Babies Born February 2008

[prama]

jacki - do you feed bub every 3 hrs? the LC told me today that feeding plus expressing should take max an hr. if you're doing more than an hr, you must hardly be getting any sleep. It's so hard isnt it? I just want to sleep and sleep and sleep. Every moment seems to revolve around feeding...

[cheekymonkey]

Hi girls,

I'm back after a short hospital stay (similar problems to you I think Esme) Turns out Reuben was so starving due to my lack of milk supply that his heart rate was a bit low and I finally got put on motilium and I am currently topping him up also. He is doing better and gaining weight. He still gets distressed and pulls off the breast during some feeds (which in turn distresses me) and it takes about 2 hrs from when I feed him for him to go back to sleep which only gives him an hours sleep (and me an hours break) before his next feed. Does anyone else have this trouble? Is it just a stage?

[katkins]

hi girls,
I am by no means an expert on Bf'ing. This is the first time I have had success. And I'm having problems atm too. Bry attatches and the let down is so strong, he gets a full feed worth in 5 mins. He has to gulp to keep up with the flow and he's swallowing air so he's then in pain for ages afterwards. I have been told to express off 50mls before attatching him to each breast. That will mean he's getting the hindmilk which flows slower and is lower in lactose (lactose ferments and causes lots of wind which adds to his pain). So my feeding is going to take longer, but will hopefully mean less time trying to burp and settle. Last night it took us 3 hrs of him screaming in pain due to wind both ends. Poor bubs.
Also, try feeding bubs, burping and changing nappy in the middle of feeds when he/she needs to wake up again, then other boob. Opening the nappy is usually enough to wake up bub. If not, a damp face cloth rubbed over their hair works well.
Storm brewing, beter go.
Hope that helps someone..... As I said, I'm by no means an expert and am having small probs myself.
I hope everything settles for everyone *hugs*

[2 please]

Jackie & Sue, I bought a new cannon camera 400 D. With Tara I took around 2 photos a week so I could see the changes in her over the year. It was one of the best things I have done. I had a look yesterday and found the photo which was at the same time as Jake. Gee they look simular. In one year I filled 1 photo album.

Has anyone had any problems with baby laying his head to one side more than the other? Jakes head is a little flatter to one side than the other. I find everytime I moves his head to the otherside hes sneeks it back the other way while im not looking.

[Jacki]

Morning ladies (more like afternoon for most of you over East !) Hope last night wasn't too trying for you all.

We didn't have too bad a night once Luke settled.

Amber - we seem to be having the same issue as you with Bub's unsettled period being between around 9.00 and midnight !!! Usually DH is on that shift and lets me sleep

Sue - I like the look of those BF tops. I have been trying to get one for ages but shops seem to always be sold out. I think KMart also stock them so will have to keep trying. I have a Loveable one that I use - but the entire front folds down exposing one breast. I use this for night times.

Karlie - We have been trying to take photos but somehow time just disappears and another day over. Will have to make more of a conscious effort to make sure we take regular photos. Im sure this time will pass so quickly and we will forget everything.

Kerrie - thanks for the advice re BF - I just can't figure out if I am doing the right thing or not. Maybe I am letting DS stay on too long and letting him use me as a dummy. He doesn't seem to be a slow feeder and I certainly have plenty of milk.

How is everyone doing with burping bubs. I have read not to persevere too long trying to get up wind as sometimes they simply don't need to. I try and get one after first breast and not too worried after offering second side..... what's everyones approach ???

Also, how much sleep is anyone managing to get through the day - if any ?

Hot day in Perth today - 39 degrees and now signs of it cooling down. We need another cyclone up north to cool things down (sorry Minky !!!).

[Ambah]

Just a quick one from me!

Re BF tops - Target are having a clearance sale on last seasons clothes atm, and yesterday I picked up a BF top for only $8! Its really quite nice too. I had to browse many racks of messy clothes to find it though...

2 please (are you Karlie?, sorry, trying to work out names!) - thats awful about the woman touching Jakes leg... how intrusive!
Eva is also preferring to lay her head to one side, although I haven't noticed it being any flatter on that side (yet!)

Jacki - with burping, I generally only try for a minute or two. I usually find that Eva will burp later on, when being moved/changing positions etc. Luckily wind doesn't seem to be causing her too much distress atm.

Kerrie - thanks for the tips! Esp regarding the lactose, I didn't know that!

Sue - hope you have a better night tonight hon..

Esme - hope your CHN appt goes well!

General question - how are you all going with your fluid intake when BF? I am really worried that I am not drinking enough, and may be dehydrating myself, although my supply is ok... I don't feel excessively thirsty, but I always seems to have a mild headache, and feel that I am barely drinking enough to cover the milk I am making... I should really put more effort in I think, or I will regret it!

Anyway, better make it into the shower today whilst I can!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Okay, i think i have decided personals in this thread is going to be one heck of a task! There's so many of us!

Jen - Woohoo on the long sleeps! That sounds excellent, although a little unfortunate for your bbs. Hopefully she keeps it up and they can get used to it too.

Jacki - great to hear the good news about your lump! Good on you for braving the public BF - it may not have happened but you've taken the first step. I don't think i'll ever get that far, my bbs are too big for a tiny lil bubba's head to hide, LOL! As for sleep, i could be getting two lots of 2.5 hrs but i find it really difficult to fall asleep knowing there's things i *could* be doing as well. So i normally get a good two or three hour sleep after DF leaves for work and then stay up the rest of the day. I've only been home three days though so who knows how long it will last.

Carley - I absolutely adore your DS name. It's so unique, i love it!

Kelly - it's good to hear that your supply is getting better - sorry can't help you with your questions, but i do hope Reuben's feeding gets better for your soon.

Ambah - sounds like you're doing a fantastic job persevering with the breastfeeding!! The sidecar cot sounds like a good idea. I've got Alex in a bassinet next to the bed, which works well, but i'm still a little bit sore getting up and down and it sits a lot higher than the bed does... i might even try that with our cot.

Karlie - OMG i would have been furious!!! Where do some people get off thinking that it's ok to just touch other people's babies and children? And especially if she's sick - i bet she'd have been horrified were it her child. i swear some people just don't think! I hope you and your family start to feel better soon.

Sue & Esme - thanks for your congratulations.

Katkins - Thanks I know it'll take a while to settle down, and that all the changes are good i just like to have a whinge, lol! Also, thanks for sharing your BF advice, will have to sticky note it somewhere for a bit further down the track!

Prama - how are things going for you hun? You are doing such a fantastic job - i bet you will feel so good when things start improving!!!

Well in the hope i haven't missed anyone, i'll do a quick update... and by quick, im sorry i talk a lot!
Alexander has been pretty good at home so far. I'm going a bit batty with his irritable time / cluster feeds because it starts around 4:30am. I think i don't mind it so much, i'm getting more upset by it because it means DF is not getting much sleep & doesn't have the opportunity to steal a nap during the day, so i kind of feel guilty. I am slowly convincing myself that it's ok - my body's recovering from nine months worth of 'weird' and labour was hard work. And i need to be rested so that we he crashes i can do it alone.
Haven't so far had any issues with breastfeeding as such. Did have a blister on my right nipple, which was making me a bit teary when he fed, but enough air when not feeding and fixing his attachment has helped and it's mostly healed up.
With regards to supply: My left breast seems to think it's a tap. It's getting to the point i think i'm going to have to feed him solely on that side and just express enough off the right to be comfortable. I have been completely soaking through three breastpads during a feed on the right side, and then ill soak through another two (at the least) in between feeds - even if he has fed off the left side. I've gotten to the point where im going to chop up a few maternity pads because the breastpads just aren't doing the job! It's also making him lazy when he's on the left breast because he really doesn't have to suck.
He has also taken to the bottle pretty well - at the moment i'm not worried about expressing reducing my supply so i guess the bonus of being so leaky is that i'll get a good store for when it all regulates a little better - and then DF will be able to do some feeds for me.
Baby Blues, haha, i'm the weepiest little thing when DF gets home from work at night. But i think we're going ok!

Sorry for long rambles... hoping everyone is feeling well and semi-rested today.

[Jacki]

Prama - sometimes feeding every 3 hours sometimes 4 hours - today managed to last to 5 hours (I was sure he was going to wake after 3 hours but managed to put himself back to sleep for another 2 hours !! - I give up trying to predict any kind of pattern !). It would be great if the 5 hourly feed was at night though wouldn't it !!!

When you feed and than express within the hour what do you do with DS ?? do you just put him back to bed whether he is ready or not or pass him to DH? I am finding that the thing that takes the most time is after the first breast its the getting him awake enough to burb, change and then offer other side before attempting to settle him back to sleep.

God I'm confused !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Help Kerrie - what's the secret to getting bubs fed, burped, changed, offer other side and then finished in such a short time ???

[Ambah]

Hi again everyone...

I am going to try to get back into the swing of things in here, and would love to get to know all of you and your new babies!

Just a quick run down on us...
Eva is now 2.5 weeks old. Not sure how much she weighs (was 3.8kg at birth), but one week ago she had gained 100 gms on her birth weight, and this week I bet its heaps more because boy has she grown!!
We are slowly getting there with BF.
We have endured multiple issues from bleeding & cracked nipples, to Eva refusing to latch on my left side (because its inverted), and then her having issues with her suck - because it wasn't strong enough to stimulate my let down.
However having been through all of that, she has now been on 100% breast milk for over 1.5 weeks, although the majority of this has been expressed. I am lucky, I express really easily, these past few days have been getting 180mls in 10 mins - which is way more than what she needs to drink! So I have begun storing it. But my goal now it to get her to drink directly from my breasts for most of her feeds. Atm she is probably only taking 1/3 of her feeds from my breasts... I think maybe I am still a bit wary, and scared because of nipple hell I went through in the first week?

Other than that... she is a very peaceful baby. She is beginning to develop definite sleep/awake patterns. Although unfortunately for me, one of her widest awake times is between 9pm and midnight - usually right when I want to go to bed! She usually wakes twice per night to feed (and I have to express at those times as well), and most times will go back to sleep afterwards, although there have been a couple of unsettled nights. I have found it easier this time because I have her cot as a sidecar to our bed (with the side taken off) so I can just reach over and pat her, or pick her up... and I am a lot less anxious, knowing that she is sleeping right next to me, so that also helps me sleep better.

Ok, now I will do personals for the last day... any more than that and I will never be able to keep up! LOL

Carley - I hope you manage to get some good sleep soon hon. Ikwym about being hormonal... I have been up and down and all over the place this week too. Glad to hear that Lysander is doing great
I have tried giving Eva a dummy, but she actually doesn't like it very much at all (and have tried different types!). She will actually take it about one in every 10 times.

Jacki - great news that the lump is nothing too serious. I hope the AB's clear it up asap!
Do let me know what the LC says about expressing after a feed from one breast? As my expressing and feeding is all over the place at the moment.. I'm not sure if I'm doing it right!

Prama - good luck with the BF hon. It sounds like you are doing SO well! Its really hard to persevere with it when there are so many difficulties, so I applaud you! I hope your supply picks up really soon too. Can I ask what type of pump are you using?
Its so tiring to have them on the breast for hours isn't it... Eva wants to stay attached to me for usually up to an hour, which then makes my nipples sore again!

Ok, sorry, thats all the personals I can manage for now... Eva needs to feed, and if I don't post this now, then I never will!

Hope everyone gets some sleep tonight!

[2 please]

Hi, Ds seems to be getting better now. Yesterday we went to Target. I was a bit concerned because there is alot of colds around at the moment, so I kept Jake in his capsule with the sun cover over him to stop people touching him. Unfortunatly while I was paying for the items I have picked, I turned around and someones was happly stroking him on the leg. I couldnt believe it. The horribe thing was the woman walked away coughing. So dam inconsiderate.

Carley, Jake wont take a dummy. He has a suck, and spits it out when he finds out its not food. (bummer.) I think Leeloo is getting use to having 2 kids at home like me. Time is very short right now. I will be on more once the family gets better. I hope you are doing ok.

Amber, Jakes a chomper and sleeper. Thank god for the medella mini electric.

Jacki, I put Jake on the floor on a rug, so he doesnt fall asleep to easy. I think Jake has a small routine working, but he will still take till he's 6 weeks b4 he's really ready for a steady routine. 6 weeks onwards thing get alot better.

Gee, once you have had a couple of years of good sleep, you really miss them. Tara, Jake and myself are all sick with this cold. Im even lucky enough to have a ear infection too. I hope all you girls are all well. It really sucks to have your two little ones sick, including yourself.

Hi, to all the other girls from this months births.

Prama, I wondered if your labour was a fast as a 20/ 20 cricket mach.lol. Sorry I didnt ask sooner.

Oops, have to go. The little bloke needs a little clean up.

I will catch up with the rest of you all later. Sorry. All your babies look so cute in their photos.

Take care.

[Sueby]

Good Morning Everyone,
Hope everyone has had a good night!!!! Our little one still seems to have a rough night every second night -- she fed from 8.30 pm till 10.30pm (both sides) then slept till 2.30 am and was awake on/off until 6.30am!!! My DH tried to settle her and fell asleep in the feeding chair with her -- I was going to feed her again at around 4am but must have fallen asleep. Lots of Fun.

Jacki -- so great to hear you got out of the house and had a shop. I am with you on the BF in public -- I took Sophie to have photo's taken 2 days ago -- and had to leave in the middle of the feed to get to the studio. So I ended up feeding her there. I bought a breastfeeding top from target that just has a little peek hole to pop boob out through whilst the rest stays covered up -- feel more comfortable with that than hiking top up and exposing my whole side. LOL

Prama -- I am hoping things are getting better for you and you are able to catch up on some sleep.

Minky -- my sore boobs have settled also but sometimes I don't feel as if I have enough particularly in the evening.

KatKins -- I am envious on the long sleep also.

Bun -- it is so nice just to have time to yourself without stavks of visitors I here you!!

Ash -- Congrats to you!!

Carley -- Sophie has taken the dummy occaisionally when she has been overtired, we used a dummy with our first but not with our second. I think every bub is different

Well I hope I haven't left anyone out. My 4 year old put on a big tantrum prior to Kinder this morning and I am a bit fragile -- not sure how I am going to be organised enough in the mornings to pack up 3 kids before 8.30 am!!! Oh well will try

Have a good day everyone
Sue

[Esme]

Hi all,

Jasper has finally settled, so that gives me some time to catch up... you girls have been busy this morning!

Firstly, welcome Ash and congratulations on the arrival of Alexander! Great to hear that he is doing well so far!

Kelly, how is Reuben going? Is de motilium starting to work? I find it works really well for me, so I am trying to cut back from the prescribed 3 to 1 tablet a day. Jasper has plenty of milk with 2 tablets, yesterday was the first day on 1. We have an appointment with the CHN today, so hopefully he will have put on some weight. Are you topping up with formula? They tried to get Jasper to drink formula in de hospital but he didn't take it. Lucky my milk came back and seems to be enough for him at the moment. Hopefully it will get better soon for you and Reuben!

Jacki, great to hear that the lump was nothing too serious!

Prama, I admire you for your determination and courage to keep breastfeeding! Hopefully it will soon get easier.

We seem to be doing alright. Apart from the occasional 3 hour stretch of crying due to a pain in the tummy. We have an appointment with the CHN later this morning, so it will be interesting to see if and how much weight he has put on since our hospital stay last week. Hopefully we are back on track...