How often should I be expressing?

[Jennifer13]

How are you doing today, Mel? Thinking of you as you do your best (yet again!).

[Arimeh]

Aww thanks Jen xx

I'm doing ok - expressing every 3 or 4 hours - last express finished a few minutes ago, and I got 50mls - from 10 minutes both sides, so I think I'm doing pretty good. I usually get about 30-40 each time.

Just sucks that she is such a hungry bubba, she usually needs much more than I can express, if I have 60 saved up for her, she'll have another 30ml of formula. If I have 30mls, she will drink 90mls of formula - she is such a little piggy!!!!

So while I'm a little bit.. disheartened I guess.. about not being able to completely satisfy her appetite myself - DH and my mum keep telling me that its more than I did for either of my other kids, and every bit that I get into her is better than nothing.

[{sarah}]

its more than I did for either of my other kids, and every bit that I get into her is better than nothing.

Keep reminding yourself that!! Any is better than none.

You are doing so well To be expressing with three small children to look after is amazing, heck I think to be expressing with only one child like Ez did is amazing. YOU ROCK!!

[Arimeh]

Ha - its easy at the moment Sarah - my mum is here helping and so is DH.

Next week I'll have just my mum to help during the day, but then the next week I will be on my own. So then I'll freak out.

[Ryatha]

Great work! Great to hear the bb's are working

quick question mel I hope you don't mind. When Eden opens her mouth and cries (I hope she hardly ever does that) does the end of her tounge look like a love heart?

[squidipa]

Great work! Great to hear the bb's are working

quick question mel I hope you don't mind. When Eden opens her mouth and cries (I hope she hardly ever does that) does the end of her tounge look like a love heart?

not really a love heart but like the top of a love heart where it curves in i would be more saying sorry ryatha but my kids have this and i found your description hard to visualize before i knew.

[Ryatha]

squidipa - thanks for the description, it is really hard to describe and you did such a better job than me. I wish I had taken a photo of freds before they fixed it...

[Arimeh]

Um I dunno? She doesn't cry that often (yet haha) so I dunno..... don't really know what I'm looking for I suppose?

[squidipa]

i can take apic for ya if wanted

Baby:

* Heart-shaped tongue tip. The tip of the tongue may be heart shaped or have a “v” shape indentation in the center when the baby sticks out the tongue or cries. (It is possible to have a restrictive frenulum without this classic symptom or to have a tongue that functions adequately, yet has the heart shaped tip.)


* Difficulty extending the tongue. If your baby is tongue tied Your baby has difficulty extending the tongue past the gum line. Tapping the tip of the tongue should cause the tongue to come forward, where it should cross the gums.

* Tongue does not cup well. When your little one sucks on your finger the tongue should wrap around it like a hot dog bun wraps around a hot dog.

* Difficulty moving tongue from side to side. If you rub your baby’s lower gum, the tongue should follow your finger, side to side.

* Frenulum is attached very close to the tip of the tongue. Some babies have frenulums attached near the front, but the frenulum is very elastic and allows effective breastfeeding without treatment.

hope this helps