Today we met with Bonnie, a NICU home nurse that does visits to check on the babies after they are released. Arizona pays for the program if a child has a NICU stay spanding longer than 5 days. With the program we have free access to the nurse for questions or concerns. We also have a lactation consultant that will do house visits free of charge. We are supplied with free formula and information about feeding and weight gain. The nurse will make house calls at the child's milestones until they reach age 2 where the corrected age of the premature baby catches up with full gestation babies. Arizona implemented this program due to high morbidity and mortality rates within the state. I am so thankful for the extra help and support.
I learned a great deal in this visit and the nurse is pretty sure Addison is suffering from reflux and her formula and or the over production of acid is causing most of her problems right now. We will take her into the pediatrician to work on changing formulas that we fortify my breast milk with and have her seen by specialist to see how severe her reflux/acid problems are. Since I have another baby to compare Addison's problems with, it is easy to see that she is in pain at times and she doesn't feel well most of the time. I really feel bad for my baby and I want her to start feeling better soon so she can eat and rest better. I hope we get some answers soon.
I learned a great deal in this visit and the nurse is pretty sure Addison is suffering from reflux and her formula and or the over production of acid is causing most of her problems right now. We will take her into the pediatrician to work on changing formulas that we fortify my breast milk with and have her seen by specialist to see how severe her reflux/acid problems are. Since I have another baby to compare Addison's problems with, it is easy to see that she is in pain at times and she doesn't feel well most of the time. I really feel bad for my baby and I want her to start feeling better soon so she can eat and rest better. I hope we get some answers soon.
What a wonderful program! Micah also has reflux. We have had him sleeping on an incline since he was 5 weeks old to help with this, we keep him upright after feedings for 30 minutes (or more) and he has been on Zantac - it was a miracle drug for us! Changing food did not have any impact, but the meds sure make a big difference. We have to increase the dosage regularly (every time his weight goes up) and we are looking forward to the day he outgrows the reflux. Apparently, babies born early have a very high rate of reflux. Good luck! - Tess
ReplyDeleteWow - that is a nice program and resource to have. Hope a formula change fixes things and she can feel better.
ReplyDeleteCameron suffered from reflux, it was terrible so I know how you feel. Make sure when switching the formula that you do it in slow dosages for her to adjust better. Best of luck, I hope the problem gets fixed, They are so beautiful:)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great program! Madeline had reflux as well. She cried for the first 5 weeks of her life. As soon as she started Axid, she was a different baby! It's so hard to see your baby in pain. I hope they get her started on some reflux meds soon.
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