Oh boy... (actually GIRL) - What have I DONE????

[Beabble]

Oh what a relief Baby Emma is home safe and sound with you, and, just as perfect as ever I see!! Thank you so much for posting pics of Punkin Butt for us to see, I know how tired you are and to take pics through all of this for us to see is so very thoughtful of you. I think it's also a good idea to restrict her space for the time being, I don't know why we never thought of that before either. Hopefully they didn't use desolvable stitches this time and these ones will stay intact better. Did they have to re-cut her? Oh I hope they numbed her. I think I'd stick with the syringe and dropper for a while to, give this a chance to start healing together, she'll do just fine. Did she need any kind of antibiotics? Poor Emma has been through so much in her short lil life, hopefully from here on out it'll get easier for her. I'm so hoping and praying she starts to gain weight, even just a gram is such a huge accomplishment for her. Off to take a peak at Sweet Lil Baby Emma, thank you so much for the update and I hope you're getting some much needed rest. Oh and glad the vet said it was ok for her to have the yogurt with live cultures, anything that can help put the good stuff back into her right now will help. Many, many thoughts and prayers going up for the both of you!!

[dianethomas]

Originally Posted by dianethomas

Great job resticting her area, Dena. Hopefully this will keep her from traveling so far. She will probably still do laps around her smaller space, but at least she won't have far to go.

Oh, just thought of something. Zaccheus didn't move around much at all when he was in his pouch. He just slept like a little log, and only got squirmy when he was awake. That's when I would feed him again and put him in his box to move around a bit. I guess being right on my chest was a little like snuggling with his littermates or momma. He was right over my heart, so he could hear my heartbeat. And being, shall we say, fluffy helped, I'm sure. It was a soft place to be. I didn't worry about being jostled the little bit he was whenever I moved around. I didn't do any jumping jacks or anything, and I was careful not to bounce him around. But I did the normal things like dishes and going to church. In fact, all the ladies think he's half theirs. You should have heard them when they realized I didn't need to bring him any more.

[DukesMommy]

Yay they were able to get her fixed up again! Even if it's not as good as it was before, she still looks like a perfect little angel.

[sweetheartsok]

Thanks for the update...I'll be praying for her to gain some weight. I'm sure it's all the stress but in the days to come she will relax and start gaining I'm sure. She's such a doll face. I'm off to go peek at her on the webcam. Get some rest Dena, you must be so exhausted. You are an angel that's for sure.

[DvlshAngel985]

Emma looks so comfy and content!!! Her mommy is taking such good care of her. Thanks for keeping us updated!

[Lexie Blue]

HANG IN THERE, DENA AND LIL EMMA!

[Cookie2]

it may or may not help Emma but I thought it may help as soon as this nipple fits in her mouth..Iwas going to send you a PM but I cant add the pictures :

Aww Dena , I cant imagine girl how you are feeling without much sleep. I dont function well at all whenI don't get sleep so I imagine u

This is something I read online and I tried it and the nipple stays put! You know those puppy bottles that they sell at Petco with several different nipples included? Well you can put the smallest nipple right over the syringe tip and it will stay! I cut a X with small scissors on the nipple . This way you can use the nipple in the puppy's mouth PLUS you can slowly squeeze the syringe. So even if she's not sucking enough, the milk will still come out in small drops as you push the syringe. Take a look at the pics. I use the free Syringe I got from Wallgreens Pharmacy.


Genie,Cookie,Lola Angel & Lucky

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Thanks Genie!

I saw that trick somewhere too.... online... here in the thread... heck, maybe it was you who told me about it!! haha....

When she would take the bottle, I'd work kinda' the same way by squeezing the bottle at the same time she'd try to suckle....

I'll give this a try.... it's time for her feeding (if I can force her awake!!)

So I'll let you know how she does with it!!

[mascot]

Love the out to lunch sign! Too sweet. I hope she feeds well.

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

DING DING DING!!!!!!! And we HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!

Genie, I can't thank you enough!!! SHE TOOK IT!!! SHE LIKED IT!!!

She still acts like her mouth is very tender... but you're right... she hardly has to suckle at all with this!! Still gets the benefit of working those muscles and proper formation - - but I push the syringe when she starts to suckle... and it works beautifully!!!

She took about 2 cc's earlier this evening with just the syringe - so I was thrilled with that.... but it took forever and she got so tired and had to stop in between.

This nipple / syringe combo is PERFECT!!! She took another 2 cc's in just a few minutes and fell right back to sleep!!

I think we're on a little roll here guys.... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

Stools are still loose tonight - - and her lil' bum is raw from the diarreah so I have some A&D ointment on hand that I'm using for that... (hope that's alright to use!) Looks like it's helping a little already...

Praying we have some good days ahead for baby Emma!!!

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Originally Posted by dianethomas

Oh, just thought of something. Zaccheus didn't move around much at all when he was in his pouch. He just slept like a little log, and only got squirmy when he was awake. That's when I would feed him again and put him in his box to move around a bit. I guess being right on my chest was a little like snuggling with his littermates or momma. He was right over my heart, so he could hear my heartbeat. And being, shall we say, fluffy helped, I'm sure. It was a soft place to be. I didn't worry about being jostled the little bit he was whenever I moved around. I didn't do any jumping jacks or anything, and I was careful not to bounce him around. But I did the normal things like dishes and going to church. In fact, all the ladies think he's half theirs. You should have heard them when they realized I didn't need to bring him any more.

Hi Diane!

A pouch sounds like a great idea!! The only thing is, that I don't want to restrict her movement any more than I have - because all of the wiggling, rolling and moving about is important to help keep her little heart strong and her lungs clear.... especially with so much risk of aspiration pneumonia.

The excercise that she gets, along with my "beating" her chest after feedings - will HOPEFULLY minimize those risks.

Since she already has a compromised immune system - I just want to help keep her as strong as she can be in the event she has to fight off some kind of infection from the surgery, pneumonia, sinus infection, etc.

Guess in order to improve one aspect... we sometimes hinder another....

[jennylee333]

The vet told me to use anything that will make a protective coating on her bum...He suggested using Original Desitin. It is reall think and sticks well. It should help. She doesn't have a Mom that is licking her BUM so....LOL

[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Originally Posted by jennylee333

The vet told me to use anything that will make a protective coating on her bum...He suggested using Original Desitin. It is reall think and sticks well. It should help. She doesn't have a Mom that is licking her BUM so....LOL

Thank you! I'll continue using the A+D ointment tonight and pick up some Desitin in the morning

[dianethomas]

Originally Posted by Mom2BabyNatalie

DING DING DING!!!!!!! And we HAVE A WINNER!!!!!!!!!

Genie, I can't thank you enough!!! SHE TOOK IT!!! SHE LIKED IT!!!

She still acts like her mouth is very tender... but you're right... she hardly has to suckle at all with this!! Still gets the benefit of working those muscles and proper formation - - but I push the syringe when she starts to suckle... and it works beautifully!!!

She took about 2 cc's earlier this evening with just the syringe - so I was thrilled with that.... but it took forever and she got so tired and had to stop in between.

This nipple / syringe combo is PERFECT!!! She took another 2 cc's in just a few minutes and fell right back to sleep!!

I think we're on a little roll here guys.... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!

Stools are still loose tonight - - and her lil' bum is raw from the diarreah so I have some A&D ointment on hand that I'm using for that... (hope that's alright to use!) Looks like it's helping a little already...

Praying we have some good days ahead for baby Emma!!!

Oh, you guys are geniuses! What a great idea with the nipple and syringe!
And Dena, you've probably restricted her space enough not to worry with the pouch. I didn't find this forum until Z was eight weeks old. I was literally on my own, no extra brains helping me devise cool things like this. (not entirely true, I took a bottle nipple, inserted a plastic catheter through the hole in the tip, and using a straw as an applicator tip, squeezed some clear silicone in the tip of the nipple to hold the catheter in place. After it was cured, I sterilized it, screwed it on the end of the syringe, and fed him. It worked, but he ended up having to switch to tube feeding like the next day.)

[HighlandYorkies]

What an amazing difference surgery and plenty love made...she is adorable and I am rooting for her...she is a "special one" !!!