We had nice relaxing weekend at home. I went out and got several different types of baby spoons for Ruby to start to play and eat with. We even gave her some rice cereal. The first time she didn't really know what to do other than projectile vomit. The second time she handled it a bit better, but I don't think she's sold on it.
I want to stress that the reason we are starting to give her rice cereal earlier than her pediatrician normally recommends is so she gets used to different textures. No one expects her to eat enough to affect her nutritionally. I'm going to stick with just small amounts of rice cereal for now. She took less than a tablespoon Sunday night. I'll hold off on the oatmeal, sweet potatoes, pears, apple sauce, and avocado. Ruby usually doesn't handle too many changes at once. We're already trying to let her dictate her feeding and giving her cereal.
We've been trying to let her get hungry and feeding her based on that. It's tough. We've had to play catch up over night the past couple nights to insure she gets the full amount for the day. We haven't seen a dramatic increase in her PO feeds, yet. She gets weighed at the pulmonologist tomorrow, that will give us some idea as whether or not she's handling the feeding change.
We let Ruby try out her swing for the first time. She didn't really like it. I think it's becasue it makes her sit up on her own. She can usually only handle sitting up in her Bumpo for 10-15 minutes. So, by the time we tried the swing she was tired. Our neighbors did loan us a swing for younger babies that doesn't require so much head control, which Ruby loves. As her neck gets stronger and torticollis gets better, I'm sure she'll love the big girl swing just as much. I couldn't get a clear picture of her while swinging.
That face in the first
That face in the first picture is classic! She's all, "rice cereal?! what's this crap? I want some guacamole, mom!!" :) love and hugs from IA
Hi Holly, Jaime wasn't a big
Hi Holly,
Jaime wasn't a big fan of rice cereal, but he does like and tolerate rather well, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots and oatmeal. We've given him prunes, too, he's not a huge fan, but he'll eat them. He doesn't like anything super sweet. I have been making my own baby food out of organic veggies...per our pediatrician. We, too, aren't given Jaime enough food to meet his nutritional needs, just small tastes to get used to the textures.
Good luck...hope Ruby learns to love and tolerate food!
Sheryl
That first picture of Ruby
That first picture of Ruby is so funny! What a great face! Natalie
Don't worry, we started
Don't worry, we started Alina on solids at 4.5 months and my neighbour at 3.5 months so I am not sold about the 6months timeline set by dieticians. Alina didn't like baby rice at all so I tried her on mashed up banana which she loved.
Ruby is doing great, so lovely to see pictures. Good luck with the weighing tomorrow!
Hugs,
Ingrid, Alex & Alina
Go Ruby! You all are doing
Go Ruby! You all are doing great. I think feeding is the most difficult part of this journey. Not to say that ECMO and being in the hospital for months isn't hard, but it is so tough trying to get your baby to eat. We struggled with Weston so much. He never liked rice or oatmeal cereal it is just recently that he started to eat for breakfast usually he didn't want to eat at all in the morning and that was even with his last feed being at midnight. Good luck on the demand feeding, it is tough especially with the tube, Weston never got hungry it was so difficult, when you know they need to eat but they don't care, at least Weston didn't. Keep on pressing on Ruby will get there don't lose hope. If you all ever need anything email us and we will help in whatever way we can. I hope Ruby is getting better at not taking out her tube as often.
Jenny Rogers (Weston's Mommy CDH survivor)
Glad u had a relaxing
Glad u had a relaxing weekend! Ruby will get there with the cereal she just likes to keep mom and dad on their toes! Love the mean face she gave you!
Joanna
With each baby roll she gets
With each baby roll she gets cuter and cuter.