Questions from a new mom....
So I am hoping for some advice on my concerns below.... Thanks in advance!
1. Cooper startles easily. He throws up his arms and stiffens his body. Is this normal???
2. He gets fussy in the evening the last few days....he's dry and fed and not warm (feverish). I just don't know why he's fussy !?!? I give him gas-drops with his bottles and so I don't think it's gas. He's pooping well so I don't think it's constipation. Usually walking around with him or shifting him into a new position helps for a few minutes before he starts to fuss again.
3. When Cooper breast feeds he sometimes easily latches onto my nipple. But other times he "plays" with it..... rolling it around in his mouth, gnawing on it.... Is this normal?? When he "plays" with it he usually ends up fussing and I feel like I'm forcing him to breast feed!
4. His mouth makes an "OH" shape a lot.... and I'm not talking about his hungry/rooting face. This is a funny "OH" mouth.... I hope that's normal ?
5. He won't look into my eyes for long. He loves to stare at lights / windows but he only looks me in the eye for like 30 seconds before shifting away. Is this normal? When should he be gazing at me?
I think those are all my concerns for now..... Any advice you can give is appreciated!
Cindy
(Oh -- and Cooper found his thumb!! And his other hand makes the sign for bathroom all the time! )
Surgery on 4/25/05 , Dr. Alverdy in Chicago. God Bless the DS !!!
Highest Weight = 412lbs, Surgery Weight = 359lbs, Current Weight = 155lbs (5'7" tall)http://www.picturetrail.com/gid8138761
1. Yes, very normal.
2. IDK
3. IDK - didn't breast feed
4. The "OH" is normal.
5. Also normal, I think you are still blurry to him and he's attracted to the bright lights and vivid colors. That's why baby toys are always shiney and bright colored.
He's very handsome!! Congrats!!
Cathie
Mom to Brantley - 5 yo / TTC # 2
2. IDK
3. IDK - didn't breast feed
4. The "OH" is normal.
5. Also normal, I think you are still blurry to him and he's attracted to the bright lights and vivid colors. That's why baby toys are always shiney and bright colored.
He's very handsome!! Congrats!!
Cathie
Mom to Brantley - 5 yo / TTC # 2
Kellen startled ALL THE TIME and I worried too...this is normal. It will last for a few months. We just went thru all the newborn reflexes in my Human Growth and Development class...very interesting!
The fussing in the evening: We called it the WITCHING HOUR. He'd get fussy at night. And when we'd have a playdate for the older kids, all the babies would start fussing around 5-6 pm. Don't know what, how, or why...they just do!
Not sure about the nipple playing...I never made it that far in my breast-feeding ventures.
The OH face is normal. :-)
Again, normal...he can't focus quite yet. I don't think Kellen looked me in the eyes for a looooong time!
No worries Mama! He's doing fine! I think we all have those same questions the first time we bring our little ones home. They don't put this stuff in any of those "what to expect" books! LOL!
Sandy
The fussing in the evening: We called it the WITCHING HOUR. He'd get fussy at night. And when we'd have a playdate for the older kids, all the babies would start fussing around 5-6 pm. Don't know what, how, or why...they just do!
Not sure about the nipple playing...I never made it that far in my breast-feeding ventures.
The OH face is normal. :-)
Again, normal...he can't focus quite yet. I don't think Kellen looked me in the eyes for a looooong time!
No worries Mama! He's doing fine! I think we all have those same questions the first time we bring our little ones home. They don't put this stuff in any of those "what to expect" books! LOL!
Sandy
1. Cooper startles easily. He throws up his arms and stiffens his body. Is this normal???
There systems are very sensitive...muscles react very fast. He will learn to control them.
2. He gets fussy in the evening the last few days....he's dry and fed and not warm (feverish). I just don't know why he's fussy !?!? I give him gas-drops with his bottles and so I don't think it's gas. He's pooping well so I don't think it's constipation. Usually walking around with him or shifting him into a new position helps for a few minutes before he starts to fuss again.
Cameron had a fussy hour between 7-8. Very normal....not a fun hour.
3. When Cooper breast feeds he sometimes easily latches onto my nipple. But other times he "plays" with it..... rolling it around in his mouth, gnawing on it.... Is this normal?? When he "plays" with it he usually ends up fussing and I feel like I'm forcing him to breast feed!
Sounds like maybe he isn't getting a good latch at the point. And gets frustrated. I would take Cam off the breast and sooth him a bit or try a different hold...and he would latch and be fine.
4. His mouth makes an "OH" shape a lot.... and I'm not talking about his hungry/rooting face. This is a funny "OH" mouth.... I hope that's normal ?
Awwww very normal :)
5. He won't look into my eyes for long. He loves to stare at lights / windows but he only looks me in the eye for like 30 seconds before shifting away. Is this normal? When should he be gazing at me?
Like the previous poster said we are blurry and really not that interesting to look at! They like lights and bright colors.
Mommy to Cameron and Connor
Step Mom to Zack, Kat and Becca
On June 26, 2009 at 1:03 PM Pacific Time, biggeekgirl wrote:
So I am hoping for some advice on my concerns below.... Thanks in advance!
1. Cooper startles easily. He throws up his arms and stiffens his body. Is this normal???
2. He gets fussy in the evening the last few days....he's dry and fed and not warm (feverish). I just don't know why he's fussy !?!? I give him gas-drops with his bottles and so I don't think it's gas. He's pooping well so I don't think it's constipation. Usually walking around with him or shifting him into a new position helps for a few minutes before he starts to fuss again.
3. When Cooper breast feeds he sometimes easily latches onto my nipple. But other times he "plays" with it..... rolling it around in his mouth, gnawing on it.... Is this normal?? When he "plays" with it he usually ends up fussing and I feel like I'm forcing him to breast feed!
4. His mouth makes an "OH" shape a lot.... and I'm not talking about his hungry/rooting face. This is a funny "OH" mouth.... I hope that's normal ?
5. He won't look into my eyes for long. He loves to stare at lights / windows but he only looks me in the eye for like 30 seconds before shifting away. Is this normal? When should he be gazing at me?
I think those are all my concerns for now..... Any advice you can give is appreciated!
Cindy
(Oh -- and Cooper found his thumb!! And his other hand makes the sign for bathroom all the time! )
1) Normal, it's called the Moro Reflex. My boys had/have much more than my daughter did. They outgrow it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_reflex
2) All babies have a "fussy" time and it isn't anything you are or aren't doing. Everett fusses from 5 - 7 pm (of course he has colic, so he pretty much seems fussy all the time). Honestly, sometimes they just need to chill out for a bit without stimulation. If you're comfortable with it, you can put him in his crib for 5-10 minutes and just let him stretch, groan or fuss. My ped recommended this for my 1st baby and out of desperation I tried it and was amazed that sometimes that's all it took for him to settle a bit.
3) Not much experience here, but both my boys were nipple lickers (which sounds perverted, but isn't LOL). I only BF for a few weeks, so I don't know if this is something they stop doing or not. I imagine it is comforting and if they are really hungry, they would be trying to latch on.
4) Very normal. Babies are exercising their facial muscles and preparing to make noises other than crying or cooing. Everett's mouth gets so small I think it looks like he's just eaten a lemon
5) My 8 year old STILL won't look into my eyes very long! Babies can only see a few inches in front of them (I think it's 6 inches) at birth. They won't really gaze into your eyes until they are a bit older. Even now, Everett will smile at me then look away.
You're doing a GREAT job Cindy! Even though this is my 3rd child, as you know from my posts here, there's still so much I don't know. Cooper is adorable and so cute sucking his thumb!
Hugs,
Jo
Jo
DS:9 yrs old / DD:5 yrs old / DS: 1 yr old
All i can answer is number 5. His brain is still devolping, he cannot distinguish faces from the surroundings yet, so babies are drawn to lights. At about 6 weeks is when they really start to stare at mommy and other people
MY WLS RECIPE BLOG! -- Check it out http://plusizedbarbie.blogspot.com/
Changed for good
...september 17, 2007...
Changed for good
...september 17, 2007...
First of all I would like to say congrats,momma!!!
My little girl had colic and what you are explaining sounds a lot like what my little girl had for symptoms.
Have you spoke to the doctor? I use to give her about a ounce of water with some peppermint in it and it helped a lot. I used to put her on my chest and bring her knees up to her belly.
BIG hugs and good luck
Sandy
My little girl had colic and what you are explaining sounds a lot like what my little girl had for symptoms.
Have you spoke to the doctor? I use to give her about a ounce of water with some peppermint in it and it helped a lot. I used to put her on my chest and bring her knees up to her belly.
BIG hugs and good luck
Sandy
BIG Hugs 
Sandy
Wife to Randy and mommy to Rob (15), Kirsten (11) and 5 angels
1. Cooper startles easily. He throws up his arms and stiffens his body. Is this normal???
Yes, Emad was the same way. Some babies are more easily startled than others or if they are in a light state of sleep. They have little to no control over their body reflexes and being out of the womb is a new experience for them.
2. He gets fussy in the evening the last few days....he's dry and fed and not warm (feverish). I just don't know why he's fussy !?!? I give him gas-drops with his bottles and so I don't think it's gas. He's pooping well so I don't think it's constipation. Usually walking around with him or shifting him into a new position helps for a few minutes before he starts to fuss again.
Some babies are just irritable. Emad had bad gas and the drops helped sometimes but not always. Keep in mind what you eat passes through the breastmilk and the drops can't always combat that. Beans, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, milk, and other dairy are just some of the culprits. If you start to notice it at the same time every day for the same or approximate length of time it could be colic. Or he could just like to be held.....a friend of mine calls it LAP colic...lol Baby wants to be in mama's lap.
3. When Cooper breast feeds he sometimes easily latches onto my nipple. But other times he "plays" with it..... rolling it around in his mouth, gnawing on it.... Is this normal?? When he "plays" with it he usually ends up fussing and I feel like I'm forcing him to breast feed!
They are not always hungry but when something is put in their mouth they will play with it, pacifier, thumb, etc. It can be soothing for them. Normal!
4. His mouth makes an "OH" shape a lot.... and I'm not talking about his hungry/rooting face. This is a funny "OH" mouth.... I hope that's normal ?
Yes, again, more an involuntary reaction than anything else and as he gets control of his muscles he will be better at controlling his actions
You can do strecthes and exercises, massages, etc with arms, legs, belly etc to help that too and tummy time, etc when he gets older.
5. He won't look into my eyes for long. He loves to stare at lights / windows but he only looks me in the eye for like 30 seconds before shifting away. Is this normal? When should he be gazing at me?
He still can't see color or focus at all so unless you are right in front of him he sees jsut shadows and shapes mainly and little to no color. Slowly he will start to focus and be better at gazing at one spot. His pediatrician will check him for this at check ups and such. For now he will mainly associate you by your smell and voice.
You are doing great, but if all else fails call the pediatrician if you have concerns. Mama knows her baby best and if something seems out of the norm can't hurt to check it out. Hope that helps! I feel your confusion, I was where you are a year and a half ago!
Yes, Emad was the same way. Some babies are more easily startled than others or if they are in a light state of sleep. They have little to no control over their body reflexes and being out of the womb is a new experience for them.
2. He gets fussy in the evening the last few days....he's dry and fed and not warm (feverish). I just don't know why he's fussy !?!? I give him gas-drops with his bottles and so I don't think it's gas. He's pooping well so I don't think it's constipation. Usually walking around with him or shifting him into a new position helps for a few minutes before he starts to fuss again.
Some babies are just irritable. Emad had bad gas and the drops helped sometimes but not always. Keep in mind what you eat passes through the breastmilk and the drops can't always combat that. Beans, tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, milk, and other dairy are just some of the culprits. If you start to notice it at the same time every day for the same or approximate length of time it could be colic. Or he could just like to be held.....a friend of mine calls it LAP colic...lol Baby wants to be in mama's lap.
3. When Cooper breast feeds he sometimes easily latches onto my nipple. But other times he "plays" with it..... rolling it around in his mouth, gnawing on it.... Is this normal?? When he "plays" with it he usually ends up fussing and I feel like I'm forcing him to breast feed!
They are not always hungry but when something is put in their mouth they will play with it, pacifier, thumb, etc. It can be soothing for them. Normal!
4. His mouth makes an "OH" shape a lot.... and I'm not talking about his hungry/rooting face. This is a funny "OH" mouth.... I hope that's normal ?
Yes, again, more an involuntary reaction than anything else and as he gets control of his muscles he will be better at controlling his actions
You can do strecthes and exercises, massages, etc with arms, legs, belly etc to help that too and tummy time, etc when he gets older.
5. He won't look into my eyes for long. He loves to stare at lights / windows but he only looks me in the eye for like 30 seconds before shifting away. Is this normal? When should he be gazing at me?
He still can't see color or focus at all so unless you are right in front of him he sees jsut shadows and shapes mainly and little to no color. Slowly he will start to focus and be better at gazing at one spot. His pediatrician will check him for this at check ups and such. For now he will mainly associate you by your smell and voice.
You are doing great, but if all else fails call the pediatrician if you have concerns. Mama knows her baby best and if something seems out of the norm can't hurt to check it out. Hope that helps! I feel your confusion, I was where you are a year and a half ago!
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