Babies Born February 2008

[jenjams]

We went to the maternal health nurse today. Amber has put on 190 grams in a week. She has grown 2.5cm since birth and her head is 2cm bigger. Not bad for a 2 week old. Seeing as she is healthy I can keep letting her sleep for as long as she wants during the night. Just makes my bb's harder. I am wearing 2 breast pads during the night and they have not leaked for a bit. I still must be getting decent milk supply though.

Ash- Sounds like you are doing great. My first few days home from hospital were bad. I got the baby blues a bit and was worried about everything. Slowly things are getting better.

Ambah- I am trying to drink a lot of water but it seems to have dropped off a bit. When I first got home from hospital, my apptite was non existant. It is now getting better. I am still trying to drink though.

Jacki- I am not sleeping during the day but that is because I am getting decent enough sleep at night... That could change at the drop of the hat though. How are you coping with the heat? How does the little one cope with the heat?

Esme- How did the appointment go? How is the constant burping going?

Karlie- How rude of some people to disregard yours and Jakes health. They should stay away from newborns if they are sick.


Hello to everyone else I missed and hope you are having a great day.

[Esme]

Hi girls,

Just a quick update; went to the CHN today and Jasper has put on a very healthy 300 g in one week!! Very happy with that. Go the Motilium...

After this visit I decided to brave town and go have a coffee at my fave bakery like I used to do before DS arrived, and luckily Jasper behaved himself very well and slept until we were home. This gave me enough confidence to plan another trip in the afternoon to my work to show him off; very exciting and I am glad I did. Very tired now though, so hopefully we both will get a decent night sleep.

Jenjams - burping is going quite well. My bbs let the milk go a little bit to fast at the letdown too, and Jasper is just getting used to regulating his sucking with the flow. He still takes in some air, so after the fast flow has subsided, I sit him upright on my lap for a couple of minutes which usually produces one or two decent burps. After that I put him back on and he usually finishes that breast without any more air intake, so I skip the burping after that. By the way; congratulations on Amber's excellent growth and weight gain! It is so reassuring to see those numbers!

Sorry girls, no time for more personals. Hopefully tomorrow better. Hope everyone will have a good night!

[Bun]

Hi guys!

jen - woo hoo on your little girl's weight gain and enjoy the sleep!

jacki - I don't worry too much about burping, she often seems to burp on her own when I change her anyway. I am not managing to get any sleep during the day between visitors, housework and feeding/settling the little one, although I know I should try! Glad to hear the lump is nothing serious! My breast pump arrived yest and so far it is great! I just express if one boob is really full or it she only takes one, so there is no real pattern, I just do what suits me! I already have heaps stored so DH can do a feed over the weekend and I can get some sleep!

2please - we have a canon 400D too, such a fantastic camera - we have some beautiful shots.

katkins - I have posted a few pics in the gallery. I saw some of your montage - it's beautiful! I have the same issue with feeding - I have so much milk that she gulps it down and then gets wind, and we also have the issue of her falling asleep before she takes the other boob. Usually changing her halfway through the feed seems to work, but I must try the wet face washer next time I am having trouble waking her!

prama - how are you going?

Hi to everyone else

How much does everyone's partners help out? My DH sleeps in the spare room so he doesn't get woken up the baby so I do all the nights on my own, except on weekends. Last night was awful - she just wouldn't settle and I have no idea why. Actually, yest was awful all day, she was so unsettled and I was worried about her dehydrating in this hot weather so I fed her more frequently than usual, but now that has destroyed any routine we had going!

We started mothers group today and it was great! So good to meet other mothers in this area and to be able to talk about the pregnancy/birth with other new mothers. I also weighted Catherine and she is a little porker! She has put on about 700g since she was born! She is a little guzzler so I am not surprised.

[jenjams]

Bun- My DP and I equally do our bits. He has got another week off from work then I will be on my own during the days which will be very scary. He took 4 weeks off from birth. He will help with nappy changes and settling during the night. In fact he is better at wrapping Amber than me and can settle her too. I wouldnt be without him.
Catherine has done well with the weight gain too. Amber is like Catherine. She will fall asleep during a feed. I have also been told to try and tickle her feet to keep her awake. It must be so tough for you for the heat you ae having at the moment. I must prefer it a little cooler.

I have an avent manual breast pump but have not used it for a week or so. The only time my breasts get really full and hard is when Amber has the great night sleeps. But she must be getting enough during the day otherwise she wouldnt have her great gains.

I hope all bubs and mums and dads have a great sleep tonight.

[prama]

Boy, I've been trying to post all day! So little time...

Jacki - Ive got so little milk. I feed bub for about 40 - 45mins then give him the bottle. That takes more than an hr. The LC said everything should take an hr, i think is if you have enough milk. She told me to express after feeding for 5-10 mins but it doesnt make any difference as I get less than 5ml. I'm trying so hard to get my supply up. So really, with bf and then ff, it takes an hr and half. Then there's so little time till the next feed.
Do you feed every 3 hrs in the day and then whenever Luke wakes up at night? DS wakes up less than 4hrs at night I think with bf now, cos there's so little milk he woke up in 2 hrs last night. I was soooo tired, I was very bad and asked DH to give him the bottle. I just couldnt manage. I feel guilty.....

I'm also confused about when to switch boobs. The LC said if it feels floppy and there's no lumps then you can switch cos that bob's drained. But it's always floppy and there always seems to be lumps...

After he feeds, he usually falls asleep, we just put him to sleep unless he's wide awake. then I or DH spend a little time with him. I feel so tired Ijust want to sleep but then feel guilty for not spending quality time with him.
He seems to burp ok. Yes, if he's asleep it's so hard to wake him to burp or feed.
I hold his jaw with my thumb and forefinger and slightly lift his head so that his oesophagus is straight.

Ambah - I'm using the Ameda electric one I rented from the hospital.. I'm starting to hate it!
Thanks Ambah, but I'm finding it so hard with so little milk. I wonder if it will ever increase. Should I just keep going and going? I dunno. I'm SO tired from bf-ing then bottle feeding. I so wish I get more milk :'( I dont know how long to keep trying.

Karlie - geez, some ppl! My mum wont let me take him out, except for his check-ups. We have this thing about a mnths confinement, bub and mum should rest at home for the whole month and recover. I told her Ihave to go for short walks in the evening or go crazy being stuck at home. Today, I needed to and went to get my eyebrows done. First time I've driven in 2 weeks. It was soo good being able to get behind the wheels without my preggy belly. I told my mom I need to get out even to Woollies just for a short while to break out of the routine.

Sueby - thanks.. how is everyone surviving with so little sleep??

Esme - thank you. ooh poor baby (and mum and dad), 3 hr crying stretch. hope he gets better..

Jacki - i try to get at least an hr in the day.. but that makes me more tired. i get abt 3 hrs between feeds at night, mostly less.
When do they sleep longer??

Ambah - i have a glass of water when im feeding. Bf makes me thirsty, they say it's the let down.. but still so little milk.. wahhhh


ash - hugs, i still get teary too.. it's very very tiring... the lack of sleep doesnt help. I hope the weeks go by soon and they sleep longer.

jenjams - wow, good on bub's growth spurt!!

Bun - so glad bub is putting on weight. DS is still a bit slow with his weight.. We're trying everything to get his weight up, feeding more frequently etc.

As you can already tell, I'm getting so frustrated that my milk is soo little. I dont know how long I should wait..... I'm just getting so tired.

[prama]

oh - it wasnt a 20/20 match labour. i had a weird long pre-labour which i and the hossy thought was false labour. it was more like 2 day matches!

[Jacki]

Hi everyone, its been busy in here today. Must be a good sign that we all have time (albeit very little) to have a quick break.

Bun - DH does a little bit of the work around the place but not too much. He is just so busy at work. My mum is staying with us at the moment and is such a great help. DH is in for a rude shock when she leaves.

I went to a lunch for 0 - 8 week olds at SJOG Subi today - does Murdoch offer these sessions ?? There is that one then 8 weeks to 5 months and then 5months to 12 months. It was great to hang out with ladies in the same boat today. They had volunteers looking after the bubs and just calling you into seperate room when you needed to BF. Lunch put on and 2 midwives/LC's running the session. My local 'mother group' doesn't start until 11 March so will continue with this until then.

Jen - love the photo you have attached to your ticker !

Ambah - I am really making an effort to keep drinking. Between breastfeeding and today's high of 41.5degrees I can't afford not to.

Ash - little one is coping OK with heat. I don't think they notice it as much as us. May be spending extra at the breast. We are mainly inside anyway in air con in the loungeroom so not too bad. His bedroom gets pretty warm though.

Ash - can't win can we. We have some ladies struggling with little supply and here is you with enough to feed a small nation. I am sure it will settle down soon. I remember in the hospital I was brushing my teeth and looked at the floor and both sides were leaking all over the place making such a mess. Its funny now to look back at that !

Carley - Yes the air con was fixed. There is no way I could have coped if not and definately would have moved into a hotel. DH has been banned from touching the air con again incase he breaks it again !! Also I understand how you feel when you said you get a little lonely during the day. DH is always at work and even though my mum is here I sometimes feel like I am doing all the work on my own.

Prama - I don't really have a routine as to when I feed Luke. I just feed him when he wakes and lets me know he is hungary. I would like a bit more or a routine so I can know how much time I have before he 'demands' again but it is usually somewhere between 3 and 4 hours. Glad to hear you are getting a bit of sleep at night. And remember as difficult a time you are having you are doing an amazing job !!

Luke has started to bring up a bit of milk after feeds. Is everyone experiencing this? He didn't do it at the start, seems to be a new thing. Not bothering him at all, just seems to come up, esp when I change him.

Also expressing........ it I was expressing and gathering enough for a feed that DH can do, how much (in mls) do you give bubs in one feed ??? Or should I just start expressing a little and offering it at a feed to see how he goes with jsut a bit and then the rest of the feed on the breast?? Confusing! May need to ring LC at hospital for some advice

[prama]

Jacki - yes, DS has been bringing up some milk as well. the other he did a projectile but we think cos DH accidently put on a no.2 nipple on the bottle.
Do you get a lot of milk when you express?

I have a couple of Qs.

- What laundry detergent do you girls use? Do you always wash bub's clothes separately?

- is it ok not to wear a bra to bed at night. I havent got leaky boobs.

[*MinKy*]

Hi Everyone!

Prama, we use Amolin Liquid and yes we wash bubs clothes seperatly!

Jacki, oh that lunch sounds devine, chatting with other mums whilst bubs are being looked after! There is nothing like that at all up here!! Hey there is a cyclone brewing off the Kimberley coast.lol..so there you go, you just might get some cooler weather!!

Carley, once my mum goes back to Perth, I know that I will be in the same boat as you, lonely after dropping DD off at school etc.

Bun, my DH is rarely home, he is out driving a truck as I speak..lol...normally he isnt but they have had a few dramas, so he hasnt seen Noah awake in two days..DD is missing him too Wow, 700g that Catherine has put on! Thats awesome!!

Esme, gosh Jasper has had a great weight gain too!!! Very nice!! Lovely to hear that your visit to the bakery was a success!!! I havent braved the shops yet with Noah. We are still waiting for our pram to arrive!! Hopefully by the weekend!

Jen, Amber sounds like she is doing so well!!! Gotta love a bub that likes to sleep at night!!!

Ash, I cant get over how well your bb's are doing with the bf and being so full!! You are so lucky!! Some days it feels like I have nothing!!

Ambah, fluid intake here is good I think..lol..we live in a very hot area, so I am used to guzzling water like its going out of fashion, I have a big glass full before and after a feed. Wow, 180ml expessing, thats awesome, I am lucky to get 60ml!!

Katkins, thanks for the bf tips!!!

2please, Noah favours his right side, he sleeps better on that side for some reason, will have to start weaning him onto the left so his head dosent look to odd..lol.. I would have freaked if I had seen a sniffing lady touch Noah! How rude of her, I dont get how people think its thier right to touch newborns when they feel like it!!

Sueby, glad to hear that the bb's have settled down, I am hearing you on the not feeling so full at night time!!

I hope I havent missed anyone!!!

All is well here, except in between 5.30- 9.30pm where Noah has his restless period...lol...talk about one frazzled mumma during that time!!!! I am feeling sorry for DD at the moment as I havent been giving her my 100%, I am trying though, hopefully I'll get it all together soon!!! Still bf'ing, which isnt going too bad, will definatly hang in there for as long as I can!!

Okay better go, time for sleep!! (if I am quick..lol)

Take care!!

[Esme]

Good morning everyone, hopefully everyone had a half decent night sleep... Will try to do personals today if Jasper will let me. He is asleep in the bassinet next to me, but is stirring at the moment...

Jenjams - I find it difficult to keep Jasper awake during his feeds; to start with he only drank for about 5 minutes at a time that has now improved to about 10 - 15 minutes and actually emptying one breast, but when I try to offer him the next breast, he just falls asleep and there is no waking him up. Even cold, wet washers don't work!! But, judging by his weight gain he must be getting enough, so I am not too worried.

Jacki - Jasper usually brings up some milk after a feed too; I've read in the ABA book that they do that when their stomach is too full, so I don't think it is anything to be worried about. That lunch you had sounds great! We've mothergroup starting next week provided there are enough participants (we live in a small country town).

Carley - How did you go at the MCHN appointment?

Prama - we use OMO sensitive, bubs stuff mostly separate. The last couple of nights I've slept without bra; no leakages except when feeding and so much more comfortable. I hear you on the need to get out of the house. As soon as DP is home, I get outside to feed the dogs, have a chat with my horse and a walk around the garden. Even those 5 minutes make you feel so much better!

Minky - Those restless periods are sometimes difficult to cope with, aren't they? Yesterday I put Jasper down on a towel on the couch so that he could look out of the window; that kept him quiet for a little while. Jaspers active period is from about 5 till about 9, which is lucky because DP gets to spent some time with his son when he is awake (and not just changing nappies and settling).

Bun - my DP is very handy at changing nappies, even in the middle of the night. After that the feeding and settling is up to me. DP usually does the evening shift; he keeps Jasper in the loungeroom until he goes to bed (10 -11 o'clock) so I can have a good start to the night by going to bed around 8.30 and having a few hours deep uninterupted sleep.

Katkins - thanks for that good advise on expressing the first bit of milk and feeding the rich hindmilk! Jasper is a bit colicky too, so might try that.

2please - Jasper always has his head to the right, doesn't matter if I put him on his left, he'll turn his head back the other way. The only thing that helps is if I put him during his awake time on the couch on his left with a rolled up towel behind him.

Ash - Hear you on the baby blues; last week I cried my eyes out about the smallest things! This week seems slightly better, but still more emotional than usual. Sleep deprivation doesn't help either...

Ambah - I have to keep an eye on my fluid intake too. I usually do not get thirsty until I am dehydrated, so I've got to make sure I keep drinking.

I think that that is it for the personals for now; hi to everyone else. So many people in this group; have to do a daily check to be able to keep up! We had another unsettled night last night, up with vomiting (or threatening too, but swallowing back) and wind/colick. Lucky only from 3 onwards, so I did get the chance to snatch some sleep earlier on in the night. He is soundly asleep at the moment, giving me a chance to get this posted. Might go and retire to the couch for a bit. Wish everyone a good day!

Esther