Babies Born March 2008

[Lisaqg]

Hi Everyone,

Not really much time to post as we have been out 4x4 driving all day and I'm pretty tired

I have had horrendous problems BF little Jake as he has a small mouth, I have nipples that are completely flat and I have large breasts too....the little fellow can't get a large enough hold on the nipple and areola and so therefore is clamped on the nipple only even though he has "good" attachment according to the Lactation consultant. Everything is picture perfect and he is doing it all right he just can't get enough as he's only on the nipple area and wears himself out trying to feed (he could only manage 5 minutes minimum) and therefore doesn't get enough milk and then is lethargic and fussy. Soooooooo after trying for a few days and getting massive cracks, raw nipples and bruising I have switched to expressing all my milk into the closer to nature bottles for him. This has resulted in a much happier baby who is getting fatter by the day, my nipples are slowly healing but even expressing hurts! The little man is polishing off nearly 80ml of milk every feed....I feel like I am a failure because even though he's on perfectly he can't get enough milk. I have a few questions about the whole expressing and feeding by bottle:

1. Can I express and bottle feed without my milk drying up? I read somewhere that if you express into bottles only without BF your milk will dry up...seems a little weird but any way....

2. Am I failure for quitting and feeding him breast milk through the bottle instead?

3. Will it hurt him in any way?

I plan to do this as long as I can as I don't want to formula feed him...

Cheers
Lisa

[prama]

Shell - saw the pix you uploaded.. hehe really nice pix of Doni and DJ.
I'm ok.. some days are good w bf when nipples arent so sore and other days are not so good. It will help heaps with Doni with you and mum.. It makes such a big difference. My mum goes back on the 30th, so it will be hard on my own during the day. I find I'm doing more and more baby talk to Lakshman, thank god for BB, at least it's virtual adult company. It will keep me sane when my mum goes back and I have no adults to talk to!
Re the girdle, the physio therapist told us not to wear it very long, she didnt seem keen on it. She said that the muscles will get weak cos you wont be working them when you wear a girdle. Maybe check with her what she thinks. I have ab muscle separation too, 4.5cm. Last week I went to my physio and it was down to 1.5cm so the exercises do help.
I so cant wait to get back to yoga and swimming. Im going to check out the post natal yoga classes at Hills Yoga and Concord and see which one I like.

Jo - thanks for the tip on Gaia. I went to their website and you can get free samples if you send a Stamped Self Addressed envelope.
Good luck for Tuesday! I'm hoping Caitlin goes above 3kgs!! xoxox

Lisa - quickly, as Lakshman's grizzly.

1. You milk wont dry up but it wont increase if you express only, from what I've told

2. YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!!!! Whatever you choose you are not! I';ve had some issues as well, I;m bfing and topping up with formula, and I did feel like a failure as my milk isnt increasing. I'm on Motilium and herbs and expressing but it isnt working. I know, I have my moments when I feel like a failure but Im starting to accept that thats the way it is.
Using the bottle is ok. It's still early stages, attachment will get better when bub's a little bigger. The LCs can help at different stages.

3. It wont hurt him, he's getting all your milk.

There's a thread with BF issues, you could post there. There's a LC that answers questions on that thread.
You could ask your LC about using nipple shields, they can help to draw out your nipples. I have bad sore, cracked nipples and have been using it. At least I can bf now. It does reduce the amt of milk bub can suck compared to without. But for at least it helps me bf.

Hope that helps hun..xoxoxoxo

[teachmum]

Lisa don't buy into the whole thing about beinga failure if you can't bf. You are obviously doing what is best for YOUR baby and YOU. IMO if you can maintain your milk supply Jake will become stronger and be able to feed for longer. Look on the bright side, if you need to leave him for a period of time at least you know he will take a bottle.

I've got sore, grazed nipples and find that the Lanisoh ointment really helps them heal. I ran out yesterday and noticed that my nipples started getting worse. Might go to a bf group on thurs but I hate all the different advise on how to bf. Sometimes the little buggers just won't follow the rules.

I usually only give Patrick one breast per feed because otherwise he doesn't empty it and I end up engorged. If he's super hungry he'll take the second boob but not for as long. I remember when I had my DD I worried about giving both but now I just go with my gut feeling. It suits me and bub to feed like this so that's what I'm doing. Trust your instincts.

I must say I'm enjoying having the large age gap. It's like having a new baby but knowing what to do. My two older ones have been a great help. DD just loves dressing him and soothing him. I had to leave Patrick at home and go and chase our cows back to our paddock (long story). DD managed to deal with a dirty nappy that leaked through to his clothes and a grizzly baby. I was so proud.

Off to bed before the boy wakes.

[Lisaqg]

We tried again last night to get him onto the breast and he had all the classic signs of breast refusal....he's had them from day one really, he takes the nipple has one or two sucks and then spits it out. I am going to give the nipple sheilds a go and if they don't work for him then I will just keep expressing for him (I have an electric breast pump so it's pretty handy!!!).

I have plenty of milk and let down very easily (ie if I think of feeding it runs out by itself LOL). My milk came in on day two and is well and truly established now so breasts are nice and soft.

I have been using the lanisoh cream which has helped almost heal one nipple but not the other as it was more damaged.

So far we have tried all the suggestions except the sheilds which are next...all to no avail. The Lactation Consultant is one of the BF australia ones and is pretty useless really but due to us being in a remote area I can't get to another.

All the midwives have agreed he attaches well, it's just that he can't get his mouth open wide enough to take enough of the Areola in and hence the damage to the nipple

[danniellabella]

Does anyone know what to do about baby hiccups? Jazz gets them all the time (even while I was pregnant) and sometimes they last over an hour.

Also. This morning she's been a bit bossy. She wanted a feed at 7am which is fine. She finished one boob, did a big poo, then had hiccups so I waited a little coz she wont feed when she has hiccups. Went back on the other boob about 7:30 (both times she fed for about 15-20mins each side). But then she kept demanding more, and then more and more. Then she fell asleep but as soon as I put her in her bassy she cried. I don't want her to become one of those babies who needs to be cuddled all the time, I have things I need to do but I need her to sleep for a while.

[teachmum]

Patrick does the same thing nearly every feed. He attaches to the nipple, sucks a couple of times and spits it out. After about three or four goes he finally attached properly and then it hurts like hell for a few seconds until he establishes his sucking. Can't wait for these nipples to heal!

Just be careful with nipple shields. I have heard that they can make your nipples hurt more (if possible) so I haven't tried them yet.

I tried one of those new bonds suits (the ones with no buttons) on Patrick last night. What a pain! I don't think they tested them on real babies. Certainly not ideal for a quick middle of the night nappy change. They do look very cute on though . Might be better suited to an older baby.

[prama]

I;ve been using nipple shields, my nipples still hurt but less with them.
but it's a bit of a pain, they dont stick on so well and Lakshman knocks it off all the time when he moves his hands or tries to latch.
They do reduce the amt bub can suck, compared to without. so its not always recommended.
But they have helped me put him on the breast...

[teachmum]

Danni don't worry about spoiling her with cuddles some babies, from my experience, need more than others. It sounds like Jazz is getting ready for a bit of a growth spurt and by feeding more is increasing your milk supply. When Patrick is really unsettled and wants lots of cuddles I use my sling. That way he is getting the cuddles he wants and I can do what I need to. If I'm really tired then I'll prop myself up in bed and cuddle him while I have a catnap.

Babies are very good at telling you to slow down. That's something I'm having to get used to

[Sammiejane]

Hi guys,

JO - i might try and book into the same one and then we could meet up - was thinking that i should get along to one of those sessions.

SHELL - be careful doing exercise too quickly with the scar, walking must only be slow and you should aim to be walking for 30 mins at the end of 4-6 weeks... i know that this seems ages away, but you dont want to tear the sutures that are underneath. you should have about 3-5 layers of suturing and if you tear any of these it can end up in you having to go for more surgery to fix it up. not sure if you are keen for a VBAC but if you do too much too early you can hamper your chances of that too.
Dont worry too much about the weight, at day 7 i lost most of the fluid i was carrying and i have already dropped over 10kg. I LOVE BF!!!! In hossy i felt huge, but it will soon come off as long as what you are eating is good for you and bubs.'

LISA - you are not a failure at all and dont let anyone tell you that you are.
Do what you have too - DH and i were talking about the pain of BF (sometimes it feels like a hot pin being stuck in my nipples when she attaches) and we decided that we are better to see a LC early so that i dont end up dreading feeding becasue of the pain.

Danni - Molly Jane gets the hiccups too - 3-6 times a day, not sure what to do, apparently letting them suck helps, so i try her on my finger as i dont want her feeding early or when she doesnt need a feed.
Re the cuddles - i have read that young babies tell you what they need and dont learn selfish or attention seeking behaviour until they are older... Molly Jane needs cuddles at different times, usually late at night before being ut back to bed, the other thing that i read is that at this young agae, if you let them cry too long they learn it and tend to cry longer as they grow up... i will see if i can find the qte when i come back

Got to go BBL

[slimjadey]

I don't have time for personals again i'm really sorry guys. I have to get back to sleep.
I don't remember either of my other two being this difficult sleeping and feeding. Its only happened within the past few days/week, Ryan is not sleeping, i don't believe he has wind, he seems to be relatively comfortable, i'm changing his nappy almost every hour and feeding him every 1-2 hours (my other two fed every 4 hours) and he just wont sleep, the only way i can get him to drift off is to stick him over my shoulder but the second i put him down he starts to stir and wake up again. Dunno what to do... DH took the day off work today because i'd only had an hour sleep last night and couldn't deal with all 3 kids during the day on that, plus my scar was beginning to hurt after all the rocking i did overnight. i might even go and buy an electric swing or something if its gonna make him sleep.
This wouldn't be a problem if it just wasn't for the other kids!!!!

oh about expressing with pump.. i haven't read anything about supply issues but its what i did with Shane and my supply dried up, i was only bottle feeding. And you are definately NOT a failure!!

[all girls]

Summer gets the hiccups too i don't think there is anything you can do, if she is due for a feed and has them i still put her on and they go away fairly quickly.

We are going through the not sleeping so well stage too and she wants lots of cuddles which i don't mind as this stage doesn't last long, before you know it they are big and i want to savour every moment with her at this age. They need us, we are their world so make the most of it and remember it when they are teenagers....

You are doing well lisa, his little mouth will get bigger soon keep your chin up xoxox

Jade rest up hun, good on your DH for being there for you, not having mine here sucks but luckily Codie is a big help (most of the time hehe) plus the mad rush of getting them to school might suck but then i have a good few hours just with Summer, even though she just wants cuddles and feeds at the moment.

My tough old nipples healed really quickly but when my milk lets down it feels the same as you SJ, like a hot needle going in My mw i had throughout pg said it was from her sucking so hard, it does go after a few minutes but can still feel it, so different from any of the others, she also gets a little blister on her top lip from sucking so hard.

I am feeling pretty run down today, like i am getting a cold i really hope my body fights it off as i don't need to be sick right now.

Enjoy your day everyone xoxoxox

[prama]

trina - is that like shooting pains? i get that, even after ive stopped bf-ing? lc said it was fr improper attachment

[Sammiejane]

Prama it is shooting pain for me, maybe that is the let down, i dont feel anything else... Molly Jane has a blister too on the top of her lip.

Jade you poor thing, maybe it is because of the heat that ryan is so restless, i have noticed that Molly Jane has been worse these last couple of days, the heat must be affecting your lot as you have had so many straight days of heat. Usually it is cooler this time of year. Probably why he is feeding more too - Molly is feeding every 2 hours during the day and i reckon it is because of the heat change.
Hope you get some rest and ryan too

Just had a great afternoon, 3 of the girls from work came over and bought lunch with them, stayed for about 3 hours, all had cuddles and told me how beautiful Molly Jane is (as if they would say anything else?) So nice to have them over, we haven't really been bombarded with people at all which has been nice.

I havent really had much to say about Molly lately, as really i feel a bit guilty, i am getting good amounts of sleep, she is feeding well and hardly ever crys. I feel so lucky when i read the troubles that some of you are having, but also worry that my bubble is going to burst any day now and she will start having problems.

Seeing the CMHN tomorrow and getting Molly weighed etc. I am sure that she will be over the 4kg mark now...
Jo - with the adjusted age thing, does that mean that it is the adjusted age that they expect the milestomes for? is there anything else that they look at?

[danniellabella]

I ended up ringing my mum to come and help coz I suddenly got annoyed at Jazz and started crying and thought I'd better enlist some help.

Jazz fell asleep just before mum arrived and has been asleep since (12noon). I'm about to wake her for a feed coz she finished her last one at about 11am but she did have heaps this morning.

Mum said she probably wasn't getting enough because I was tense as today was my first day alone. She said being stressed would affect the milk supply so Jazz was probably more demanding because of that.

Mum was great, she walked in, I told her I wanted a nap and I asked if she could do a few dishes. All the dishes are done and she also cleaned the outside of the cupboards and rangehood.

I managed to get 2 loads of washing done as well, so I'm happier that things got done. A friend brought a meal around so all I need to do for dinner is heat it up. Now I'm going to try and wake Jazz for a feed and relax until Matt gets home (late coz he's on 6pm finishes this week).