Time flies and "My" babies are getting so big!
My little one who had the bad cleft palate and lip had his second operation, this time on his soft palate and he has made a wonderful recovery.
He is 1 years old next month and a dear little boy. Smart as a button too.
There seems to be little adverse effect on his speech as far as they can tell, apart from him being a bit loud; but that's children for you!
I have seen many of my "little friends" over the last few months and have been invited to a christening, escorting a pageboy to a wedding and 2 birthday parties. (I wish my social life with my own age group was doing as well)!!
I am truly blessed to be included at their milestones.
I have 3 grandchildren now. The last born 7 weeks early before Christmas and it's hard to believe that the due date has still not arrived!
A difficult time for the parents having to be without their baby and all sorts of issues over steroid injections, epidurals and Neonatal care to be discussed next.
The main thing is, she is fit, well and gaining weight ... the baby that is.
Thursday, 20 January 2011
Sunday, 10 October 2010
BACK AGAIN!
I have not been writing here for some months now due to being busy and without a Blackberry or iPod.
But there is lots to say about the various babies I have been working with and will get around to giving some new information in the next few days.
I will be talking about craniosacral therapy for babies and how it really can help, if done by the right therapist.
But there is lots to say about the various babies I have been working with and will get around to giving some new information in the next few days.
I will be talking about craniosacral therapy for babies and how it really can help, if done by the right therapist.
Thursday, 3 June 2010
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.
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.
Labels:
Bedtime,
Feeding,
Knowledge,
Medication
Friday, 28 May 2010
MY BLOG
If you follow me on Twitter, you may like to follow the original on:- http://babiesfriend.blogspot.com/
Thursday, 27 May 2010
FLAT HEADS, TREATMENT and PILLOWS
During the birth procedure (whether naturally or by C-section), often babies have neck problems which are not always evident.
Mostly, they show up with digestive problems, as the Atlas bone (which can affect the flight and fright and digestive system) may have been moved out of position as they cork screw out, sometimes causing colic.
Baby may also have a propensity to turn the head in one direction when lying down, which may cause that side of the head to become flattened. Or if they lay flat on their back, they may get a flat-spot at the back of the head.
I have had babies with hardly any neck at all showing and in extreme cases, they may show signs of pain when moving the arms or shoulders and sometimes get sores in the folds of skin in the neck.
When I think there may be a problem, I suggest to mum that they might like to visit a baby cranial Osteopath or Chiropractor; but please note that they must be trained in this area.
To be safe, I recommend they go to an excellent centre: the Osteopathic Centre for Children in Bloomsbury, London.
This is a Charitable organisation run by the Foundation for Osteopathy and you are asked for a donation for the visit, which a present is approx £30 and well worth the money.
The Centre has highly train professions and also Osteopaths who are learning cranial work, so you see more than one person.
The excellent treatment looks as though they are doing nothing and it is gentle and does not pain the baby at all.
Even if you think there are no problems, it is always nice to have your baby checked out by someone who is looking for things that the normal midwife or doctor do not seem to notice.
Since the "Back to Sleep" campaign (which makes us sleep babies on their backs), there has been an increase of flattened heads and at the Centre they recommend the Lilla Kuddis pillow to prevent Flat Head Syndrome.
Babies heads do not harden until 12-18 months.
Normally I would never recommend a pillow for any babies; but this is safe and baby lies with both his head and shoulders on it.
The pillow has been developed in Sweden by Midwives and Physiotherapists and had has good results.
The only thing I am not happy with, is that the filling is not made of natural fibre (which in my opinion may make the baby sweat), although the cover is 100% cotton.
Mostly, they show up with digestive problems, as the Atlas bone (which can affect the flight and fright and digestive system) may have been moved out of position as they cork screw out, sometimes causing colic.
Baby may also have a propensity to turn the head in one direction when lying down, which may cause that side of the head to become flattened. Or if they lay flat on their back, they may get a flat-spot at the back of the head.
I have had babies with hardly any neck at all showing and in extreme cases, they may show signs of pain when moving the arms or shoulders and sometimes get sores in the folds of skin in the neck.
When I think there may be a problem, I suggest to mum that they might like to visit a baby cranial Osteopath or Chiropractor; but please note that they must be trained in this area.
To be safe, I recommend they go to an excellent centre: the Osteopathic Centre for Children in Bloomsbury, London.
This is a Charitable organisation run by the Foundation for Osteopathy and you are asked for a donation for the visit, which a present is approx £30 and well worth the money.
The Centre has highly train professions and also Osteopaths who are learning cranial work, so you see more than one person.
The excellent treatment looks as though they are doing nothing and it is gentle and does not pain the baby at all.
Even if you think there are no problems, it is always nice to have your baby checked out by someone who is looking for things that the normal midwife or doctor do not seem to notice.
Since the "Back to Sleep" campaign (which makes us sleep babies on their backs), there has been an increase of flattened heads and at the Centre they recommend the Lilla Kuddis pillow to prevent Flat Head Syndrome.
Babies heads do not harden until 12-18 months.
Normally I would never recommend a pillow for any babies; but this is safe and baby lies with both his head and shoulders on it.
The pillow has been developed in Sweden by Midwives and Physiotherapists and had has good results.
The only thing I am not happy with, is that the filling is not made of natural fibre (which in my opinion may make the baby sweat), although the cover is 100% cotton.
FEEDING WELL & GAINING WEIGHT
Things change so quickly with these little people.
Last night "my little boy" drank almost double what he's been drinking since his operation; taking nearly 7oz or 200mls. Then went straight back to sleep for nearly 5 hours.
The next feed he seemed uncomfortable again, so I gave him 2½ mls of paracetamol, which settled him. It seems to work within 15 minutes.
He scar has healed beautifully, but you can still see the dissolvable ones inside his mouth.
His recovery his astounded me, but his cells are regenerating so fast at 3 months, I suppose it's not so surprising.
He went back to his Paediatrician today and has gained weight again (past his preoperative weight) showing he is definitely on the mend, bless him!
Last night "my little boy" drank almost double what he's been drinking since his operation; taking nearly 7oz or 200mls. Then went straight back to sleep for nearly 5 hours.
The next feed he seemed uncomfortable again, so I gave him 2½ mls of paracetamol, which settled him. It seems to work within 15 minutes.
He scar has healed beautifully, but you can still see the dissolvable ones inside his mouth.
His recovery his astounded me, but his cells are regenerating so fast at 3 months, I suppose it's not so surprising.
He went back to his Paediatrician today and has gained weight again (past his preoperative weight) showing he is definitely on the mend, bless him!
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
PAIN ONGOING
The hospital thought that "my baby" would only need pain killers for one week.
Mum has seen an European website for Cleft babies in which some parents write about their baby crying for 3 weeks or more.
The last 48 hours (over the post operative week), he has shown signs of being in pain and quite unsettled, crying and waving his arms about in distress.
Although he is feeding more, my view is that he is in distress and needs help through the pain.
After all, he has a huge amount of work done to his hard palate, let alone his lip.
Last week I had excruciating tooth ache and root canal work and still have a residue of pain; so it is not surprising that my poor little boy must be feeling it so much worse. He really is a Brave Little Soldier and loved so much.
So, he is back on Ibuprofen at 8 hour intervals (3x per day) and Paracetamol at 6 hour intervals (4x per day).
Now, if you Google Phenergan (which I used to give to my children when necessary) you get loads of advice now as why not to use it. But as it was provided specifically for the baby by Great Ormond Street Hospital, I feel no reason why he should not have it.
However never use Phenergan without it being prescribed, as it has had some adverse reactions.
Lets hope that being back on pain killers helps his discomfort. I see no reason why he should suffer, and that isn't in silence!
Mum has seen an European website for Cleft babies in which some parents write about their baby crying for 3 weeks or more.
The last 48 hours (over the post operative week), he has shown signs of being in pain and quite unsettled, crying and waving his arms about in distress.
Although he is feeding more, my view is that he is in distress and needs help through the pain.
After all, he has a huge amount of work done to his hard palate, let alone his lip.
Last week I had excruciating tooth ache and root canal work and still have a residue of pain; so it is not surprising that my poor little boy must be feeling it so much worse. He really is a Brave Little Soldier and loved so much.
So, he is back on Ibuprofen at 8 hour intervals (3x per day) and Paracetamol at 6 hour intervals (4x per day).
Now, if you Google Phenergan (which I used to give to my children when necessary) you get loads of advice now as why not to use it. But as it was provided specifically for the baby by Great Ormond Street Hospital, I feel no reason why he should not have it.
However never use Phenergan without it being prescribed, as it has had some adverse reactions.
Lets hope that being back on pain killers helps his discomfort. I see no reason why he should suffer, and that isn't in silence!
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