Babies Born April 2008

[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?

[Fire]

I am with the others on the one breast supply thing. I find one breast will put out more than the other, in fact, almost daily only one breast will be engorged and the other not. But they change from side to side. I think it just depends on how much stimulation the breast gets, for instance the vigorous sucking of a hungry feed can cause a bigger supply (as Nelle said about putting her on the weaker side first), and more frequent feeds, also comfort sucking. If I let Cian drain a boob and then come back an hour to comfort suck on it (to put him to sleep or to settle him if he gets upset), he isn't getting much milk but lots of love and the next day my supply on that side is way up.

fak

I'm still "block feeding". I stick to one side for four hours then switch and this seems to have helped my oversupply issue already. he was so unsettled and digestive from all the fore milk. he slept frm hid 1.30 am feed until his 4.30am feed last night! /i also used the slippery elm and for that feed he didn't reflux or gurgle so it may have helped. I only used a tiny amount in bm, too.

hope you are all doing ok and getting some sleep now and again.

[Fire]

MGM, the hugabub is great for littlies and newbies. I use it almost exclusively. I am changing to a mei tai soon and an ergo, but for this early period the HaB has been brilliant (it's a wrap so takes a few minutes to put on which is bothersome at times, but still worth it). Legs hanging down is not comfy for any age bracket. They have to have their knees higher than their hips or they can get back and hip problems later, which makes the bjorn the worst choice of carrier. this is a great article on carriers: Storchenwiege - Your Baby Sling | No need to slow down your active life - just bring baby along!