Babies Born July 2007 #7

[Tracey]

I use Express milk bags (from chemist) you freeze 180mls at a time & then I guess about 6 a day (to be sure), I'd only defrost 1 bag at a time though!



I'd dump all of Sunday & then feed again Monday morning (after wedding) unless you were drinking on Sunday too???


If you can express say a 180ml bag a day from now on you'll have heaps!

Does that make sense at all...???? LOL

[jemima]

OMG selfish post coming up. DH has gone away again for work - this time for 9 days and I am wondering how on earth I am going to cope - particularly as this is only his second trip away and I have heaps more trips to get through between now and June next year.

Oliver and Jesse were in childcare for most of the day and even then this evening was chaos. Both the boys were so tired from childcare so they were quite ratty and everyone was demanding my attention at the same time and it was just SCARY!!! I find myself getting so stressed and this is only his first day away.

Poor Charlotte just had to fend for herself and this evening was given a couple of minutes feed here and there in between putting the boys to bed. I worry that feeding her like this will play havoc with her feeding patterns and she wont know what is going on. I guess feeding her like this is rare - just when things are crazy. Thank goodness she is so laid back.

I know I will get through this but it is just so full on doing it by myself. I think the key will be to be super SUPER organised.

Poor DH worries when he is away as he knows how crazy things can get.

I just have to keep repeating to myself that it will all be fine and have a big supply of chocolate on hand for those crazy moments LOL.

Sorry for the vent (you might get a few of these when DH is away).

I had best go and rustle up some dinner.

Will BBL to see what is going on.
Jem

[mrscricket]

Jemima - just wanted to say good luck with everything. I dont have any advice at all - i find it hard enough to cope with one will DH is at cricket training for the evening . You sound like a super mum and everything will be fine (as long as you dont run out of chocolate!)

[jemima]

Thanks Em - yes chocolate is vitally important to my survival LOL!! Bes t I go and have some now.

[Megan76]

Oh Jem i feel for you! I am the same as Em when DH is at basketball. He has our brother in laws bucks weekend in Tassie in a few weeks and i am dreading it and i only have one baby! I hope you can get some help. What does your DH do?

Have just put Lucas to bed on his 4th feed so we will see what happens....please please let him sleep through the night again, i hate being teased!!

[Jas]

Hi Everyone,

Haven't posted for a while so just a quick catch up.

V, In regards to feeding Avaleigh over your wedding weekend I think do whatever you feel most comfortable with. Just one thing though has she had any bottlefeeds before. A friend of mine (her baby was born 4 days before Noah) has been trying to give some EBM and her daughter won't take the bottle at all so maybe you should try giving some ebm to see if she will take it?

Well Noah is going great sorry have to go so no more personals this time! chat soon xo

[CrystalBoo]

Tracey - I also took fenugreek while in hospital but haven't heard of aktavite. Autumn is pretty much demand fed, but I never get that explosive feeling everyone talks about if she doesn't feed for a while and I've never been able to express much at all so that's why I worry about milk supply. She is still gaining though, so I might just have to try and relax a bit! Btw, how big was Zyon born? Autumn is also 6.4kg but she's 4m on Friday and she was huge born.

For all those BF, how long does it take to drain one side typically? It's still taking Autumn a good 30-40mins just for one side - she has always been a gentle feeder (at least I have never had a problem with sore nipples)

Em - My hair's not falling out but now you've got me worried that it will - I've got an appointment to have it done tomorrow... My SIL's fell out though only around the hairline, I don't think you need to worry too much. Could it possibly just seem like more than it really is? Honestly, it seems like there's a zillion negatives about having kids and new ones always popping up. (Yes, I know - the reward is in the smiles and 'i love you's and I wouldn't trade it for anything.)

Jan - so jealous of your all nighter! I know all about those 2hr nights though...

Rebecca - You're only supposed to have a half glass of the guinness a day so you don't need to dump. On the rolling- it's easy to see Autumn is almost there (back to front) because she gets the bottom half all the way over with her head still tipped sideways - very funny to watch

Jemima - I so feel for you. My DH is an oil driller and works a rotation of two weeks away to one week home but I only have Autie to worry about. You deserve big hugs for doing it with three :hugs: All I can say is, forget the housework and rest when you can! I agree, it's the organising that really helps, even with just one. I usually try and look forward over the next hour or so to see what's coming up and get everything ready in advance while Autumn plays for a short while on her own. That way I can get through most of those situations where you really could use an extra hand. Also, on the emotional side of things, do you have someone you can talk to frequently (besides all of us of course) it really helps to chat occasionally. Do you have Skype? Because you're always welcome to chat real time with me on there if you like.

On that note, DH is home today and so tired he crashed before even Autumn was in bed (6.30) now I can hear them both snoring from the bedroom...

[Tracey]

Sacha, Zyon was 7lb12, he was 3 days over. Our middle daughter was our heaviest at 8lb1.
Zy is a ferocious feeder & takes about 10-12 mins each side, but he might take both sides & then fall asleep in my arms & as I lay him down to wrap him (if I dont he pulls his own hair & screams!) He will cry again so I re attach him for another 5 or so mins & then he is fast asleep!
With the Aktavite, you mix up a cup of Aktavite a cup of skim milk powder & 1 litre of milk, I blend it together (I use skim milk) then drink that during the day (its delicious).
I find if I do this 2 days ina row (so 2 lots of the drink I am leaking& back to the days when my milk came in & I had huge hard full boozies! Atleast thats how it was with Indah...
With Zyon I drank it all in 1 day & then our probs with reflux began so I have avoided dairy & he is no longer on meds for reflux so I havent had the drink again...

[jemima]

Thanks everyone for reading/listening and supporting. I have had my chocolate (so my heart rate has gone down LOL) and all is quiet - fingers crossed that everyone sleeps well.

Thank goodness for BB. My parents are a great support although they live just over an hour away but they get to Adelaide whenever they can (althougth they both still work). They are coming down on the weekend - phew!

Sacha - re your question on how long it takes to drain a side - I am guessing that it depends on the baby and supply but my paediatrician did say that a competent feeder can get a full feed in as little as 5 - 7 minutes and 10 minutes is about average - but each baby is different. Charlotte feeds for about 10 minutes where as with Oliver it took him about half an hour in the early days but he got quicker as he got older. But I guess that doesnt really answer your question.
With your DH away so much and mine we will have to vent/stress etc etc together! I remember when DH was going away just after we had DS1 I was so scared about dealing with a newborn on my own - just as scared as I am now dealing with three of them on my own LOL - whether it is one or three of more if you are doing it on your own it can be crazy!! Its funny as I used to love when he went away before we had children - you know the saying absence makes the heart grow stronger - we never had a chance to get sick of each other!!

Megan - I have my fingers crossed for you that Lucas sleeps the night through. Isnt it funny how we all seem to go to bed wondering what the night ahead will bring - sometimes its a lucky dip. I read in your earlier post that your hair is falling out - I am starting to lose a bit as well which I have done with the other two children as well. Most of my hair loss is along my hair line but I have very thick hair so I am hoping it isnt too noticeable. It seems to grow back once I stop breast feeding and then I have all these pokey up bits coming out of my head at all angles. My hairdresser says it is totally normal, just annoying.

They are getting ready to announce who is leaving on dancing with the stars so I had best run.
Have a good night everyone
Jem

[CrystalBoo]

Thanks Tracey, I might have to give the Aktavite a go just for peace of mind. I'm not all that keen on milk though, could you use soy do you think? Or is it the milk that helps most? Yes Zy must really be a good eater if he's already that weight - Autumn was 10lb 2oz - does he have Michelin man arms too? She pulls at her hair too, and her face, but only when she's tired or woken too early. I am constantly cutting her fingernails, it seems.

[CrystalBoo]

Jem, I must admit, there have been times I don't mind his job... but honestly, I take my hat off to you - I think it really IS harder with more than one The worst is not having anyone to wake with you for the seventh time in one night...

[Ngala]

I use Express milk bags (from chemist) you freeze 180mls at a time & then I guess about 6 a day (to be sure), I'd only defrost 1 bag at a time though!

I'd dump all of Sunday & then feed again Monday morning (after wedding) unless you were drinking on Sunday too???


If you can express say a 180ml bag a day from now on you'll have heaps!

Does that make sense at all...???? LOL

I guess I will look for express milk bags! Would 180mls of milk be enough for a 5 month old??

Well wedding is on Sunday, so I will be drinking Sunday.... so would that mean dump sunday afternoon milk and monday too and start back tuesday?!

OMG its so confusing!

What about hens night on Friday night, would I need to dump all of Saturdays milk as well?

Jas - yes Avaleigh has had EBM and she loves it! LOL Jason sometimes feeds her when I am at the gym..

[Michaels Mum]

wow we're on fire this week ladies - lmao -

Em - regarding hair falling out mine is everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think with the change of season it like losing your winter coat (for lack of a better phrase) - i have to be careful coz michael is soooo grabby that when i pick him up or put him down a chunk of my hair goes with him and of cause everything in his hand goes straight to the mouth - and my poor shower drain is constantly clogged - funny story - i had my hen's party the other weekend and a bunch of us were getting ready at a friends house - showers were had, make-up applied, photo's and drinks all before we left - my friends df came down the stairs as we about to leave grumbling that the drains were backed up (as he tried to have a shower) and thought the kids had been muckin around and blocked them - as he's gone to check it out he pulled out handful after handful of hair - man did we all get into trouble the next morning - it seemed we were all losing our hair

the whole thing is driving me nuts because it feels like spiders are crawling all over me

[Michaels Mum]

and i'm back.......

Megan and Em - michael also has dropped to only 4 feeds a day since i've put him to bed at 7 - however maybe once a week he would squeeze an extra feed in in the middle of the day probably just to catch up a bit but i have noticed the last couple of mornings he's been waking at 4 and i've been feeding him as nothing else stops him from crying so i was thinking of not putting him to bed so early in the hopes he'll sleep in a little later - i mean it's not like i'm going to bed any earlier just coz he is and maybe then i could have an uninterupted sleep - do you remember those, before the kids......aaahhhh back in the day............. - god that sounds horrible

well these personnals could go over a few postings - my tired brain can't remember what i wanted to write - i may be back........

[blueflower]

Oh my gosh, this thread was only started yesterday morning and we are already up to page three!!!!
Brain is frizzled at the moment, so will do personals without the names, cause i cant remember them all!!!
Hair loss- mine seemed to fall out while I was pg, and none has fallen out since. I have however noticed that my eyebrows are growing quick again (they had slowed down while pg).
Bed times- we are in the process of trying to change Kaetlyns bed time- usually about 11pm to earylier maybe 8ish. trying to get her to sleep at midnight is driving us both bonkers.
DH/DP working away- OMG I feel so sorry for you all. I get buggered when DH workes 5 days in a row and I am with Kaetlyn basically 24 hours. My DH worked 'blocks' of days on then 'blocks' of days off. I could never inagine 2 weeks without his help... let along with more than one child .
Aktavite- I founf that it didnt really boost my supply, if anything it made Kaetlyn a fussier eater. Stopped drinking it now.
Dumping Milk for drinking alcohol- My god V, i wouldn't be bothered, and to me it seems more like a effert to pump and dump (hehehehe ), I wouldnt even bother having Alcohol, just a stock of EBM that you can build up and someone else can feed avaleigh for you. Think of the nice big clevege you'll have on the wedding day if you dont express it .
Each to their own, I am not a big alcohol drinker, and could just as easily go without. The last time I had alcohol was the night before Kaetlyn was conceived- we and some freinds all went out, and had a big one (we went away camping the next day and walah, think you can guess what happened, we are all adults here!). the last alcoholic beverage was mmmmmm about 2 years before that.
Chocolate talk- thanks to all those who regularily cahat about the choc and ice cream cravings, its not doing my 'drop the baby weight' attempts at all!!! I seem to have a bowl of ice cream when I read the days posts- low fat of course. I had to have a extra big serve tonight because of the amount of posts!!!!

Gosh look at the time....
Just a quick update with Kaetlyn. We are no longer wrapping her, I brought 2 sleeping bags- different togs, and what I am doing is letting her fall asleep- wether it is on her side or back, then when she is asleep, i go in and turn her onto her back, and tuck a sheet in over her to help prevent her going on the side again. She seems to be only able to self settle these days on her side sucking her fist.
Okay my eyes are now closing them selves so had better hop into bed before I have to sleep walk there.
Good night chickies.

[Tracey]

Veronica, (the breast milk bags say they only hold 180mls)
Yep 180mls should be enough for a 5mth old, I used to maybe squeeze 190ml into the bags & that's all Indah ever had & I was back at work when she was 6mths almost so she was having 2 or 3 during the day while I was at work, I'd breastfeed her in the morning, then hand her to my sis with 3 bags of breastmilk & then that night my sis would drop her off & I'd have expressed 3 bags again at work, but would attach her anyways both sides (some days she'd only had 2 lots of milk) to stimulate my boobies again! If she only had 2 lots my sis kept 1 for the following day & then I'd give her 2 (So she always had 3) but 180ml is kinda the amount at the most)
Actually ask those whom are formula feeding what the amount is they are feeding? AS itás kinda the same I think??? so like 120ml now or something...? However I always fill the breastmilk bags & Zyon drinks a full 180ml bottle now too!!! hee hee! maybe thats why he's so chibby!?

Ok Hens night on Friday night, I'd dump Saturdays milk & offer breast on Sunday Morning...
Wedding on Sunday I'd dump for 24hours after last drink & then start offering breast again...
I'f you start pumping now & collecting milk now & have it all stored in the freezer, it will seem less of a stress as it will already be there, but dont forget to pump during the days you are giving EBM, or else you'll be in so much pain... I tried to go once about 8hrs without pumping & OMG they were like canteloupes again & farking killing me! I couldnt get the pump to attach as they were so rock hard!

Then when Indah was about 10mths & maybe only having 4feeds a day we went away 1 night so I expressed for my sis & took my breast pump, we went out for dinner & then to casino & saw a band etc & at about 10pm, we had to go back to the room for me to express as they were swollen again! hee hee


To those with partners away, I can sympathise, prior to DH getting his residency Visa for Aust, I was all alone too & it can be so lonely & so hard!
I cant imagine doing it with the 3 though!!!

[mrscricket]

Veronica - the guide on side of formula tin says 180ml for up to 4 months, then 210ml for up to 6 months. I know some formulas are a bit different but that is just a rough guide.

I am just sitting having a quick read. We are going on a pram walk with mums group today which should be fun - as long as the sun comes out! Better dash - Tom is starting to stir. Went down at 7.30pm - got him up at 10.30 for a feed and he is just waking now. Yay!

[Tracey]

Mrs Daisy whewre abouts are you??

As I ewas asked whilst at the MCHN y'day to join them on a morning walk today, however I am off straight from school drop off to a friends place!!!
I'm in Bayswater!