Sytron for Low Birthweight Babies

Sytron (sodium feredetate) is an iron medication that was prescribed only to George, my twin who was low birth weight. 

Low birth weight is described as being <2.5kg (<5lb8oz) . 

We were sent home with the medicine to give 1ml a day until George reached 2.5kg, and then 2.5ml every day thereafter until he reached 1 year of age. 

We never knew about this until we were doing the paper work for discharge, and never given a leaflet about it. So I had to do my own reading when I went home. Turns out the hospital have a leaflet- click here 

We wondered why George only had to have it from day 6 when we got home, and this is because babies have enough maternal iron stores until a few days old, hence why we never needed it during our hospital stay.

It will help to prevent anemia in George, and hence help maintain normal growth. 

I didn't realise until George was 14 weeks old that it is best not to add it to a milk feed, but to administer it separately as milk and dairy can inhibit its absorption. He is brilliant at taking it from the syringe bless him as i doubt it tastes very nice! 

It does have side affects too I found out- their poop may be a bit darker, it can give them windy and uncomfortable tummies too. But the side affects are few and not as serious as the complications of childhood anemia. 

Baby Samples & Freebies

The best things in life are free....

There are lots of samples & offers to avail of when you are expecting, and have just had a baby, or babies. With the huge expense that comes with having newborns, every little helps. 

These are what I used; 

Join the Bounty Club to claim your bounty packs (You get 3 x packs. One at the beginning of your pregnancy, one in the middle, and one is given to you on the ward after delivery, with lots of mini samples & coupons. My favourite items were the miniature sudacrem & nappies)

Join the Boots Baby Club (I got pregnancy multivitamins and a MAM bottle & soother, extra clubcard points and coupons for mum & baby products ) You also get 10 points per £1 spent on baby products when you're a member.

Emmas Diary Packs (These are great, much like the bounty packs with small samples and coupons/info, there are 3 to collect from Boots or Argos with your voucher which you can print off on their website when you  join)- The website is also great and full of information. 

Pampers (If you write to/email pampers and provide proof of your babies birth- by sending a copy of the birth certs , parents of twins can get vouchers worth twenty pounds to spend on pampers products/nappies)

Pampers later got in touch and asked me try trial their new nappy pants in size 3. So they sent me a large pack of 44 nappies to try, and lots of coupons.

Tesco baby club (I got sent a tesco baby box with a pack of wipes/johnsons baby oil/jar of food and a weaning spoon along with one of our online grocery deliveries, this could be random per store? )

Ellas Kitchen  They will send you a wall chart and stickers to track your weaning progress. Also coupons to try their very handy products!!

Instagram Competitions
On instagram within the space of a couple of weeks I won; a large pot of kokoso coconut baby oil, a Lara & Ollie teething necklace, and a pack of 2 Nuby 360 natural touch bottles. Worth getting involved and following your favourite companies! 

Twin mum hospital packing list :

I love lists ! So this is my list I used when packing for the hospital. I packed for 3-4 days for my elective c section. I ended up staying 6! So my advice would be to pack an extra bag and keep packs of extra nappies in the car ...just in case. Perhaps even have someone on standby to do laundry for you , as you'll have your favourite items (pjs for you, baby sleep suits & blankets) .

My Bag:

• 2 nighties (if you have a c section you'll have a urinary catheter in place for the first day/night until you're mobile again). 
• 1 pair other pjs 
• Couple of maternity / sleep bras
• 5 pairs huge granny pants (so your scar isn't irritated and they can sit way above it- I went up about 3/4 sizes in these and bought the, cheaply from tesco)
• 2 packs of maternity towels (yes you still need them after a section!)
• Towel for shower
• Toiletries (face wash or wipes/moisturiser/lip balm//toothbrush/toothpaste/shampoo/conditioner /shower gel)-the basics really. Oh ,hair bobbles too as you'll want your hair up most of the time I'm sure 
• DRY SHAMPOO - this was a godsend during my stay as I couldn't really wash my hair for a few days after - I was a wimp and was scared to get my scar wet , so I just showered myself with the shower head and left my hair for when I got home. Also, hospital policy didnt allow hair driers ! 
• Peppermint tea (for bloating/wind after surgery)
• Robinsons squash drops (tiny bottle of diluting juice for water- you have to drink tons the following day as they monitor your output!)
• Slippers & light dressing gown- the ward gets quite warm! I needed mine for walking down to theatre also. 
• Any snacks you want. Hospital food, I can confirm, is rank.
• Phone /camera & charger for the million photographs you'll take ! Don't forget to get dad to take it to the theatre if you're having a caesarean!
• Going home outfit - I ended up wearing the same as I went in with as it was easy and comfy.
• Own pillow and soft fleecey blanket - one home comfort I'm glad I went in with!
• *MATERNITY NOTES*

Dads Bag:

• Change of clothes 
• Phone charger /phone/camera
• Lots of snacks!
• Newspaper/book/magazine/headphones - it could be a long wait if induced or c section is delayed

-Don't forget the 2 car seats dad!

Twin Babies Bag : 

I put most things in my yummy mummy twin changing bag .

• 1 pack per day pampers micro nappies - my mum brought these in for me as the newborn nappies were far too big! (Babies were 4lb 7oz and 5lb 9oz)
• (or 1 pack per day newborn size 1 nappies (your babies may be bigger ?!))
• Cotton wool roll for topping & tailing , and the hospital like you to use these for cleaning during nappy changes for the first few weeks. 
• Newborn sensitive wipes - I soon switched to these once their bowels got moving as found them easier and less messy!
• Muslin cloths X 6 
• Newborn hats x2 (the hospital give you some too )
• 6 front opening sleepsuits 
• 6 bodysuits 
• Going home cardigans (the use of pramsuits in car seats is advised against)
• 4 cellular blankets
• Lanolin cream if you're breastfeeding
• Own breast pump (if using)- I didn't have one at the time and kind of wished I had as the hospitals are in short supply!)
• Baby bottles if using / formula if using. If unsure of feeding method the hospital do have supplies.