Daycare update and iron question

DD has been in daycare a week now and is doing ok. She's definitely
reverse cycling (ate for like 3 hours almost straight last night!) but
she is taking a bottle at daycare - no more than 1-2ozs at a time, but
enough to hold her over til I get there.

My concern though is that she may be becoming dehydrated, since she
doesn't pee a lot during the day. Babysitter says she maybe has 2 wet
disposable diapers (she's there 7:30-4:30). I stopped counting at home,
but it's usually 3 diaper changes at night (tho we use cloth at home).
But overnight (about 8pm-7am) she often doesn't wet at all, even tho
that's when she eats the most! Her diarhea finally ended late last
week, fortunately, so no worries there. Over the weekend I didn't keep
track of diapers. She still has wet tears, but she does seem a bit more
listless...of course she could just be tired too. She's 3 months old
now, I know less pooping is normal but is less urinating normal? Is
this new feeding schedule making a mess of things? Basically it goes
like this -


1-2oz ~9am
40 mins BF at 11:30am
1-2ozs in the afternoon
BF for hours beginning at 5pm (off and on, mostly on!)
BF at least 3x between 11-6am
I try BF when I drop her off, but she usually isn't interested unless
her last eating session was during the night. If it's after about 5am
she doesn't want more.


About iron - she was slightly anemic in hospital so when she was
discharged at 17days we were told to give her daily dose of iron. At
her subsequent pedi appt doc said to continue, but it wasn't a big
deal. She hasn't been tested again tho. We did for awhile but then cut
back and now haven't much. I wasn't too worried since pedi said "Go
ahead and keep giving it", when I asked how long he just shrugged his
shoulders and said 'for awhile, she's probably ok now.' If *I* get
enough iron in my diet, does it pass sufficiently into breastmilk?

"cjra" wrote and I snipped:
DD has been in daycare a week now and is doing ok. She's definitely
reverse cycling (ate for like 3 hours almost straight last night!) but
she is taking a bottle at daycare - no more than 1-2ozs at a time, but
enough to hold her over til I get there.

My concern though is that she may be becoming dehydrated, since she
doesn't pee a lot during the day.

I don't think you can know whether she's dehydrated by trying to figure out
what's going in (number of ounces and breastfeeds). Just continue to watch
her wet diapers. Someone else may have a better sense for how many soakers
you should see in a day at 3 months.

About iron - she was slightly anemic in hospital so when she was
discharged at 17days we were told to give her daily dose of iron. At
her subsequent pedi appt doc said to continue, but it wasn't a big
deal. She hasn't been tested again tho. We did for awhile but then cut
back and now haven't much. I wasn't too worried since pedi said "Go
ahead and keep giving it", when I asked how long he just shrugged his
shoulders and said 'for awhile, she's probably ok now.' If *I* get
enough iron in my diet, does it pass sufficiently into breastmilk?

When she was tested at 17 days, was she getting mostly breastmilk? I don't
know how her early health issues could have affected her iron stores, but
term babies are born with enough iron to be fine with breastmilk until at
least 6 months, many for a lot longer. I suggest you have her blood iron
content checked again before you decide whether to give her an iron
supplement.

-Patty, mom of 1+2

PattyMomVA wrote:
"cjra" wrote and I snipped:
DD has been in daycare a week now and is doing ok. She's definitely
reverse cycling (ate for like 3 hours almost straight last night!) but
she is taking a bottle at daycare - no more than 1-2ozs at a time, but
enough to hold her over til I get there.

My concern though is that she may be becoming dehydrated, since she
doesn't pee a lot during the day.

I don't think you can know whether she's dehydrated by trying to figure out
what's going in (number of ounces and breastfeeds). Just continue to watch
her wet diapers. Someone else may have a better sense for how many soakers
you should see in a day at 3 months.

That's just it, it seems her # of wet diapers has decreased. I'll have
to start keeping track at night at least, and asking regularly about it
at daycare.


About iron - she was slightly anemic in hospital so when she was
discharged at 17days we were told to give her daily dose of iron. At
her subsequent pedi appt doc said to continue, but it wasn't a big
deal. She hasn't been tested again tho. We did for awhile but then cut
back and now haven't much. I wasn't too worried since pedi said "Go
ahead and keep giving it", when I asked how long he just shrugged his
shoulders and said 'for awhile, she's probably ok now.' If *I* get
enough iron in my diet, does it pass sufficiently into breastmilk?

When she was tested at 17 days, was she getting mostly breastmilk?

She came home at 17 days, but I'm not sure when they tested exactly. I
will have to look - I think it was probably not later than day 12 or so
because that's when they took out the line for drawing blood and I
don't think they did any more testing after that. I will check the
notes.

From about day 12 on she was getting all breastmilk (I think that's
when they finally turned off the IV).

I don't
know how her early health issues could have affected her iron stores, but
term babies are born with enough iron to be fine with breastmilk until at
least 6 months, many for a lot longer.

Hmmm. Her pedi wasn't too concerned with the anemic status, but said
that amount of iron supplement wouldn't hurt so it was ok to continue
to be safe. But I'd rather not, just 'cause I don't like giving stuff
she doesn't need....and then if I am getting reasonable amounts of
iron, wouldn't she as well?

I suggest you have her blood iron
content checked again before you decide whether to give her an iron
supplement.

I think I will. I actually haven't been giving the iron for a few weeks
now, or only occassionally. But am wondering if maybe I should start
again...well, I'l call the pedi's office and ask.

cjra wrote:


Hmmm. Her pedi wasn't too concerned with the anemic status, but said
that amount of iron supplement wouldn't hurt so it was ok to continue
to be safe. But I'd rather not, just 'cause I don't like giving stuff
she doesn't need....and then if I am getting reasonable amounts of
iron, wouldn't she as well?

It's my understanding that iron does not pass through the milk very
well, but that this is not usually a concern because baby has iron
stores to last until at least 6 months (for many babies, much longer)
and at that time people usually introduce the iron rich cereals.
However, clearly your baby did NOT have the iron stores she was
supposed to have. I'm not a doctor, so I don't know whether it is
possible for her to build up a store from the supplements, but if I
were you I would have her levels checked.

Leslie

"cjra" wrote in message
ups.com...
DD has been in daycare a week now and is doing ok. She's definitely
reverse cycling (ate for like 3 hours almost straight last night!) but
she is taking a bottle at daycare - no more than 1-2ozs at a time, but
enough to hold her over til I get there.

From the schedule you posted it seems as if she should be getting enough
milk. You might try drinking some mothers milk tea at 5pm or so and she may
get more in the evening.

My concern though is that she may be becoming dehydrated, since she
doesn't pee a lot during the day.

Disposables hold a lot so it is hard to go by them. Some kids are just not
heavy wetters. Is her mouth plenty wet? Does she drool at all or has there
been a decrease in drool? I do find it strange that she stays completely
dry at night given that she is nursing three times.


but she does seem a bit more
listless...of course she could just be tired too.

Mine were tired to after starting daycare. Low iron might also lead to
listlessness so I would definately have that checked.

It could also be that your supply is taking a couple of days to adjust to
the new demands (more at night). That, coupled with the diarrhea could do
it. I wouldn't be overly worried but I would watch her diapers the next few
days to see if she starts wetting more and watch how wet her mouth and eyes
are. It could be normal for her but if her mouth and eyes are dry, maybe
not. Peds catch signs of dehydration fast, they seem to see a difference in
the skin so you could make an appt. for a look see along with the iron
check.


--
Nikki, mama to
Hunter 4/99
Luke 4/01
Brock 4/06
Ben 4/06

Nikki wrote:
"cjra" wrote in message
ups.com...
DD has been in daycare a week now and is doing ok. She's definitely
reverse cycling (ate for like 3 hours almost straight last night!) but
she is taking a bottle at daycare - no more than 1-2ozs at a time, but
enough to hold her over til I get there.

From the schedule you posted it seems as if she should be getting enough
milk. You might try drinking some mothers milk tea at 5pm or so and she may
get more in the evening.

Good idea. I usually have some during the day, but I'll start having it
when I get home.

My concern though is that she may be becoming dehydrated, since she
doesn't pee a lot during the day.

Disposables hold a lot so it is hard to go by them. Some kids are just not
heavy wetters. Is her mouth plenty wet? Does she drool at all or has there
been a decrease in drool? I do find it strange that she stays completely
dry at night given that she is nursing three times.


She *was* a heavy wetter, hence my concern. She does drool a lot and
her mouth seems plenty wet, and this morning she was anything but dry.
She had a HUGE pee just before getting her up and it wet the bed too
. But I was glad she peed....


but she does seem a bit more
listless...of course she could just be tired too.

Mine were tired to after starting daycare. Low iron might also lead to
listlessness so I would definately have that checked.

It could also be that your supply is taking a couple of days to adjust to
the new demands (more at night). That, coupled with the diarrhea could do
it. I wouldn't be overly worried but I would watch her diapers the next few
days to see if she starts wetting more and watch how wet her mouth and eyes
are. It could be normal for her but if her mouth and eyes are dry, maybe
not. Peds catch signs of dehydration fast, they seem to see a difference in
the skin so you could make an appt. for a look see along with the iron
check.

I've got a call in to them now. Doc said he'd call back this morning.

"cjra" wrote in message

She *was* a heavy wetter, hence my concern. She does drool a lot and
her mouth seems plenty wet, and this morning she was anything but dry.
She had a HUGE pee just before getting her up and it wet the bed too
. But I was glad she peed....

Yay - I bet everything is on the right track now. It probably just took a
week to recover from the illness and get used to the new daycare schedule.

Hope the appt. turns out well with the iron check but the huge pee thing is
a very good sign!!


--
Nikki, mama to
Hunter 4/99
Luke 4/01
Brock 4/06
Ben 4/06