Babies born December 1st-15th 2010 #1

PP - I agree with Marcellus - probably nothing you ate, sometimes I think it's easy to blame that but I don't think it's always the case... especially if it's something you'd already had before. I often have days where Jacob is on and off the boob for hoursssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss but it does eventually slow down into the night and he settles in eventually! Hope you haven't had any repeats of the night. Don't worry about speaking too soon, it's definately nothing you've done, it's just that one day is different to the next - as we are all learning. You're still doing a top job with feeding!! It may even be that with her growth spurt she's demanding more to build your supply? And I couldn't agree more with you about this little community of people we have here...all you ladies have been such a lifeline for me, I honestly don't know where I'd be without it. Just when I have a bad day or night I read one of the posts and someone has JUST gone through something similar and it makes me feel less alone. You girls are all amazing.

Myboys - Jacob has been very fussy too lately, he makes little noises while feeding and pulling back and trying to take my nipple with him, then letting it go and then wanting it back and getting cranky. It's so weird... but good to hear that's somewhat normal! How have the boys been?? I bet they love their beautiful little sister.

Babyluv - I feel your pain lovely...I am dealing with similar issues here. He seems to get a lot of wind and just SCREAMS, stiffens etc. Some people say not to wind babies unless they need to, then same say to wind them during a feed to help avoid an accumulation of wind... I'm just trying a bit of everything to work Jacob out. I have been reading a book "save our sleep" and am finding it quite useful. I don't agree with all of it - she seems to be keen on controlled crying whereas I am NOT... but I find some really handy information in there. Maybe you could have a read? - I suggest asking a few friends that have babies if they have it as we bought it then a few friends suggested it to me and offered to loan me their copy. Might save you having to buy it. I understand how you feel with crying through the night and just desperately wanting some sleep, I get much the same, it's completely normal and I think you're doing a great job by hanging in there the way you are. Just get as much sleep as you can when bub is asleep as every little bit makes a big difference. I hope you have some support with you, a family member or something? My mum is here and I find when I just don't know what more I could possibly do, I hand him over and I walk away and take a deep breath.

Kaz - Awesome work on Quoll's weight gain!! You're doing a great job. I hear you on the husband side of things. DH gets all this spare time to himself while I spend all my time with Jacob and not having time to do ANYTHING for myself. I will have Jacob fast asleep and hand him to DH to hold while I get some jobs done - as putting him into the basinette wakes him up most of the time and then he gets overtired and SOOOO cranky. DH will be busily playing the computer while he has Jacob in his arms, I just wish he would put the damn computer down and focus on his son. Yay on the weight loss!! I got back to my pre pregnancy weight within the first ten days but I have more I want/need to lose!!

Marcellus - how is Miriam today? I am dying to get my close carrier!! Might help dealing with the fussy afternoons where he ends up over tired...

Question! Does anyone ever stop their bub during a feed to burp them? or do you burp them at the end? or not at all? Do you try waking them up if they fall asleep on one side or do you assume that means they've had enough? I know that it won't be the same for each baby that's why I am after a few opinions..

AFM - still muddling through, trial and error, trial and error.... the good news is we are having at least one/two decent stretches of about two/three hours of sleep a night which is great. I just wish he would sleep as soundly in his basinette as he would in my arms!! The minute I put him down those eyes open and he's hard to settle again.. He has way too much awake time so it's like I am dealing with hunger, wind and MAJOR overtiredness... but today he is almost a different baby, he actually didn't cry through a nappy change, he listened to me sing/talk and he is even more alert to his surroundings than normal! Fingers crossed today will be a good day. Yesterday was brilliant, until 11.30am..he was awake until 5!!! I could NOT get him to settle for more than five mins.... oh my, bring on 12 weeks :lol:

Talk soon xoxo

I hope this makes sense, I don't have time to read back through it, I need to get to bed while I can!!

I think muddling through and trial and error is exactly the right way to approach parenting! :lol: That's how you get to know your child and learn to trust your instincts.
Overtiredness sucks soooooo much! I will put DD straight in the carrier if she wont' settle because I do not want to go there again! DS has spent most of his short life overtired :wall:

We had our first screaming session last night. I'm pleased to say that DH has not lost his touch for settling distressed babies! He cracked out hte songs and rocking and it didn't take too long before she calmed down again. Oh yeah, he's still got it!
And then again in the middle of the night. What fun :D

I think we can torture ourselves trying to figure out what we've done or eaten wrong, but most of the time it's just normal baby stuff (they're not consistent and constantly changing) and then it sorts itself out with a bit of time in any case.

I was going to get into the exercise again after my beautiful natural birth, but I think it will be a while before I'm doing much. Walking and sitting is uncomfortable at the best of times. Plus I get light headed if I do much - the house is in DH's hands and you can't half tell! He has this complete inability to do anything if DS is here. Maybe it's a man thing - he can't multitask, that's for sure. He has been doing most of the essentials though, so we're fed and watered (and laundered) at least.

I love slinki malinki.

marcey - the exercise situation does get better! I was having a hard time sitting for a while, and couldn't walk far, but yesterday, at three weeks, we put madam in the close carrier and went for a massive walk. It felt SO good, probably racked up 4km or so. She loved it, I loved it, DH was a bit jealous because he wasn't carrying her, but he took her out in it today. It really is the best thing ever!

Kaz - SO pleased your visit went well. Hope that you get somewhere with that LC too.

Babyluv - definitely try waking every two hours in the day, I do it, because our little miss does have some long day sleeps and definitely has the potential to get day and night confused. Except today - took two and a half hours to get her down and she was well overtired by the end of it, so I let her go for three hours.

Jules - I burp every time she comes off, whether she's asleep or awake. As for whether to wake her, it depends on what kind of feed she's having. If she's not long had a big one, I let her go, but if she seems to need more (like first thing in the morning) then I go and change her nappy to wake her up, and it usually works.

Got the massive poo right after my last post! She had her nappy off, and I had a prefold under her bottom, she did three big squirts on that, then I had to add another one, and two big squirts on that one, then she got into a third one! DH had taken the nappy bin downstairs to wash and forgotten to bring it back up, so I was yelling at him to bring it so I had somewhere to put my dirty wipes! Good thing was though, the nappies she did her artwork on were soakable, which made it nice and easy. And a day out in the sun has them sparkling white again! Yay!

In the hot weather, do we just trust that they will take on enough fluid on their own? Or do you offer more often than they ask?

Dunno Audax - wow on the poosplosion!!!!!! BFing is not really enjoyable, very hot to hold against me. I've been sitting him up to feed, he won't take it in the football or cross-hold, he did take on the floor lying down, but Pip was a little too enthusiastic for that again. Yay on the walks, that's great!!!!!!

Marcellus - sorry to hear you're feeling poorly, I have total sympathy for you. I've stopped taking the panadol & volataren (thought that 10 days was more than enough) and boy, am I feeling it in my pelvis. can't turn in bed etc again. doh. Might give my body a rest from the panadol for a few days then get back onto it if I'm still in pain. Need to lose a jelly belly!!!!

Jules - my doc has told me not to focus on weight etc, but to focus on his allertness levels. So your little man is alert more than usual - YAY!!!!!! that's great news!!!!!

Phoned the lactaction consultant, she's coming over tomorrow, she's upped the dosage on some of my tablets again, oh man I rattle! DH and I are going shopping at some stage, going to get another charm for my pandora-style bracelet for Will. He's also taken Pip out to the shops (in his PJs!) cause he's getting a bit too boisterous around the baby - explaining to a toddler that jumping OVER the sleeping baby isn't ideal isn't easy, anyone got tips????? (OMG just saw Bec Twiggley's wedding dress on the news!!!! StUNNING!!!!

Oh, and I have already been subjecting Will to good music - watching the Royal Tattoo here!!!! YAY bagpipes!!!!!!!

Happy New Year ladies!! Hope 2011 is all you wish for and more!! Been wonderful sharing so much of 2010 with you all! Xoxo

Happy New Year from us also ladies. We were out for a little biy but i came home, was in bed by 11pm and didn't even hear DH get home. My last few New Years have been with me being pregnant or breastfeeding... very uneventful. I know 2011 will be full of lots of fun times for us with our little ones. All the best ladies and look forward to sharing this growing time with our little ones with you xoox

Happy new year folks - may your problems be "little ones" and your joys marvellous mountains to climb. thanks for the support in 2010, may 2011 be more fun and adventure! Stay safe!

(Btw - who else had a babe at the boob at the stroke of midnight?)

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!!! I HOPE 2011 IS A WONDERFUL YEAR FOR ALL. :loveshower:

We watched the fireworks from our balcony with our little pea all wrapped up in her pod. It was quite lovely. I had a champers, then we put her to bed and sat up for a chat for a while.

Have not had a good day today, not sure if it's something i've eaten or if it's just Harper. She's been unsettled since this morning, barely slept in her basinette and the walk in the pram didn't work today. I walked holding her while she screamed and pushed the pram. She finally slept and woke not long after we got home, had a feed and a little sleep. When she woke from that sleep she had a bath which she really enjoyed and was really relaxed throughout for and getting dressed (even had a massage) then fell asleep in DH arms. He put her in her basinette and about 10 min after that she was screaming and didn't stop for more than an hour or two. I ended up giving her to DH in tears because i couldn't do it anymore. She just screams so much so loudly and i just hate her getting so worked up. Lately it seems like every second day is like this, we have a good one where she is content to sleep and feed and then the next is just so hard and she seems so unhappy the whole day. She is currently sleeping wrapped to me, i'd love a shower but i'm afraid to take her off incase it starts all over again. If we're following the pattern then tomorrow should be a good day right!? I hate her crying and getting so worked up.

Oh, Myboys, I certainly hope tomorrow is a better day for you! That sounds so hard.

Our little banshee has developed an aversion to day sleeping. First morning sleep is easy. The midday one has to be in my arms/on my shoulder (even the sling copped a screaming fit today) There's usually a catnap somewhere, and then a late afternoon feed to sleep in the big bed. Each one takes at least half an hour to get her down. And then night time, after the bath - which is now an absolute nightly must-have - she sleeps really well, once she's down, but it can take a loooong time to get her there. She's just gone now at 9pm, after a big feed, wrap, burp, then half an hour of rocking and bouncing. But the night sleeps are great, so I will happily deal with it all.

Our nights are kind of similar, she seems to do really well in feeding and falling back to sleep without too much fuss. So you definately do count yourself lucky having that but the days can get so draining, not being able to put her down or get a single thing done can be as stressful to me as a screaming baby. I hate the feeling of everything being on top of me. Anyway as hard as it is i know it'll pass (i hope) i just need to get through these few weeks as best as i can.

My mum is in Darwin at the moment, she'll be driving back and then will be based at our house for a few months. Having her around will be a huge help but not sure when she'll arrive back and then DH goes back to work on Tuesday, i'm getting a little worried about coping on my own. I love my children and i love being a mum but this trying to cope with 3 littlies is kind of scaring me, i'm not sure i can do it.

Get a good nights sleep Audax and hope tomorrow is a little easier for you also xox

Oh MB :hug: I hope you do have a good night's sleep and Miss H has a good day tomorrow. I get you with the 3 little kids - we're not coping just with 1 other. Can you find occaisional care for a couple of hours? Like at a community centre etc?

Well I had the LC in today. She stayed with us for 1 3/4 hour and watched us feed. We have a prescription for lactation cookies, even more tablets (same tablets, just more of them) and I've been diagnosed with nipple vasospasm (http://www.thewomens.org.au/nipplevasospasm) which is sorta reassuring, I thought it was just my neurosis! We also have exercises to give Quoll before every feed to stimulate his sucking reflex as well, and we have to put him on his tummy for supervised tummy time after feeds (20 mins 3-4 times/day) and kangaroo cuddles (bare chest time) 2-3 times/day after feeds as well. She's going to call me every day to begin with to make sure we're not stressing out or anything. I think it's all hit home to DH what a committment we're making to achieve BFing - to establish supply we need no more than 3 hours between feeds during the day, then as demand at night (after 10pm).

happy sunday all.

I will try come back at a later time but i just wanted to say Kaz you are doing an amazing job. Keep up with that dedication and hopefully the bfeeding will be a natural and enjoyable time for the both of you very soon. You're amazing, keep doing what you're doing xoxo

hi all

sorry again, haven't had chance to reply, I'm so busy and so tired, more about me at the end though, will try some personals,

Jules - awww, poor you, Jacob is keeping you on your toes. I have had a few little ones and know how hard it is when it doesn't go to plan. Just do the best you can to get through the now, then gradually try and chance his routine to suit you.

myboys - Harper sounds so cute. I hear you on the washing, it's never ending.

Kazbah - wow Congratulations, good weight. Lol at the falling asleep with him still attached, good job they don't have teeth at this point :p Great on your weight loss, lucky you.

Georgi - the day will soon come that he will stop feeding at night, what a luxury that will be. I look like a zombie too.

MadB -- did you enjoy your first trip out?

purplepixie - wow, increasing time between feeds, lucky you.

cathie - lucky you, he sounds like the perfect little boy. Lol at the twins, I'll only swap you for mine :p I now have 5 kids, so i'll get some funny looks too.

Audax - getting jealous now of all those dream babies. Glad the poo eventually happened, Ill tell you a funny story in a minute.

Babyluv - hugs hun, hoping you get sleep soon.

afm - Matteo has been transferred to my local hospital, although this is still 30ish k's away. But the benefit is that i can room in with him whenever i want to, although i can't do this full time at the moment, as the kids are off school I need to at home during the day for them. So at the moment I am spending every night at the hospital, down side, they are waking him up for feeds every 3 hours, I have to breastfeed first then he is tube fed, then I also have to express change his nappy and clean and sterilise the breast pump, etc, oh and also walk to the maternity ward to freeze the breast milk. After all that, only managing about 1 - 2 hours between feeds. I'm dog tired.
He has just had to go back into a Humidicrib as he is having a problem maintaining his body temp :cry: Never mind, if it's best for him, that's a good thing. But just want him to progress so I can bring him home.
Had a funny story to share, I was changing his nappy the other day, while he was still at NICU. As I lifted his legs up to wipe his bum, he had an explosive, projectile poo, which landed from my neck down to my thighs :o I was covered in fluorescent mustard splatters, which stunk by the way :D It had to be the time that the room was full of Dr's, Nurses and just about every parent possible, how embarrassing :redface: My 8 year old daughter was with me, and she got it in the face, even Matteo was laughing, cheeky boy :p

Take care all

:rofl: at the poo stories.
DD is quite unsettled at the mo. i'm laid up with mastitis - spent 2.5 hrs at after hours gp clinic yesterday to get ABs. I think it was a bit too much stimmulation for her

Gosh, and here I was wondering who MadB was!!!!! No good with mastisis :( I've been told to watch out for it, due to duct damage with the reduction. How are you feeling? Are you getting help????

Butterfly - DH is scrunching his nose up, he gets got with wee @ every change.... hope his temp regulates soon for you, and that you can get some decent sleep. But yay on the move closer to home!!!!

AFM - i've posted my birth story if anyone's interested. DH managed to get some sleep last night, I think it's made the world of difference for him. Expressing a bit more, finding the heat packs for 5 mins before starting really really helping with supply. Also discovered that the intense pain from the vasospasm ebbs when my "let down" occurs, this is great for me, I always thought it was just nipple pain from biting etc and to know that I can feel let down - wow! (well, in one nipple anyhows)

HI :hello:

Myboys - Big hugs for you :hug: It's a shame we don't live close to each other as I'm sure the boys would have lots of fun playing with the twins.
Kaz - You go girl, Keep up the fantastic work with the BF.
Butterfly - Hi, 5 kids yay !!!!. Yeah you do get alot of funny looks when you go out with sooo many kids. It's funny when you start counting kids when you get them all in the car. We do it all the time.
MadB - Mastsis is terrible to have. How are you feeling? What do they give you to clear it up?

AFM - Well Charlie had a terrible day yesterday, it was bound to happen. He cried all day not sleeping, not wanting to eat. I think it was the heat as it was 39 out my way. Well today he has been an angel, sleeping and eating with no problems at all. Twins have been much better and Lily has been a wonderful help. Toilet training the twins has been alot of work they just don't want to sit on the potty, I have been thinking about tieing them to the potty so than they can't get up and run away :rofl: has anyone got any ideas on how to toilet train 2.

cathie

Would you believe it that i'm sitting here twiddling my thumbs!?

DH has taken the boys away for the night and i have Miss Harper in the hugabub the peace is really nice but just not sure what to do with myself. I'm just glad she's having a good sleep.

I'm going to try and catch up with some personals as i think it's been a while.

PP i have my days too when you are struggling but then look at yourself and say 'hey, what are you complaining about!?!?' Some days can be challenging but so wonderful at the same time. How is little Emelia going? How have you found the new carrier? Mine is getting a work out at the moment, i'm so happy i made that purchase.

Jules in the first few weeks i wasn't spending too much time burping Harper and she was doing ok but now it's seeming like she REALLY needs it. I generally do it when she removes herself from a feed and after a few burps offer more again. Some nights she can fall asleep after one side and i don't bother waking her to take more. I'd try for a burp but if it was taking too long i'd put her to bed because i just needed to get back to sleep. But a few nights ago she did a lot of gurgling and you could hear the juices coming up and she was vomiting a little so i'm thinking now i need to make burping a priority. She has been terrible at screaming in what seems like pain (i think??) the last few days and is becoming a bit more spewy so i'm trying to work with her on making this better. I have been giving her some of the Brauers Stomach Calm, not sure if this is making a difference or not but i'd do anything to try and make her feel better and not cry her little heart out so much.

MadB the carriers are definatley a life saver, Harper seems to be asleep in it within seconds of putting her in there. Hope that mastitis clears up quickly, hope you're not in too much pain.

Audax we haven't had a whole lot of hot weather just yet but i'd generally trust bub to let me know when she's hungry/thirsty unless she gave me reason to do otherwise.

Kaz i read your birth story today, it sounded wonderfull (love being able to talk about birth like that) i'm so glad you had an experience you were hoping for. Any adjustment is a challenge whether it be #1, #2, #3 or so on, i have to be confident that i'll get there eventually though. I'm sure Pip will settle and you'll get there also. The boys had their last day of FDC with their lovely carer on Thursday so pretty much for the month of Jan they will be with me all day every day. I have found another FDCarer but that won't begin until Feb. I am really worried about DH going back to work. I hope you continue to get inprovments with the bfing.

Butterfly forever you're a busy lady also. Sounds like Matteo is still doing wonderfully just has to keep the body temp up. Your routine does sound exhausting, hope you get some more rest soon.

My goodness Cathie toilet training two!?! I don't think i'd have any ideas that you wouldn't alreay know or have tried. I know with Aidan it seemed like it would take forever to happen because he was just not interested and i tried not to push but at the same time was thinking if i don't push a little he'll never do it. Maybe tieing them down is your best bet :lol: Glad Charlie boy is having a better day today.

AFU Harper does seem to have begun to be a lot more unsettled. I'm hoping it's just a stage and it'll pass, i wonder about reflux or colic but i think it's just me trying to find an answer to something there may be no answer for. I just hate when she cries so much, it's distressing for me but more so because i'm worried about how distressing it is for her. She works herself up to the newborn scream that it so painful to listen to. DH has taken the boys away for the night to give me a break but hoping i'll be able to cope on my own. Crazy thing is i was thinking to myself, take Harper with you, leave the boys with me and that will be a break. I know what they want and when they want it, they seem easy now. I have elevated Harper's basinette as there was a night there where she was really noisy and seemed to be troubled by her belly. I have tried the stomach clam, i tried the walk yesterday and that was soooooo stressfull as she just screamed the whole time. I should have left the pram at home and put her in the hugabub. We'll just keep trying to comfort her with lots of hugs and kisses while she screams her little lungs out and hopefully soon this 'stage' will pass.

On a less stressful note i have started using some cloth and she looks so cute with the big butt and little body. I also put in my first order for fluffy mail, got some covers as i'm just using flats at the moment because the small nappies i have are gaping at the legs. But i also ordered my first 'girly' pocket nappy. Oh and i've been admiring some pretty wall mounts for Harper's bedroom on made it. Sooooo much beautiful stuff that i just want to spend, spend and spend. I can't remember if i said also but the afternoon of having our photos taken went fairly well. The boys were posing like i've never seen them do before, the photographer was happy with what she got when trying to work with a nearly 4 year old, 21 month old and a newborn. I don't think we got a family of 5 shot but we can aim for that another time, i just wanted to make sure we got some beautiful shots of the boys and us with Harper while she was a new born. Haven't seen them as yet, won't for a few more weeks as the photographer was getting married today. Can't wait to see them though.

I'm off to see what i can manage with this little chicken wrapped to me.

Kaz was just wondering (could be a silly questions) but the breastmilk cookies ok for a newborn? I have a recepie for some that i got from BB where are you getting yours from?

MadB – Your new username threw me for a bit there!! I thought someone new had joined and I had missed it while reading in my sleep :lol: You are sooo right when it comes to over tiredness. I have been watching Jacob very closely for this and am amazed at the difference in him. He’s been such a wonderful little boy. He doesn’t sleep for long but he’s definitely sleeping more frequently. If he’s getting overtired and cranky I give him bb and let him fall asleep beside me then transfer him when he’s in the deepest of sleeps. Save me a google…what is slinki malinki? How wonderful that DH has the touch with distressed babies!! Perhaps after his shift over there you can send him my way? :rofl: DH used to be wonderful with Jacob but he gets frustrated lately that every day he prefers something a little different that he just doesn’t bother trying. I’m getting used to just dealing with it on my own - with my mums help at the moment of course…thank heavens for my mother, if it wasn’t for her I would have had a major meltdown by now… OUCH, mastitis, been there – done that! Almost got it back a few times but have been working really hard on keeping it at bay.. I really hope you’re feeling better soon. :hug:

Audux - :rofl: on the poo story, glad she got it out in the end…man, she must have had a FULL belly there!! I’m thankful it hasn’t happened to me ...YET… although Jacob more than makes up for it by peeing on me every other day haha. We have similar times with Jacob when it comes to getting him off to sleep, thankfully the bassinette has a rocker built in to the legs so I just rock him most of the time, it helps relax him that little more…he’s just SUCH a light sleeper that I have to keep it going for so long…

Kaz – The community health nurse out here was talking to me about feeding when it’s hot and babies that run at higher temps, she suggested a cloth nappy between the mother and baby to stop the extra heat? Maybe you could give that a go? You poor thing with all those pills, but you are doing such a fantastic job with feeding, I really admire your persistence, I knew you’d get there!! Keep up the great work, you should be so proud of yourself so far. Oh, I agree on Bec’s wedding dress, wasn’t it amazing!! I wasn’t feeding at midnight new years – missed it by 20 mins!! :lol: he let me sleep through it but woke me very soon after hahaha. Look forward to reading your birth story as soon as I’m finished here.

Myboys - :hug: big hugs for you…you poor thing, sounds like a nightmare day…I had so many of those before mum got here and then the day she arrived, she was amazed at how well I’d handled it and thankfully we haven’t had one similar since. I think you are doing a wonderful job with dealing with a newborn and two young little boys…it can’t be easy. I have full confidence in you that you will manage. Look at how well you’ve done so far…we always surprise ourselves with what we can handle when we have no choice but to manage. Believe in yourself, you’re a wonderful mother and you will do just fine. Has Harper been having a better day today? I really hope so..

Butterfly – Wow, you deserve a medal…I don’t know how you manage to do all of that, with four children at home to care for also…sorry to hear that Matteo has gone back in the humidicrib, but I would take great comfort in the fact that he is getting the best care, they are so wonderful with caring for premmies these days. He will get there, hang in there. :rofl: on the poo, you poor thing!!

Cathie – Sorry to hear about the rough day but glad Charlie is back to his angelic self today!! Good luck on the toilet training of twins!! Perhaps I could ask mum how she managed – my older brothers are twins!

AFM – Jacob woke up on his one month birthday mark and has been a different little man!! He was really struggling with wind the past week or so and would scream for HOURS, we’ve started trying a few different things…and at the same time obviously something has matured in him as he is burping with such ease. He has a few little spews every now and then but nothing major and not projectile, just kind of falls out with a burp…The main thing I’m a little curious about now is when he’s actually done feeding and has turned to comfort sucking… if I tend to not be sure I will just burp him and see if I can wake him up, but if he falls asleep while I’m burping him I figure he’s had enough to drink and provided he’s got a clean nappy I won’t wake him up, I’ll let him sleep. I don’t like him to get overtired cause that is the pits. I do worry that sometimes I haven’t given him enough to eat cause he’s fallen asleep without having much but I trust that if and when he’s hungry he will let me know… Other than that, everything else is a little easier to deal with – having mum here is such a blessing…hopefully I’ll be ok when she leaves next!!

Myboys – You have posted since I’ve been typing this lengthy post…thanks for the info on burping. I am finding the same with Jacob!! We have had to spend more time burping and it seems to have worked out really well so far. He’s gotten really good at bringing up his gas or blowing it out the other end!! (as you’ve probably read above). We raised the top of his bassinette mattress too! What a massive difference that made… I hope you have the same success. Yay on having time to twiddle your thumbs, I hope you get some things done, or get to just lay back and relax and enjoy your baby girl in the peace and quiet. I know what you mean by being easier to deal with the boys as you know what they want. I had to laugh cause when I brought Jacob back to mum and dads I was really struggling with figuring him out and my sister in law would come over with my nephew who is 19 months old and I’d watch him walking and talking and coming over and giving me cuddles and kisses and I’d just sit there dreaming of the day that Jacob would be that easy!! But now that things are settling, I’m enjoying this stage so much more, and am able to appreciate him in the moment. :) Have a lovely night with just you two girls…

Talk soon all xoxo

Happy New Year, all! I didn’t intend to stay up, but DH put on a good movie and it finished just before midnight, so we watched the fireworks, had a smooch, and then Millie woke up just after midnight for a feed. I took her in to say hello to DH and she gave him big smiles – he was chuffed :)

Audax: “Artwork”… LOL! My Mum suggested some cooled boiled water on hot days, I’m not sure what the current wisdom is? Glad your night sleeps are extending!

Myboys I hear you on the screaming. It is just so distressing when they get worked up like that. It is even worse if I have Millie downstairs, as the floors are tiled and it just seems five times louder. She is really strong and throws her head back, arching her back, so it can be so hard to hold her close to calm her. I know what you mean about worrying about DH going back to work (and here I am with only 1!!) – but you will all find your groove. Thinking of you. Did you find something to occupy your twiddling thumbs? I actually picked up my patchwork yesterday for the first time since carpal tunnel syndrome hit during pregnancy! SO excited. I only got one small seam sewn, but that’s better than nothing, and I might actually have Millie’s quilt finished for her first birthday :)

Kaz, ouch on the vasospasm! Sounds like you have been reassured by the diagnosis though, it is good to have a name for what you are experiencing and some options for addressing it as well. I LOVED your birth story – I’m glad you got so much of what you wanted! I like how you explained it to Pip :) You’re doing an awesome job with bfing – it really does take commitment. It is hard for DHs to comprehend, isn’t it… mine keeps offering to give Millie a bottle of EBM to give me a break, but when I’d have to express anyway, and then spend time worrying that there seems to be so little when I express, plus worrying about nipple confusion (had to use shields for a bit – cracks, argh)… it’s so much easier just to whack her on the boob.

Butterfly, I’m glad your little man is so much closer to you, but sorry to hear about the fatigue. Take care. LOL at your poo story :)

Cathie, wasn’t yesterday VILE?? It was stinking hot upstairs, wish we could swap the black roof tiles for something a little more practical!

Jules, Slinki Malinki is a cat - stories by Lynley Dodd, the same author who created Hairy MacLairy. I LOVE those books - wonderful rhymes and fantastic language :)

I have been giggling like mad at the poo stories. Never knew I could spend so much time so preoccupied by another person’s bodily functions and fluids. Amelia was screaming while I was trying to attach her yesterday – she usually goes onto the right just fine. After several goes at calming her down, then trying to reattach, then more screaming, DH said, “try her on the left.” I swapped her over, and she latched perfectly, gave a contented snort, and blew a booger out of her left nostril! It must have been bugging her on the right! Then as I was changing her nappy I got pooed on – not quite to the extent that Butterfly did though – and she weed as well. This morning I copped a little spew on my clean shorts. So there it is – the trifecta!

As for us – had a massive panic on NYE as Millie was just so unsettled and seemed constantly hungry. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to continue bfing (which is really stupid, but I was tired and panicked and overwhelmed by the crying and the feeling of utter incompetence!)… started a thread here and immediately got some reassuring feedback. God, I love this site! Calmed the hell down and ended up having a good day yesterday, and today has gone pretty well too. Millie fights sleep so hard, but she still hasn’t managed to overcome the power of my rendition of “Moonshadow” :) What do you do when they’re wide awake, but not screaming? I’ve just been letting her lie there and chill out after play, story and song; she usually drifts off eventually, or just starts fidgeting for a feed slightly earlier than usual… I don’t want to overstimulate her and risk an overtired hissyfit…??

The cat has jumped into Millie's bouncer again. Ha!

Take care, all!
xox

It's one of those things noone tells you - having a baby makes you poo obsessed.

Butterfy, I didn't realise you had 4 other kids as well! That's a crazy busy schedule you have there. I hope i's not too much longer before you can have matteo at home with you.

Kaz, you are one determined lady! sounds like you have good support from your lc, which is great. loved your birth story - our placenta's sitting in the freezer too, just waiting till we get round to buying a pot and plant of some sort.

Pixie I'm tending to leave dd to herself if she's lying there happily. It's a nice novelty for us :)

Some people will recommend water in hot wealther, but it's really not necessary if you're breastfeeding - they'll get all the fluids they need from the milk. You'll probably find they feed a little more frequently (maybe having extra little feeds) when it's hot.

DS I nevered bothered with burping much - didn't seem to make any difference. DD tends to spew a bit after feeds sometimes, so we sit her up and wait.

How exciting myboys, new nappies and photos! Hope your night goes well with just the two of you.

Jules, I don't know what I would have done without DH when DS was little. We used to take it in turns - I did the first half of the night, he did the second (which was the worst half!). He has always been the master of settling DS though.

I am feeling better today. Fever and aches are gone, and the lump is not so sore now. DH is still here doing most things, thankfully. Double sucks as I was just starting to feel up to doing things at the end of the week. I had it once with DS too, so hoping that's it for this time round as well.

I've been wanting to change my username for so long... now that I have it feels really weird! I guess I'll get used to it.

Glad to hear you're feeling better to do things MadB, not good the mastitis mucked that up for you :(

PP - I would put Pip in front of a window and let him watch leaves moving in the breeze, it would zone him out and he'd drift off. I found that removing all stimuli would upset him. Will's turning out the same I think.

MyBoys - The recipe was given to me by my LC and she's ABA / IBCLC / midwife. I'm to eat 6-8 cookies/day and she knows the age of will. I haven't compared the recipes though.

:hello: hi everyone!!

im a bit slow to join up in here but DH and I welcomed our first DD Summah on the 14th December.

She will be 3 weeks tomorrow and its gone so fast!!!

Looks like we have scored a placid baby, she only crys for a feed or if she is tired so im feeling pretty lucky. we seem to get 4 hour blocks at night once she is settled for the night, sometimes 5 hours which i love! :lol: pity they dont happen all night every night..... yet!!

im a first timer so im hoping ill be able to pick up heaps of tips and advice from those of u 2nd,3rd,etc timers!!

best get some lunch so i can squeeze in a nana nap this arvo seeing DH is back at work today and im on night feed duty till the weekend!!

cant wait to chat away to u all!

xxx crumpet

Welcome Crumpet :) That's great with the new bubba - congrats, she's gorgeous!!!!

Well have come to the conclusion I need a star chart or summat to keep track of tablets, I don't know where I'm up to :( Waiting for DH to finish his burn-off so we can go to the shopping centre and get the ingredients for the lactation cookies from the health food shop - there's brewers yeast and something similar to flaxseed oil that we need to get from there. Then I'll camp downstairs until it's time to eat tea, I'll make the cookies and do more loads of washing. I thought today was supposed to be nice and warm? We're all in jumpers!!!! And that makes BFing hard!!!!

Anyone else feeding while lying down at night? How long does your bub stay connected? And how do you disconnect them? and do you fall asleep next to them?????

OMG, trying to get through to DH that he is to hang out shirts by the shoulders, not the hem - he's hung out (thankfully only) his singlets by 1 hem only, and they are now all mis-shapen :( I love him helping, but .... ! Also have a sneaking suspicion that he didn't pull the washing in before burning off - doesn't matter I guess, given that my neighbour was burning off first. Oh well, it's only the baby stuff :(

Welcome Crumpet, look forward to muddling out way through parenthood with you. Your little lady sounds beautiful and i love her name :D

Kaz we feed lying down regulary at night time when i'm too tired to sit up. Depending on how hungry Harper is it could be a really quick feed which sends her back off to sleep quickly or she could stay connect for a while. I am falling asleep though so not exactly sure. I dont' tend to move when she's in bed so she's safe. I do find that she struggles to attach when we are lying down though because of her way of attaching. Thankfully i have no pain anymore but she can still be a little slack on the attachment side of things.

Your cookies sound similar to the ones i make. With the brewers yeast and flaxseed meal, i have some in the fridge from when i was making them with Charlie (flaxseed meal that is). They really do work!! I find them really yummy.

Best day i've had with Harper for a few days, she's sleeping quite well. Been using the hugabub a lot, she loves it in there.

PP it's pretty exciting when you start to find a bit of a groove (like you put it) and can actually pick up a few things that you were doing pre-baby. I'm yet to pick up a book but glad you've been able to pick up your patchwork. You will be able to make a masterpiece by Amelia's first birthday. I have to apologise as i was spelling her name with an E instead of an A, still not certain i've got the spelling right but i hope i have :doh:

PP - I often wonder the same thing, I worry about making Jacob overtired and having him cranky - he has more than enough awake time already... I generally just sing or put him in his bouncer and talk to him while giving him a little rub on his chubby little legs :) Hope you find something that works for you both.

MadB - Glad you're on the mend! :)

Kaz - What purpose does the cookies serve? sorry, I could do my own research but that's what we're all here for!! I've never heard anything about them... Gosh, what a pain about the baby clothes!!! I hope he re washed them to freshen them up without too much trouble!

Crumpet - Welcome!! Great to have you on board... :) Summah sounds just wonderful, and what a gorgeous name. Congratulations. Look forward to sharing this special time with you...another first timer here and I find this site such a lifeline...

Hope every else is doing well. We're having a good few days here, Jacob doesn't scream any more - he cries but nothing over the top, it's wonderful!! Still having a bit of trouble putting him to sleep though, he can be fast asleep on me but the minute I lay him down he opens those eyes and looks at me as if to say "hey!! what you doing!! pick me BACK UP!!!" Oh and exciting exciting news!!! last night I was changing him and mum and I were talking to him and mum was touching his face and talking and he smiled!!! We were sooooo stoked. I was thinking 'maybe it was a fluke' but this morning I was about to give him his dummy and was talking to him and he gave me the biggest smile. Made my heart melt!! It's definately easy to see the difference between a genuine smile and wind. :)

Kaz I am so pleased that your LC visit went well, and I think it's awesome that you are working so hard to achieve so much with your BFing relationship. Brewers yeast can be bought at the supermarket, in case you couldn't find it at health food shop. Or brew shops. My DH is a brewer, and has offered to grow a batch for me, but I don't think I need it, and at any rate, cannot stand the thought of the oven being on. was good to hear the suggestions. How are you doing your tummy time? Just on a mat?
We feed lying down at night, she detaches herself when she's ready. I usually stay awake for the whole feed, then go back to sleep.

MadB - erk on the mastitis. What a bummer.

Myboys- glad you're going a bit better now! The only book I am reading is a travel guide, because I can pick up and put down as required, usually when someone is asleep in my lap like right now!

Might have to finish this later. we're at the start of a screaming fit.

Awwww, first smiles!!

I can't believe anyone's in jumpers at the moment - it is stinking over here. And burnoffs, at this time of year? my goodness.

DD is not keen on sleep today, unless in arms, but it's too hot child!!! Horrid, horrid horrid.

Anyway, I'm trying to feed lying down but attachment is a problem still. It's great when it works though, I can just sleep while baby feeds - best kind of multitasking for a new mum.

I've heard different thigns about those cookies. Some people swear by them, others reckon there's nothing in them to boost supply. :dunno: I've heard they're delicious though. If they work for you then where's the harm right? (well, maybe to your waist)

Hi Crumpet, hope you're settling in well. Are any of those January girls actually still pregnant...?

Hope tomorrow goes alright for you Myboys (DH's first day back, right?). I'm not looking forward to that. Have to say, despite needing to feed all the time, DD is a lot less work than DS right now.

And it's hot here, did I mention that?

ETA - I've put my birth story up. I think I've probably forgotten a bunch of stuff, but never mind.

Thanks for sharing madB :)

well cookies are made, quite yummy. they also have choc-chips!!!guessig its the brewer's yeast - i also have to drink a coopers beer (ultra light, in the lemonae aisle of woolies) each day. And the oats - i unpacked my work box and found my porridge, so munching that for brekky. caved and bought a dummy for the boy, hopefully he will settle without my boob!!!! and for something different, i'm expressing :) Over the past day I've expressed 45mls so DH will give that to Will for his first feed overnight at 2ish while I express again. Now having 10 fenugreek tabs / day and it's making Will's poos stink. (TMI WARNING!!!) had a biggish bleed today, we were out shopping, had to buy new knickers & pads & wet wipes to clean myself up :( Thank goodness it didn't get to my trousers, would have been very embarrassing. Haven't had a bleed like that since 3 days after delivery. Seeing MCHN tomorrow, will mention it to her.

Audax - yes, sorta - Aldi had some mattress pads on special a couple of months ago, we bought one in case my waters broke, and also for when Pip TT's overnight - it's 150cm squareish, so using that.

Jules - you're doing so well! So confident!!!!

MyBoys - :hug:

Anyhows, expressing finished, time for some sleep before next feed/expressing session. (hehehe, DH is getting stuck into the cookies. Oh dear.)

Hi all,

Just a quick one (for once) having a hard time feeding, supply has dropped and I'm freaking out again. Going to buy fenugreek today and have 6 week checkup with ob.gyn so will ask about motilium etc. Also will try to book lactation consultant again but I suspect she's still on holidays. My left bb is so sore right now but there seems to be bugger all in there. Also Amelia won't latch onto the nipple shield so I have to perservere with the pain. DH did some reading last night and one page said that supply fluctuates, but Amelia has been permanently hungry no matter how often I feed. Poor little bub. I've got some EBM so we're comping her and I'm expressing like mad but there's not much there. I'm eating and drinking well and trying to rest. *sigh* this is bloody hard work. Will look up cookie recipe also.

Had a quick read of your posts - thinking of you all and will write again soon...

xox

So Lady Muck's screaming fit had me in tears after not very long. We also caved and bought her a dummy, and I am stillc rying over that a little bit, it's just not what I wanted. Works a treaat though, and all of her feeds have been better since, and she still had a really good night.
Our witching hour has just been rapidly expanding, and now starts at about 9 am and goes right through until bath time. SO tempted to just have her in the bath three times a day, but very worried that it will muck up the only predictable part of her routine; the feed - bath - feed - bed - sleep for 6 hours part. It's keeping me sane, although I'm only just hanging in there.
Mum's still here. don't know what I wuld do if she wasn't, probably cry a little bit less. Or more, because the house would probably crumble around me.

PP - hun, you're doing a great job. Get your fenugreek and also get blessed thistle (from health food shop), they both work to increase supply. Get in to see your GP ASAP to get the motillium script - you will need a "private script" for 100 tabs as the BF supply dose is 8 tabs/day (but not at the beginning). Print out this fact sheet: http://www.thewomens.org.au/Domperid...eastmilksupply and take with you to the GP as they usually aren't aware of what's required for BFing - with Pip my OB gave me a prescription but only at the "nausea" doseage which does SFA. With your nipple pain, is it just at the start and is really intense? Cause you may have what I have. Call the ABA (are you a member?) and find a LC immediately - there should be one associated with the hospy you went through. It really does make a difference, get to her ASAP and don't wait, the longer you wait the worse you will feel. And hun, if your baby is putting on weight and is alert during the day, then you're doing a good job with feeding. My GP keeps telling me that - and I trust him. If Amelia is lethargic then she may need a little help to get more food - an alert bub will more enthusiastically "active suck" which is what increases your supply. :hug: Keep with it, you can do it, and you're already doing a fantastic job!!!!

Audax - Don't take anything to heart about the dummy, I gave them to Pip as well and he just rejected them - I was always secretly glad that that he did!!! But it's just a phase. My LC tells me that only the cherry shape should be used if breastfeeding - the orthodontic ones will cause the bub to pinch your nipple and flatten it, leading to lots of pain. Speaking of dummies, we got a good night's sleep for the first time, no waking to put him on the boob to get some sleep!!!!!

AFM - nothing major here, except proud to announce no disposable nappy has yet touched Will's butt. Anyone in the Melbourne area, the Dandenong Ranges mums are having a meetup on the 2nd Feb at Montrose if you're interested. Oh and this morning we woke to no power, doh. So no formula top-up or pumping happening here. Trying to source a Mandela pump as my little pigeon isn't the most efficient for my boobs, I can get more hand-expressing in the shower.

Have fun today all!!!!

PP just wanted to give you and DH some support, keep doing what you're doing and hopefully things will go back to normal for you. I'd say keep perserveering with feeding Millie and expressing and hopefully the supply will increase again for you. Good luck, relax and just do what you can xoxo

Audax hugs for you, it can be so hard and having a cry about it can sometimes make you feel a little better. Harper hasn't had a whiching hour to the extent she had the other day but she still has her moments. Last night after a 2am feed she burped was all nice and relaxed ready to go back to sleep then filled her nappy. I changed her and from then on we had an hour of a screaming. I wonder if i should have just left her with a pooey bott!!?! Neither of my boys had dummies but we offered them. Same with Harper we were offering it to her but she just won't take it. Hope things get a little easier xoxo

So DH is back at work and we're having a good day but Harper is wrapped to me. It's hard to get used to because i didn't do this with my boys but i had more time on my hands then. This morning i fell asleep with her next to me and got DH to put her in her basinette when he got up for work. She didn't settle but the minute she was back in bed with me she did and slept for another 90min. Then this morning after a feed rather than perserveer with her trying to sleep in her basinette and get overtired/stimulated i just put her in the carrier. I tried to take her out and put her in her basinette but she woke straight away.

So now i just have a few questions for those who have used the carrier quite regularly.

*Do i just keep telling myself this is what works right now so go with it? I'm just worried about her never being able to sleep other than being strapped to me.

*Is the transition from carrier to cot (for example) possible once they are a little older? I suppose it has to be but how do you do it?

I had more questions but can't think of them now, will come back and ask them as i think of them.

I honestly do really enjoy having her so close, listening to her little noises and still being free to make lunch for the boys, hang the washing and general house stuff but am i encouraging a bad habbit?? It really does feel quite natural i just know that i'll need her to be able to sleep else where at times aswell.

Just trying to adjust to this new style of parenting to a mum who was tought to do it so differently with her other two.

Kaz i have an Avent electric pump and i love it. I only ever had a hand me down mandela hand pump for the boys. Kaz have you been able to buy the cherry like dummies?? I haven't looked since before Harper was born but there was a recall on them and i couldn't get them. I'm not sure if Harper was rejecting the dummy because of it's shape. I'd prefer the round cherry ones if i could find them. Good on you for gonig all cloth. I've been using disposable a bit but started with the cloth much earlier than i did with Charlie boy (he was 6 weeks), we're currently using majority cloth during the day but disposable at night.

Have a good day girls xox

Hi

Well Charlie Boy failed his second hearing test at the hospital so he has to go into the city in a couple of weeks and see a Audiologist and they will do a heap of tests on him. I'm not worried I will wait and see what happens.

Will come back and write personals. Have a great day ladies.

Cathie xxx

Hope all goes well with the city appointment for Charlie boy Cathie. HOpe he's being a good little man for you and you are enjoying the school holidays as best you can xoxo

Better see about that bleed Kaz - mine restarted last time and turned out I had a uterine infection. Hope it's nothing serious.

Pixie - hope you can get that nipple sorted soon, poor thing! Why do you think your supply is dropping? Have you had a decrease in wet nappies? Feeding all the time is as likely to be due to discomfort or unsettledness as hunger. How long does she feed? Both sides?
One thing that you can try if she's having long feeds on just one side, is to take her off the first side after about 20 minutes, burp etc, then put her on the 2nd side. Then you can repeat and put her back on the first side. Means she'll get more milk in the same time.

DD is feeding all the time too, though she does have sleep breaks every now and then. It might be an age thing, but I suppose the antibiotics are probably upsetting her tummy too.

Myboys - I think you already know the answers to your questions. Don't overthink it, just go with what you know she needs. It will all change, and possibly quite quickly. One thing I did this time was I gave myself permission to just go with what my baby needs, no worrying about habits or what other people reckon about rods for my back etc. I thought too much last time and it just made things more difficult for DS and us. Even DH has asked if it's ok to carry her all the time and sleep with her... I just ask him if he wants to be up all night trying to settle her :) I know I don't.
Transitions work really easy if you wait till they're ready for it.

Cathie - I hope things turn out ok for Charlie :hug:

MadB yes i think i do know the question to my answers and i am definately one for over thinking things and beating myself up about doing the right thing for my children. We have beautiful happy children so i think we've done pretty well bringing them up so far, so changing what i did for one or two and doing something so different with another is kind of a big step. But i see and feel the benifit of changing to suit NOW and the individual child. I suppose i just look for some reasurance as well. I need to have confidence in myself and i do, i know all will be good. Thank you xox

Exactly Myboys, you know what you're doing :hug:
I really believe different children need different parenting.