce by where I would feed them. My kids never had runny noses so I am not sure. My son did a cough/sneeze noise. It went away.
<br />Sharon, mom of Sophia, 9 and Jack, 7 both with cf, Grant, 21 months and Paige, 6 weeks both without cf
 
B

badcheesemomma

New member
First of all - yay to the breastfeeding! You are already giving her her best food. I am still currently nursing my second child, who is 17 months today. Keep a small cooler pack with her applesauce (or whatever your using) next to your bed. Are you co-sleeping? They will nurse at night for a long time.. as long as you let them (more so if its been a busy day-like they are making up). When she wakes, just quickly grab her enzymes and then nurse. If your co sleeping its much easier as you nod back off yourself. PM me if you want, I have tons of tips and pointers.
 
B

badcheesemomma

New member
First of all - yay to the breastfeeding! You are already giving her her best food. I am still currently nursing my second child, who is 17 months today. Keep a small cooler pack with her applesauce (or whatever your using) next to your bed. Are you co-sleeping? They will nurse at night for a long time.. as long as you let them (more so if its been a busy day-like they are making up). When she wakes, just quickly grab her enzymes and then nurse. If your co sleeping its much easier as you nod back off yourself. PM me if you want, I have tons of tips and pointers.
 
B

badcheesemomma

New member
First of all - yay to the breastfeeding! You are already giving her her best food. I am still currently nursing my second child, who is 17 months today. Keep a small cooler pack with her applesauce (or whatever your using) next to your bed. Are you co-sleeping? They will nurse at night for a long time.. as long as you let them (more so if its been a busy day-like they are making up). When she wakes, just quickly grab her enzymes and then nurse. If your co sleeping its much easier as you nod back off yourself. PM me if you want, I have tons of tips and pointers.
 
A

AleksandraKaczynska

New member
I nursed Joanna till she was over 15 months. I started to finish when she reached one year. The doc told me that breastfeeding - should be till about 9 months - then it's not so important for the health and nutrition anymore. It was however difficult to give up. At day I would stop one breastfeeding time at a time and it went fast.I started giving her other food when she finished 4 months. The night seemed only a way to be close to me and to have a drink <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> At some point I changed the night breastfinding to drinking water and Joanna still wants water at night at the same hours... and she is 3 tommorow. But after her 9 month it really looked like she needed a drink - not food.
 
A

AleksandraKaczynska

New member
I nursed Joanna till she was over 15 months. I started to finish when she reached one year. The doc told me that breastfeeding - should be till about 9 months - then it's not so important for the health and nutrition anymore. It was however difficult to give up. At day I would stop one breastfeeding time at a time and it went fast.I started giving her other food when she finished 4 months. The night seemed only a way to be close to me and to have a drink <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> At some point I changed the night breastfinding to drinking water and Joanna still wants water at night at the same hours... and she is 3 tommorow. But after her 9 month it really looked like she needed a drink - not food.
 
A

AleksandraKaczynska

New member
I nursed Joanna till she was over 15 months. I started to finish when she reached one year. The doc told me that breastfeeding - should be till about 9 months - then it's not so important for the health and nutrition anymore. It was however difficult to give up. At day I would stop one breastfeeding time at a time and it went fast.I started giving her other food when she finished 4 months. The night seemed only a way to be close to me and to have a drink <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> At some point I changed the night breastfinding to drinking water and Joanna still wants water at night at the same hours... and she is 3 tommorow. But after her 9 month it really looked like she needed a drink - not food.
<br />
<br />
 
F

Fran

New member
I breastfed Lachy until he was 2 years old. I gave him enzymes with each feed when he woke in the night. Waking 3-4 times in the night for feeding is absolutely okay for a little person of only 5 months. She will really benefit from the extra calories and she is so little, not many 5 month olds sleep through the night, every night. Lachy has done amazingly well with his cf and I'm sure that 2 years of breastfeeding had a lot to do with his continued good health. Keep it up as long as you can!
 
F

Fran

New member
I breastfed Lachy until he was 2 years old. I gave him enzymes with each feed when he woke in the night. Waking 3-4 times in the night for feeding is absolutely okay for a little person of only 5 months. She will really benefit from the extra calories and she is so little, not many 5 month olds sleep through the night, every night. Lachy has done amazingly well with his cf and I'm sure that 2 years of breastfeeding had a lot to do with his continued good health. Keep it up as long as you can!
 
F

Fran

New member
I breastfed Lachy until he was 2 years old. I gave him enzymes with each feed when he woke in the night. Waking 3-4 times in the night for feeding is absolutely okay for a little person of only 5 months. She will really benefit from the extra calories and she is so little, not many 5 month olds sleep through the night, every night. Lachy has done amazingly well with his cf and I'm sure that 2 years of breastfeeding had a lot to do with his continued good health. Keep it up as long as you can!
 
M

momtocrazel

New member
thanks everyone. i really need a plan. i will try to set up enzymes and applesauce by the bed for accessibility. been spoiled so far - just roll over and feed - just need to get into a different mind set
 
M

momtocrazel

New member
thanks everyone. i really need a plan. i will try to set up enzymes and applesauce by the bed for accessibility. been spoiled so far - just roll over and feed - just need to get into a different mind set
 
M

momtocrazel

New member
thanks everyone. i really need a plan. i will try to set up enzymes and applesauce by the bed for accessibility. been spoiled so far - just roll over and feed - just need to get into a different mind set
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
First, I think you're doing a wonderful job! I don't have kids w/ CF (I am the one w/ CF) but I am always SO glad to a nursing mom to a CF baby. My mom breastfed me and my brother (he also had CF) in the 80s when it was NOT popular to do so and I'm so thankful that she did. She nursed me till 2.5 and my brother till 3.5. I am still nursing my daughter and have no plans to wean till she is ready. We also cosleep <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And yay for EC! I did that w/ my daughter and it was wonderful. BTW she was fully independent a little before age 2. We started EC when she was 3 months old and it was the best decision I could have made for her since she was battling a horrible yeast rash that I couldn't get rid of. But 2 days out of diapers and it was gone completely and we never looked back (don't get me wrong - she was in diapers part time but the bulk of her pottying was in the potty). I really wish I had heard about it when I had my son.

I think all the advice you have been given is wonderful but I just wanted to clear something up:


<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>AleksandraKaczynska</b></i>
The doc told me that breastfeeding - should be till about 9 months - then it's not so important for the health and nutrition anymore. </end quote></div>

That is a big misconception - breastmilk never loses nutritional value and it still very important for health and nutrition! Breastmilk should make up the bulk of a baby's diet till at least age 1 - solid foods introduced at the appropriate time are for practice and should not replace breastmilk intake. Many babies who are given ample opportunities to nurse don't really take much in the way other foods till even older (it isn't uncommon for a nursing baby to not start eating much till 18 months). The immunological components of breastmilk never go away and it is especially valuable when baby is sick as it is sometimes the only thing they will drink. I think each women should make up their own mind as to when to wean but I don't think that it is appropriate for a doctor to say that it isn't so important after 9 months. Doctors are not trained in lactation and usually have not gotten any training at all about breastfeeding in med school or residency. Most of what I've heard doctors say is just plain misinformation....

One last thing - I know that when cosleeping you don't always know when/if baby is nursing if you are asleep. If her doctor isn't concerned about missing enzymes for a few night nursings, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Try to give her enzymes when you can but since breastmilk is so easily digested and you're doing enzymes for the other feedings, I think she'll be fine. Anyway, keep up the good work!
 
K

Keepercjr

Guest
First, I think you're doing a wonderful job! I don't have kids w/ CF (I am the one w/ CF) but I am always SO glad to a nursing mom to a CF baby. My mom breastfed me and my brother (he also had CF) in the 80s when it was NOT popular to do so and I'm so thankful that she did. She nursed me till 2.5 and my brother till 3.5. I am still nursing my daughter and have no plans to wean till she is ready. We also cosleep <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And yay for EC! I did that w/ my daughter and it was wonderful. BTW she was fully independent a little before age 2. We started EC when she was 3 months old and it was the best decision I could have made for her since she was battling a horrible yeast rash that I couldn't get rid of. But 2 days out of diapers and it was gone completely and we never looked back (don't get me wrong - she was in diapers part time but the bulk of her pottying was in the potty). I really wish I had heard about it when I had my son.

I think all the advice you have been given is wonderful but I just wanted to clear something up:


<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>AleksandraKaczynska</b></i>
The doc told me that breastfeeding - should be till about 9 months - then it's not so important for the health and nutrition anymore. </end quote>

That is a big misconception - breastmilk never loses nutritional value and it still very important for health and nutrition! Breastmilk should make up the bulk of a baby's diet till at least age 1 - solid foods introduced at the appropriate time are for practice and should not replace breastmilk intake. Many babies who are given ample opportunities to nurse don't really take much in the way other foods till even older (it isn't uncommon for a nursing baby to not start eating much till 18 months). The immunological components of breastmilk never go away and it is especially valuable when baby is sick as it is sometimes the only thing they will drink. I think each women should make up their own mind as to when to wean but I don't think that it is appropriate for a doctor to say that it isn't so important after 9 months. Doctors are not trained in lactation and usually have not gotten any training at all about breastfeeding in med school or residency. Most of what I've heard doctors say is just plain misinformation....

One last thing - I know that when cosleeping you don't always know when/if baby is nursing if you are asleep. If her doctor isn't concerned about missing enzymes for a few night nursings, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Try to give her enzymes when you can but since breastmilk is so easily digested and you're doing enzymes for the other feedings, I think she'll be fine. Anyway, keep up the good work!
 
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