Babies Born April 2008

[Tarnee]

Hi Everyone

I have been MIA for a while - so sorry. I have been reading everyone's posts but didn't really have much to contribute. But I just wanted to say thanks for all the advice and sharing cause it has helped me out enormously over the last week or so.

Charlotte is still taking Gripe Water to help her bring up her wind (once it gets to her bowel, we are in for a lot of screaming - have tried massage and bicycle legs but it doesn't seem to help her much). So still struggling with that. Slept all night on the recliner with her on my chest last night. After trying to put her down unsuccessfully for about 2 hours, I just gave up. I forget who asked, but I give her the Gripe Water before the feed - I am only giving her about 1ml (can give 2.5ml) but it doesn't take much to get things moving.

My next step is to work out what foods are making the problem worse. I have heard that chocolate and coffee and cabbage are bad?? Any others that I should try and avoid??? I would like to get her off the Gripe Water before she becomes addicted (if she isn't already).

I am also taking fenugreek now (thanks so much whoever mentioned it on here). My milk supply practically dried up last week. Charlotte was draining both boobs and still wanting more (normally she only feeds on one side and that is more than she can handle) anyway I couldn't keep up. But have only been taking the fenugreek 3 x per day (and drinking loads of water) and am now back to my plentiful supply (running out of my boobs and wetting my lap while I burp her, squirting her in the nose while we try and attach - oh the joy of it). Ironically, we did not have any wind issues whilst my supply was low - but I would rather know that she is getting enough.

Charlotte is ready to join the piggly wiggly club. She is 3 weeks old today and has gained 760 grams on her birth weight!!

Danielle - I am same as Fire - Charlotte doesn't attach the way she is supposed to (ie. nipple in last) - she sucks the nipple in first too which is a bit ouchy for about 4-5 sucks but then is all good and she makes a nice 'special k' shape with her lips. Also, because my boobs are sooo big, I have to support her head/neck with one hand and my boob with the other or she detaches. So I am fairly limited in what I can do whilst BFing (I just watch tv normally). I think you need to get ONE person to work with you until you find a suitable solution. I got so sick of being told different things by MWs in hospital that I stopped calling them in and just did my own thing until I got it right. I found that what they showed me worked great for colostrum feeds but then when my milk came in, I had these huge, hard boobs and had big troubles getting her attached (lots of tears and holding breathe). But we have our own little arrangement now and it might not be textbook but it works for bub and me. Good Luck with it!!

I was thinking, since most of the last of the late April group have had their babies (still waiting on 2), it would be nice for us all to share our details so that we know about one another. In our Belly Buddies group, we had a post with everyone's name and what/when they were expecting. Maybe we could have a post with our names and what children we have.??? (Sort of like a 'members list'). If everyone wants to PM me their details, I can do the post on the first page of the new thread (which will be coming any time now). Eg.

Tarnee - DD Charlotte - born 16/04/08

(Obviously if you have other kids, you would include their details too - I only have the one).

Sorry for the long post - Charlotte is sleeping very well!!

Talk soon.

[Sharon19270]

Nettie I think Oliver drinks so much of his bottle because he was/is a big boy, but he doesn't always drink over the 100ml it is normally around 90-100ml. How big was Liam when he was born?
sarah I always change Oliver's bum before a feed, or like you if he poos in the the middle of a feed.
grubi I didn't handle the last week of the school holidays very well, I found that Jordan had a touch of the 'green eyed monster' in him, which is understandable, be even now when he is home he still doesn't seem to understand that he needs a bit of patience when I am doing things with Oliver, I try to get him to help but it doesn't always work either.
Beatrix your blocked duct sounds painful, I hope that the heat pack helps to unblock it for you.
Tarnee sounds like you are having a tough time with Charlotte and her wind, Jordan was a bugger too, but 'touch wood' Oliver seems to go really well. Great idea about having a post with all of us on it at the beginning of each thread, at least until we all really get to know each other more, will PM you my details

Well, I have to get going and pick up Jordan from school, will try and log back on again some time tonight, otherwise I will see you all tomorrow.

[Fire]

double post... oops

[Fire]

Good idea, Tarnee. I'll pm you shortly.

Danielle, I was sent this for my oversupply issue (the Le Leche League of the US), and saw this (and thought of your biting problem):

Strategies to Reduce Milk Ejection Force

When a mother produces a large volume of milk, her milk ejection reflex will be stronger. All that milk rushing down the ducts may be more than baby can handle. It's like trying to drink from a garden hose that is turned on full-blast, while lying down on your back. In addition to choking, sputtering, and coughing when the milk comes out, baby may try to control the milk flow by pulling away and adapting a shallow latch. Shallow latching can be very painful for a mother. Or he may simply clamp down in an attempt to slow the flow, resulting in a "biting" sensation. Baby may also scream and arch his back to let you know that something needs to be changed.

LLLI | Oversupply

ETA - I esp think it may be a forceful letdown for you because he does it when he first gets on (the most forceful letdown is the first one).

Has anyone noticed that when you do a link these days, the computer auto changes it to a worded link? I just copied the link address and it made that cute little link title.

[Nettie]

Sharon - Liam was 6lb 15oz - so not very big. He's about 1/2 kilo over birthweight (haven't weighed him since Friday though) but still not huge. For some strange reason he's decided he only wants about 50-60 mls today??

He's about due for the next feed, so we'll see how much he takes for his 'early evening' feed!

Tarnee - once I remember how to PM, I'll send my details to you! Site's changed since I did it last...

Managed to go & buy another pair of trackie daks and some new PJ's today... I'm still wearing maternity stuff because I don't fit into pre-pregnancy clothes yet - but the maternity stuff is getting baggy around the belly! Looking forward to trying out the PJ's tonight!! Told DH to count it as a Mother's Day pressie!

[alittlegrubi]

Sharon did you get Oliver weighed today??? Was he the piggly wiggly you thought he would be? How far off 5kg is he???
Nettie Greer was only 6lb 7oz and when we were giving her bottles she was only taking 40 to 60 mls so I'd ay that Liam is fine with the amount he is taking.
Can't recall who asked early in the thread about what to avoid with BF other than chocolate, coffee and cabbage... it is wise to avoid non-essential foods that are common allergens like cow’s milk protein (found in milk, cheese, yoghurt). Other foods that may cause allergies are peanuts, eggs, soya products, fish, wheat and citrus. It's also wise to avoid acidic foods like tomatoes and tomato sauces. It is best to eliminate them all and the introduce one back into the diet for 3 days to identify what is affecting the baby.
I'm thinking I need to avoid milk as Greer has had 3 power chucks today and the only thing that has been common in the eating prior to those feeds is milk. Bit sad about that one.

[Sharon19270]

Nettie Oliver has days where he seems to reduce the amount he feeds but I usually find that he adds an extra feed in during the day somewhere, or makes up for it the following day, either way I think it evens out in the long run. Enjoy your new PJ's tonight, I need some badly. To send a PM, click on "private messages" just above where you change "my mood", the from the options on the LHS of the screen you should see a selection that says 'send new message' or something to that effect.
grubi not getting Oliver weighed until Friday morning when the Community Nurse comes out for a home visit so will know then.