Babies Born April 2008

[Leyla]

Shoe - Just a quickie. I took fenugreek and it really helped me. The midwife said to ignore what it says on the bottle and take it at least 4 times a day. I had 2 tablets 4-5 times a day for 3 days until my milk increased. The best way to judge if you have reached the correct level is if your sweat smells like maple syrup! Strange but true.

[Sequoia]

Hi all

Had Baxter weighed today, 45gms in 5 days, so not great, but not bad either.

I'm trying to relax as I KNOW I am doing everything right; water intake, feeding often etc. Perhaps he is just slow to gain.

I'm starting the fenugreek tonight.

Feeling okay in myself, just need to relax a bit.

Lovely weekend all.

SG
xo

[mgm]

Hi everyone. I've been reading posts, but replying with one hand is just too difficult! Right now DD's asleep on a cushion on DH's lap so I'm finally able to type - but it's late and I have to go to bed, so this will be a short one.

Shoegal that's good news on Baxter's weight. Did you get an opinion on what they think you 'should' do? As you say, you're doing all the right things, so try not to worry too much. Vanilla slice is probably exactly what you need - go have another slice!

DD still refusing to sleep when not carried - and doesn't like the slings at all. She is very tiny - so probably a bit too small for the baby bjorn - but doesn't like the ring sling either. Fussy child! Maybe just a case of needing to get used to them - will persevere next week.

Must get to bed now. All I can say is, thank god it's the weekend! What a relief to have DH home again - this was his first week back at work and it's been HARD.

[Nelle]

Mmm, Mgm, the first week alone can be a bit full on hey. If it's any help, we're almost at the end of our 5th week, and feeling kind of in a sort of routine! As in, I'm at the stage where I can pack both kids up and head out without tooo much trouble, even if we are an hour late.

Silas is sleeping on Rans on the couch and I've been waiting for him to wake up so I can feed him, but stuff it, I'm going to bed. I didn't get much sleep last night, and from the look of River's gums today, tonight could well be rough too, so I'm not staying up any longer!

[jane_carter]

Morning Girls!

Anyone have any suggestions for one breast that doesn't appear to give that much milk? Isabelle seems to get a lot of wind and we burp her heaps, but she seems to be getting worse the more I breast feed - So I started expressing and giving her the bottle, which seems to have reduced the wind and helps her settle - Weird I know, I thought that the breast was supposed to give LESS wind problems but who can tell with babies.

Anyway, when I express, the left boob always seems to struggle and hardly gives any milk - I can get about 90-100mls from the right one, but only about 20 from the left. Could this be the reason she's getting so much wind?

She's getting enough milk cause she's put on quite a bit of weight, but I think the one boob has a bit of a supply problem. Is there anything that can be done about this?

[Nelle]

Does she drink from both boobs at feeds Jane? Cos you could always try offering that one first. I think I remember having that with River, sometimes one side would have more than the other, not always the same side. Feeding more from that side is really the only thing I can think of, without increasing the supply of the other side first.

As for wind, well who knows. Perhaps the bottle is creating bubbles that are actually big enough for her to bring up? As well as that the wind situation should be improving as they get older anyway, as their guts mature.

[alittlegrubi]

Jane generally the milk is based on a supply and demand situation. If you are only getting 20 mls from one side - try expressing more often from that one side for a while to increase the demand. Maybe try expressing that side first then the other and then returning to the first breast again. My sister also said having the baby next to you whilst you express can assist with the let down - so maybe try expressing with bubs next to you to see if that helps.
The other question is when bubs feeds on that breast is she emptying it or is she just getting the fore milk?