Babies Born April 2008

[Beatrix]

Shoe- Hey I take one tablet 3 times a day. Make sure you are drinking heap sof water as well. Everytime i sit down to feed i have a glass or bottle of water. Janine is so right about the wet nappies and seriously those charts are for forumla feed babies. I cant remember where but i am sure you can google charts that are more common for bf babies. i will try and find it for you. if you wantand ever need to chat you can add me to msn mummynessa@hotmail.com

Nettie- you are extremly lucky to have you DH home!!

Zennie- congrats on the outing, you will get more and more confident each time!!

Is anyone finding so many people try and peer into their prams/capsules. Normally if MJ is asleep i cover most of it with a blanket and i get people trying to move the blanket!! Complete strangers! And i have been going out with the sling and meh tais on and people tell me how uncomfortable they look!!

[Nelle]

Haha, at the sling comments, I tell you, I can't wait til the next person says 'ooh that looks dangerous', because I'll say 'yeah, it's very dangerous'. Or if they say 'he looks like he'll fall out' I'll say 'yeah, he probably will'.
Honestly, why do people think we're trying to kill our kids?
Can you wear a really low cut top and push your cleavage up? Surely that will make people a bit uncomfortable.

And that's partly why I haven't taken Si out in the pram yet. I get enough people harrassing him in a carrier! :P Ah well. Better to have people cooing and clucking over them than complaining about them and treating them badly.

[alittlegrubi]

HEY GRUBI,
how is Greer going? Feeling any better? More mobility? How is your BF going?

Apart from last night when DH and I both wanted to throw her in the wheelie bin after 7 hours of not being able to settle her for more than 5mins at a time - eventually got her to sleep after a bath at 1.47am. Greer is great. I'm much better - tummy is coming down more each day - loving that!!! I can actually walk at normal pace now and it takes a fair bit before I feel pain - although I am still dosed up on panadol and ibuprofen pills ever alternative 3 hours.
BF is improving had to give it a rest and comp feed as Greer is tongue-tied and my tiredness combined leading to her slipping during feeds and my nipples cracked at the base. I have now mastered attaching her without even a "breaking the seal pain" so BF is now going really well. We see a paed on May 13th about the tongue-tie as the lactation consultant and MW both thought it should be cut.
My only issues now are being stuck at home - still can't drive yet and a sore back - which I have read may be reference pain from the c-section. THe c-section scar is looking really good - I just want the internal healing to complete so I can start working on getting my flat tummy back - it looks like it is going to have a ridge from the incisions at the moment, but I am hopeful that with the right diet and exercise it will come back.
Hopefully these bubs stay good and don't end up with any problems. Good to hear Wyatt is doing well - compared to Greer he is a very big boy. She was 3.18kgs on Tuesday 260grms above her birth weight at Day 10 - so that would suggest BF is going really well - although we had been comp feeding her. I'll be interested to see how much she has gained next week since we have stopped the comp feeds.
How are you Sarah after the infection? Are you still having to mow the lawn or is DH pulling his weight? Have Landon and Alise stopped arguing over whose brother Wyatt is?
DD is sleeping so I'm going to go now too. DS is at Nana's which is great and depressing at the same time. Went to pick him up and he wanted to stay the night. so we left him there.

[sarah_dobbo2]

Gurbi,

Am sorry to hear she is not settling every time for you really quickly too. That is the hardest part to deal with. A MW did tell their is not point getting upset and agery with them, as we are their mothers and someone needs to take care of them. MW also suggested to get HD to settle Wyatt 'cos he was like that the first night we brought him home. DH was fas asleep in bed, sorning which didn't help.

Infection is all going from what I can tell, am still on tables but I finish them in another day or two. My pregnancy weight, well I jumped on scales before I had Wyatt, and was 90kg. (how depressing, that is the heaveiest I have ever been) Got on 2 days after before leaving hosp, and was down to 82kg. It's amazing how much the little buggers weigh, + fluid + plicenta(SW) + blood. I haven't bothered to try on pre-pregnacy clothes, so I thought I would go and buy some jeans yesterday but I couldn't find any. Not impressed. Also long with tops I got a few but haven't tried them on just yet.

DH pull weight.....ROFLMAO He's busy working at moment. Their is so much happening. 'Cos of the building housing boom, he business has taken off hasn't had many days off in last 2 years, which I have gotten used too. His crops at the farm are ready to be harvested and sent off. We just have to wait for better weather (raining at moment). He is also busy building skip bins for his other business. Can't keep up with the demand of his builder.

Alise and Landon, well landon thought he was big enough to get Wyatt out of rocket and sit on the lounge with him yesterday. Mine you it was all MY FAULT for leaving them alone. I had just got DH clothes and put in Washing machine, 30-1min. So wont be making that mistake again. ALise has to watch them when I am out of room now. That is when the fighting starts, 'cos she thinks she is in charge of him and can boss everyone else around.

Anyway me ok, got teary a few days ago which they said was normal. Hope they dont last. We're off to Agfest today (in rain) we go every year. Only this year I will have 3 children to look after until DS wants a sleep then will get other pram out of car and put him too sleep then call DH to take him around. He'll also use pram as trolley for all the dam tools he is going to buy which no doubt the man already has. Me I am going to buy Wyatt a name tag which I already have for the other 2, a cruly apple peeler, and a veggie peeler. I know a long day for a few things but its a day out of house and sort of spent tiwth family. Well I better get going I got Wyatt and Ergo baby carrier and I want to try him in it before I go.

Cheers
Sarah

[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?

[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!

[alittlegrubi]

Has anyone else experienced a babyblues days around the 2 week mark.
For some reason today I keep bursting out in tears and have no real reason behind them. DH keeps asking if I want to talk about how I'm feeling, but the only thought that comes to mind when he asks is why did i do this again, but I know that isn't the thought that sparked the crying.

[Fire]

Oh, Grubi, hugs for you. Tears come and go around this household. It's overwhelming, whether it's your first or fifth child, and hormones mixed with "will life ever be the same again?" can run me over. Let them spill, is the advice I was given, even if there is no real reason for them. Subconsiously, there will be a reason, and like we hold our crying babes, hold yourself and let it happen.

[Sequoia]

*hugs* to you Grubi, tears come and go in this household too.

PS - I think I saw your birth notice in yesterday's West, now I understand your username! Not sure why I am still trawling the birth notices for names though....!

Well, I think the fenugreek is helping plus not being so worried about Baxter's weight. He is feeding so much better (not so fussy etc) since I decided to put it out of my mind. He will get there, just not as fast as others.

Must go, off to watch DH play footy and possibly BF in public, eek!

SG
xo

[Nettie]

Grubi - YES!!

I had a bit of a melt down on Friday night when DH went out (regular weekly thing). I absolutely lost it when Liam wouldn't settle. Then I was teary for the next 24 hours. Nothing at all would set me off... I kept thinking "shouldn't the baby blues be over by now??"

DH went out again last night and I coped much better. We bought a Baba sling yesterday and it's helping a lot (Liam's in it now as I type this!) as I was getting worked up at having to use both hands to keep Liam quiet and couldn't even scratch my nose... silly, hey?

Janine - with the slippery elm, does it have to be in liquid form and do you feed it direct to bubs or take it yourself? I've only seen it in tablet form...

I also have a BF question - those of you that express, when do you stop? I'm worried I'm not leaving it long enough to get all the stages of milk... I usually stop when the pump takes three 'pumps' to get one drop out. I'm expressing at every feed time (Liam is bottle fed) and my supply goes up and down a lot.. last express only had 60 mls and Liam's taking around 80 each feed. I hope I've got enough! I've started taking fenugreek today... hopefully that helps. Liam also seems to 'spew' a bit of mucus so I'm hoping the fenugreek will help with that too..

to everyone! Anyone else finding the first few weeks going very quickly???

[Fire]

Nettie, you buy the powder from a health food shop and mix a little (less than 1/4 tsp) with breast milk and feed it via a spoon to the baby. (all sterilized stuff of course) it should be semi-liquid enough for the baby to get it down without difficulty. it was trial and error here.

Because of its action, baby has to take it, not the mum. It works to "sop" up acid and kind of thicken the milk in the stomach, also settles things. Babies on formula, who have reflux, can get a "thickened" formula to keep it down. This is the bfing equivalent, I guess.