MANAGING MULTIPLES FEEDING

When feeding multiple babies (which probably have many and various medications), it is not easy to remember who has had how much and at what times etc.

Therefore, a very helpful tool is a large white board.

There are various ways to work this and you may find the way you'd like, but this is how I did it with the triplets parents. (pictured here) :-

Mark out the lines in permanent pen; giving names across the top and 24 hours down the left hand side.
Leaving a space on the right for extra information and summations.

In the appropriate hour box, fill in:- 

1. Feed start time minute
2. How much was taken
3. What medications and amount
4. Wet or dirty nappy

Doing this will make it easy to add up the milk intake for the 24hr period and most importantly make it easy to see at a glance, who is to be fed with what and when.

It is so easy to forget things when there is so much to do and deliver.
This also means that helpers can see without having to bother you!

The summation for the day goes on the right hand side, together with additional information about baths, inoculations, concerns and weight (if you ever have the time to do that).

Without the triplets having a white board, life would have been almost impossible!

The picture is when they are 6 months and are down to approx 4 hourly feeds and sleeping most of the night.

INOCULATIONS & DIRTY CONDITIONS

I went with a baby to have the 2nd round of jabs yesterday and was appalled by the lack of hygiene by the nurse at the rather sub-standard surgery.

Not once did the nurse wash her hands whilst handling, filling and administering 3 syringes.
All the time using her computer keyboard, touching the patients couch, feeling her dirty desk and even opening the door and going out of the room.

When questioned, she said she washed her hands between patients. A lie, as the person before came out and we went in.

No swab, just dry cotton wool (sitting around in a bowl) in case of a bleed.

I seen a few bad habits, but this . . . . !

SIGNS OF PAIN

Almost three weeks have past since the cleft operation and he is doing so well.

His smile is like a bright sunbeam.... broad again, rather than being pursed from the stitches and such a happy little bunny.

He's off most medications now, but you can still see the dissolvable stitches in his mouth.
He's feeding and sleeping more; in fact last night he did a seven and a half hour stint between his feeds!

He was unsettled in the early morning today and has been of late, so I think he may still have some pain in the early hours of day.
He cries and waves his little arms and legs about wildly; rather than those rhythmic colicy jerks. He only does tiny burps nowdays and doesn't seem to need much winding at all. Everything else seems fine, so the only thing I can think of is pain.

Another thing he does to make me think it is pain; is when I cradle him to try to help him to sleep (which he clearly shows he wants to do and something I don't do with a baby unless unwell), he buries his head under my arm and against my body with his cheek pushing against me.
As he has no control over his arm movements yet, I think this is like an older person holding an area that they have hurt.
e.g. When we hurt ourselves, we rub the area and this in turn sends a signal to the brain to concentrate on healing that spot and maybe increase the blood supply if necessary.

I have suggested some Calpol at this feed time, so he can sleep easier afterwards, although I did not give it last night, as I would always seek the parents approval before applying any medication not in the routine.

All in all, he looks wonderful and has a delightful little spirit and is as loved as any baby could be.