Babies Born January 1st ~15th 2009

[RyleyMummy]

Puppies-huge

Plc1805-Thanks I am glad I made my decision early..Glad BF is going well..

LMS-hehe..Thanks love..

Quick question (sorry girls) its going to be warm in Melbourne tomorrow what should I put on Ryley so I don't overheat him or anything..I need some suggestions about the packing the nappy bag besides the essentials: nappies, wipes, nappy sacks, sudocream, bottles, formula dispenser..What else do you suggest we be gone for a couple of hours and going via public transport..Thanks girls..

[seenabeena]

Jo Yes, I meant comping with formula.

Gincasa I took Belle out the day we got home in fact we have been out every day since we have been home. She has been to the local shops (walk), supermarket, Park, BMX track, my parents, friends and relatives, medicare and a tile shop. That's quite a lot of outings for 1 week so no I definitly don't think 10 days is too early to take her out.

Puppies In the 'old days' mothers where told to used metho, but they tell you to only use water now. Not sure what the reasoning is for not using metho anymore though. I guess nature takes care of it and you don't need it ???

Don't feel guilty about relying on DH. It's nerve wrecking and hard going being a first time mum I remember feeling anxious quite a bit when we first got home with DS, but I am sure you will soon feel more relaxed about it. LikeLMS crying is the only way they can communicate so try not to let it upset you too much.

1st time mum09 Just dress bub's in similar clothes to what you are wearing. If it's shorts and singlet weather dress bub's the same. Nappy bag ~ I cannot live without hand sanitsing gel for when you need to do nappy changes and there are no taps around. Muslim/cloth wraps for swaddling, protecting from sun, covering when bf'ing, a change mat protector, spew cloth ~ they have many uses. Spare clothes and extra bottles & formula incase you are longer than you thought. That's all I can think of at the moment.

Is anyone else's bub's loving the bath? DS hated it when he was a newborn, but Belle is so relaxed and blissed out in the bath that she just about fall's asleep. DS is having a sleep over with her tonight (in the bed next to her basinnet) he refused to sleep in his own room he had to be next to his baby sister. He is being so gentle and caring with her it's AWESOME.

[~Jo~]

Kirsten the girls have already given you some great pointers on things to take. I love having muslin wraps as they are soft yet protection from everything as well. I always go with bubs needing one extra layer than us and then they are right, so am dressing Ruby for hot weather but will have a wrap perhaps loosely draped over her..am continually feeling her hands and feet to see if shes too hot or cold.

Amanda its so normal to be overwhelmed and it definately can take time to work out what bubby is communicating. Like LMS has already suggested, check the teat as it may be coming out too fast for him. I still tend to burp Ruby over my shoulder inbetween sides just to make sure she hasnt gulped too much as I have a fast let down, so maybe the burping inbetween a feed will help JD. Definately no metho either...OUCH

Seena Ruby loves her bath as well. She has had two baths with Livvy and Sammy as well and has enjoyed that more than in her little bath. I think they like being quite submerged..like in the womb!

PLC thanks for the photo comment..very proud mummy here!

Gincasa we got out of hospital when Ruby was 3 days old and went out from 5 days old. We have been to the shops, park, and cinema already. I put her in her sling and she just seems to look around and fall asleep so is quite relaxed. She doesnt mind the car at all...have window covers so the sun isnt able to get her and she just sleeps in there. Weve also gone walking with her in her pram as well locally and she is quite happy in there as well. Its nice to get out when you feel ready.

Little darling is sleeping soundly..kids are watching a movie..Darren is djing a wedding...all is quite..bliss!

Jo

[Salsa]

jo - what type of sling are you using?

[~Jo~]

Salsa am using a bubbalugga. Sammy loved it as well!

Jo

[lilcosmo]

Hi Ladies,

Things have really picked up in here! Good to hear everything is going well for everyone. I am typing with one hand whilst DS naps on me, so I will keep this pretty short

We are going really well, so busy tho! BF'ing takes up so much time, but i am determined to persevere. Sleep is pretty limited, but we are hanging in there. All in all cannot complain - our boy is bringing us so much joy! Oh and the constant phone calls and visitors are starting to slow down now - thankfully!

A question for the BF'ing mummies - last night DS wouldn't settle after one of his feeds. I tried burping him for ages and nothing would come up. He kept making like a gasping sound and a few grunts like he was trying to burp but nothing would come up? That is the first time he hasn't gone straight back to sleep after a night feed. Any ideas what i could have done to help or should i just chalk it up as 'one of those nights'??

[plc1805]

lilcosmo - it could very well be one of those nights.... how long did it take for him to settle in the end? if the sleep gets the better of me, I have found bringing bub in bed with me helps - mainly from a comfort point of view which helps to settle them. If you tried that and he was still unsettled, im not sure what to suggest over than walking him around. btw I have found a great fool proof burp getter is to pop bub's chest sort of high on the shoulder, keep their legs long and just push bottom up gently and back into you gently. basically this helps the oesophagus to straighten for want of a better way to say it..... let us know how you go.

[puppies]

Is it normal to take up to an hour or hour and half to settle after a feed or nappy change? Do you think JD is picking up on my lack of confidence?

We have his ultra sound tomorrow morning at 9.45 for his kidneys, not looking forward to that at all! i hope he is in a good mood tomorrow. It took me ages to settle him this morning. He woke for a fed at the usual 4am and it was 6am before I got back into bed. I would settle him so I thought and then 10 minutes later he is winging again and I have to pick him up ad cradle him some more until he falls asleep again. Is this normal.

I am going to try and get a nap in now before DH comes home from work. He is going to do the night shift tonight so I am looking forward to a sleep tonight.

[puppies]

As for the feeding. Its a new born teat, and it doesn't seem to matter what teat I use especially my breast. Cause he gets impatient if it takes too long to come out and my nipples were squirting milk like a water pistol down his throat so he was gagging on that. Now I am pumping and feeding him via bottle so I can regulate what he is getting and stop and start him for burp breaks about 5 to 6 with each 100 ml feed.

Also little bugga hasn't done a poo all day yet, hope he is not constipated... but he is sleeping nicely now so off I go for a nap.

Catch you all soon.

[seenabeena]

Is it normal to take up to an hour or hour and half to settle after a feed or nappy change? Do you think JD is picking up on my lack of confidence?

It's totally normal. Belle is very good at being unsettled in the middle of the night/early morning!!! I am so sleep deprived because of it.

LMS Did you make a sleeping bag for Xavier? I think it was you that mentioned it a few pages back? I have started sleeping Belle in a full length cotton stretch and grow at night because she won't be swaddled.

I used Karicare Gold with DS and if/when we go to formula I would use the same.

[visitor1]

The link to Kirstens story: https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...rth-story.html

Wow....you lost alot of blood Kirsten! I lost around 300mls....

[RyleyMummy]

Thanks Kim..Yeah I know your telling me. Lol.

[gincasa]

Hi All.....it seems like everyone is doing well.
Isabella had a terrible night last night...she has been sleeping in 3-4 hour blocks but seems to have this constant unsettled period between 6pm to 10pm.
Apparantly this is common?
During this time I have been giving her top ups of the breast (I am soley breastfeeding) for about 10mins...it settles her for a bit then she starts screaming again.
I was scared I was overfeeding her and that she had a upset tummy.
Anywayz, went and saw the health nurse this morning and she has only put on half the weight that she is supposed to. She said it was because I should be feeding her every two hours during the unsettled period.
The only problem is that she falls alseep after 10 mins on the boob....any suggestions to keep her awake?
Jeez, breastfeeding can be hard at times....
The nurse also suggested that I express some milk during the day and give it to her at night during the unsettled peroid.
Feeling a bit down today as I feel like its my fault she hasn't put on enough weight.
Hope everyone is travelling along well.
Paula, I might give you a buzz and ask you for the name of your lactation consultant. Did she help?
xoxoxox

[puppies]

Gincasa,
MIL suggests having a wet face washer near you when you feed and when she falls asleep you gentle wipe her face, head, legs feet etc to wake her up gently. JD hates being messed with when feeding. I am happier bottle feeding him cause I can see what he is getting exactly. Even expressing into a bottle is better, it gives me peace of mind that he he got the 100 ml etc. The hospital told me to fed him the first breast uncovered and when you go to change sides change his nappy so it wakes them up for the next breast as well as the burping. Then wrap and let them suckle to fall asleep. It was taking me 30 minutes or more to feed this way but I now prefer to just bottle fed and it doesn't take as long cause I can see he is getting his milk.

So far the lunchtime feed and 5.30pm feed has gone well today will pray that the 9.30 and 12.30 feds go just as well and of course the 3.30 feed. DH is off to work tomorrow and my mum is coming to visit in the morning (I hope she is not a pain in the butt, I cant deal with her at the moment). But the nurse will come at 1pm and I am looking forward to knowing how JD is growing and if we are doing things ok. Just wish DH was there to hear advice from the nurse. But ah well.

Well I am off to relax and have some dinner while JD is sleeping. I pray we all have a good feeding, settling and sleeping night tonight, we sure could all use it!

[~Jo~]

Gincasa sorry you had that experience today with the health nurse. I imagine it must have been quite confidence shattering. I really dislike how much with babies relys on how much weight is being gained. Very often these charts are based on formula fed infants so are unrealistic for breastfed babies anyway, so please dont beat yourself up about it. Having said that, I know its difficult when bubs is falling asleep at breast and you not knowing how much baby is actually feeding. I find feeding from one side, then nappy change then offering other side to work well. This way baby wakes during the middle of the feed and often has more gusto to continue feeding from the other breast. Cluster feeding is very common during the evening, especially if baby is sleeping more during the night (mines not!). Expressing may give you some confidence in seeing how much baby is feeding, as well as increasing your supply. Best of luck..sounds like you are doing everthing so well...and we all have periods of doubt so dont second guess yourself. I have done this 5 times already but still worry about what i am doing wrong..think its a mummy curse!

Amanda like i said in earlier post, its not recommended to use control crying in infants under 6 months. Crying is their only way of communication and letting us know that something isnt right. Hope the visit tomorrow goes well..they can be a wealth of knowledge so ask away!

Kim and Kirsten have yet to read your birth stories..will go and have a looksie now.

We had a lovely day today down south with just Sammy and Ruby. The girls are staying with their granma til Friday so its been so quiet. I had such a shock though as I started bleeding sooo heavily while we were away...i could literally feel it flooding (sorry tmi) and panicked thinking I was going to have to rush to the dr but its since subsided so am thinking it must have been from sitting for 2 hours in the car. I hope its slowing down now though..arrgh!

Jo

[seenabeena]

Ladies I need some HELP. My little darling has decided that she likes to sleep on her tummy She has been really unsettled since Sunday and I kept finding that during then night she would roll from her back and sleep on her side ~ yes that's right she can roll on to her side already. Any hoo now the only time I can settle her and keep her asleep is when she is on her tummy or side, but she prefers tummy. As everyone know's tummy sleeping is a big no no so what do I do?????