Babies Born ~ April 2013 #1

Beatrix I've been thinking milk imbalance too some days with us. She was having some frothy poos for a couple of days about a week back, but the colour was still yellow/mustard so not completely typical of too much foremilk. Maybe it was just that little bit too much, enough for froth and pain but not enough to turn green. Or it's something I'm eating, I hope not though. I am so hungry and after not be able to eat, or only eat certain things being so sick when pg, I would cry if I had to do an elimination diet to work it out lol But I will if need be. I did a bit of reading too and I could be as simple as their systems are just getting used to working properly. After being constantly fed through the umbilical cord for so long it can take some bubs longer to get used to digesting milk, so it may just need to be waited out. I guess we'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.
Glad you got an OK night too :)

Its nice to see him gaining esp because he is so little; we've had a bad few days and I even cried last night because it was 11pm so I was exhausted and he hadn't settle all day and just fed, fed, fed!!! I thought my milk was drying up or something. Had a little rant about wishing I didnt care so much about breastfeeding blah blah blah then we coslept and he did 4 hours then 3 hours. Has been settled better today thankgod.

That sounds like a growth spurt Freya. Wouldn't have been any different if you were formula feeding, if they are going to be hungry and fussy for growth spurts it makes no difference how they are being fed :) I haven't tried to put Georgia in her bed for the past week and just co slept, she's been way too unsettled and even an extra half hour sleep between feeds at night is worth it rather than the constant battle of resettling etc

I don't think Wilder is going to stay little for much longer either :D

Freya- WOW that's awesome weight and length gain!! Trust me it's easier to cluster feed with boobs than with bottle!! If you are ever concerned about milk supply, have yourself a nice cold beer!!... Works wonders on your nerves AND brings the milk on big time! I had one the other day and I was leaking EVERYWHERE that night! :rofl:

Beatrix-oouchy on the poo... poor baby! hope it sorts itself out!....

Willow- glad you mentioned those things about the milk/poo colours! I didn't know that!! Interesting. i'll be keeping an eye on the poo colours now... I have only seen one green one...!

Eeeew beer! :lol: I want to like beer, but I just don't :sick: It looks so nice and cold and refreshing in summer, but then I try it and it's just not my thing. I've heard Guinness is really good for milk supply. I don't know why, I guess whatever makes it darker than others might have milk making properties? Don't suppose Bundy and coke(yes I am a bogan from way back :p ) or a glass of red(or 2) would help? That I could manage, for the good of my milk that is :p hehe

its the brewers yeast in the beer that helps the milk supply.. so get baking some lactation cookies!

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its the brewers yeast in the beer that helps the milk supply.. so get baking some lactation cookies!

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So no wine then? :lol:

Yep it's the yeast in the beer.... I only drink Mexican beer with a slice of lemon!...LOL

Don't know what was up with Eleni this morning.. she was up at 2am (which would have been normal feed) but she only fed for like 5min then zonked... then was up at 4am, did the same... then 6am which would again have been her normal feed and didn't feed for long either and zonked again!.....thirsty maybe?

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Don't know what was up with Eleni this morning.. she was up at 2am (which would have been normal feed) but she only fed for like 5min then zonked... then was up at 4am, did the same... then 6am which would again have been her normal feed and didn't feed for long either and zonked again!.....thirsty maybe?

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Maybe. Georgia was doing similar yesterday, which made for a crap night because she wanted to make up for it last night with lots of feeds and then some wide awake smile and play time at 3am. Today I can hardly keep my eyes open. In between her waking I had DS3 awake coughing and snotting everywhere.

Harri- Zoe does that regulary at night. i just feed her laying down in bed and swap sides and snooze.

Last night wasnt too bad for use. She was slightly cranky last night and wouldnt settle being held, but put her in the hammock and she cried for about 2 mins then went to sleep fine for 3hrs. I feel bad putting her down to whinge it out but its not screaming or uncontrollable crying, (cause I dont like CIO) but sometimes its the only way she will settle. Is it wrong? As I said its normally more then a whinge but def no uncontrollable crying....

willow- we have had the snot and coughing here too with DD1! She's much better today...thankfully, but it's definitely going around at school, a lot of kids away!

With Eleni, was thinking maybe she's working on cutting out her 2am feed?? or maybe she's waking for gas/wind and thinks she might as well have a bit of milk also? but not hungry really?

Beatrix- I let Eleni whinge a bit... I don't always pick her up straight away etc.. Unless of course it sounds like she's distressed!

I am struggling big time with no sleep

Tonight I have come so close to giving her a bottle of formula so I can sleep through one feed. I really don't want to though and the thought of it is making me cry but so is no sleep.

DH is working tomorrow because the extra $$ is needed ATM with exh being so unreliable with child support. It sucks.

:hug: Beatrix I understand I'm not doing too well either. I'm just trying to remind myself that it's not forever, although it feels like it now. They are still only new and in a few weeks things could change :crossfingers: I keep thinking at night I need to start expressing so I can maybe have a break for a morning feed and get just a bit of sleep, but even that sounds too hard right now. I need to find the old hand pump get it cleaned up, then it will probably take weeks to get enough for even one feed.
Now DS3 is sick full of snot with a horrible cough that has him waking frequently too, and last night Georgia started with it too :( :wall: Why do people send their kids to pre school sick. I hate it when such little ones are sick and it's not helping with sleep at all either.
I don't know how these people do it, seem happy and carefree on little sleep, I just can;t even fake it most of the time, but I know people who just cruise through. DS3 woke every 2 hours, on an average night for 2 years, I am terrified Georgia will be the same :( I remember feeling like this everyday the whole time and I don't want to do it again.

Logan has been a pretty good sleeper until the last couple of days/nights. He seems to be asleep but makes a grizzly sound which causes me to lie there waiting for him to wake completely. Seems I'm the only person that hears it too. DH happily snores the night away. I had a chat to him about it today. He's happy to jump in and help when he can but (and it could be the sleep deprivation talking) he seems to wait until I ask him for help out of desperation. I just wish he would ask me what he can do to help. I want to scream 'Use your initiative!!!'.

Logan had to be held to sleep today. DH held him for a long time which was helpful. I just fed Logan and changed him and put him down to sleep and he's taken himself off. First time in 2-3 days he's done that.

Logan wakes twice in the night to feed - 2am and 4am. During the day he usually feeds every 2-2.5hrs. Today he was feeding every 1.5hrs.

I am exhausted. I can't handle the sleep deprivation either. I have been snippy because the housework isn't up to scratch and I just want to sleep.

My boy spoiled me last night after my whinge here. He fed at 11pm, 4am and 8am. Thanks Logan!

DB- I wish my DH wouldn't wait til I was practically in tears with frustration too!!

We also finally had a decent night. Feed at 9:30, 1:30, 5:30 and settled perfectly after feeds!! So I got about 7 hrs sleep last night.

Beatrix - feels good having a bit of sleep... however broken. Logan just had 3.5hrs between feeds which is huge for him during the day. It's usually 1.5-2hrs. I even managed to clean the kitchen and put a load of washing on.

Another calm night here!

She feed at 5:30 pm, was a bit unsettle til about 8pm fell asleep on me while i was watching TV so I stayed there thinking she would wake about 9:30 for a feed anyway. 11:30 she finally wake, boobs are quite full as is bladder LOL but wouldnt move in fear of waking her cause she obviously needed that sleep, then she feed at 3:30, and woke at 7:30am so pretty happy with that.

On other topics, our states Birth, deaths and marriages is having issues processing her birth cert and sending it to us. Taken my money over a month ago but no certificate has arrive. I rang them up and its got to do with the fact she was born at home but it has the hospital stamp on it... so they are trying to sort it out. Will ring back this arvo if i dont get it in todays mail.

Beatrix, I'm super happy for you that you've had two better nights in a row. Keep it up Zoe.

I'm doing ok, but feeling a bit teary on and off. Assuming it's just normal hormonal "4th trimester" stuff for now. Plus tiredness. Owen has been not too bad most nights, usually feeds about 3 times from when I go to bed to when I get up. But now has periods during the night when he's unsettled - was awake from 4.30am to 6.30am the other night, so I got up when he dropped off to get me and DS1 breakfast, and then he was awake again and crying after 40min nap - grrrr. He was ok overnight last night, but very unsettled most of yesterday and today (until now, he's finally asleep, in the car, in our garage, with engine still running and baby monitor in there with him!!). I needed this break. It's such a rollercoaster with these newborns, and Owen is a million times easier than DS1 was (he screamed most hours of most days).
He was a month old yesterday, and we have our 4 week MCHN check-up on Wednesday. He seems pretty healthy to me, and has quickly grown out of 0000 clothes. I am still very uncomfortable, mostly from prolapses, constipation and nipple pain now I think. Sorry if TMI. I wish recovering from pregnancy and labour didn't take so long, but I know I just need to accept that it does and rest when I can.
I'm still feeling like I have no idea what to do with Owen when he won't settle, and no idea how to look after 2 kids plus myself during the day. So it's a good time to remember to be kind to myself while I'm learning. I have definitely gotten better at saying yes to every offer of help. Next step might be to learn to ask for help. It's all temporary, and we will all make it through, but newborn days are super challenging. I'm glad to have everyone's company in here to share how we're feeling - it helps :-D

Happy mum- your doing a great job!! Pg is hard on our bodies!!! Owen will find his groove soon.

Forgot Zoe was 6 weeks on Sunday, we are off to our check ups tomorrow plus immunisations, feel bad about it but I have done my research and feel the pros out weigh the cons for me.

Why do you feel bad about it, Beatrix?

DB- cause I don't like the thought o my baby girl getting jabbed with needles. She hasn't had one yet.

She didn't have hep b at birth due to home birth and to have it we would have needed to drive her to the hosp the day after she was born and she had her vit k as oral.

I can understand that. I cried when I took BD1 for her vaccinations.

Oh yay another decent night!!

5:30 feed grizzly til 8, asleep til 11, feed at 3 and 7. She is getting quicker at it too. 20min and we are done including a b change!!

Beatrix- sounds pretty much like what Eleni does... and she's real fast at night too, just top up feeds...10min! I'll be calling the GP next week to go in for Eleni's immunisations also! How did it all go?

DB- YES remember to be kind to yourself! Except help even though it's difficult!.... trust me I know... I one that prefers to do ALL on my own..! If Eleni was anything like DD1 I wouldn't be able too... lucky Eleni is super flexible and easy going!.... she only really cracks it when she's hungry or grizzles when she has gas! I have been lucky with her!

Well needles as done, She cried for a few seconds then went to sleep and slept for 3 hrs.. traumatic experience LOL more for me then for her.

Stats are

Weight: 5.1kg
Length: 57cm (grown 4cm in 9 days! so thinking that may be why she had those few horrible nights because that kind of growing cant be painless)
Head: 37.5cm

90th percentile for everything except head LOL my not so little bubba!

Beatrix- WOW..4cm in 9 days!! poor little thing!!

We had an unsettled evening... until 10:30pm, she fed constantly and I don't think I have EVER seen my boobs so deflated!!! I gave her the dummy and tried to coax her to take it (10min later)... she took for a little and when she started getting sleepy I pulled it out..she settled then and had a massive sleep, and woke for a feed at 4am!!!! WOOT!... then 7am as usual!...

She's been a bit gassy today..... hmmm not sure what I had that may have caused it....

My BD 19 months is sick with a runny nose and watery eyes. She was up and down all night last night. We are exhausted. Poor little kid is so clingy and not liking me having to spend so much time with Logan. We desperately need some Mummy/Daughter time.

When does the feeding slow down? Logan feeds every 2-2.5hrs during the day and every 4-5hrs overnight. It feels like every ten minutes during the day. I'm starting to wonder whether he's getting enough milk from me. He seems to be draining me each time but I'm wondering of my supply is keeping up with his needs. He is 4 weeks old.

I'm buying a Medela Swing Breast Pump this weekend. I hope it works well because my Avent manual pump drives me insane. I'm going back to work in a couple of months so I need to start thinking about stockpiling my milk in the freezer. Has anyone else used one? Are the electric ones better than the manual? Quicker, get more milk, etc.

DreamBabies don't question your milk supply his feeding sounds pretty normal to me, it is very draining though!! Georgia feeds every 2hrs through the day, sometimes more and will sometimes go 3 hours at night if I'm lucky. Wet and dirty nappies are a much better tool to see if you don't have enough milk. If he is having plenty of nappy changes and growing well your milk is just fine. DS3 fed every hour for about the first 3 months and every 2 hours at night (on an average night) for months! They're all different, but I am sure your milk is just fine.

I was hopeless with a manual pump! My sister lent me her Medela electric with DS3 and it was heaps better. It still took me ages to get a decent amount though, I had heaps of milk but expressing just didn't work to get lots out at once for me. The one I had was just a base model not the Swing, I've heard good things about the swing.

:hug: You're doing a great job, hang in there it will get easier. I'm feeling for DS3 here too. He looks so sad sometimes and he has a cold as well and I felt so bad not being able to give him the attention he's used to :( I really need to make some time for one on one with him, I miss him too :(

Willow - Thanks. I needed to read that. Logan has plenty of poopy and wet nappies. He's growing well too. Sometimes I feel as though he is just topping up rather than getting a proper feed. I can't wait to get the electric pump. I hope it's good. I pump in the evening when Logan has his 4hr sleep and sometimes I get up in the night and pump otherwise I leak everywhere and have to get up and shower/change.

DB- Zoe's was feeding constantly yesterday too. I'm so drained at times I'm ready to give up.


Arghh I'm getting sick of this babies constant fussing at the breast. It's on off stuffing around is driving me mental not to mention my back is killing me because of constant feeding and her stuffing around plus she won't be out down and is a dead weight who needs to be ticked to sleep. I can't lay down with cause she just fluffs about.

Beatrix - sounds like Logan and Zoe are very similar. My back is painful too. I have never suffered back pain until now.

How old is Zoe now? People keep telling me that at one month Logan will stretch out feeds to every 3-4hrs. I hope they're right.

I feel bad for whinging about it though. Logan fed at 6.45pm and then slept until 1am! I didn't even enjoy it though. I kept checking on him because he was sleeping so long. I didn't go to bed until after midnight. I'm annoyed with myself now. Logan fed until 1.30am and has just woken at 5.15. BD slept pretty well too. she bunked in with us because shes congested so she was snuggled in. When she did wake we were right there so she went straight back to sleep. i hope she is on the mend.

That's a great night.

I hope everyone else got some rest too.

DB- Zoe is 6 1/2 weeks now. Normally she feeds 4hrly but I think all this growing she is just wanting more and tryin to up my supply. I am trying to make sure I drink lots of fluids to help keep it up as Im on the 12wbt programm trying to lose my baby weight. Have lost 3.7kg in two weeks so far so pretty happy. Another 8kg to go!

Beatrix - That's a great weight loss. I went on the Michelle Bridges program and lost 10kg in 6 weeks. The weight loss must have been just what I needed because I fell pregnant with Logan 6 weeks into the program!

DB- so you were in round 2 of 2012? cause i did that round too, lost 10kg and fell pg with Zoe!!

I'm struggling here too. The frequent feeding day and night is exhausting, Georgia does not want to be put down to sleep and will wake after at very most 20 - 30 mins, that would be a good stretch. Ds3 is missing out and my whole house is trashed and dirty. DP is doing pretty much all the cooking which is great but he has no idea or even cares enough to clean up properly. My shower is disgusting and it's depressing to shower in it when I do get a chance for one which is not even every day at the moment. DS does not seem to understand quiet at all an is constantly waking Georgia before I even get a chance to put her down :wall: Then he complains I'm still holding her :wall: Now it looks like I have my period already too :wtf: PP bleeding stopped at 4 weeks on the dot now I think it's AF already and it feels like I don''t even have time for that!
2 hrs sounds like enough time between feeds to get stuff done, but it's not really 2hrs when you count the actual feeding between 20 - 40 mins depending, nappy change and sometime play time, then getting her to sleep which she fights and not usually being able to put her down anyway, then it starts all over again. DS3 was the same you'd think I'd be used to it but it's doing my head in. You can't even take her for a drive to settle her because she hates the car and screams hysterically the whole time. Bring on the terrible 2s/3s PLEASE!!!! I feel bad thinking that with my last baby but I am struggling with a gross house, neglected 3 year old and sleep deprivation, it's enough already.

Tomorrow may be a better day.

Willow - seems a few of us are feeling that way.

Willow- do you have a double pram? Currently I am sitting at a local park while DD3 has a play and Zoe sleeping in pram.
Seems to work for me cause that way I can't see the house, exercise makeshift feel better and DD3 burning some energy.

Sleep deprecation is horrible. Hope she settles for you soon

No I don't have a double pram. They've both been sick with colds too but as soon as they're over them I will be getting out to the park. DS3 has too much energy but won't play outside long by himself, so the park will be helpful.

DP is trying to help but he just does half jobs and that makes more work for me after anyway. He just doesn't care about dirt, but I start to feel out of control and down when things are dirty. Mess is annoying but you can whip round and tidy here and there, but dirty is different.

Same here as well Ladies. Owen is feeding every 2-2.5 hrs during day (1/2 hrly at evening cluster feeding time), and 3-4 hrs at night, and won't be put down during day. He's 5 wks old tomorrow. It's exhausting all right, and housework has to wait. Sounds like there's a few of us in the same boat.
Dreambabies, I agree with everything Willow said above re milk supply. The feeds will stretch out eventually.

Beatrix, well done on the weight loss, I think it's an amazing achievement especially with a new bub.

Willow, really hope tomorrow is a better day for you.