Babies Born ~ December 2014

This thread is for parents whose baby was born December, 2014. Congratulations!

Your moderators for this forum are as follows:

Astrolady ~ Administrator
OceanPrincess ~ Moderator
~Hestia~ ~ Moderator
~TT40~ ~ Moderator

There are many issues that you will encounter as a new parent. We have put together this list of useful articles and threads in order to assist you with some common questions or issues you may have, and to provide you with bit of extra support that we all need as new parents:

Feeding Support:

Helpful Articles
Breastfeeding FAQs
Is My Baby Hungry?
Is Feeding Your Baby Taking Too Much Time?
Feeding Your Baby
Lactose Intolerance
Starting Solids - When Is My Baby Ready?

Helpful Forums
Breastfeeding, Bottlefeeding and Solids


Please contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) or a Lactation Consultant if you are concerned that you may have breastfeeding and/or supply problems, and before the introduction of solids.

Sleeping Support:

Helpful Articles
Babies & Sleep
Controlled Crying/Comforting/Sleep Training
The Con of Controlled Crying
The Crying Game
15 Ways To Help Your Baby Sleep

Helpful Forums
Comforted Sleeping & Sleep Issues Forum


Other Useful Information & Recommended Reading:

Helpful Articles
Baby Massage
Cuddle Me Mum
Recommended Reading List

Helpful Forums
Infant-led Feeding & Weaning
Baby Slings and Baby Wearing


Got questions?

Post your questions in the forums mentioned above, or in the following forums where you're sure to receive many friendly responses!

General Baby & Toddler Forum
Gentle Parenting Forum

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Hey everyone!!
I can't believe my little one is a week and a half old! SO far she is such a calm placid thing, more than happy to sit in the bouncer while I'm near by (unlike her sister who would scream if you wearnt carrying her 24/7)
How did everyone choose their names??

Hey TT40. Joining in here! Our beautiful boy was born this week. Totally in love.

We just squeeze in here too by a day. Just got home today.

How are the Dec mums going? I am still feeling very much under the weather. Last night was our best night where all up I managed about 6-7hours sleep which is at least double and some nights triple what I have had this past week. DS is feeding like a champ although I am terribly engorged and we are having problems with lactose overload. I feel its a no win situation at the moment as if I express some for comfort and to get rid of some first milk I am only going to produce more. The pain is awful and I currently don't have a single bra that fits.

How is everyone else's older children going with the baby? DD3 is very doting although a bit overwhelming. Her behaviour is been a bit more difficult since DS was born. Its a fine line with her and disciple as w don't want her to blame the baby for any changes happening for her but we also don't want her to continue with her new behaviours. In other news DH and I don't agree with the circumcision debate. He is not going to back down about having it done and I don't know what to do about it. I got the Ob to talk to him about it but regardless of evidence stacked against reasons to have it done there is this ongoing disagreement with him about it.

OMG I was severely engorged the other night too. I really feel for you. It hurt to stand, to lay, to wears top, not wear a top. I swear I went from a DD to at least a G cup. I tried pumping but it didn't help at all, I just got in the shower for a while then laid down with freezing cold washers on them. Nothing helped but time really. It toke at least 12 hours for it to settle. Hoping it eases for you, I really do.

I am also feeling very under the weather. I have a really horrible hemorrhoid, it's so painful. I don't know how to be with it. I'm using a cream and icing when I can. That coupled with stitches and getting up and down constantly has left me feeling very average indeed. I honestly felt that a VBAC would leave me feeling physically better but so far, that's proving to be wrong.

Sleep wise he is settled more during the day. Of a night it's constant feeds and poos. My night sleep is four hours in total.

Our DD is doing ok. It upsets her when he cries and when I feed him. She is starting to warm to him though and sometimes talks to him. Saying and demanding a lot of 'I wants this and I want that' so she's probably feeling a bit neglected. I feel guilty as she has been having to amuse herself more and we've been letting her use the iPad too much. How do you spread yourself evenly when you have a newborn :'(

I didn't know they even still circumcised anymore. Goodluck working through that with your husband. That would be a difficult decision to make seeing as he wants it and you don't.

My DH is being a champ. He's doing everything! In return I am not bothering him of an evening and letting him get a big solid chunk of sleep. Though I am sure he is still knackered.

We're all totally in love with this kid. He's perfection. I love falling in love.

Hey, on phone so not really personal..but will try to remember everything

Engorgement sucks, i had it once in the first week, ive been fortunate that they seem to have settled down now. Im offically tandem feeding too...would prefer not to.but it is how it is for now. Gives Spock comfort and helps her adjust.
She is so affectionate to Quark, always helping etc... on the surface hasnt batted an eye at having a new sister constantly saying she loves her etc.. but she is having really nasty outbursts randomly, yesterday out of the blue she just punched me in the eye. But she did have them before Quark came, they are worse now tho, hut i think it is mainly an age thing.
I have the same issue with circumsion and DH. I am so thankful we have girls and dont even have to go there...cause he is and all his sons are, but i am absolutely against it. Hevean help us if we do ever have a boy.
Thats all i can remember atm...

Ok so I've got oversupply or fast let down or something happening. Our little mate is unsettled, lots of leg pulling, watery frequent poos, cluster feeding, could not put him down last night. I gave up at 3am and co slept. Anyone have any tips to deal with this?

Rosey it sounds like your going something similar to us. At the moment I am putting it down to lactose overload. It should settled with time as your milk supply settles (boobs seem to be in overdrive for that first 1-2weeks if you have a good supply). To try and avoid it they suggest expressing before a feed. So pump or hand express 20-30mls (only if your supply can handle it of course) then put him to the breast. This is avoiding him getting the first milk which is very high in lactose and gives them an upset tummy, watery poo and explosive frequent ones. We use to describe the first milk as the entrée. The stuff the quenches your thirst but has no bulk to it. The middle milk is the main meal and the last the desert as its much heavier and creamier so the stuff that gains the weight. Its all good of course just for new babies that don't need too much milk each feed to start with they tend to only get the first sugary milk and miss out on the middle and later components of the breast milk. Its also recommended only offer one side per feed to ensure they bub gets a good crack of getting the middle and hind milk.

You can also do whatbis called block feeding, which i did with Spock, so far haven't really needed to do it with Quark, but normally you alternate your breasts each feed, but what i would do with cluster feeding was if the next feed was within a certain time eg an hr or 2hrs, i.would feed again from the same breast. I think aba has some stuff about it

Also, one thing i forgot from my last post, and ive forgotten who posted about it... but witch hazel is good for heamaroids. You can find it in the face wash section of supermarketa, but soak a nipple pad (disposable) with it and put it on your bum and try to keep it there for a while.

Thanks for the advice ladies. I did the express before a feed yesterday arvo, but not during the night and offered the same breast within a certain time period. Explosive watery poos have decreased but bub would still only sleep in his bassinet for two hours. The rest of the evening was me trying to get him too, again gave up around 3am and co slept. I'm just disheartened that again we have a Bub that we can't put down. I know they are only little for so long and I don't mind snuggling during the day but of a night a really need to get some rest.

Can you ladies just feed, burp, wrap and lay bub down?

How are you all going? Emotionally and physically feeling well?

Bub is ypung rosey, you will be able to put bub down, just not quote yet.
Spock only ever napped in a carrier or car seat. Ever. For 6 months at least. I would have to bf to sleep snd she would be out like a light but as soon as that nipple left her mouth she knew!! Would take hours to settle. And would refuse a dummy
Quark is so easy in comparison! When she sqirms or cries it is obviously wind bothering her and she seems to pass it so much easier than Spock.
It is hard when they are so little. At the moment their only need is you and milk. That is really it. Their world will open a bit wider in the next few weeks, and then more and more and you will have more options,

I had a really bad day yesterday Rosey. Hopefully it was just a day of the blues. I am really happy with DS and how things are going with him but really sad where DH and I currently are. He has always had a communication problem and right now I can't be bothered trying to improve things. He has rekindled a relationship with an old mate who admittedly I have never met but I have heard enough about him to not want to. A lot more has happened with his family since Christmas and I feel like walking. I'm so upset that this has happened now when it should be such a beautiful time in our lives. I can't even talk to him about it as he just clams up and starts criticizing my family or something not so perfect I have done. On top of this 2 of my older girls have been awful. Fighting almost constantly. I think eldest DD has used my credit card to although I have not said anything yet until I have my statement for proof. Plus I am over her violent outbursts ad slamming doors, abusing anyone and everyone. She has had behavioural problems for a long time but recently we have seen a really positive change but since school has finished for the year things have gone down hill and I am not handling it as well as usual.

Anyway as for how to settle DS when he wakes he usually looses it completely until he gets the boob. There is not much warning just straight into screaming. I am still having trouble latching him as he doesn't open his mouth very wide and my nipples are quiet large so he often will munch down only half on which kills. My nipples are bruised and one is blistered and now my milk is in (it came in super early under 48hours) is harder to get him on as they are hard too. He feeds exceptionally well when I get him on. He will feed for 20-30mins then have some awake time usually but not always and then go back on the boob for another20-30mins and then sleep. Sometimes I can get him off whilst he is still awake and sleepy and snuggle him to sleep but so far he hasn't put himself to sleep. DH and been able to resettle him if his stirring but not actually settle him straight from the breast. Its hard when during the day you can nurse and feed but of a night you would like to feed and place back in their sleep space. We have been putting DS in his cot (right next to our bed) for his first sleep of the night and he stays there until he wakes. That was 1230 last night but then remains in our bed until morning. Partly this is my fault as I am so incredibly tired. I think I could settled him again I just need to wake myself up to do it. I have not had my Hb repeated but I am sure I am anemic. I am so pale and still feels weak and breathless.

There is a good ap we recommend called RockAbubApp Rosey. I am about to buy it myself.

TT40 my first was like your DD. All sleeps in the carrier or my arms. Lots of work to get to sleep too. It was very draining, that's why I am scared of it being the same again. In glad that your second DD is easier for you :)

Oh Mildez. That doesn't sound like a happy environment for you. All that coupled with sleep deprivation, you would be feeling very down. Your right it should be a baby moon phase for you family right now :(

I'll check out that app also. Thank you.

Our little man in 1 week today :) We didn't have a bad night although he did come in our bed at 2am and stayed. His feeding 3-4times overnight. I've been lucky that he settles straight back to sleep. I haven't had to contend with an active or alert baby overnight yet. I did attempt to put him back in his cot x 2 but he didn't last more then 10mins before he was back in my arms.

I am still having shocking after birth pains and a shooting pain up my bum. Its awful. And my loss is still heavy. So heavy I actually sprung a leak last night (still changing pads twice overnight). I'm a bit over it.

I spoke to DH briefly this morning and said I was unhappy about how I felt neglected by him and how everyone else came before me. He seemed genuinely shocked. He said he would come home early today so we will see. I didn't into any details but at least its out there. With sleep deprivation and hormones I am not my usual self which doesn't help.

Anyway how is everyone else going with their babies? TT40 how is your recovery going from Quarks birth?

Must think about writing a birth story up before I forget anymore. DH only reminded me yesterday I kept turning the synto infusion off.

Lol M, can't trust us midwives =p
Im recovering good, still get a bit of pain, but im naughty, i drove at 2 weeks, and was out working in the garden on the weekend, been doing lots of things i shouldn't, bit i just can't help myself.

Reading ladies. Hopefully reply tomorrow. Hope your all going ok x