Getting scared

[struckles]

Hi! I know I am not online much, but I do find a lot of comfort here when I come. My twins (3 mo old) are scheduled to have their surgery next Monday. I don't know if it is post partum depression, nerves, or still grief over the loss of our first twins, but I get more weepy every day. Can you talk me through the first hours post surgery? What should I be prepared for? Did anyone try to nurse post-surgery?

[Addy]

Hi I just wanted to say I'm going to pray for your twins and if you ever need to chat just pm me and I'll send you my email. God bless and I'm sure they will do wonderfully. ps I've also got twins boy/girl 22 mos

[Mom2William]

Hi-We will keep you in our prayers too. I can't help with your nursing question, my son was 3 yrs. old at surgery. But right after surgery, he looked so vunerable but I was so very very relieved to be able to see him and touch him. He was in the PICU overnight with a respirator and all the other tubes. They kept him sedated so he would not fight the respirator but they removed it the next morning. He just briefly woke up at times and I would talk to him and rub his arms, hold his hands and he would go back to sleep. He gradually would stay awake a little longer each time and would talk and drink. He would not eat at first either.
The first hours after surgery were the easiest on him, since he was still sedated and in the PICU. But I would talk to him and stroke him any time that he started moving a bit and he would immediately settle down. This part of the surgery was the hardest for me. I cried some during the surgery, but I was truly peaceful and calm with all the wonderful people praying for me/us. But I just sobbed and sobbed while he was in the picu, just because of a number of emotions, I guess.
I know this time is a roller coaster of emotions for you. My heart is with you and your twins. They will bounce back so quickly that you will be amazed! Please update us after surgery!

[Katie]

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Your getting more weepy each day is normal, I was the same way I can't help with the bfing part, but I think Jennifer was breastfeeding at surgery time.
the first few hours after surgers, the twins will probably be slightly sedated still. It will be very hard to see them at first, I won't sugar coat that. But, you will be surprised by how quickly you are able to hold them again, and how much they need your touch and voice. When Dillon was fussing, hearing and feeling either me or Doug would calm him right down.
They will do great! Please let us know how it goes when you can

[Jennifer]

Emily was 4 1/2months and breastfeed only. She was kept sedated the first 2 days- so there was alot of pumping involved. The hospital did help w/ storage bottles, labels and storing the milk. She finally nursed again the morning of day 3. I tried nursing on day 2- but she was still pretty sedated and really had no interest- as she was peaceful, I didn't really try to disturb her too much. Post-op we were contstantly at her bedside-- just holding her little hand and whispering to her.
Your emotions are completely understandable. This is an incredably scary time as a parent, plus them being just 3 months old- your still physically/emotionaly 'getting over' (not the right words?) the pregnancy.

They will amaze you. We will say our prayers from you and your babies. Please keep us posted and keep asking questions as you need!

[MikenAustinsMommy]

I think Austin nursed on day 3 as well. He did throw up his first 3 attempts at feeding because of the medicine. I had to feed him for no more than a minute then wait 5 minutes and repeat until he was full, if I didn't he would throw it up all over me. After day 3 he had absolutely no problems nursing.

Check out the messages under http://www.craniokids.org/support/forumdisplay.php?f=28
It has really helpful items to bring with you.

[mom2mykidos3]

I pumped too for the first hours. The hospital I was at did have the pump and the storage bottles available. I think you just have to ask. Miriam did nurse the night after surgery. She did throw it up. I think that is very normal. The medicines seem to be very hard on their little tummies.
I know for me I was just so afraid to hold her. I was really timid while feeding her. In fact, it was the nurse that said I could feed her. I never would have thought of feeding her that soon.
As far as what you are feeling, it is perfectly normal. We have all been there.

[Jules]

Weeping and sadness is pretty normal. I am a control freak by nature and the fact that I had little or no control during this time of my life was just a hard pill to swallow. I cried a lot the week leading up to Gabe's surgery. I don't want to scare you but I also think you should know exactly what to expect. When they come out of surgery they are pretty swolen. Their eyes will swell shut and there might be some bruising. Gabe had a reaction to the tape that held his tubes in place, which left marks around his mouth. Babies are harder to get IV lines into so they might have needle marks on both of their hands and feet. They will be fussy and their sleep patterns are going to be messed up for awhile. Gabe took pedialite three hours after surgery and had his first bottle of fomula the next day. I have read that skin to skin contact is very nurturing and healing for babies, so I would imagine that they will want you to breast feed as soon as it is possible. All of that said, your little ones are going to amaze you. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Please keep intouch and let us know how things go.

Jules

[struckles]

Thank you all! So, do they eat at all the first day? Do they tube feed them or something?

[Jennifer]

Emily barely ate the first 2 days-I tried a bottle and I was lucky if she got an ounce down in the first 24 hours. She was hooked up to an IV and they were comfortable w/ what that was providing.