Babies Born January 16th ~ 31st 2009

[Shanti]

Shellsie - I've had issues with my milk supply too and are BF, expressing, feeding EBM & formula.... mainly formula at the moment because I can't quite express enough BM to feed DD. We are getting there..... I'm determined to be exclusively BFing again soon... very soon. So glad I've had the help of my Lactation Consultant. My R nipple is healing too as it was so badly cracked so haven't been feeding from this side until it heals. Waaaay too painful.... (I have a BF thread in the BF support section if you want to read about my problems LOL) and don't worry about settling him.... sometimes we put DD down once she's asleep and other times we put her down when she's dozing off but still awake.... we just do whatever works at the time!

I put Ava on her tummy this morning and she was happily lying there on her playmat on her tummy for 20mins!!! She would lift her head, hold it up for ages and then turn and look the other way then turn look the other way. It was soooo cute. Got some cute pics.
She's so very strong.

My DH has been so wonderful and supportive (always is!) the last few weeks I don't think I could have done it without him. Before he goes to work he gets my lunch for the day ready, makes me breakfast, folds the washing or puts washing on, gets my pump ready for me to express and makes sure i have a shower! He's been so awesome I am just so lucky to have his support. All i can focus on still is getting my BF'ing right and sleeping!!!

Anyway Ava is having a nap and I think will wake for a feed in about an hour (seeing as she threw up the last one!!! ) so better go lie down while I can.

[DisGirl]

Ren, good work by your DH! I'm blessed with an awesome DH too, but unfortunately he can't help his work hours so I have wake up/breakfast and bedtime by myself which is a bit of a challenge at times.

Shellsie, I don't think I've ever put Jared down to self-settle in his bassinette! It just doesn't feel right to me, so I wouldn't feel guilty about cuddling your little one to sleep once or twice It's a common occurance here.

We've had a really good couple of days. Jared has been sleeping for at least five hours at a time at night and Ben is thankfully, still back to sleeping through too. Yesterday we managed a trip to the park, just the three of us. It was good actually because the England and West Indies Women's Twenty20 teams were playing down there so I got to see some of that - when I wasn't playing chasings with Ben I also did two loads of washing, the washing up and still managed a lie down for 20 mins in the arvo. Today my mum came over to give DH and I a few hours by ourselves which we haven't had since Jared was born. We were going to go to a golf driving range but it was too windy so we just went shopping and out to lunch. It was still lovely, although Ben hasn't had a sleep and is now being a grumblebum!

All in all though I am beginning to feel human again. I've been out every day this week and will meet up with friends tomorrow too. It makes such a difference to be out in the real world again

[Soph]

Dis - so good getting out and about again hey? We've been back in normal routine for about 4 weeks now. Very full on but kids need it. We have something on every morning - either kinder, playgroup or storytime or something and then stuff on most arvos too. IKWYM about dinner time being hard when it's just you - I dread those nights!

Ren - good luck with getting the supply up - you're doing an awesome job!

Gypsy - 6 hours - whoohooooo!!!

Jo - rolling over, what a clever bub

Runner - don't stress, routine will happen. Our bubs are still very new and sorting themselves out!

Sorry, i'll try and keep up with personals

H slept allnight in his cot last night instead of our bed - I missed him DH doesn't like him in our bed though, but i do!

[shellsie]

Just back from the MCHN, she seems to think he's hungry and has advised me to increase the amount of formula he's getting to 90mls, up from 70mls and change the formula to Nan as he seems to be throwing up quite a bit. He doesn't seem to be crying in pain, so unlikely to be reflux, but we'll see. She also thinks that him being unsettled is related to him being hungry. You feel so bad as a Mum when they're hungry, even though it's not your fault, so we'll see how we go.
We're off to massage class tomorrow and new Mum's group in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I'll feel more human and less guilty!!

[Shanti]

Just back from the MCHN, she seems to think he's hungry and has advised me to increase the amount of formula he's getting to 90mls, up from 70mls and change the formula to Nan as he seems to be throwing up quite a bit. He doesn't seem to be crying in pain, so unlikely to be reflux, but we'll see. She also thinks that him being unsettled is related to him being hungry. You feel so bad as a Mum when they're hungry, even though it's not your fault, so we'll see how we go.
We're off to massage class tomorrow and new Mum's group in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I'll feel more human and less guilty!!

Ohhhh Shellsie! I can totally relate..... DD has been starving for weeks and I had no idea!!! breaks my heart.... I had no idea she wasn't getting enough BM from me!! She seemed to be feeding well at the breast but turns out she wasn't sucking effectively!
What formula is he on? I've got DD on Karicare Goats Milk but thinking now we're going to change to Karicare HA (as advised by my Lactation consultant) because she seems to vomit up sometimes even when we feed her slowly in stages.....
You're doing well... it's not easy this baby business is it!!

Ava hasn't slept since 9am!! She went down again at 10:30am but woke 30mins later and then at 2pm but woke 30mins later.... FINALLY she's asleep and has been for an hour YAY!!! hehe I have quickly run around the house putting stuff away, wiping things down (milk all over the couch hahaha) and the house is looking rather decent again!!!!!

Disgirl - it's wonderful when you leave the house and get out and about isn't it?? I have been doing that more the last 2 weeks, makes me feel more human! Even just going to the chemist to pick up something is a big trip out for us and I feel great afterwards.....with Ben you would definitely need to keep him on the move hey.... they get bored so easily little ones.

[DisGirl]

What a gorgeous day it is outside! If you're in Sydney (or have similar weather elsewhere), I recommend going for a walk or something. We just spent a lovely two hours at the park with the girls and bubs from Ben's mum's group and it was just lovely. The naughty girls spoilt Jared by getting him lots of lovely gifts - totally unexpected

There's another mum in that group who had a baby girl two days after Jared was born and she is the tiniest little thing!!! I can't believe that she is the same age as Jared None of the other mum's could believe it either My boy is definitely a chunk!

We've had such a good week here and I think the difference is that I've been out every day this week. Whether it was to the shops, doctors, park or whatever, it just makes a difference getting out and about. Most times it's been with the kids too, but I must be getting better at it, I don't get as stressed anymore and I'm definitely not dreading each outing like I did in the beginning. The weather is probably helping too - sunny but not too hot. Now if I could just get a nice 12 hours sleep....

[AJC]

Dis - was a beautiful day! I even did some gardening. Sounds like you are all doing well

orange - no idea guess will just have to wait & see. All kids are different anyway, friends of ours whos Bub was 2 weeks overdue was really late walking (no stopping her once she got going tho) so I guess it can vary for lots of different reasons. Sounds like you had fun with the photographer, so fantastic to capture them when they are so small.

Had a great night last night, 2 x 5hr sleeps! Yay, we slept from 10.30pm - 3.30am, then from 4.30am - 9.30am. His sleeps during the day have been shorter and feeds are more frequent but if this is the routine continues to develop I will be more than happy.

Ren - wow, your DH sounds like an angel. Don't mean to be hard on my DH as he works 12 hr shifts but I would loooove him to help like that. Hope things are improving for you and little Ava. Nothing can quite prepare you for the lack of sleep and all that goes with it eh? And especially with the reflux problem on top of that. You are doing fabulously though.

Jo - how is your little rolley boy today? Wow - what a clever little button! So lovely that you got it on film so you can share with your family. Sounds like you have been enjoying the baby massage classes (think I read that on fb). Sam loves his massages, Mum bought us a lovely parcel of aromababy products and they're great. Sam loves his massages and is soooo relaxed afterwards.

runner - re: food and BF. The only thing I seem to get a reaction to with Sam is dark choc. Unfortunately! I make this savoury mince type stuff which has curry powder and a few other spices and he's fine with that. I ate heaps of spicy food when pg so not sure if that made a difference.

Big Hi & Hugs to all.....