Oh and hello hotaru and Milly!
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Oh and hello hotaru and Milly!
Little O - I have always fed from both, irrespecitve of age. Realistically I would guess it's when they are not accepting of the second breast?
Geeky - oh sweetie. It is so tough..... being a mum and trying to establish BF'ing. I agree, keep asking for help every time you feed. You will get different advice, but some of it will work for you. For HB, once we got home I struggled ( I also had low supply which resulted in HB crying for a major part of every hour for every 20 hours in 24). I soooooooooo understand you on the everyone ending up in tears..... we certainly did for weeks and weeks on end. I just thought we had a baby that cried a lot. I just thought we had a baby that was hungry. I didn't accept the MCHN's advice to comp feed with formula. But we saw a LC and it helped a LOT with attachment issues, and then saw the Paed, who helped with supply. I opted to take medication to enhance my supply rather than herbal remedies. It worked a treat. Looking back I don't know how I got through...... but I was committed to BF'ing and I would have a mantra of "just one more feed". I can't remember when it became easier, but it did. Then much to my heartache, HB weaned at 11 months. I had dreamed of at least 18 months for our BF'ing journey. We did a little skin on skin but looking back I wish I did more with HB. I did try and eat a diet that would promote my supply.... though not the guiness a day that a pharmacist recommended.
So is it easier second time around? YES, much. Despite not being able to sleep during the day, despite having two to look after, despite little RB being like most newborns and not knowing the difference between night and day and wanting to cluster feed during the night, and despite a tongue tie and nipple vasospasm ( which I've seld diagnosed but am pretty sure that's what the shooting pains are :P). RB seems to attach well, although sometimes takes way too long for a feed for my liking. And feeds well from both sides. I have noticed I am not as stressed, which helps, because I am confident to just keep trying to make sure the attachment is correct.
I also know that I can find a way through, and I know you will too. You have to make the decisions that are right for you and your baby and family. I have a personal preference to prioritise BF'ing, but that's just me. I don't judge anyone who makes a different choice, because they make the choice that is right for them. Just keep doing your best, and you will get through. You are doing an awesome job.
It seems I have a DH who is fast getting morose... just what I need, but I need him to be the best he can, so better go give him some support. I find it easy to feel a little resentment towards him as he is getting the chance and is having WAY more sleep than me, but then I have to remember it's not a competition. It's hard for him at the moment, as he's trying to help me but also do work from home. Let's just say I am less than impressed about his ability to say no to his work and stand up for his family when we need him most, but now is not the time to have that argument, as sadly I know I'll come out of worse, and it will just make a precarious situation even worse. I just hope I can keep my commitment not to make the situation worse by keeping my tongue. I told him today I would prefer he just go to work so at least he can get the things done and then come home and focus on us.
Nothing is ever easy nor what you expect, but if it were easy I wouldn't know what I was missing. LOL. On a side note I am looking forward to taking our rainbow babies to the memorial garden to see where our angel babies are at peace. I was thinking of taking my mother in law for her to see, as no one in our families ever asks about them nor has anyone in our families ever been to the garden ( as we only arranged it after their funerals).... but then I get protective of them and don't want to share. Ironic isn't it? I want them to ask and want them to visit, but then I don't? We might try today as it's such a beautiful day...... and on a much more selfish note I also want people to understand what it means to have rainbow babies like HB and RB, as joyful and precious as they are, it doesn't mean the angel babies never existed, and that the angel babies are still important. Heartache and joy, the bittersweet emotions of a angel baby mumma.
Anyway, guess I needed to get that off my chest. Sorry to bring you down, talking about sad things in a time of joy for everyone.
For the new mums, you are doing an amazing job. Even though it feels like you are not, you are. Keep those little ones precious in your hearts and minds, even when it doesn't feel like it, they are truly precious and to be treasured, and you do adore them, even at 4am after no sleep. You do :)
Little_O - I currently am offering one side, burping when he gets sleepy and falls off the boob, then we have awake time and before he goes to sleep I offer him the other side. He nurses for 5 mins but then gets super sleepy. When he needs to nurse next I offer him the boob I finished with. That's during the day. At night, I offer him both sides because I feel like my boobs are emptier, especially in the early evening til around 3am. He usually falls asleep while nursing after 20mins nursing. Quick burp then the other side until he's asleep.
Ok. Here goes my attempt at personals
Welcome Naomi. Looking forward to getting to know you and your little girl
Geeky - hang in there with the feeding. I'm struggling too but it WILL get better for both of us. Our girls are so tiny still, but once they get to a couple of months or so it will be soooooooo much easier (and don't worry - that two months will come around really quickly, even if it doesn't feel like it when its all too hard at 3am). Please try not to beat yourself up over formula top ups. You do what you have to do. My two girls were both formula fed babies and despite what you hear, they actually haven't grown horns!
dory - I do get a bit upset about how my relationship with DDs 1 and 2 has changed. I don't have anywhere near enough time for them, and in these early weeks when A is so demanding its not going to improve. We have school holidays coming up and I'm part dreading them, part looking forward to them - having all three for two weeks is going to be hard but I'm planning lots of fun stuff for I and E to do. I'm so sorry none of your family ask about your angel babies. I don't know why people don't understand that just because you have a living, breathing baby in your arms your love and the heartache you feel for the ones that never were doesn't just disappear. I'm sorry your DH isn't doing so well. Very hard when you're dealing with a newborn and other troubles too. I hope it improves for you both soon.
Hotaru - I hope your little man's tongue snip tomorrow goes well and that his feeding improves quickly after it. Ouchy on the vasoplasm. I had that with DD2 but touch wood, nothing this time. I hope the photos are as great as the sneak peeks.
Sunshine - so sorry your little one is sick. I hope he improves quickly. Where do I get hydrogel pads????? Me thinks me needs some ;-)
BubbaT - yay for you feeling so much better. I hope it continues
Little_o - I hope the mastitis stays well away now. I offer both sides, unless its 2am and A has actually fed to sleep - in which case I count my blessings, put her down oh so very carefully on the mattress next to me and sleep while I can :lol: Otherwise, I have pretty much always offered my babies both sides and like BR, feed one side, burp and bottom change, and then offer the second side. TBH with A I'm feeding one side, feeding the other side, burping, changing, feeding side A again, then side B and then we do it all over again! If she's not getting a relatively strong let down then she just gives up so I have to constantly swap.
Hi BR. Sounds like things are going pretty well for you guys, except for the usual no sleep, no time to yourself - the usual mummy stuff :-)
So our lovely dinner out was followed by a good day yesterday but then a hell night last night and today. A is finally asleep now but its the first time in about 15 hours that she has slept for more than 20 minutes. She seems to have a tummy ache but I can't for the life of me work out what I've eaten differently that could have upset her. I've had a very bland food day today so hopefully she'll start to improve. I'm completely exhausted after having had no sleep so I'm crossing everything that she sleeps a bit better tonight. We've been cosleeping since she was born and so far it has worked really well for us, but she wasn't even feeding well last night so I didn't get the usual little doze during feeds that I normally have.
Anyway, I hope I've not left anyone out - apologies if I have missed you. Better go and do something about dinner, although I have to say that takeaway is looking pretty good! Hoping you all have a bit of sleep tonight. Be good bubbas
Hi ladies, thankyou for the warm welcomes....
just a quick question, do we have to offer both sides at feeding? I feed only one side per feed, i have a fairly decent if not a fast flow, i feed her, burp her when she falls off and if she hasnt had a "decent" feed i will offer her the same boob when she wakes (which can be 2-3min up to half hour later), i feel draining a boob feels better and doesnt cause so much pain....I am having dramas with my right breast though, the startings of mastitis have been rubbing out the lumps etc, but attaching at the beg is toe curling painful (she attaches perfectly) and the pain is generally gone within 30secs of her latching on....any ideas? my left side is fine....midwife check up on sunday said to try the football grip for the right side to help with the lumps, it has helped heaps, pain isnt as bad, but still curious as to why the pain when she actually attaching fine? i know we are only day 5 and its only been since sat (when milk came in) that my right boob has gotten like this but surely there is something im missing? ive tried taking her off and reattaching etc but it hasnt helped....
She has finally decided last night that night time is for sleeping not awake time and cluster feeding, so finally i got 3 hours of decent sleep...which made me even more tired cos its all i wanted when i needed to wake up to her LMAO
I wouldve thought after 2 kids already that number 3 wouldve come easier, but apparently im still confused and need to learn lol
Naomi: from what I've been reading if you have over supply one side feeding is good.
However in early days both sides is better so that your supply is established in both breasts.
Now from what I have experienced with the mastitis I find I have pain initially if I don't have "let down" first. I generally massage my breasts and express out some milk so when she attaches theres already something there and doesn't result in a dry suck.
For the lumps I can recommend seeing a physio and getting ultrasound therapy. Seriously helped me! Also my LC recommended lecithin tablets which is meant to help keep your ducts oily and therefore less blockages.
Feel your pain hun!
Naomi - I offer both sides, and at some feeds both sides multiple times with A feeding only 2 or 3 minutes on one breast before swapping. We've been seeing an LC since she was a week old and that's what has been recommended to us - both to help A with her feeding because her attachment is crap, and also to hopefully fight off mastitis for me. I've got heaps of lumps too, and at this point am hand expressing after a feed if A hasn't managed to "suck them out" - DH has offered but I've told him he is just so far out of luck ;-) I'm waiting on a breast pump to arrive and when it does I'll be using that to really empty my breasts after each feed.
Hi ladies, I have been MIA in here but I have been reading along :) I think someone else posted about taking 2 steps forward and then 1 back, well that seems to be the story on my end. My little man has turned into a bit of a chucky baby. Feed times are now really slow as I have to break up his feeding with burping him and then keeping him upright for at least 10-15mins after a feed to help it settle. Otherwise if I put him straight down, he 'possets' and then wakes up an hour later demanding another feed. To top that off, I developed an infection in my CS site and had to pop back up to the hossy to see my Ob yesterday who has given me antibiotics for it. The infection has also given me fevers, so feeling like crap and running on little sleep does not make for a good combo! :( Anyhoo, sorry for the me, me, me post! Will pop back later and attempt to catch up on persies! :) xx
Hello gorgeous mummies! I've been a naughty belly (baby?) buddy and have popped in and read occasionally but not posted since forever! Just wanted to let you all know I think of you all often and am sending you big hugs as we all get through the challenges of these first few weeks.
Miss G and I are off to town (big town an hour away) today which is our first big outing except for quick trips to shops and post office. My gorgeous mum is coming with me so it'll be fine but I'm still nervous....eek. Makesne feel like a real mummy!!
We are going to the child health clinic on thursday to see how she is coming along but she is happy and content (most of the time) so I feel confident about my supply and feeding now even though we still have challenges (ouchy for me!!).
Got to go feed the Miss before we head off on our adventure :) xxx
Oh and CT - cant wait till you can officially join us here. Hope everything is going well!!! Xx
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Hi Ladies,
I was going to do persies but I really dont feel like I have much I can contribute.
X is trucking along really well. He will be 4 weeks tomorrow, oh how that has flown. He is feeding well, still very windy but now he is that bit older we can use the gripe water and infacol so not really stressing too much on that. He is sleeping well when not suffering from wind and sleeping 6 1/2 to 7 hours at night the last few nights.
Only 2 weeks til I can drive again yay!! Oh and my house has never been this consistently clean and tidy. Sorry not trying to rub it in to those struggling along, like I said now that I am healthy we don't have much to report.
Hi mummies,
Dantri - good luck with your big adventure today! We got really good help at the health clinic we went to about feeding/attachment, so it's worth asking if they can watch and give you some advice we're still not at 100% but i no longer cringe at the thought of a feed!
Mc_hope - hope you are feeling better and that poor X's tummy has settled a bit.
Dory - thanks for your lovely words at the end of your post, i think we all need to hear that and often at this stage of the game! I hope you got your visit to your angel babies and it was as you hoped. :hug:
Geeky - hope the LC helped th other day and things are improving for you. It's hard, isn't it. Showers are good for crying in and i think the nights are always the hardest because it's easier to feel like you are alone. If youthink about shows like one born every minute ( or the title at least) there must be thousands of parents all doing/thinking/feeling the same things as us at the same time, that thoughtkeepsme a little more sane!
I think we may have just come through a growth spurt, at least i hope we are through it! 2 days of constant feeding, nearly impossible to settle and only sleeping on or next to us - not even in the baby carrier which he's loved up to now! The complete lack of sleep and crying was doing my head in and i felt so awful! To top it off i mixed up our appointment times for the tongue snip and completly missed it and couldn't book in again until next week. Cue major meltdown! Poor Dh had a hysterical wife and baby to comfort. Things seem much better today though, J is sleeping in my arms at the moment but did a 3 and 2 hour stretch in the basinette overnight so fx this continues fo a day or two!
Hopeyou are all doing well! Sorry for the poortyping, the ipad spacebaris temperamental to say the least!
Hiya mummies.
Was going to get on the PC last night for persies but DH didn't get home til 7:30pm so I was dealing with DS1's dinner, bath and bedtime routine as well as trying to settle a fussy DS2. Was babywearing him for hours last night in the moby wrap! It seemed to do the trick. Anyway, by the time DH got home he took DS2 so I could cook dinner. Then I chose an early night over going on the computer (as you will all understand!!!).
Anyway, back tonight for persies. I am following the thread though and thinking of you all :grouphug:
xoxox
Ok not back tonight. Tired. Sleep is winning.
No wonder they say that sleep deprivation is a form of torture!!
Ahh haven't posted for so long!
Bubba: that is so good you are getting on top of things! A bit jealous!;)
Afm: now having mastitis for a THIRD time! It's so annoying stupid painful and horrible. Was so I'll last night even my lymph nodes were swollen so to move, pick dd up or even hold her to feed would hurt. Especially hen I'd have let down it was like my arm pit was on fire. I doses up on raw garlic, vitamin c, e and a and tried sleeping and it seems to have improved, at least the fever and lymph nodes are gone.
Seriously feel like I can't catch a break!
On a positive dd is growing fast and changing a lot. She is starting to smile properly and make noises back to me when I talk to her :). She went into her first 000 yesterday. Time flies!
Evil DH, Evil Baby or Evil dogs? Me thinks all this morning. DH changed the baby but didn't feed him so I had to get up and feed him 5 minutes later. Baby has wind again (or is it still?) and wont sleep unless its on my chest, and the one time I did manage to get the baby to sleep in his cot this morning the evil dogs woke him up.
Dog have been kicked out, DH has been informed he needs to make me food and a cup of tea and the baby... well he isn't really evil so I will just let him sleep on my chest :)
It must have been a universal night of pain last night! Baby couldn't decide if she wanted to feed or not. Cue me only getting to bed 3am. Tearful melt down, her up 1.5 hours later feed her, but she's still noncelant, back to bed, then up at 7.45 for another feed.........
I still believe it all stems from dh not changing the nappy I asked him to at 11.30pm! Lol
:hug: to all
Well Hello ladies !!!
Sorry it has taken so long to report in. I have no idea where the time went........oh, wait....yes I do...FEEDING! gah!! so not as exciting as the advertisments make it look...
Anyway, we are day ...whatever now and it is very clearly MILK DAY. ouch. bang, crash, how did I not see that wall 3 feet away adn how did I manage to hit it from way over here????/oh yeah...MILK DAY !!!!!!
Labour story to follow another time. Not too exciting as never made it to full blown labour but on a positive note, I dont have a broken vagina, so there are upsides to every story I guess :;-):
Cant really complain about much. It is to be expected at this stage i gues, bit I find it amusing how excited I get when both DP and Jesse are asleep and I can just have some me time for a bit!! I get this sudden rush of energy and even eating is exciting.
So basically have just been in hospital (and still are) but we transferred up to the local one near my mums house and there are 2 of us here....yes ladies, 2 of us. I havent seen the other lady as we barely leave the room but it is lovely and quiet and has a couple of big windows that look out to the trees and a kitchenette and sofa and a couple of other chairs. So abachelor pad, basically :-) aahahha.
Prob go home tomorrow. Will feel a bit more confident after another night of feeding here with undivided attention. they are all so lovely here.
Need to change my ticker and be back soon for persies but i hope you are all doing really well and your babies are growing big and strong.
gotta run, Jesse is stirring......and i thought i might have a little nap before he woke up ..........doh!
Welcome CT!!
So glad you're here with us:)
I share your sentiments with the feeding! It does get better, and I know everyone tells you that, but I am finally starting to experience it!
Sneak in a nap
Xx