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
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!
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!
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?????
Xavier rolls to his side already too and this morning I found him on his tummy. My middy said it is okay for day sleeps if you are watching and checking in frequently but I remember with Noah that I rolled up 2 cloth nappies and had one at his back and one at his belly to keep him on his side so he was more comfortable.
So sleep deprived it isn't funny. Xavier spends the better part of his days and nights screaming like he is in pain. I have tried Infants Friend and it isn't working, I will give it the rest of today as well though. Tomorrow I will try Gaviscon Infant and see if it is reflux. All he wants to do is feed every 30 minutes, Noah was never like this. Juz has just woken up now so I might go down for a nap. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Thanks Amanda, that wet face towel helped heaps.
We had a bad evening last night. Isabella was feed every 2hours from 5pm to 12pm....and screaming inbetween. Its like they are in soooo much pain.
Tried everything to settle her....warm bath, massage but she just cried till her next feed.
BUT she did sleep from 12:30pm to 8:30am this morning. Thats 8hrs....I really don't know if that a good thing or not. I slowly woke her at 8:30am this morning as I was concerned she needed a feed. Is 8hrs too long?
Also I am getting different advice about breastfeeding. My health nurse has said that she should have 20-30mins on the first breast that chnage her nappy and offer the second breast and if she only take it for 5-10min don't worry coz you have offered the first breast for a long time. I have other people telling me that you should even out the time offered at each breast...try and do 15-20min on each breast.....help
Any advice?
Seenabeena...Isabella is rolling on her side a bit too....but not on her tummy. I haven't woken her and just left her on her side.
Thanks JO for the advice.....its all so new being a first time mum.
Sorry to hear some of you are doing it tough atm, but it does get better!!!
I feel a little guilty, Harmony has been a dream so far....
gincasa, your health nurse is spot on babe..... big feed one side, change butt, usually a short feed other side.... when its time for the next feed, start on the side bub had a short feed from, change butt, short feed the other side... and so on..... each side needs to be "drained", and then you'll make more for next time!!
Harmony cluster feeds between 8-10pm, and is on off on off the whole time, but then sleeps for hours.... so if you have the time to just sit and feed of a night, you most prob will be rewarded with a big sleep..... I hope!!!!!
well nurse came and stayed for ages as JD started screaming because of wind so she tried to help me settle him. But he was still crying by the time she left. It seems he may have settled now though at last, God I pray he stays asleep for a while now.
Good news is he has gained 400gm since he left the hospital so she is happy about that. God this is hard how can you other mums have done this more than once?
Amanda well done on JD's weight gain...thats awesome! It gets easier each time i think that why i went back for more..LOL. Doesnt mean i dont have my fair share of worries and stresses each time though.
Zach has been good today. We are pretty much all formula now. I just cant handle him feeding so often on the breast, i enjoy expressing and dont find it a pressure or time consumption, but breast milk just isnt cutting it for him. I mayas well give him no milk at all cos it has the same effect. Goes in and comes out straight away. Doesnt settle him or help him sleep. With 2 toddlers to alo look after (and who are demanding) i dont have time to sit my butt on the lounge all day and night feeding.
Ive given it my best shot, i was given some great advice in a thread i started, but i tink our final attempt of mastering BF has come to an end. Ill express for a few more days then im hanging up my pump and BB's for good
We have our first MCHN visit next Tuesday.
Kirsten how did you go at Centrelink today? I have to go see them next Thursday.
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