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.
Please note - To receive thread notifications click the "thread tools" button at the top of this post and click "Subscribe to Thread" there is no need to post in order to get notifications.
Sarah, I just wanted give you a cyber hug! You must be exhausted hun. My first though was the same as....someone elses LOL. Could the caffeine be bothering him? There's no way I could even drink one cup of coffee ATM, it just unsettles Nicky too much. It's worth a thought, if you haven't already that is. Good luck getting some sleep tonight.
Danni, hope you're okay hun
Today went okay, he's a bit unsettled tonight, but not too bad. Will only sleep in our arms. I hope he goes down alright at bed time, 12.30am! We're just hanging out at home tomorrow, resting up, I'll try to log on then if he's okay.
Hi Everyone just a quick hello have to go back and catch up on what I have missed in the last thread but thought I would share this pic I took of Bella.
Will catch up on persies tomorrow getting a headached so I better go and get some sleep
Sarah, I just wanted to say that if your doc says its ok, you may be able to start Noah on Farex. But, that being said, Blake had his first try at 9 weeks, and definitely wasn't interested nor ready, he was just trying to suck the whole time instead of swallow and eat the food. Luckily his eating issues have now sorted themselves due to thickened feeds, have you thought about pumping and adding some thickner to the EBM? Just a thought
Hi there strangers,
After a very long 10 days I can finally get on here and catch up with everyone and see how you and your bubby's are.
Kelly - sorry to hear that Luke is refusing your right BB at the moment. Is that the one that you had mastitis in? If it is that could be why he is refusing it. It has been known that mastitis can change the taste of your BB milk and that could be why he is refusing it. How's he going today? It would definetely be worth asking your MCHN about it.
Sarah - OH MY GOD!!! You must be exhausted. You need to ask someone about his feeding because he is feeding so often and you can't keep this up. You are going to run yourself into the ground. With settling it is really hard too (nothing is easy is it?). I was completely off base with Olivia so we went to the sleep school and they taught me the signs I needed to look for and to put her to bed awake and let her cry. They showed me it was alright for her to cry for a while in bed because it was giving her a chance to settle herself. The first time she cried for 35 mins and so did I and then each time after that she settled herself quicker. Now she has a tiny gizzle for about 1 - 2 minutes and she is out like a light. Is there a settling school near you? Most importantly please look after yourself so you can look after your gorgeous little man. Sending you a huge .
Danni - Hi there gorgeous. Sorry we couldn't co-ordinate our schedules when last week but we will definely catch up. How is your little man going? Is he settling for you better during the day?
Sez - Do you have personalised number plates? The reason I ask was when I was in Melb I kept seeing this car with SEZ? number plates and for some reason I thought it was you. My DH thought I was going mad until I explained about you. Typing that does seem to make me seem mad. Oh well. How's little Nicky going with his weight gain? Are you still having to top up with formula or has your milk supply picked up enough for you to do EBM top ups?
- That is great news that Tia is doing so well and won't need her surgery until she's 12 months. What is wrong with her heart? I know that you have probably told us a thousand times but my memory still has huge holes in it.
Mel - What an absolutely gorgeous photo of Bella. I would Olivia to smile like that for a photo but everything there is a camera or video camera near her she screws up her face and 9 times out of 10 starts crying. Little turd! Can't wait to hear how everything is going for you too.
Tan & Kirsten - It was fantastic catching up for lunch the other day. Olivia and I had a great time and can't wait to do it again. Thanks for coming in to meet us. Tan I hope Izzy fisula is clearing up for you.
Hi huge hello to all the other mums and bubs. I tried to remember from the last post but things aren't staying in my memory as well as they used to and my crappy internet won't run two pages. I miss my broadband so much and can't wait for it to come back.
Olivia is doing really well at the moment. She was so good when we were in Melbourne last week especially considering every single day we had something on either during the day or at night. She slept really well and was well behaved whenever we were out. Melbourne stocktake sales were great (not for Dave's wallet though ). I bought some absolutely gorgeous little dresses for Olivia. Can't wait for summer.
At the moment Olivia is sleeping and eating really well. Sunday night was a big night in this household. Olivia slept in her cot in her bedroom for the first time and she loved it. She slept for 8 hours. Mummy on the other hand cried for about 2 hours and only slept for about 3 hours of broken sleep. I was secretly hoping that she would hate it and cry all night so I could go and get her and bring her back down to our room with us. Her room is at the other end of the house so I was worried I won't hear her even with our baby monitor and knowing that I can hear her loud and clear during the day. It was the first time since she was born that we hadn't slept in the same room. Last night was much better. I slept for about 7 hours straight and Olivia had her standard 8.
I am finally beginning to feel like I'm getting my head above water at the moment. I have free time during the day to do housework and even some baking. Shock horror!!
Anyway I had better go and have some breakfast before my angel wakes up for her next feed.
Have great day ladies and I'll catch up soon.
Luv Dan and Olivia
I will have to come back to the personals but I have a little happy man sitting next to me with big smiles wanting to play. I am a happy mother today too. I fed Noah at 10:30pm and he woke up at 4:30am for his next feed. Looks like coffee puts my boy to sleep
Can you believe for 7 out of the last 9 weeks I thought it was normal for babies to be up every hour or two in the night and want to feed so frequently in the day
Welcome back Dan! Glad the gorgeous Olivia was good for you while you were in town! Yay for the cot - well not for you - ! We have had Izzy in her room since the second day home because Im such a light sleeper and was getting zero rest - although her room is right next to ours so I hear her easily anyway. Having said that I had ear plugs in this morning and Al had to wake me because I was in such a deep sleep -hence why I dont wear them when he isnt here! Its amazing how good you start to feel when you can sleep well at night isnt it!
Sarah - yay for Noah sleeping so well -I hope the book you ave helps - and I agree with Dan, is there a sleep school you can check out? Your MCHN may be able to suggest somehting. I used ideas from Save our Sleep but Im not as prescriptive because at the end of the day they are babies with their own moods etc. but it really helps now if she cries I kind of count how long since a nap/feed and can try to work out where she is at.
Hope you can get him into a good routine hun and give yourself a break!
Ash - how are you gorgeous Blake going??? Hope you are both doing well and he is being good for you!
Mel - your pic is gorgeous - is that a point and shoot camera or an SLR - it looks great!!!
Sez - glad Nicholas is ok hun - stay inside today - its awful weather isnt it! Rainy and windy and perfect for cuddles on the couch!
All other gorgeous mummies - HELLO!!
Well we are good! No blood in poo so far today - yay! but i have found this weird lump thing on Izzys head- its a small pea size just under the skin and kind of moves when you touch it! I think its probably a little fluidy cyst and I have an appointment for Friday for her poo but man just another thing to constantly worry about....
The weather in Melbourne today is atrocious so we are going to stay home and have cuddles on the couch all day! Hope you all have a lovely day!
WooHoo, my little cherub is sleeping!! I just can not believe he slept for 6 1/2 hours!!!!
Sez - I didn't really consider coffee as affecting him, I drank so much of it during my pregnancy, at the most I usually only drink 2 a day and never later than 2pm if I can help it but yesterday my eyes were hanging out of my head. I hope Nicky slept good for you last night in the end. Noah gets his shots today
Mel - What a great pic!!!
Ash - Is Gaviscon a thickener? I sometimes give it in ebm when he is doing the pulling off the breast and screaming trick, there were 2 episodes of that yesterday. Why can't they make stuff that doesn't have a taste. Talk about us feeling like we are poisoning our babies when we are just trying to help them.
Dan - Baking? Well done!!! Great to hear that life is heading back into normality. Housework is a big one. I so wish I could have been in Melbourne last week. I would have found a way had Noah and I not have been sick. I don't think there are sleep schools in Horsham but there are in Melbourne and I did consider it yesterday, if only I wasn't so bloody stubborn to try and work things out for myself. A lot of my problem is I can't bear to hear Noah cry, it makes me feel like a complete failure or that I have done something wrong, I really need to get rid of that mindset because babies will cry regardless of what we do sometimes and it doesn't make us bad people so I have heard hehe.
Danni - Can I please have a coffee What is going on with msn??? Now I can't send msgs to anyone. I hate it!!
I don't know how long my little booger is going to sleep so I better get a shower in. I am so nervous about his shots, Justin has to work too. Oh well, it is better than the alternative I guess. Hope everyone has a great day!!!
I didn't realize how nice life seems with a little sleep
Tan - The book that I got looks crap, Oh well it has charts for me to tell when he eats sleep and how long to settle so it has some use... Yay on the poo! Not so yay for the little cyst. Heres to Friday coming fast for you.
nah gaviscon isnt really a thickener. Its called "karicare thickener" and it just thickens up the milk so it digests easier without coming up. i didnt want to use it as its artificial but see what your mchn or gp says.
Sarak - Pinky is going to be on live chat tonight - i knowit will be busy but might be worth popping on and asking some questions?? Also there are some sleep seminars with her coming up will see if i can find the link for you..
Tan-Hey sweetie, we're doing well thank you for asking. Blake is eating like a normal bub now, only taking around 15-20 mins instead of an hour! He is on Goat's milk formula with added thickner so he isn't chucky (he doesn't have reflux, just a spewy bub). I'm sure the lil lump you found on Izzy's head is nothing to worry about, but you're right, there is always something to worry about nowadays lol I hope the blood in the poop is nothing!
Sarah-Nope I use Karicare food thickner, it is uncoloured and unflavoured, and is suitable for breastmilk, formula and even big people food. It's about $12 for a tin, and I think there is about 500g in it. You just mix it in and hey presto, it thickens it up. I hope everything goes well with Noah's shots, it's heartbreaking but has to be done!
Luke is getting even worse with the whole refusing my right bb - it's insane. I've tried so hard to get him to take it but he just screams!! Then, if I swap him over to the right boob or give him ebm in a bottle, he sucks away as though he's starving!!! What a little ratbag! He seems to be ok at night but mornings and during the day, it can be a real struggle. I even tried tricking him and laying him as if he was going to feed from the left and then putting him on the right. That worked the first time, so I'm not sure that it's tasting different (but yes, its the bb that I had mastitis in twice)!! Its not working as well now though. Its really frustrating and is making me quite upset. I guess I'll ask the health nurse at mothers group tomorrow. We're out and about today though and I'm sooo worried that he's going to make a big scene and I'll have milk spraying everywhere - how embarrassing. Oh well, can't be helped!!
Kelly - How frustrating for you, so Luke drinks it when it is expressed? Have you called the ABA for suggestions? Hope you get answers quick!
Ash - I might give it a go if he goes back to feeding frequently, it did seem like he was never getting enough. Thanks for the tip!
Tan - Oooo thanks for the info, I hope I get the chance to be on, maybe I can keep the window open and just see what she answers to everyone elses questions. I don't think I could make it to a seminar though
Well Noah was a very good boy for his shots and his mum was well behaved too It so happened that he was sleeping up until I had to leave for the appt so I saved his feed for while he got the shots. There was one where he really screamed though and the nurse said that it is meant to sting. I just didn't want to give him panadol in case he had a reaction to it and I thought it was the shots. Today he is a new boy with feeds, I am helping to distract him to stretch them out and he is going 2 1/2 - 3 hours between feeds at the moment. i would like to see him do a long sleep again tonight. It is great to be back in bed with Juz rather than on the sofa like I have been for the last 6 weeks. I might take advantage of Noah sleeping and have a nap myself. Be back later I hope!!!
Sarah - Yay on the 2-3 hour gaps hun !!and remember too the more they sleep the more they will want to sleep - hence why my miss has still up since 11 - i well and truly missed her window today she got over tired and screamed for 2 hours and is now lying on my knees chatting and blowing raspberries...haha Chat is from 9 -10 , Im gonna do the same and see what happens!
Sarah - google "baby whisperer". Its a woman who does not promote controlled crying/comforting but actualy encourages you to look at why your baby may not be sleeping, and to encourage real rituals etc so your baby knows what's going on - eg go into Noah's room with him in your arms, close the curtains, swaddle him and always use the same wording so he knows sleep is coming (to Izzy I say "time for bed sweetheart but I'll be here when you wake up" - a phrase she won't hear any other time except when going to bed). She says if your baby is crying anything other than that cry that is purely a half hearted grizzle then you comfort him. I like her way of doing things because I don't like the idea of leaving Izzy to cry for longer than a couple of minutes, and never if she is distressed (I really hope I'm not offending anyone here who does practice controlled crying/comforting. This is purely my view and I'm not judging anyone else in any way at all - its just not for me). Now that Izzy's reflux seems to be sorted (crossing fingers!), she is going down without any effort at all three times a day for sleeps and then for her night sleep.
Anyway, after all that waffle from me, have a look at her website. Wouldn't suggest you get her to come and visit you though - VERY expensive!!!
Babies Born May 2007 #5
. 
). I bought some absolutely gorgeous little dresses for Olivia. Can't wait for summer. 
Bookmarks