Oct 08 2008
Human Pacifier
Today, Baby Champuru is four days old and she had her first field trip, a visit to the pediatrician. I didn’t realize how much preparation it requires to take an infant out of the house. Our appointment was at 10:45 am, so I figured we had enough time in the morning to get the diaper bag packed, get her bathed and clothed, and secured in the car seat for the journey. Our goal was to leave by 10:00 am, but we were still scrambling until a quarter after ten. We arrived five minutes late to the doctor’s office and that’s only because we couldn’t find parking. However, we ended up waiting over an hour, so being five minutes late seems like a moot point now.
Our pediatrician has a newborn room, which is a space that is separated from the general waiting room. It was nice to be sequestered in our own private space, away from other sick children coughing and sneezing all over the place. Too bad it’s reserved for babies under a month old. I’d prefer it to be three months and under, but that’s just me and my germophobia talking.
After they settled us into the examining room, we still had quite a wait. Baby Champuru started to cry like there was no tomorrow. It was obviously past her feeding time and she was visibly unhappy about her empty stomach, as there was no soothing her. So, I decided to try feeding her to see if that would satisfy her. In mid-wail, I stuffed her mouth on my breast, obtaining a good latch on the first try (woot!) and she was immediately pacified. I am the Human Pacifier! With my trusty Hooter Hiders allowing me to maintain my modesty, I was able to nurse her for about ten minutes before the doctor came in, who immediately apologized for having us wait so long. It’s understandable, after all, they’re short one doctor.
Our regular pediatrician is on vacation in Japan (I’m jealous!), so Dr. Paul came to the hospital to see us after the birth and for today’s appointment. He’s a wonderful doctor, too. He has a kind, humble, patient demeanor that not only soothes the baby, but us as parents, too. I thought it was amazing that he could take baby’s rectal temperature and clean her umbilical cord without her stirring or making a fuss. Overall, it was a good visit, aside from her weight loss — which we’ll be monitoring with another follow-up appointment in a week. The doctor suggested that we cup feed her 30 cc’s of formula to supplement the breastfeeding. Cup feeding is preferred to prevent nipple confusion that comes with bottle feeding in newborns. Once breastfeeding is successfully established, bottle feeding may be implemented without problems. The only thing is that cup feeding isn’t easy and it takes a long time for her to sip even 10 cc’s of formula — and it can be messy. But, whatever it takes, right? 
We also squeezed in a quick visit to see Auntie Lindy and Auntie Anna on the way home.
Despite the rough start, Baby Champuru’s first field trip went amazingly well!
A 30-something Christian girl, blissfully wedded to her perfect match (the yang to her yin) of 14 years. A new mom to her miracle baby, born on October 4, 2008. Living life in Hawaii, less than 5 miles from her hometown, a slave to her mortgage payment, but seeking balance in her pursuit of family, faith, recreation, and rest.
Yup, that’s right, cup feeding is HARD and don’t worry they always lose weight in the first week or so…Is the meconium still coming? Keep up the good work and make sure you have read BabyWise….
wow, cup feeding? no tubes or syringes? good luck and I hope Krislyn gains more weight. But they always lose weight in the beginning. before you know it, she’ll be packing on the weight and you’ll wish she was 6 lbs again. =) She’s soo tiny and cute in that car seat! *squish* hope you’re taking it easy!
Isn’t it amazing how long it takes to pack up to go anywhere with an infant?? Here’s to hoping for some weight gain for the baby!
Aren’t they adorable when they’re teeny? My daughter was (and still is) teeny for her age and we were told to supplement her. We used tube feeding which was also messy but if you have a lot of trouble cup feeding, it’s another way to prevent nipple confusion.
Gosh times have changed! My daughter was born early, barely 6lbs, I never heard of cup feeding. (this be 20 yrs ago) She lost a little (as expected) in the beginning but within the month she made up for lost time. And look at you, Mommy Champuru, you look gorgeous!
Congrats on your tiny wonder
How cute!!!
I love that the doc has a separate waiting area - nice!
My son was cup fed when he was in the special nursery and I wasn’t there to BF him - I pumped for them. He finally got released and we were able to get the breastfeeding established and he went on to BF very successfully.
Best of luck to you!
Congrats on your new family! You need to announce the birth of baby on your web page! Just looks weird that one entry you’re in the hospital and the next your home. Nothing in between that says BABY CHAMPURU BORN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah cup feeding is hard! Good luck with that! And woo hoo for latching on on the first start, I remember it being so hard at first and getting frustrated so easily. She looks so teeny in her carseat! And wow that’s awesome at your Ped’s office, I would want it for babies to 3 months too. Oh wells! I always give myself an extra half hour before we even get in the car, for just in case, and to collect my thoughts. Heh!
I remember those days: exciting, fun, nerve wracking, frustrating, wonderful! You can’t imagine loving someone so much.
It gets easier, babies do grow, doing things become routine. It sounds as if you are doing just wonderfully.
My only advice: Do what you know is right for your children. When we had a our eldest I was so scared I listened to everyone and did everything everyone told me. There was not pleasing others, there is only pleasing yourself and doing what feels as if it is the best for you and your family. God will guide you in your parenting and forget your mistakes.
You are a wonderful mom. You waited so long for this baby and prepared for her. She comes into a home filled with love and love does conquer everything, improve everything, and heals everything
Patty is correct, love is always the answer, well, other than, 42 of course.
[Humorous literary reference] Infants always lose weight at first and is nothing to worry about nor does it need supplements (Dr. Bob, our pediatrician says so and in Huntsville Dr. Bob rules, people come to him from a hundred miles away and all the interns are scared of him because he knows everything and constantly peppers them with questions. It is a fun sideshow when an intern is shadowing him.) However, supplementing like you are doesn’t hurt anything as long as the baby is still nurses on schedule.
Boy, am I preachy today, or what. No wonder nobody likes me. The real answer is to go with your heart and gut feeling of what is right, not someone elses. The heart has its own reasons.
It is amazing how much time and effort it takes to get a baby ready to go out. It is one of those things you only learn by experience. Later on you will find that you need an extra bag or two to of toys or other things to keep baby Champuru amused and occupied.
Well, what I wanted to say before I lost control of mysef was that you and Krislyn look great.
BTW, isn’t meconium fun?
Hope I haven’t offended you or your readers, wishing you all the best.
wow 4 days old already!!! here’s a tip for the cup feeding…if you can, express breastmilk. im not a doctor but if you already have milk, no point in supplementing with formula but that’s just my .02 >.< and nurse nurse nurse…nursing on demand is the only way to build a good, steady supply…sorry…unsolicited advice, iknow…
but anyway, back to cup feeding…instead of using a cup which is UBER messy, particularly if baby is wailing, use a medicine dropper…you know the kind they use to give little kids medicine? I used that with dd when i was having trouble breastfeeding in the beginning. it’s not foolproof but waaaay easier (and cleaner) than cup feeding. Plus if you get a kiddie medicine dropper, it has the cc measurements.
I believe you go to the same Pediatric group in Pali Momi that my daughter goes to (the examination table and wall “decoration” look exactly the same. If so, you will use the newborn room for a while. I think we got to be in there for the first 3 or so months. Or at least until her initial shots kicked in.