Ali, I can't believe how long your DP's work hours are. That must be so hard on all of you I find it hard enough with my DP's working hours. He works 3:30am-12pm and goes to bed at 7pm but at least he is around for the afternoon, although very tired! Hope you're having a good night out tonight!
Heaven, I wait til DP is home to have a shower! Good work on the feeding - you are doing exactly what I was doing a week ago. I have cracks on both nipples (heaps better now) but the right one was the worst so I expressed that side for about a week and didn't put DS on it at all, I just wanted it to heal. He just fed off the left and as you can imagine, my left boob was so much bigger! He is finally feeding well on both sides without pain apart from first latching on. I've suffered with cracks & bleeding due to poor attachment, engorgement that led to mastitis, nipple thrush and just good old nipple sensitivity (it doesn't help that DS has such a strong suck). I've cried so much in the last 3 weeks in pain, frustration & sheer desperation coz all I wanted to do was feed my baby and it was just so difficult! I'd also get so frustrated at him coz he'd be screaming and so desperate to feed and his arms would be going everywhere like he's swimming a freestyle marathon and his head turning madly trying to find the nipple all while I was trying to get him attached. I still sleep topless coz my nipples are so sensitive! Just keep doing what you're doing!!
Kaz, definitely get someone to check your attachment. I had terrible pain like you described and also ended up with cracked nipples.
Tarkine, hope things get better soon and you're able to get some decent sleep
AJP, glad the concert went well! What's wrong with your bb's??
Shell, hope all that sleeping today doesn't mead a restless night tonight.
Hi to everyone else. Man this post has taken me ages between eating dinner and feeding DS ( still feeding & typing one-handed!)
DS seems to really like one room in the house. When he's in there he's just quiet and wide-eyed looking around - so peaceful! Anyone else noticed similar in their bubs?
Wow - I go out for the day and there's so much to catch up on!!
Have fun tonight Ali!
Holly, J loves the light in our loungeroom and just lies back watching it all wide-eyed
Shell, yep I swear by beer - stout is the one to drink to bring your milk in (it's worked for me twice). Normal beer seems to increase your supply too. What side of town are you on? I might look at other GPs to take J to for the granuloma.
Laura, Bella is a real cutie!
Jols, the playschool concert sounds great. I will have to get DD1 to one at some stage - she loves Playchool.
Tarkine, I hope you get some rest hun. It's so much harder to deal with things when you are sleep deprived. With DP feeding DS hopefully you can have a break.
Kaz, I hope you get some answers on your fluid. I would also call the ABA or a lactation consultant. If it hurts you need to get it sorted out before it becomes a problem.
Today we took DD1 to her swimming lesson and I was SO impressed. In the last few weeks she has really progressed. Then we went to a friends house for lunch and ended up being there for 5 hours! Both the girls were really good although J was feeding every couple of hours and only catnapped.
AJP - I had 9 bags of saline over a couple of days and then three units of blood which took around 10 hours to go through with those evil 15 minutely vital obs so you get nil sleep!!
Thanks everyone for the advice re: attachment. I have spoken to a mate IRL who said it sounds like "ring barking" - so he has been attaching properly but then slipping during the feed and so he pulls his head back, sucking and then comes forward to re-attach properly. This has done damage where the nipple meets the areola. I'm going to air dry them more - have been doing the breast milk thing. If it doesn't improve I can give it a rest for 24 hours and express. I feel much better having an action plan.
Hi to everyone - sorry for the lack of personals. I am totally smashed - only got a 30 min arvo nap today. Off to bed now. Sleep well everyone.
Does anyone elses' baby not self settling? I cannot for the life of me get E to self settle in a cot, rocker or anywhere else for that matter except in my arms, the stroller, boob or the car. I end up feeding her to sleep in the evenings, which can take some time if she is not that tired. I really want her to learn to self settle, as I am not that keen on carrying her around all day, or feeding to sleep in the evenings for that matter. I know what the answer is, I just don't think I have the willpower to do it like I did with J. I need to wrap her up, pop her in the cot drowsy, but awake and pat her when she gets distressed. But how long do I leave her going like that before I pick her up and comfort her??!! I hate hearing my baby cry.....
And another question - what do you do when you bub has finally gone to sleep and then poos themselves? Do you wake and change, or would you just leave them????
I find it hard enough with my DP's working hours. He works 3:30am-12pm and goes to bed at 7pm but at least he is around for the afternoon, although very tired! Hope you're having a good night out tonight!
Bookmarks