Hi everyone! Havent posted in a while - our laptop was in being repaired and I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms :P
Things havent been going the best for us. Mikayla has been on Mylanta for her reflux which was great for the first few days but now its no longer working. The poor thing screams in pain between feeds and you can actually smell the acid when she brings up. I'm using thickner in her formula which has helped the vomiting slightly but you still have to keep her upright for at least 30mins after every feed and even then the reflux is still in full force when you put her down. I've tried propping up her bassinett but it didnt help and she's now at the point where she'll only sleep in our bed with one of our full sized pillows under her head. I'm going to make another appointment with the paed to discuss meds which he mentioned might be necessary at her 6 week check. He also said that she has some degree of lactose intolerance so shes now on lactose free formula and no more breast milk. I have to say I felt a bit guilty about not being able to breast feed her anymore but I cant say that I miss it!
Does anyone know much about Tressillian??? My OB suggested it as we're having alot of trouble getting her to sleep at night. The only long sleeps she has (occassionally 5 hours) are during the day then she's up pretty much all night. He said that the reflux has alot to do with her being unsettled but suggested that we contact and go to see the people at Tressillian or Karitane for some help before things get out of hand. You can spend a day at their clinic or sometimes even a week if necessary so that they can help you sort out feeding or sleeping problems but I dont know anyone else who's used them before.
I dont know why but she still isnt latching onto the bottle properly. She had the same problem with breast feeding but I thought she would have grown out of it by now. You put the teat in her mouth and she just shakes her head from side to side screaming because she wants it but just doesnt seem to realise its there iykwim. Its just so frustrating!!!
Sorry about the whinge but I dont really have anyone else (apart from DH) who understands my frustration and I know you ladies do!
I also apologise for not doing personals but theres so much to catch up on in here I havent had a chance to read all of your posts yet.
Your photos are all absolutely gorgeous and its great to hear that all bubs are thriving! I weighed Mikayla yesterday and she's 4.7kg (3.580 at birth). We just cant believe how quickly she's growing!
Zofia I remember you asking previously where abouts in Sydney I'm from. We live in the South West and have a business in the Inner West. How about you?? Your right there dont seem to be too many people on here from Sydney Metro. The only other person I know of in this thread is Sarah (mumoflewis).
Well its almost feeding time so I'd better get going. Will try to read through the thread and post some personals later on.
Hope your all well and enjoying your little bundles!! Take care xx
Good to see you back! Sorry to hear about Mikyla's reflux Have you tried anything from the Brauers range as its all natural. I got the stomach calm and the first time I gave it to him he slept for 9 hours!
Regarding Tresillian my SIL went for 4 days. She did find it useful, they taught her about controlled crying and dream feeding. I also know a girl who went to a 2 hour Karitane sleep school session and they taught her similar things, methods to get them to sleep. It seems the 'letting them cry for a set time and then going and patting them' is the way to go. Apparently it takes about 3 nights of hell and then they can settle themselves! I find Lewis sleeps for 4-5 hours during the day and only 2-4 in the night aswell and wondering when it will change! I have tried waking him up after 4 hours in the day but he just falls asleep again whilst feeding so it defeats the object.
Anyway I must get to bed, Lewis has just dropped to sleep. I have had Laryngitis and completely lost my voice so it's nice to be able to 'talk' to you guys instead!! I have been wearing a mask to feed Lewis, he must wonder what's going on!
I've just joined bellybelly and thought I'd join you as I have a June bub. My gorgeous girl (Brianna) arrived on 21.6.07 at 6.15pm after a drug free induced labour. Pregnancy was a dream and I'm loving motherhood. DH and I live in the country and mothers groups aren't really happening for first time mums in our area, so thought that a bit of contact on the net might keep me sane.
I haven't read all the posts on this thread as I'm a little time poor (as I'm sure you all are) but would love to chat to you all about how things are going.
Trying to introduce a bottle with expressed milk to DD at the moment. We have been trying every day for 6 days. She only seems to play with the nipple with her tongue and occassionally chew on it - no sucking. Has anyone else tried introducing a bottle and had the same issues?
Welcome to the june group!
I am in the same situation as you - in a rural area we also dont have readily available mothers groups or organisations that form them for you. It is a matter of walking up to a mother with a baby and asking them to have a drink or go for a walk etc... which can be quite daunting.
Where are you from?
We tried to give dd ebm in a bottle this morning (in case i am out and she needs a feed with DH or something like that). And so luck. SHe has a little suck and them screams and scream until i give her boob. THen she is happy. We have tried a size 2 avent and a nuk teat (both silicone) with no luck... It is funny we tried some boob then tried to do the swifty with the bottle but she knew the difference. But then as soon as you put her dummy (which is a silicone nuk dummy) she sucks away happy!
So i am not sure... some girls suggested to try latex if silicone is not working (they are the brown ugle teats.) so we might give that a go... not sure.
ANhow hope you find us all supportive and look forward to hearing about little brianna growing up!
We all understand totally about being time poor It must be hard being in the country and not having any other mums to chat to but you've definitely come to the right place. You will surely make some wonderful friends and get some great advice on BB.
My daughter was both breast fed & bottle fed from about 2 days old as she was in the special care nursery for jaundice and they didnt want her getting dehydrated under the phototherapy lights. She's now completely bottle fed and although she sometimes has problems latching on she usually feeds well once she realises she has the teat in her mouth :P
I'd say you should start with a medium flow teat as a slow one might frustrate your baby and she'll give up easily. It will take some time but you really need to perservere and keep giving it to her until she eventually starts to suck.
Good luck with it all and I look forward to sharing your little girl's journey xx
Hi nellnell, have you tried different types of teats.... i use the nipple looking ones Lee took them with no hestiation at all - but he is a pigglet.... some babies dont like the feeling of the hardish rubber....she may think its a dummy (if you are using one)
I'm located in the Monaro area of NSW, heaps of babies and mums around but not many new mums or ones that seem to be willing to get out in the middle of winter (very cold).
Thanks for the tips with the bottle. DH and I get distressed hearing her cry when we offer the bottle (using Avent) and a 3 month plus teat as I thought the faster flow may help - no luck. I think I might contact the ABA for some advice on how to introduce the bottle without distressing DD and us! Reluctant to try other bottles/teats as I don't want to have to spend a fortune and find that it doesn't work.
Like you PrincessMya - I have tried swapping the boob for bottle but DD can't be fooled. Don't use a dummy so she doesn't know the feel of anything else but nipple.
I think I may leave it for a couple of days then try again some other time - just scared that I may leave it too late and she will never take a bottle. I'd really like her to be able to take one so I can have more than an hour of 'me' time every now and then without DH having to call me home! If it works it works, and if not I can't do anything about it.
Tell us about your little princess! How much did she weigh when she was born? How long? How much does she weigh now? We love seeing photos of each others little ones too, so if you wanted to post some, we'd be more than happy to goo and gah over her.
Looking forward to getting to know you and little Brianna.
Debbie - thanks for the info on clth nappy folds. I haven't had a chance to try them yet, but hope to do so soon.
Megan - I love the photo of your boy and his cousin. They look so cute together!
Tina - sorry to hear that Mikayla has reflux. Hope she gest better soon. We live in the Redfern/Surry Hills area.
Nell - welcome to this thread. Diana is two days older than Brianna. I introduced her to bottles of EBM when she was about two weeks old. She took to it with no problems. I used a TommeeTippee bottle and teat. Now I use Pur self-sterilising bottles and teats and also have an Avent bottle and teat. Diana gets about 2 bottles of EBM a day and the rest comes directly from the breast. I'm not sure what advice to give you if Brianna is not taking a bottle - maybe use a different teat, and give her heaps of encouragement (I think that even at this age they understand our tone)... Hope you both work it out. It kind of sucks when you can't get any 'me' time. Although I spend all my 'me' time doing housework and other chores...
I'm M.J and my beautiful baby girl Bella was born on 16th June - 18 hours labour then an emergency c-section! I also live in a rural area with family 800km away. I do have a wonderful supportive partner, that helps, he is a god sent!!!
Bella is sleeping for 2 lots of 6 hours at night and is BF, she is thriving and I feel blessed to have her. I just wanted to say hi to you all and keep in touch with other bubbies born the same time - look foward to speaking to you all
Your little princess Bella, was born on the same day as my little prince Caeleb. He's also breastfed, sleeps for 2 X 6 hours and is thriving. LOL - Maybe it's got something to do with the date they were born on?!? LOL What did she weigh? How long was she?
Thanks for the info on teats, bottles, encouragement etc. DD was 6lb 9oz and 8 days late. She was kind to her mum with head cir only 33cm (lucky me). She's stacking on the pounds and sitting currently in the 90th percentile range for her age (8wks and 3 days).
Induced as doc thought bub had IUGR. Oxytocin drip in at 8am - mild contractions til about 12ish. Spent the arvo rocking on a fitball and headed to birthing room for the second stage of labour which lasted 1 1/2 hours. Birth was fantastic - so different to what I imagined. I hung out on all fours slumped over my friend the fitball with DH feeding me water (I drank heaps). Couldn't get into the shower or bath as monitored all the way through. The experience was so positive and honestly not as painful as I was expecting. During the transition phase DH was asking how painful contractions were - I kept saying "oh maybe a 5!" I somehow thought things would get heaps worse. I think my pain threshold is quite high!
Does anyone find that bub is unsettled on weekends or times that DH or DP is home? Weekends are unsettled for us as DD finds it different to our weekdays when it's just the two of us. DH is upset that she is like this.
nellnell - sounds like you had a really positive labour experience. A lot of the girls here had horror labour stories...
I can't say that Caeleb is "unsettled" as such when DH is home. It is different though from when it's just us two. DH keeps him awake longer than I like, but I understand that he misses him like crazy during the day and just wants to spend time with him, so I let it slide. LOL - Caeleb misses his Dad too, he gives him lots of huge gummy smiles and coos at him constantly when he gets home. Aww...
We decided from the start that it would be DH's job to give Caeleb his bath at night, read him a book and put him to bed, so he can have "Daddy and Me time" with Caeleb. This seems to benefit both of them and they both really enjoy their time together. Does your DH have jobs that only he does for her?
Hi there and welcome nellnell and M.J i am kinda new aswell i have been around but just not able to get online real often with an 7 week 6 day old and a 3 year old so i havnt been able to really bond with anyone and make friendships...which makes me feel like an intruder lol.
I noticed the updates on some of your bubbas and wanted to put in Ashlyns...
Born 25th June 3.01am after 3 hour 25 min labour (6 min 2nd stage!!!!)
Weight 3540g 7lb 8oz
Length 52cm
HC 35cm
6 week check up
Weight 4200g 9lb 4oz
Length 54cm
HC 38cm
She is in the 50th percentile for her age group...the funny thing is she weighs exactly what her brother Rylan did at birth!!!
I hope to make a few more connections to you ladies...i have put some pics of Ashlyn in the members gallery if anyone is interested.
Before i go i was wondering were anyones babies born with birthmarks?? Ashlyn has a perfect little loveheart on the back of her leg...it is so cute.
Oh, Rylansmum! Never ever feel like an intruder. Everyone is welcome here, no matter how much or how little the post. We're all busy Mum's, so we understand that posting on BB is sometimes the very last thing that you've got time for.
Just had a look at the photo gallery pics. Rylan (I love his name!) and Ashlyn are both gorgeous children. You should be very proud.
Thanks Celsie, it has been very hectic as you would know...July was a total write off
Thank you for the comment about Rylans name i fell in love with it as soon as i saw it and i am so glad im not the only one who thinks my babies are beautiful..i am biased
I was considering Caleb (different spelling obviously) for Ashlyn if she was a boy but DP best friends' son is Caleb so it was out and we found out we were having a girl lol..your Caeleb is beautiful the photos were absoultely gorgeous..i want to get some portraits done like that of my 2 but Rylan and Ashlyn have been sick for the last month and Ashlyn has a rash all over her face which i think is excema (sp?) so i havnt been able to get them done.
How has Caeleb been sleeping? I think i might be a lucky one as Ashlyn has started sleeping through..Rylan was the same!! I am having a nice relaxing night atm DP has gone to see John Butler Trio (bastard) and both the kids are sleeping...ahhhh me time!!
Well thank you for replying to me it feels nice to be noticed
take care
Last edited by rylansmum; August 19th, 2007 at 09:35 PM.
Celsie - about jobs just for DH. I love your idea about DH having a 'job' or some kind of routine thing to help out. We share most things but I think I may suggest the routine thing to allow DH and DD to spend some quality time together. I suppose it opens up a little 'me' time as well.
Rylansmum - hello and welcome. Brianna wasn't born with a birthmark but developed what they call a strawberry mark on her bottom. It is only small, but red and raised. Apparently these marks are supposed to disappear by about 2 yrs of age. Ashlyns loveheart sounds gorgeous.
Must say I'm jeolous your DP has gone to see John Butler Trio. I'm listening to Josh Pyke at the moment on 'Sunrise'. His album is fantastic!
Brianna is asleep in my lap - had a frustrating weekend as she only wanted to catnap during the day. Nights are fine as she usually goes to bed at 7-8pm, wakes for a feed anywhere from 1am-3, then either sleeps through to 6am or wakes for another feed between the 1 and 6am feed. I consider getting up once to twice pretty decent compared to what some others deal with. Are your bubs sleeping during the day? Catnapping? Can you get anything done? I was hoping to go back to the gym soon but Brianna needs to be able to sleep for about an hour during the morning for me to be able to do this.
Have you tried anything from the Brauers range as its all natural. I got the stomach calm and the first time I gave it to him he slept for 9 hours!
It must be hard being in the country and not having any other mums to chat to but you've definitely come to the right place. You will surely make some wonderful friends and get some great advice on BB.
some babies dont like the feeling of the hardish rubber....she may think its a dummy (if you are using one)
Hope she gest better soon. We live in the Redfern/Surry Hills area.
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