There are many issues that you will encounter as a new parent. We have put together this list of useful articles and threads in order to assist you with some common questions or issues you may have, and to provide you with bit of extra support that we all need as new parents:
Please contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) or a Lactation Consultant if you are concerned that you may have breastfeeding and/or supply problems, and before the introduction of solids.
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Ooh, am I the first to post in here? New thread - yay!
Sorry everyone that I've been away lately - things at home are interesting, to say the least. We've desperately been trying everything to work through Mia's crying episodes at the moment.
She seems unsettled most of the time she's awake. She doesn't sleep well, and usually only sleeps for one sleep cycle and then cries when she wakes. Then she feeds, but because she hasn't slept well, doesn't stay awake for long and doesn't feed well. Then she sleeps but presumably wakes up again shortly b/c of hunger and the cycle starts over again! We're trying to work through it as best we can (also bought the Save our Sleep book to try and help out as well as we needed some settling techniques) and things are starting to improve so hopefully we're on the right track.
I'm still having milk supply issues. I even tried expressing before feeding and was only getting 20ml per boob so there is something wrong which I'm devastated over. I got a script at the Drs yesterday for motilium so I'm going to give that a go. Have tried absolutely everything else, but nothing seems to be working. We have our MCHN appointment tomorrow for her 4 week checkup so we will see how her weight is going and hopefully it's just a matter of me not being able to express rather than her not getting what she needs. Fingers crossed!!
Damn, there she goes again - sorry for no personals. Will try and do some later
Hi all - new thread time!! Happy Belated birthday Mel - sorry I didnt realise the other day!
You would think I had learned my lesson from last time- spent a heap of time doing personals last night and my computer just came up with a white screen halfway through and i had to re-boot.....so annoying.
So now I will have to attempt again later on today... Lis you are right they ALWAYS stir just at the most appropriate time....like right now although i think she is just grizzling her way to sleep -
Im still having issues with Izzy she wont settle for longer than about 40 mins during the day and when shes awake she has to be held- I cant put her in her bouncer or anything. I was a bit spoiled in the first 2 weeks when she just slept for 3 hour intervals all day. I shouldnt complain because she slept for 4 hours and 5 hours last night so Im feeling good during the day luckily - still though it makes it hard to do anything at all.
Isabelle has put on 1 kg since leaving hospital!! She had lost more than 10% about 600g... She is now 4.5 kg and she has grown 3.6 cms!! Now 53.6cms - the nurse made me feel pretty good saying that perservering though the nipple pain etc has obviously worked and more than likely the last week or so has been a growth spurt! Go boobys!
Im driving now too- whoo hoo - I went to the MCHN yesterday, mum came with me and I said to her - can you drive a manual - and she told me that I would be fine seeing as Im not in any pain (much)(feel like ive pulled a muscle in my hip - might not be c/s related though!!) etc..... so there it is - going out on my own to a shopping centre today - a bit excited and nervous -so far have been with other people.
God Im babbling now sorry....
Anyway ladies hope your bubs have treated you well over night - will catch up on those personals later on!
Kristen - I have save our sleep too and although Im demand feeding and not using a routine it has some great stuff in it - Izzy sounds a bit the same at the moment - hope you get though it all. Good luck with your LC too and I hope the motilium helps- have you called that lady?? I havent yet... mmmm maybe i should. Good luck babe.
Just looked at our tickers - how funny they are nearly the same- little angels when sleeping!! Did you get your photos on Mias site proffessinally done - they look great!!
Kristen, I know you might be having other issues (sorry, don't know what they are ), but please don't stress about what you get when expressing. I only get 20mls between both boobs! Yet, Nicholas seems to be getting enough milk himself. I am trying every natural remedy in the book to boost my supply, but I still can't express much. As long as he is getting lots of wet nappies and is reasonably settled (except for that period we have each day!) and gaining weight, then I try not to stress about it. hun, it's hard work I know. I hope she settles soon for you and gets some sleep!
Tan, I hear you on the sleep thing! It does make it hard to do anything! Though I'm getting good at doing a few things with one hand . Yesterday he was fast asleep so I had a shower (no mean feat with a broken foot) and of course just as I turned the water offhe starting SCREAMING! But I had to put my boot back on etc etc to get to him. It was horrible listening to him. We get 5 hours and 4 hours here most nights too - not last night though! Think I might be trying to get a nap in today! I find that I'm getting very good at being very organised these days. Anytime that he's asleep, or that Andy has him I'm running around getting heaps done. Except when I'm on here of course hehe.
Hey girls, am typing one handed so this will be quick.
Blake has an ear infection and a fever, the poor lil bugger. I feel so sorry for him, I wish he didn't have to be in any pain. He's on antibiotics so hopefully it clears up sooon.
I have conjuntivitis - yuk. So I have to be super careful about not giving it to the baby, even though the likliehood ?I got it from him is high! On an even more sour note, I have been diagnosed with PND. I've known for a week or 2 something has not been right with me, and I tick all of the boxes for PND. Have been prescribed some anti-depressants, hopefully they help things out.
Ooh Ash - you poor thing, big hugs to you and Blake hun and make sure you vent here as much as you need to, we are all here for you and its really important that you talk about how you are feeling no matter what. Dont worry about being a downer etc. thats what this forum is for. I hope the anti-d help and try to rest up, sounds like you are a bit run down too with the conjunctivitis etc..
I'm sorry I haven't been around again, Leo wants to feed continuously so all I can do is read and not type, I've been following everyone's journey but I am viciously slow typing one handed and don't bother so much of the time.
Ashlee hun You poor thing, a triple wammy. My DS1 gets ear infections all the time right from birth, they can be so rotten awful things. The antibiotics will fix Blake up real quick, dont you worry. As for PND hun, I've been diagnosed with it as well and have commenced zoloft (today, I've been putting it off). I've had it twice before and the AD's really help, they can take a while to kick in but you will feel like a new person when they do. I handled it better this time because it was expected (I was supposed to be on ADs when I was pregnant) and knew that these feelings weren't 'real' as such, but it's a horribly miserable time and I really want to send you many caring big hugs :hugs:. I know what you feel and just know, that any things negative you are thinking of yourself is just this awful disease, not who you are. And it's a completely hormonal thing, it doesn't take anything away from who you are. YOu'll be back feeling yourself in no time, just don't be hard on yourself and you've also been through quite an experience and had a rough ride at times, so be kind to yourself and allow yourself room to rest and recover. AD's can knock you around for a couple of days too and a lot of people stop taking them because of it, but persist through it and it will pass. Take care darlin
I want to say a big hello to all my old belly buddies that are here, I'll try and catch up properly now that things have settled down a bit!
OH, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY RAE AND MEL!!!!
A new thread so I have a good chance to start some personals!
Kristen - I'm sorry to hear about your milk issues, I hope you can pop on today and let us know how your MCHN visit went. I have heaps of milk, but can barely express a drop...my breasts just don't express so I hope that that is what is going on with you. The amount expressed can be a bit deceptive that way if you don't ahve cooperative breasts like me.
Tan - Yay for the growth spurt! Good on you for perservering, it's bloody awful sometimes that nipple cripple pain. I've really understood this time around due to Leo's tonguetie and attachment issues why many ladies give up, that breast pain is something else when they don't attach properly. Its' nasty. Izzy sounds like Leo too, doesn't like to be put down which is *groan* normal apparently. I use a baba sling, but it's a pain when you want to clean the toilet or something. Leo will scream very loudly if I don't pick him up as soon as he starts grizzling. Apparently it passes soon, but I remember my other kids being like that a long while.
Sez - Hi there!
Danni - How are you finding your nights with little Mason now?
Well here things are going okay. Leo had his second weigh in and has put on another 400 grms in one week, so a total of 760grms in two weeks (since his discharge from home maternity service). His tongue-tie is making it hard for him to feed but my milk kind of sprays down his throat so he's getting heaps that way. I'm worried how it will go when my milk settles though. Specialists don't like to fix the tongue-tie if the babies are gaining weight, but the nurse says that it's better to fix it now before my milk settles down because to her he's clearly not attaching properly (he can't stick his tongue out at all). So we might look at going private and just paying for it out of our own pockets. He will definately have speach issues if it's not fixed too, his tongue won't extend past his bottom gum so it's pretty extreme.
I have a question for everyone....what was your baby's length about 3 weeks old??
Leo's is 59cm....apparently he is a giant and is above the highest line on the chart....is that really giant? The nurse was like 'whoa'. His father is very tall and he's too long for 000 suits.
So Leo's stats today are : weight 4760grms, height 59cm, HC 37cm.
And he's sleeping still right now, so that's a miracle, maybe he will start to have day time sleeps! He's awake most of the day and we are getting 3hr intervals at night which are great. He doesn't want to be put down AT ALL though in the day and that can be really draining at times. He also screams for no apparent reason between 4pm and 9pm everynight, so I guess that's the unsettled time he's going to have. So the baby bonus came in and I'm going to invest in a rocking chair!
tara: yes leo is huge! he is a big boy thats for sure!
Mason is sleeping so well at night now. When we put him down he sleeps for 7 hours, then a feed, then another 3 or 4 hours sleep. So i am not deprived at all thank goodness
Tara- Isabelle was 53.6 - a 3.6 cm increase from birth yesterday at 3w4d.... i wouldnt worry too much my niece was OFF the chart until she was about 4yo and we thought she would be this amazon woman and now she is 11 and average to above average for her age!! yay for the day sleeps too hun!
Had our outing to the shops - whoo hoo - went very well!! We got home and her bot was all red from being carried and the nappy so have put her on her bouncer with no nappy just a cloth one under her and shes loving it!!! yay first time in days she has been content to just sit and kick and play without me holding her!!! Must be a great feeling i guess after always being in a nappy!!
Sorry guys, haven't even had time to read through all the posts and catch up but just wanted to let you know that everything went well with the LC and hopefully we're on the road to improving my right boob problems. The night before I saw the LC I noticed quite a few 'grazes' on my nipple and by the time she came, they were cut and bleeding, just to add to the pain!! It's definitely an attachment problem, so we worked on a few alternatives. Crazy how he can attach perfectly on the left side but not on the right. Anyway, I have to rest the nipple for a few days, so I've hired an electric breast pump and am expressing from the right side and still feeding on the left. Its working ok but it's just such a pain to have to sit down and feed, then express. It's so time consuming, hence why I haven't had time to catch up on everything.
Other than that, all is going pretty good. I'm still quite tired but generally we're getting quite a bit of sleep, so I can't complain. Luke's been having a bit of a whinge lately but still settles quite well - thank god for the dummy - we're big fans of it over here but will try and get rid of it by 6 months - we'll see how we go!!!
Also had an appointment with the health clinic nurse - hmm, might of already told you that but he weights 4.6kg already!!
Am going to try and drive this weekend too - I'm sick of being stuck at home!! If I had an automatic car, I'd be in it by now but with the manual, I've been a little more hesitant. Must go, will try and keep up soon, I promise!!!
Kelly, glad things are working out with the BFing hun! Though I hear you on the expressing being hard work! I'm only doing it during the day now, but it does take up alot of time! We love the dummy too I'm planning on giving it a year....but I bet it ends up being more LOL. As a dental nurse, I say better a dummy than a thumb!
Good luck tomorrow Kristen, for a big increase!
Ash, huge huge hugs hun. We're all here for you so please come and vent when you need to. I hope you're all feeling better soon, you're really doing it tough ATM.
WTG Sarah, I'm so glad you got to see the specialist! Sounds like you're really on the right track
God I need some sleep! Here's hoping we all get some tonight.....
Hi Everyone, this has taken me two days to get this post together (lucky I use word to put it together first so I don’t loose it)
Well thankyou everyone for the b’day wishes. Isn’t it funny how Rae and I were born the same day and are now sharing a May mummies thread with our beautiful little girls. Actually I have to say that we lost touch for a couple of years but our pregnancies have brought us back together and I have to say that it was a shame that we did loose contact especially when there are so many similarities between us (such as we both married men named Paul and both got married only a few weeks apart)
My back is on the mend too – thank goodness as I really felt quite hopeless not being able to run around after Isobella. It was so painful. Isobella had been asleep and thought I would do a quick tidy up of the house and decided to do a quick sweep. Half way through sweeping my back was a little sore so I thought I would sit down for a minute and when I did I started to get pains down my leg then Isobella started being real restless so I thought I would put her next to me on the lounge and have a nap myself until she was due for her next feed. Well when we woke up I went to sit up to feed her but realised I couldn’t get up I was stuck! So I fed her lying down and then tried to get up again and sharp pains shot up my back and down my legs. There was no way I was getting up on my own and the phone was too far to reach to call someone. So I had to wait till Paul got home lucky I wasn’t in pain lying on my side. When he got home I told him I was stuck; so he came over a gave me a hand up and as he did I screamed in pain. He went white from my screaming and crying. Also because I had been there so long I was busting to go to the toilet and had to crawl from the lounge room to the toilet while he called my mum to come and look after me as he had to go to work the next day and couldn’t take the day off. I am so grateful that my mum came to help because I couldn’t straighten up at all. I was feeding Izzy bent over and couldn’t even burp her! I am still sore now but atleast I can stand up and carry my daughter around the house.
Not going to be able to do many personals as there was so much for me to catch up on but some one was talking about expressing and having difficulties getting the milk to flow. I have found that if I use a hot face washer and put it around the boob for a minute or two I am able to express better and I even seem to be able to get a bit more than if I didn’t - HTH
Also Lulu I am using the same bottles as you but she doesn’t seem to like them very much so I am going to have a look at getting something different to try. As I went to the Pink concert on Thursday (my first time away from my princess) it was my birthday pressie from DH and she wouldn’t feed without crying and getting very upset (won’t be leaving her again until she feeds from a bottle without any worries but it had been a short notice thing so I didn’t have much time to get her used to the bottle)
T4AA how fantastic was the Pink concert!! I had general admission tickets and I was right up the front only metres away from her. She is a fantastic entertainer and fit too! I couldn’t believe some of the stunts she did. When she swung over the crowd I was almost able to touch her.
Kristen do you use a pump or do you hand express. If you are using a pump try to maybe hand express a little first then use the pump it might help the let down of the milk.
Tan Yay on being able to drive! I keep forgetting about you guys that had the c/s and not driving I think I would have gone crazy if I hadn’t been able to drive.
Ash sorry to hear about the PND and we are all hear when you need us.
Tara I had Isobella measured today and her 6 week stats are 5590g an 59cm long with a HC of 37.9cm
Also Isobella has her days and nights mixed up so finding it a little hard ATM. Am trying to keep her awake through the day but nothing seems to be working she is still awake now better go
Good morning ladies,
This post is going to have to be quick because we are still having internet issues and it drops out all the bloody time so I'll try to answer the questions that you have all been asking and do personals at the same time. It's driving me crazy and we can't get our broadband connected for another 2 weeks or so. GGRRRRR!!!!!!!!
Olivia is growing really well. She was weighed yesterday and is now weighing 4395gms, 54cm and HC is 38cm. Our breast feeding is going really well but we just can't do it without a shield but i don't care. It works with the shield so that is all that matters. Leo is a big boy a 59cm but as long as he's growing it doesn't matter. Apparantely Olivia has a big head.
We are also having a lot of sleeping issues here as well. Seems that all our bubbies are working against us. If we hold Olivia and let her fall asleep in our arms and then put her in her bassinette she sleeps for a few hours until her next feed but trying to get her to settle herself in her bassinette is just not working. The MCHN gave us a lot of awesome advice yesterday and we tried it last night and the little turd wouldn't settle and we gave up after 1hr 45mins and picked her up and of course she was asleep in Dave's arms within 5mins and then slept until her next feed. We are going to work really hard on this over the weekend and if we can't get it sorted out we are going the parent and baby unit for their help next week.
The MCHN said to put her in her bassinnette when she is awake so she knows where she is. When are putting her to sleep in our arms and then putting her to bed when she stirs a little bit she is startled and scared because she doesn't know where she is or how she got there. Makes sense, I guess. We are just going to have to perserve and be strong. I'm just not. I hate my little girl being upset but this is one thing that she has to learn.
She also told me that I was having her up for too long. Olivia was up for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours from the start of a feed to being settled again so she was just exhausted. At her age she shouldn't be up for more than 1 - 1 1/2 hours at a time.
Ashlee it is fantastic that you were strong enough to get some help. Here's hoping that you and Blake both get better soon and your AD's help you.
To the mummies having trouble with expressing I too never got much out. On a really good express I got 90mls from both breast in total but I agree that our breasts are very sneaky and have heaps more milk than they let on. Plus don't forget that our babies suck is so much more effecient than expressing so they can get much more than we can expressing. Hoping that all nipples clear up and b/f issues are working themselves out. Plus, every feed they get is a bonus and if they need to have formula then they need to. I have a tin in our pantry for just in case situations.
Danni & Tan (and anyone else whose interested) - remember I mentioned in our belly buddies thread that I was coming to Melbourne in July. I will be there from 9th - 13th of July and was wondering if we could catch up??
Well I had better go and do some housework unfortunately but I'm more likely going to lay down on the couch with our puppies and give them some much needed attention. Tomorrow Dave is going to look after Olivia for a few hours so I can go shopping and have a bath. I adore my angel and husband more than life but I need a few hours by myself just like Dave needs daddy daughter time.
I promise that I am reading everyone posts and I'm thinking about you all but having trouble posting with this internet. I'm here though cause I couldn't be without belly belly. I love this place
Catch up soon lovely ladies,
Luv Dan & Olivia.
Tan - the photos were taken by a photographer friend of mine. Let me know if you want her details and I will email them to you. She charges a sitting fee, but will come to you and give you all her images on CD. Whether you choose to purchase prints from her is up to you, but best to speak to her about prices etc. Anyway, let me know
And, I know about the tickers!! Cute huh!!
Sez / Danni - thanks for the support. MCHN appointment tomorrow so I will definitely let you know how we go with her weight. I know she has grown HEAPS in length, but will be interesting to see just how much!!
Ashlee - poor little Blake Hope his ear infection clears up soon!! And I'm so sorry about the PND too. Here's hoping you've got all the support you need both through BB and from your family and friends as well
Tara - that's great news about the sleeping! Mia is also unsettled in those hours in the evening too. Apparently wind can be a big cause as it builds up during the day - we've tried using Infants Friend throughout the day to make sure we get all of her air out to prevent the grizzlies later. Seems to be helping a bit. Mia was 53cm at 2 weeks but will find out how long she is tomorrow for 4 weeks. I think we're about to move her out of 000 as she is also a bit long for 0000... that, and she has MASSIVE feet!!
Kelly - glad to hear you're on the way to sorting out the attachment issues. Mia is also feeding ok from my left boob, but not my right. Something I will ask about tomorrow at my appointment - did they say why it may be a problem with one and not the other?
Just wanted to let you know that we went to Melb to see the specialist and Noah does in fact have clubfoot and he was put in his first plaster today. He will have 3 more weeks of the same so a plaster a week, then he will have his achillies tendon cut and be put in a plaster for 2-3 more weeks and be in his special boots after that. I am so relieved that we saw the specialist because I knew the other guy was wrong.
I better go get some rest considering I have been up since 3am. Will try to catch up soon!
Babies Born May 2007 #3
(feel like ive pulled a muscle in my hip - might not be c/s related though!!) etc..... so there it is - going out on my own to a shopping centre today - a bit excited and nervous -so far have been with other people.
), but please don't stress about what you get when expressing. I only get 20mls between both boobs! Yet, Nicholas seems to be getting enough milk himself. I am trying every natural remedy in the book to boost my supply, but I still can't express much. As long as he is getting lots of wet nappies and is reasonably settled (except for that period we have each day!) and gaining weight, then I try not to stress about it. 
hun, it's hard work I know. I hope she settles soon for you and gets some sleep! 
. Yesterday he was fast asleep so I had a shower (no mean feat with a broken foot) and of course just as I turned the water offhe starting SCREAMING! But I had to put my boot back on etc etc to get to him. It was horrible listening to him. We get 5 hours and 4 hours here most nights too - not last night though! Think I might be trying to get a nap in today! I find that I'm getting very good at being very organised these days. Anytime that he's asleep, or that Andy has him I'm running around getting heaps done. Except when I'm on here of course hehe. 
for a big increase! 
Hope his ear infection clears up soon!! And I'm so sorry about the PND too. Here's hoping you've got all the support you need both through BB and from your family and friends as well 
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