Today was a better day. Not because Elliot suddenly did a lot better with feedings, but because I've got a better handle on my emotions. I think I just needed a good cry yesterday. Thank you for all the wonderful, supportive comments. I don't really like putting myself out there like that, but- if I can't be open here, in my blog, then where else?
Today Elliot weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. Is there such a thing as a baby growing too fast? He's grown a pound in less than a week. How is that even possible?!
His feedings were increased to 22cc's today. He took 5 from me at his first feeding before getting really mad and choking, so we gavaged the rest of that meal. Apparently when the occupational therapist came this morning, he wouldn't take the bottle from her at all... so I was happy with 5cc's. Better than nothing!
At his next feeding, I opted to put him to breast and let him "practice" while he was being gavaged, so he could start to associate nursing with a full tummy. We had a little trouble getting him to latch on, but once he did, he was very happy and nursed peacefully for about fifteen minutes.
He hassn't pooped now in over 24 hours. Pray for poop!
I've started taking Fenugreek and Mother's Milk Tea. Apparently it won't start working until your sweat and urine starts to smell like maple syrup... and I'm definitely not smelling anything sweet yet. But let's pray that once the dose is high enough, it will help!
And to answer some of your questions:
1. Elliot is currently using Dr. Brown's natural flow bottles with a newborn/stage 1 nipple. They're considering switching him to a preemie nipple but don't really want to since he was born at full term {37 weeks}.
2. I asked and he MUST be able to take full feedings from a bottle before going home... no other feeding method is acceptable. Even if he breast feeds well, he still must be able to take full bottles.
