Babies Born May 1st ~ 15th 2009

[Toomanytoomany]

Hi all,
Liam and I are doing well, he's a beautiful, placid baby. The last 2 days have been a bit troublesome at feed time though - up until yesterday I had no problems with attachment, however since yesterday morning he is really struggling to attach, and twice now I've had to express and bottle feed becuase he just wouldn't latch on (after a VERY long time trying). My boobs are like rocks at the moment, do you think this could be causing the problem? Once they've let down a bit and are softer he is getting on, but this takes 20 mins or longer of him suckling and screaming!! Does anyone have any suggestions? I called the breastfeeding australia helpline this morning and everything she suggested I've been doing! Any help would be greatly appreciated xx

Hi Kelly, unfortunately offering the bottle will make his attachment worse because he may get confused by the difference between your breast and the bottle teat. If your breasts are engorged (a common problem for attaching a new baby) try hand expressing off just enough to make the nipple soft again, and then try to get him on. Or use your pump and freeze a little milk for another day when you really need it. Don't express too much off or your oversupply will get worse. Ideally, if he is having attachment problems, the only sucking he should be allowed to is at the breast - if you *must* comp feed him (for instance, if he stops having wet nappies) then you can give it to him off a spoon or out of a cup or a syringe.

[KellyC]

Thanks TMTM - it's so hard to know what to do. I didn't realise breastfeeding would be so difficult!! Hopefully we'll work it out soon because it's very frustrating, especially when I know he can do it!

[*Dee*]

Kelly - I was going to suggest the same as TM. I kno Ethan has trouble latching on when my breasts are engorged, but just him licking and playing with my nipple lets enough out for him to latch on, but I agree, hand express a little or try offering it before he is hungry maybe, before they get engorged. Might save u some pain then too if he takes to it. We went shopping today and when we got there i sat in the backseat in the carpark and fed him for 10mins eventho he wasn't due for a feed for another half hr or longer. But it was enough to tie him over till we finished shopping and i fed him in the carpark again before we left, all in all a very successful shopping trip! Lol now my precious little angel is asleep on my lap so Daddy is getting dinner ready.
With the co-sleeping thing, we have Ethan in his basinett next to me by the bed. But 7.30 thismorning I was still so so tired after a restless night I brought him to bed with us for cuddles and was able to sleep till 9.30. He doesn't cry thru the night he just gets frustrated and grunts and squeels. I bought him some wind drops today, see if that might help him.

[Nat :D]

Kelly - I'm with you hun. I find the whole thing quite challenging! I have actually spent 2 days with Mastitus .... again Thank God I was able to unblock the troublesome duct and not start the antibiotics (which really hurt DD's tummy when I had to take them when I was BFeeding her) But yeah, be very carefull, if you start getting a temp or fevering or a headache/migraine, then you might be headng into a bout of Mastitus.
If mine get engorged, I go straight for a hot shower and get hand express til I feel comfortable. I don't try to save it because its mainly just the forewater stuff and I'm more interested in saving that good fatty hindmilk stuff. I also never let it go more then 4 hours between emptying each side. So if Phil is asleep for a longer period of time and I haven't fed from one side for a while, I express. This just stops me getting too full and then I have my top up bottle for the middle of the night.

Cherie & Krystie Nice to have you in the group. Two lovely big healthy babies too! Well done girls

Dee - I just asked the child health nurse the very same thing. She said there really isn't a lot you can do. She did say tho, that they can take a while to register that they are full, and since she spyed a dummy in his cradle swing, she suggest after a feed (which is noramally about 15-25 mins on each side til its striped for me... and I offer him both most times) she suggested that I give him his dummy and hold him close to my chest so he can still enjoy the closeness and the sucking while his tummy sends the message to his head that he's actually full.
Phillip often feeds til he spills... typical little wog boy, just loves his Mamas food and can't help himself
I know many people worry about nipple confusion with dummys or bottle teats, but he seems to have absolutly no issuses latching on still, so I think its a trial and error to find what works. I use Medela bottles for feeding and NUK ortho newborn dummys to pacify him... works for me
Oh and Infacol drops for the wind are great, but they don't suggest using it before 4 weeks.
Also I love Ethans photos - he's so so so cute! And I thin Ivan is a sweet choice for his middle name, esspecially since it has such a good sentimental meanign too

Toomany - Thanks for your help the other day. I have started taking the Fengreek... not sure if its made a differance yet. How long does it take to kick in? Phil just eats and eats and eats! Its nothing for him to take both sides (which can take 50mins all up) then have an expressed bottle of 60-70mls!!!

Feeding wise here, I've started offering him some formula after his night feed now as I know he's completely drained me by 9 pm. I let him have each side for a good 20 mins each for that last feed and he's sucking madly and making the cutest little grizzley sookie noises... then he pulls off and whinges. All gone So I offer him a top up and he gets all content and snoozey.
I was really hoping I wouldn't have to resort to topping up for Phil, but hey, if his hungrey and I have nothing left, then well, I just have to deal with it.
Other then that, BFeeding is doing wonders for my waistline (YES I have one again!!!!) I'm back into most of my regular clothes! Still have about 7kg to lose tho to get back to my pre prego weight... but with the help of some very tight spanx I'm feeling almost like my normal self again!

[*Dee*]

Nat - yay for the waistline! I had to do the jeans dance but I got them on haha

Well last night wasn't so bad, he fed and changed at 1am then slept till 4am I fed him in the dark this time and he brought up the wind himself and settled back to sleep straight away. He woke again at 6am so I fed and changed him again without turning the light on as there was enough light in the room for me to see, again he settled quickly then he slept until 8.30. So i think keeping the light off has made a difference coz he's not getting that stimulation and confusing night and day time.
And Nat - I have been doing that with the dummy too. He settles better with a full belly and a dummy but I didn't realise that about not realising they're full.
I had to top up DS2 with formula, worked great with him. I was able to do both with him till 4 months, then it just got too hard my milk started running out coz I was so exhausted running around after an 18 month old and nursing a baby. So as long as it's working it's worth doing.
Everything is just trial and error, see what works for each baby. Whatever we must do for bit of shut eye!

[KellyC]

Hi all - I'm having quite a freak out moment right now. I just got a call from my step mum saying my brother has chicken pox - apparently he had a rash come up on his arm on Sunday that faded out but today he has full blown chicken pox. My brothers were with Liam on Friday so I'm really worried that he has been exposed. We're taking him to the GP soon, but does anyone have any info on babies and chicken pox? I'm having a massive panic attack!

[tattoo_mama]

CHECKUP UPDATE: have posted same in both belly n baby buddies threads.
had the creepy male midwife again lucky me
he did an internal (it hurt reallllly bad) and said im fully effaced but not dialated at all so couldnt do a S&S. said i will most likely go naturally in the next few days but booked in for an induction next tues arvo when i will be 40+9(the hossy i go to dont like you going more than 10 days over)...i was hoping id be a lil bit dialated but oh well...at least i have a date now!

they said with the induction i go in tues 4pm and they put in a prostin gel and then the next morning brake my waters and then go from there...is that normal induction stuff? havent read up much on it.

hope you guys with bubbies already are doing well!

[*Dee*]

Tatt - yeah that's the same induction method my cousin had. It's pretty common. At least u kno by next week ul have ur precious baby Jade in ur arms!

Kelly - that would be a bit scary. I dont have any advice. But i'd definately be going to the gp as u are just to make sure.

[nellnell]

Nat - Master K was born 5lb 14oz

Look after yourselves ladies. Sleep, stuff the housework and don't worry about the visitors (make them make you a cup of tea then hand them the baby so you can drink the whole cup while it's still hot.)

All good here. I'm feeling like I'm a little more in touch with what K is doing and running with the feed, play, sleep routine. I've even had some success with self settling, where I put him down awake, he usually cries a couple of minutes later, and I go to him if he works up to a good cry, settle again, then he usually settles himself. Saying that, it doesn't work all the time (like at 2am this morning) Ah well - he's asleep now and a little angel. How could I be cranky?

[Maruschke]

Is anyone else spotting fresh blood from the bottom after doing a #2? I don't know if it is stitches or something else. But it hurts! It has only just started happening the last two or three days.

[nelly]

FOUND YOU ALL!!!!!

Not much different here from me girls- still waiting! Bub is still transvers and has nowmoved into a med risk position. If I go into spontaneous labor I have to go straight to hospital, otherwise I have a (secret) CS date next week. Either way I will have our bubba next week!

[megs]

Hi Girls,

Well I have found you all, took awhile to realise that the baby thread had started.

Sounds like everyone is going really well.

Jack is going well, he is a little porky and put on 320gms in 6 days. I am using a nipple shield at moment due to him having latching issues, between my flat nipples and his short tongue. So I was really happy with his weight gain, goes to show the shields aren't reducing my milk supply.

Re dummies, at this stage I haven't given Jack one, I'm sure I will though. My other 2 boys both had dummies. I used the Nuk ones. Re nipple confusion my eldest son was fed using a nipple shield til he was 5 months old, (he latched onto breast on his own after that) plus he also had a dummy and he was confused at all between the two.

So far Jack is a fairly settled baby, is pretty much feeding 3 to 4 hourly. Have had a couple of unsettled nights, think it was wind. I'm doing OK, had a slight touch of Mastitis on the weekend managed to feed through it though so that was good.

Sorry for the selfish post will try and get back into the swing of keeping up with everything.

[Toomanytoomany]

Megs, so glad the shields are working for you. It's just amazing, it feels like every problem one can have, there's a product out there to help! I'm glad little Jack is doing well.

Nelly, good luck with however things turn out for you. It must be a bit disconcerting, thinking that going into labour is going to mean sudden surgery for you. I hope at the last minute bubs turns the right way.

Nat, I've had the opposite experience to you - I love my Avent Isis, although dh got me an electric one this time. I used the Isis manual at work for a year and got tons and tons of milk. This is obviously another area where it's all down to the individual Tom has an Avent dummy, which he accepts under sufferance, and I only really offer when a feed isn't possible, such as when we're in the car or I'm in the middle of making dinner. He thinks it is most unreasonable and makes those funny angry baby noises while he's sucking madly on the dummy LOL.

I'm having a lot of fun with Little Tom (who also gets called Major Tom when he's being bossy). He's a very relaxed baby, unless he's not getting his boob. He has a massage every night and just adores it, which is nice, because Clare hated it. I just wish he'd sleep a bit more at night. The first sleep block of the evening is getting longer and longer (he slept from 8pm to midnight last night) and I suspect that will just lengthen out until he is able to sleep through. I could do without feeding constantly from 1am onwards. <yawn>

We had a mass of dh's family come to visit yesterday which was kind of nice, and Tom got passed around which he didn't mind too much. I found out last night that my Grandma died (my dad didn't even call me, he made my sister do it), and I cried all over Tom's soft little head. Then today I found out my dental surgery in July is going to cost about $3000. So I took Tom and the ensuing migraine to bed and he comforted me with his snuggling for the afternoon. So all in all, he's proving a pretty useful little chap

How long are your babies nursing for at a feed? I've noticed that Tom is probably only taking ten to fifteen minutes per feed now - I suspect if I could get him to go longer, he'd last longer between feeds. And how many dirty nappies are you changing? We've gone through one and a half boxes of 108 newborn nappies since he was born. So glad I'm not doing cloth! I've never known a baby poo so much.

Hope everyone is well.

[tattoo_mama]

hi all
CONGRATS TO RAYRAY!!
nothing here, 4 days overdue and nothing stirring at all
think i will join the next may group cause by the time my bubs is born i will be far behind the rest of you guys development wise. starting to think its really strange that everyone in our group had thier bubs early or pretty much on time except for me...i guess Nelly has an excuse having had complications before, makes me think maybe my EDD dates were wrong.? also seeing as half the may 16-31 girls have had thier bubs too and my bump is quite small compared to most.

[Toomanytoomany]

Oh I forgot to mention - we thought this was a fluke the first time he did it, but it isn't - cheeky Tom can roll from his tummy to his back. He's done it a few times now, and he did it in front of his grandparents last night, which pleased me because I could tell they didn't believe me LOL. He's a determined little fellow.