Babies Born August 2007 #3

[neuri]

Thanks for the reassurance Becca. I get what u mean about baby's varying what they eat. She is doing plenty of wet and pooey nappies. I'll keep up with plenty of fluids and eat properly. The other thing I realised is that I took a zyrtec pill yesterday for allergies and from googling I found some info stating that it has been known to lessen supply.

I've just finished a feed wherein she spent 15 mins in total on both breasts and then started crying/kicking. Left her for 5 mins and then tried a little formula in 2 different bottles (didn't hold her but sat her on bouncer so my boobies couldn't distract her). She suddenly transformed from supposedly hungry to completely uninterested. Oh well.

She's getting her immunisations today do will get weighed and checked. AT 7 weeks she was 5.5kg so will see what has happened in the past 2 weeks.

On a lighter note, DH's auntie gave her a cute, pink, 'I LOVE NY' summer jumpsuit that says its size 3 to 6months. I couldn't get it the snap buttons to meet over her bottom so I guess she's not exactly starving heheh.

sonia

[alioops]

Sonia, Em will normally take between 70 and 170 ml. Def weigh her and keep a log on nappies, feed times, how fussy she is and anything else u think might help. when she is not interested in the bottle she won't take much if any so start by offering around 50 ml n add to it if she drains the bottle. When I bfed sarah I got the flu - def not mastitis - and my supply disappeared almost overnight. have an entire day in bed with Willa and open access to the BBs and ur supply with either disappear completely or u will fill up again. it is normal to not feel quite as full once they start becoming efficient at the bb so if she is not wanting the bottle after what u feel was a small feed it could just be that you are adjusting to each other. if ur supply has dwindled pump as much as u can till nothing else will come out, this will increase supply. HTH!!!!!

Rhi, Em Grunts when she has wind at 1 end or the other. when she starts grunting during the feed we stop and burp her so we end up with less grunting and whingeing later in the day.

Bec, do u go thru the same routine b4 bed every nite? mite b worth trying it during the day to stop him getting overtired?

GTG Em wants a nappy cahnge

[alioops]

They r always heaps better when Daddy is home aren't they?

Sonia, Sometimes the whinge is because they can't suck anymore which is comforting. Em will take the dummy when she doesn't want any more of her bottle. from what u have said it is probably just that u are adjusting to each other.

[mistyeiz]

Evening all,

Misty, it's a good idea to have some in the freezer in case u go out on ur own n are out longer than expected. rule of thumb @ least 3 feeds in the freezer @ all times. try not to completely empty urself if u know it's normal to not feed @ that time.

thanks alisando. but when n if i do go out, i normally make fm coz i still feel shy abt feeding in public. but so far, we've planned in such a way that she either feeds b4 we go out or we return b4 her next feed. so far, so good. it's just that i feel a bit icky giving her frozen milk when i have full boobs, u know? i did it once, expressed then put it in the freezer n then i expressed another time n topped it up n there was 2 layers....i thought it looked wrong so i threw it out. if i put it in the fridge, n dont use it within 12 hrs, i throw it out....sometimes i feel it's so wasteful but i just cant make myself give her the frozen milk....is that weird of me?

[mistyeiz]

Hi all,

Misty, sometimes I get a little full if Xave hasn't fed for a while. sometimes i actually express before going to bed so I don't get bad overnight, but I'm having to do that less and less. I always put whatever I express in the freezer as for example I'm getting my hair cut this sat so I've defrosted some for tomorrow morning, and we have a few weddings and other functions coming up and I'd much rather he went to bed than came out with us.

do you top up the milk that you've expressed or do u put them in separate bottles?

[alioops]

Misty, The layers are just bcoz the first lot was frozen when the second lot was added, absolutely nothing to worry about. If u leave Ella @ home with someone it is better to give her ebm than formula. u do eventually get used to feeding in public, big jackets make it easier to hide. If any1 says anything, ignore them! EBM stays good in the freezer 4 3 months and in the fridge, 2 days. While Em was only having EBM, I took my pump everywhere with a little esky n an ice brick n bottles. If u feel really full while u r out n don't need / want to bf it works fine if u can get to the parents room. When I 1st started feeding Sarah it took a while 4 me 2 work out the most discreet way of doing it so I do understand how u feel, but BF is becoming more accepted in social circles and doing it in public will make it even more acceptable for future generations. When my mum BFed me it was quite unacceptable to bf in public but she did it anyway, and when my anti public bf dad complained she said did he really want me to catch nasty bugs from the toilets? no. I hope u get my point! Ella doesnt care what every1 thinks, she just wants food. Frozen milk is the next best thing to fresh milk, formula comes last.

Wow that was longer than I expected!

Rhi, Thanks for reminding me, I have to book in for a mothers group for Em. There r no other bubs her age at Sarah's playgroup so really should meet some other mums with August bubs in SA.

Swimming tomorrow! I need some sleep!

[KirstenFleur]

Hi all!
A quick one and hopefully I'll be able to do personals later...

Laura had her vaccinations yesterday, along with what seemed like the entire population of Mitcham. I felt like the world's most horrible mother when she screamed and howled and wailed, but the 15 mins waiting time was completely taken up by bfing as though her life depended on it. Then she was grizzly and grumpy and refused to sleep anywhere except on me, and wanted to sleep rather a lot, which meant I had to cancel a visit out to her godmother. I was looking forward to that too.
And she slept for 10 hours last night and is snoozing again! Good grief.
Hope all is going well, see you again later,
Kirsten

[neuri]

YAY!! sorry i'm so relieved just had to come on to make a post. After a week of dodgy breast feeding and bottle refusal, Willa has FINALLY TAKEN A BOTTLE.

I'm such a silly mummy but after she did it I was thanking God and the universe and everyone in it haha. I'm too tired to do happy dance so will settle for a happy post.

No idea what clicked with her but i guess the hunger and fatigue finally won out and after chewing on the teat and refusing it for 10 mins, she had a suck and that was it. I couldn't have pried it out of her mouth after that. Previously I rang up MIL and asked what on earth she did to the bottle to make Willa take it and she said she warmed it up more than what was recommended. I did the same. Maybe that's the trick. Hopefully, we can make it happen again.

Also, the crankiness from the immunisations yesterday would have helped I think. KirstenF, Laura was the same as Willa. It was actually a little scary. I put her to bed at 7pm as per usual and she woke way too early at 10.40pm with a very strange cry and she was grunting and squirming and looked like she felt awful. No temp tho, until about 5am when she had a low fever, so gave her panadol and she slept until her usual wake up at 7am. No 10 hr sleeps for us, no matter what the situation, it seems. Just as well tho cos I'm trying to keep up my bb supply overnight.

so yep, good news on my end. am glad all our bubs are doing a-ok.

sonia

[alioops]

I take it your pump is your best friend at the moment Sonia!! lol!

I swam with Sarah this week in the advanced waterbabies class, and she is so different in the older class! Things that would have made her cry in the beginners class were making her all excited today!

I think Em is going thru another spurt! she is taking close to 150 ml 2 hourly! I can't hold her out at all coz she is screaming thru the dummy.

Both girls will have shots on friday. I won't b doing that alone! Sarah is going first, then DH will take her out of the room, so Emma shots don't traumatise her. Em is going next, and DH will give her a bottle to settle her, Then it will b time for my checkup. I had the implanon put in on the 4th and the bruise is halfway healed but every1 that has seen it was horrified by the size of it.

It is way too hot this weekend! 33 today and 35 tomorrow! Our house is double brick so it is really nice inside at the moment and should b nice n warm by the colder days forecast this week. keeping an eye out for snakes at the moment tho! that would have to be the biggest problem with living on a farm. we have nothing to do with the farm but we rent the old farmhouse. there is a donkey on the other side of our driveway.

Sarah has a balloon tied to her skirt from a first birthday party today and it has been entertaining her for about 3 hours now. small things...

Anyhow that s enough of my boring rambling....

[Ilithyia]

Morning girls,

WOW! You have been chatter boxes have'nt you!

Misty - Good to hear from you hun. Glad to hear that thing are going well for you and Ella. Colby only normally feed for 20-25 mins, both boobs. I make her have both boob cause otherwise i will be full in one boob and empty in the other which will throw us off later. I always give her one side then pull her off, burp her and give her the other side. She always wants both sides though. The needles are always hard the first time round. You sound like you did well though!!

Bec - Its good to hear that i'm not the only one with a baby stuck to my boob from 5pm - 8pm!!! Yesterday i layed down in the lounge and watched a movie. I left Colby on my boob the whole movie. Then as soon as i moved and tried to pull her off she woke up straight away!!! But after that she layed in her rocker for ages and just looked around. She even let me eat my dinner in peace (well kinda!!). But we def have a set routine of bath, feed and bed at 8pm everynight! Its good to know that if i want to go out at night i just have to wait around till then, settle her and i can go out without worrying that she will wake up. She is sleeping from 8pm to 7.30am most nights. The last few mornings she has woken for an out-of-the-blue feed though. She woke at 5.30am on friday morning, 2.30am!! yesterday morning and 5.55am thismorning! Not sure what's the go there! She always goes back to sleep though!

Alison - You think you have it bad with the overbearing MIL....I LIVE with mine!!! And a FIL!!! I go through what your going through everyday! Its hard is'nt it. She always tries to change the way i have thing with my furniture and things like that. The worst thing is when she won't listen to me about what too do with my kids. It almost frustrates me to the point of tears sometimes. In saying all that! She does help me out a lot. I am grateful for the help she does give me. Its just hard living with you IL's. I have'nt lived with my mum since i was 17!! So i see your on a farm too??? We have 5 acres. No probs with snakes yet though. Plus we have 3 dogs, 3 ducks and 2 geese. Plus an entourage of other farm animals! So i'm sure they probably keep them away. Glad to hear the girls are well.

Rhi - Good to hear from you too hun! Colby has her moments when she gets grumpy from overstimulation. I can always tell when she has had enough but. I restrict our outings to at least 1 or 2 times a week. Unless Brent is with me. Cause he can lean over and talk to Colby in the car if she is crying or just help me out in general. When i do go into town i always meet my mum and my sister so they help me with the girls which is good. Glad to hear that Milla is doing well. Colby makes those grunting noises too sometimes. And the exploding poo's! They normally come together though the grunting and exploding. Somtimes i don't even know she has done a poo until she starts whinging about it. Milla seems to be growing very nicely! Are you b/f??? We joined our first mother group last thursday. It was pretty good. The ladies were quite nice. I might be going to another one too. See how i go. It was quite stressful the first one! Briley was really sooky and the other kids were older than her and were all of playing on the playgroud. I'd like too find some kids her age so she can play with them. That was the point in going.

Sonia - Well it seems that i don't have to add any input on the bottle situation now!! Great to hear that Willa finally took the bottle for you! I'm sure it takes a lot of weight off your shoulders hey. I hope that Willa is feeling ok today.

Kim - No performances here for daddy!! At least you go to get some things done while Hayden was sleeping hey. I hope you dog is ok. What type are they??? Congrats to your cousin on her new baby girl. Hope you managed to get some sleep yourself! I will pop in and have a squizzy at the pic of Hayden now!

Kirsten - Hi hun! Everything that your describing sounds normal after imm's. Briley was exactly the same. Colby was much different though. Good to hear you got a 10 hour sleep!! Hope to hear from you again soon!

Well...things are pretty much the same here. Colby is getting further and further away from being my newborn baby! Time is going too bloody quick!! She is almost 3 months already. I can't believe how time does fly when you have 2 kids to tend to! She is lifting her head up and sitting up heaps now. Babbling away everyday. Thismorning she woke up at 5.55am for a feed and then when she was finished she just layed in her bed for ages talking to the little pictures on the side of her bassinette material.

As i said to Bec, she has been waking up at unusal times during the early morning for a feed. Not sure why. I can't complain though. I am still getting plenty of sleep. I am happy to get up and give her 1 feed a night if she wants it.

Afternoons are still quite a struggle though. Colby just wants to be latched to my boob constantly. It makes it really hard cause i have to get dinner ready, tend to Briley (who is also quite grumpy come that time) and try and do some work on my course. I've worked out to just leave the study to when both girls are down for their day sleep.

Well i don't think there is much else to report. Breastfeeding is still going well. I am all good.

Have a great day ladies!

[alioops]

Well girls, this has been a big day!

When I went in to get Sarah up this morning her nappy was OFF!!!!! she had done a big poo in it and decided to remove it! so of course we had to change her sheets, grrrr. The time has come for potty training!! Tonight at my parents' house, SHE DID A POO ON THE POTTY!!!!!!

We have a video monitor so that will b on in her room tonite, watching 4 nappy removal!

Through all this, Em has been an absolute angel! Even with the boiling weather!

[kungfubecca]

HI all,

Sonia, Xave does that I'm still hungry dance all the time, and I end up using a dummy. It seems he just wants something to suck on.

Alison, we have little routine here, he just decides each night at about 8pm that it is now night time and it's time for bed. I think the afternoon cluster feeds actually promote his long sleep. I am having slightly better luck getting him to have more naps, by wearing him out with lots of playing until I get tired signs, but because he is demand fed he changes his mind quite regularly as to when day time feeds will be. I'm sure this will all calm down in the next few weeks as we hit 12 weeks old this week, so I'm expecting another change in behavior.

Kristen, you will have your little girl back soon. Sometimes we wish we could give Xave a few more needles to get that much sleep again, lol i'm a naughty mummy.

Sonia, some babies like it hot. My niece prefers her bottles quite warm. Yay for you, Just had to find what tickled her fancy.



Misty, Once I have put milk in the freezer I do not add to it. the general rule is only to mix ebm of the same temp so you can leave it in the fridge and express again the same day, refrigerate that and then you can mix them together. I use the avent isis, and have heaps of the disposable cups. they hold 180ml and are great for the freezer. Plus all the avent stuff is interchangeable so i can continue to use it when we move to solids. I know what you mean about why give the frozen milk when they can have fresh, and the other night Xavier told me that too. It was really hot and he flat out refused it. I guess my temp was perfect for such a hot night. Make sure if you do freeze the milk let it defrost in the fridge, mine seems to take about 36hours to defrost properly. Plus don't warm the milk in the microwave as it can kill the nutrients, stink, and may even change the taste and bubs won't like it. Just use a heatproof jug and boiling water. (I treated myself to a bottle warmer because I plan to do it a fair bit)

Sara, those 2 little muchkins do like to carry on the same, although Xavier likes to be sitting upright, he can't actually do it himself. Is colby doing it herself? Doesn't show any signs of rolling either. Our afternoons have been getting a little better, but we'll see what happens this arvo, 'cause weekends are always different. I'm a little jealous though, I don't get sleep right through till 7.30am!! we get 8pm til usually 5am, and today I got till 6am. Xavier doesn't get a bath every night, but we may have to start giving him one soon, it's so hot here. It was 35 degrees yesterday. Today is cooler but it's still quite warm, and our house is not cooling down. I even had to put a fan on in his room last night to cool it down so he could sleep.

Well as for me I had a pretty good weekend. I ditched my 2 boys and went and got my hair cut etc. 3 hours later it was done. But I did warn them when I made the appointment it would take a while. We then had my nieces birthday party yesterday, I made a trifle for the first time ever and everyone loved it. Plus the party was at my mums house which is air conditioned and there was a cot so Xavier had a nice little sleep and everything. Then we had to come back home to the hot house.

wishing you all a good week. I'm on the countdown to 12 weeks old this friday. It's exciting but just as Sara said they are growing so fast. i was feeding Xavier last night and he looked so big. I was wondering where my baby was going.

[shell_l_d]

Wow, Ive got quite a few pages to catch up on by looks of it

I updated my www with photo links & milestones (weights). Off the nipple shield at 7wks with Lanah too, yay, same as with Holly.
Lanah at 8w6d: DW=5.29kg, L=58cm, HC=38cm.
Holly at 18w3d: was 5.25kg, hehe.

[Ilithyia]

Hi girls!

Bec - Colby can sit if you prop her up against something, like the lounge. We had her sitting up yesterday and she sat there for a good half hour!! No rolling here either. I don't expect that for a while yet though. Briley did'nt roll until she was like 4 months i think. I'll have to check her baby book. Our afternoons are improving too. So long as you keep her occupied she is fine. But oppcupied normally means on the boob or being held!!

Alison - YAY @ Sarah using the potty! We are really trying with Briley. I'm not pushing it too far but if she does a poo in the nappy i say "Poo's go in the potty". Can't rush it though!

Shell - Holly is growing beautifully then! How much did Lanah weigh at birth??? She must have been a littlin. Good to hear you managed to ditch the nipple shield! How is Holly going without it???

Kim - Awww...they grow up too quick hey!

Not much to report here. Just a babblling, dribbling, stick-beak of a baby!! Colby is looking around everywhere! She even managed to pull her toy bar down onto her face in the rocker!! She loves that she can grab things now!

Hope you are all well!

[alioops]

bec, Sarah was about 5 months when she rolled. roll him from the hips n he will learn which muscles 2 use.

misty, i have info on bm storage somewhere, will find it 4 u.

inspection on friday, gtg clean!!!!

[neuri]

Whew! It's been a warn day in Sydney too, top of 30.

I can't believe one of our bubs are coming up to the 12 week mark. Doesn't it just seem like yesterday that we were posting about colicky newborns! *sniff* I'm such a sentimental sap No rolling here either but we got babbling, drooling and chewing on fist. Willa's not really consciously grabbing anything, but she seems to really enjoy pulling her top up all the time. I keep telling her it's entirely innapropriate to act a American high school Spring Break, 'Girl Gone Wild'. DH thought that was funny.

When does rolling start to happen? Oh and do you guys use any sort of safetly restraint on your change tables? Is that something u can buy separate? I'm guilty of wandering off leaving Willa on her change table but the cushion has raised sides and as there's no rolling yet... In fact, I hate to say it but Willa is actually rather bad at tummy time! Don't know what baby DH is talking about but he insists she makes like she wants to crawl. She just sort of lies there grunting and lifts her head a bit but mostly we turn her over because her face gets squished. But she sits up great and I can pretty much burp her on my knee and her back is ramrod straight, head held firm so I'm not worried. She must just not like tummy time. I took some cute photos today of her sitting on the lounge with a book in her lap.

Feeding has been mixed. I'm thrilled she'll take a bottle when she needs to, but still fussing at the boob and short feeds. Oh well, so long as her weight is ok, I can cope. On average, I think we're getting 2 sleeps in the arvo ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Like most babies she's very grizzly by late arvo if she hasn't had a decent sleep earlier. Like today, even a bath didn't help. DH ended up putting her down. the 7pm bedtime routine still going strong. She gets up around 7am every morning, no matter what and wakes about twice in the night. I'm not getting any long sleeps at all but none the worse for wear. I guess our bodies get used to it.

Ali - 150mls every 2 hrs is wow, growth spurt indeed! "here is a donkey on the other side of our driveway." heheh now that's something I don't hear everyday. The balloon tied to Sarah's skirt is such a cute idea. Congrats on Sarah going in a potty! I'm probably not realising what a big milestone this must be. A friend of mine texted me at 3am the other night to say that her toddler finally did a poo in a potty lol, I think she got in on camera even.

Kim - cute pic :P

Sara - I hear i abt the no more a newborn thing. I know they say 2nd time mummies are more aware of enjoying their bubs while they're little. How time flies huh? Willa was having a good old chat to herself today while watching Oprah and I was thinking, gotta enjoy each day NOW! I love that baby babbling. It's the cutest thing ever.

Becca - Willa does indeed like her formula warmer. How much did u get your bottle warmer for? I had a bit of a look online and they seem to be in the $70 plus mark which is too dear for me, but I'm having to think about DH on his own trying to juggle crying/hungry baby while warming milk and all.

DH has done the hunting AND gathering and is bringing back some Thai takeout. I could eat a horse right now (what's new...)

evening all,
sonia

[alioops]

Sarah using a potty means i wont b spending $120 a month on nappies!

Paint on bathroom wall hole (don't ask) is drying n should not b able to c hole by friday. yes i re-plastered 1st.

[neuri]

Ali - gosh $150 a month on nappies. I didn't think to add it up. Someday all seem to be doing is nappy changing. The squirty poos are the worse. You hear all this noise and u think its gonna be some nasty puddle but when the nappy comes off, its just a smear.

Yet to trade my 3 newborn boxes for some larger nappies. Sigh. I'm going to ring Coles today to see if they will swap for me. Willa is wearing 6 to 11kg nappies now which are roomy, we use BabyLove and Huggies tho i find BabyLove bigger.

Kim - I still have my flabby lower tum too! I'm surprised I'm not more upset abt it but i've been told that depending on the person, that loose skin will never go back to normal without surgery. Flab u can work off but my stretched out skin is apparently here to stay Did anyone else get stretchmarks??? I've got heaps and after 10 weeks they are only now just starting to fade to lighter colour.

It must be the weather because i noticed Willa had a rash on her girly bits as I was bathing her yesterday. I'll give her more air time ala Hayden.

Oh and product review time! The grobag is most excellent. Would be even more excellent if it wasn't so darn hot that Willa can only wear it for half the night. Come any daylight, i take it off her cos she gets sweaty.