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.