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Ok, this isn't about one of my kids, it's about my nephew. My SIL and BIL had their first baby in April. These two have had absolutely no experiance with babies.......ever! And, well, let's just say it's been interesting.
A little background info. SIL is from Russia (Moscow). She and BIL met in Mexico where they were both taking college classes. She has a very very heavy accent when speaking english and is also fluent in spanish (I am not)
Have I lost ya yet? LOL
Aparently the nurses at the hospital where the baby was born were not much help regarding breastfeeding and IMO gave her some really weird advice with little to no actual help. She has been trying to still bf and is pumping to give him bottles, but also giving him formula when needed. She never really has had a successfull bf session with him. I am very pro bf, have tried to help her as much as I can on the phone, but there's only so much I can do. I finally got to the point that I told her if she couldn't get him to eat properly by bf, she either needed to get some help with that or give him formula (yuck), because he was just crying all the time and it was really wearing on SIL and BIL. Their big "concern" was that there was corn syrup in the formula and BIL thought he read somewhere that you shouldn't give a baby any sugar until they were at least a year old. These two have no idea what they are doing, and are easily swayed by what someone tells them is best. She has little or no mothering instincts.
Don't get me wrong, they are trying as best as they can, but my MIL is no help at all concerning babies and her mother is still in Russia.
What I need for them:
I need to find someone who is either fluent in Russian and a BF consultant (LLL or other) or someone who is a bf consultant in Wisconsin that can help them. I try the best I can, but honestly the whole communication barrier is just too much. I can barely understand what she is trying to tell me on the phone and I never know if she actually understands what I tell her anyway. She called just this morning to, once again ask me about formula she is giving him. He has cried a lot since he was born, usually centered around feedings and I just don't feel I can help them over the phone (I live in Tx). In fact, she asked me this morning if it was normal for him to spit up a lot right after he eats. After forther questioning, it sounds more like projectile vomiting, and this is the first time she has mentioned it even though she says he has been doing it for a while.
If you have gotten this far, I thank you for reading. I really want to help them, I just don't know how over the phone. I would like to be able to first talk to whoever can help them so that I can explain their situation a little bit better.
bump - because my russian isn't that good - although I can conjugate to dance (tanzevats)...I don't think it will help with breastfeeding, my spanish isn't bad, but I'm not a LLL person and I am a very pro nursing person. Good luck!
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tyuipos?? NAK
Rivka; mother of A, N, and R & the twins
I live in wisconsin but don't really know anyone who knows russian or even bf consultants other than the hospitals here who have call nurse/LC's. Ruby throws up what might seam like projectile (given how far it can travel) but I'm not worried that it is something wrong with her as it can be controlled by limiting how much she nurses (ie just from one side at a time).
I'm in Madison btw.
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Alison - mom of
Brian 5/28/02
Ruby 6/2/04
They are in Madison too I believe. BIL is getting his law degree at the University of Wisconsin.
See, that's the problem. I have no idea how much he is spitting up, how much he's eating, how many diapers he goes through. UGH. It's soooo frustrating. I just have such a hard time speaking to and understanding her. That's why I was hoping to find someone local so that they could see first hand what is going on. It may not be anything. I don't know because I can't understand her!!!
Does SHE know someone who speaks fluent Russian and English? Maybe that person could be part of a 3 way call to translate between you and her or between her and a LLL leader???
I don't know, it's my only thought.
Good Luck
Jenn
and maybe you'd have better luck finding someone to speak Spanish to her since she's fluent in Spanish? I think LLL puts out Spanish materials. I'd go to their website and try to find a number for the main office (or whatever they have) to see if someone there can help.
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Sharon
Mommy to Sarah (8/14/98), Michael (10/18/00), and John (9/30/03) and Peter 7/17/06
Wife to Byron since 1992!
Super Spy John, Michael, Sarah, and Super Peter with napkin cape
Definitely have her call LLL - they have great resources for language difficulties. If the local Leader can't personally help, they can send it up the chain (so to speak) and help her find the help she needs.
I'm afraid I'm not very good with Russian either - I have actually been to Moscow, but didn't pick up much of the language. I can say "thank you" (spassibo), and a few curse words.
I hope she finds someone who can help her. That sounds like a rough situation.
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Meredith ~ The Poster Formerly Known as Attached Mama
Mama to Alex, 12-7-00, and Elizabeth, 3/20/03.
Call LLL-right away. They can probably help you-even with the language issue. Also-you can call the university language department. If they are in Madison-then you culd find someone at any university who can translate for you. Preferably a woman...who has had kids-lol!
ok, so I'll offer the little I can. As far as the cultural barrier, try to find either a translator (good place to look is colleges in the foreign languauge dept. ) or better yet check out LLL website to see if they have a russian ( in Russia) group or a place where you can contact them (800) number to find a translator. As far as vomitting it can be a lactose intoleracne (formula or what mom is eatting that has lactose in it), gastroesophageal reflux (will out grow it around 6 weeks or so), but again I would contact either a local LLL leader. Check out lalecheleague.org
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Peace- Sunny
earth lovin', home schooling,lactivist,midwife wanna be,tv free,SAHM to two beauties 6 year old Caillean and 1 year old Orion
My sweet baby girl 
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