Babies born ~ May 1st-15th 2011 #1

To begin with a friend bought me a lot of nappies so I had him in the old Aldi ones in hospital, then Pampers, then more old Aldi ones, then the Huggies. Then I opened my box of Huggies which is unfortunately when they started leaking. I made sure I opened the leak protection and even tried pilchers over the top of them.

Luckily I had bought a few types of cloth. Two Bambooty nappies, A packet of terry flats and some bamboo flats which were seconds so cheap. Also I have pins and Snappis, and the liners and bucket.

What makes it easier is the housing commission put in a clothes line during the week and also I live in quite a small unit. Also I realised, most of the nappies are wees.

So once I did the first one it got easier. I find the terry ones are drying faster than the bamboo flats, my balcony gets a lot of sun, but the bamboo fitted and flats don't quite dry.

With feeding him, I think with the expressing, it's mainly that I'm not getting as much rest as I should and although I am coping well with what is going on it was still a lot of things that happened. I have got visits organised so that the baby's Dad is coming with his Dad twice a week so that is something that is sorted out, prior to us organising a Parenting Plan.

Yesterday it was my Dad's (Grandad's!) birthday, and so we had the two babies there, mine and my nephew and we were taking lots of photos!

I guess the main thing that Jim has apart from wind, is the hiccups, I just give him some homemade gripe water for that, boiled cooled water with a tiny bit of sugar! Probably really bad for him, but it stops the hiccups. I might just start giving him plain water. I tried breastfeeding for it but he would just hiccup for ages on my boob.

Just adding with tummy time, I got asked that at the hospital appointment to check his hips after a breech birth, then they gave me a leaflet. I said oh we haven't given him tummy time. But he has such a strong head and neck, and when I looked at the brochure we had already been doing lots of things they had in it, in winding him, that he has had "tummy time".

I am getting his shots at 8 weeks as I am trying to rest more and we aren't around a lot of other children or do too much shopping particularly. So I will get his shots then, and then the following week the child health people are kindly doing another home visit for us.

I still haven't bothered to ring up about the local mother's group but I have been to the ABA one.

Just dropping by quickly to update. Took Bree to the doc, they didn't swab again. But they did give her injections. She screamed and screamed, cried her little heart out, she even had little tears, and bought a tear to my eye too. I had forgotten to take her dummy as I rushed out the door, so she done well to quieten down on her own afterwards. They weighed her at the doc, she weighed 5.8kg dressed, but I wanted to do it without her clothes on (they don't like doing that at the clinic) so I took her to child and youth health and weighed her there. She weighed 5.4kg. Length is 57cm. HC is 40. She is 2.2kg heavier than birth weight, and 8cm longer. I know she is getting bigger, but I was amazed she has grown 8cm in length. I'm so proud of my littlest girl.

Hi Ladies

Geminigirl - Wow you certailnly have a full plate. I bet you are super organised. I can see why you don't like hospitals and Dr's. You've delt with them so much. And Mums always take a back seat anyway. make sure you have your check up though. I'm sure all is ok.

EMC - Make sure you rest when bubs sleeps. It will help heaps. Don't worry about house work etc... that can all wait. I find that the bamboo nappies take ages to dry as well. I hang them in the sun during the day and then leave them on the airer inside over night and they are usually ok by the morning. I heven't been to any mothers groups. I'll be going back to work in October so no point really for me.

Bern - Thanks for the tummy time tip. I'm going to try a few techniques and see if they help. I'm told she has great head controll but i worry she won't learn how to roll over if she won't have tummy time on the floor.

Well L has been sleeping from 7pm to 4:30am the last couple of nights. She's dropped the 12am feed. I might try and hold out a little longer in the evening and try and get her to sleep from 9pm -6am. Can only try anyway.

Have a great day ladies. I must get out of my jarmies!

GG - I don't know how you keep up with everything and still post here, you are amazing. It's great that Brianna is growing so well. That is a lot of medical visits with your other children too, and operations and things.

I had an appointment with a relationships counsellor today so she was an enormous help regarding what services are available to me. I then went and stocked up on plastic nick nacks at the $2 shops in the Valley. I got a plastic shelf thingamy which is now making the most of the space under the sink.

My Mum looked after Jim, and he was well he seemed to be sleeping up until I had been sitting there for a few minutes, and he obviously knew that I'd come back and he wanted cuddles.

Well Jim is smiling more and more. He pokes his tongue but not quite out, if I do it. I love him so much, he is a little darling.

I made some more footprints at 4am this morning, sounds silly but I couldn't sleep, he was awake so I gave him a feed and change, and he just would not put his legs back into the jumpsuit, so I thought, why not make some prints. Some are a bit smudgy though as I'm doing it on my own.

I am hoping to get a charm made from them, there's a lady who makes them in WA.

Wow so much to catch up on! So nice to type two handed, but not sure how long I've got.
Porsche - my first didn't have alot fo tummy time because he HATED it, but no worries, he walked at 10 months! I think it is a bit of a croc if you ask me, he just hated it and nothing I did worked, but it didn't cause him any harm at all. Now of course he runs everywhere!

Hello everyone else, sorry too many persies to catch up on.

As for us, I think it has been a bit of a wonder week. River has been attached to my breast for the last couple of days and nights. I am a bit tired, and he still isn't sleeping anywhere but on me most days (although right now he is asleep in the swing, fingers crossed ;)). Other than that, he is quite content and easy to settle. The acid-hour is even quite easy to manage, it is just the ME part that bothers me, as in he only settles for ME, not DH (although most women can settle him just fine if they are confident enough, he seems to sense their confidence).

It is DHs birthday today so I plan on making dinner for the family tonight, eek!

Better go get it started, wishing you all sleepy vibes.

Dragonbub sounds like your little one is very smart :) Brianna settles for anyone, if I am there. When I have gone out in the evenings for 'me' time, she has been really unsettled, although in saying that, she has been really unsettled in general lately. Brianna is not to fond of tummy time either. Occassionally it helps her with her upset tummy, but most of the time she doesn't like it. I put her on her tummy after bath time, and for some reason when I put her on her tummy on the change table, she will always put her knees up and she starts out holding herself up on her hands and her knees, with my support of course, she then lets her arms down but keeps moving her little legs as though she is crawling. She holds her head really well, I hardly even need to support her at all now, although I am always conscious of it and have my hand there ready. She sometimes gets carried away when she is upright against the chest and if she is hungry, she'll start head banging lol she has nearly KO'ed DH a couple of times LOL.

My DD1 was never interested in crawling, which is fine, except for one small problem.... as she never crawled long and was starting to walk by 8 months old, she had never developed the habbit of having her hands out in front of her when she fell over LOL so when she fell over, she landed face first, she didn't know that she needed to put her hands out to catch her self. Eventually she learned , but that is one of the good things about crawling lol

Brianna's newest past time.... she loves going in to the kids room in the morning and jumping on them to wake them - so cute!

Hope everyone is doing well.

I am slowly nutting out what the feeding problem has been. I noticed I can squirt across the room at times so then I realised I have fast let down. Much googling later and I think the formula would be helping him, as it has a probiotic, so I've ordered some of those, they are expensive though, but worth a try.

In the meantime I am going to have him on one side for each 3-4 hour block and give smaller top ups throughout, rather than BF in the morning and the two big bottles later in the evening and night.

emma - chloe only takes one breast at each feed, and sometime during the day will feed every 2-3 hours.

Jacob got his vaccines yesterday, he was such a brave little boy! Th get are such horrid things! He was cranky all evening, had to break out the childrens panadol. Then he just wouldn't attach properly, like back to being 3 days old again, my poor nipples! He usually feeds lying on his side so I guess it's too sore now with a jab in each outer thigh :(
so last 3 feeds I've had to express and feed him that from the bottle, giving him panadol 6hrly.
It's so horrible to watch your baby in pain!

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Hi Ladies

babybellybourton - Ohh to your little man. needles aren't nice but are a neccissary evil. Poor poppet.

Dragonbub - I discussed tummy time with my LC yesterday and I said that I carry L around facing out because she hates tummy time and she said that was fine she has great head control. So I'm not so worried now. it's a big relief to know you have all gone through it and there were no adverse effects. Is River going through a growth spurt. That would explain the boob thing lol.

EMC - If you find bubs is getting too much breastmilk when feeding just lie back a little. I do and it's what my LC told me to do. It makes bubs work to pull the milk up rather than have it gushing into their mouth. Once I started doing that L has been great no throwing up etc...

Well L has been such a good girl she's been sleeping from 7pm to around 6:30am. So she's been sleeping 10 hours during the night. She's dropped the 12am feed. I can't remember when my first 2 started sleeping through the night. Not sure how long she'll keep this up for lol.

Hello everyone - sorry I've not had time to post lately. I have both the kids full time at the moment, and my house is in a mess with eveything from the kitchen in the loungeroom whilst the new kitchen is installed. It has made for an interesting week. Add on top of that both I and the little man are sick and it's been all I can do to keep applying for jobs.

I had an interview today, and luckily for DH, Amelia fell asleep in the car and slept through the whole thing, she didn't miss me one bit. Now I'm tossing up between a job that will be a change of focus and in my local area but low pay, with a high paying job in my field of experience but a bit of a drive from home.

I need to book Amelia in for her needles this week, and thanks ladies for reminding me of the panadol. As I have an interview on Tuesday, I might wait until Wednesday.

I've started putting Amelia to sleep at night on her tummy, she has managed 6 hour day sleeps on her tummy with no problems, so I'm not too worried about her. At least this way I get to have a couple of three hour sleeps at night which makes a world of difference.

We had our family portraits taken this week, can't wait to see the previews. Noah and Amelia looked very cute in their matching denim pants and white shirts.

No time for personals today, sorry :( I'll catch up in my next post.

Thanks guys I have been trying different things. Also I've only just come off antibiotics so I don't know what effect that has had either. Some days I will get heaps of breastfeeds in, other days it seems like I am topping him up or comping all day. Or it might be one day I will breastfeed right up until about 9pm and then the last lot he seems to need a bottle and a half.

I really am caught between the two things in that he doesn't refuse the breast outright, but he is also used to having bottles. He does make different signals for both actually now come to think of it.

When we see the GP on Monday we will do the 8 week shots (well we were meant to get them at 6 weeks due to whooping cough epidemic) I will see if she can refer us to any further public health service; if not and I might just get a lactation consultant anyway. The LC's I've emailed so far haven't replied though, and neither has the ABA helpline lol! Cindy at the hospital said they also work privately so they might be the ones to get in touch with.

I am aiming to get some Baby Beehinds for overnight use, and use terry during the day. The PUL covers work alright with terry nappies but I can't seem to buy many more plastic pilchers which is frustrating, I might have to use shopping bags lol.

I am just giving him boiled water now not with the sugar whoops! He tolerates his hiccups better now though. I've also ordered some baby probiotics.

Good to hear everyone is doing well. aside from the few who have had there bub in for injections :( Bree is finally recovering. She was feeding eratically and screaming with wind after every feed. Started vomiting again (vomited on me in the shop the other day - glad I take those cloth nappies everywhere to mop up the messes). But she seems to be settling down again. Those dam needles, I was going to say it was like starting out from day 1 again, but it is actually worse. I never known Bree to cry much before her needles. But wow did she scream at them. She has been quite happy today and yesterday and she is sleeping a lot at the moment. Except she woke up at 2:30am this morning, it was the first time in almost 2 weeks she wanted a feed at that hour. I am going to make bigger bottles from now on and see how she goes with the next size teat as she has been finishing her bottles and getting a little annoyed when I take it away.
Took some time out today, went to an art thing with DD2. We bought some pastels to try and we have been playing around with that all afternoon while DH spends time with Bree.

Hello all,
Back to one handed typing so will make it quick!
Pretty good here although River has been a little unsettled of late. Still pretty easy for me to get him to sleep but is now cat napping which tires him out during the day meaning an overtired baby of an evening :(. He wakes three hourly at night too so I am hoping it will change when we hit the magical 12 week mark :pray:

Gemini - That time out sounds lovely. I am a bit of an artist myself and love pastels :wink:

EMC - I often feel like I am just topping R up all day too although I dont bottle feed. It seems he has his really big feeds at night which is a bit frustrating.

Farmgirl - I tried putting R down on his tummy but it didnt help our situation. I am glad Amelia is settling to sleep for you.

AFM - off to ngala on Friday to sort out this sleeping issue. i feel a bit sad b ecause R is such a great baby. He smiles heaps, calms easily and only cries when he has the hiccups or is tired. I am just a bit tired of carrying him ALL the time! If I put him down, even to just go to the loo, he wakes up. He is fine if he is awake, will sit there happily talking to his toys and giggling at them, but if he is asleep then nothing but holding him will keep him asleep for longer than 20 mins. My back is just killing me! I do think it is time he learns to fall asleep on his own, as no matter how much I create an environment that is almost exaclty like me holding him, he isn't fooled :). I put him in the swing, wrap him in my shirt, put a wheat bag on him that's warm a little, nothing works! How does he know? Even womb music doesn't work unless he is in my arms.

Better go anyway, wish me luck for Friday, there is bound to be some tears!

Thanks Dragonbub that is good to know. I love pastels too but the ordinary ones make a huge mess. I got a large pack of oil pastels though and people laughed at me as they are like the craypas kids use lol, well until I showed them the pictures I was doing with them lol. Best of luck with sorting things out with River.

GG that would create a lot of washing with vomiting :-(

Farmgirl I would love to get some portraits done, but we have been so busy, I must start getting any visitors to take a photo of bubs and me together, as otherwise I just have a very full memory card of a lone baby. I have been still mucking around with making footprints from his feet though.

Sadly when his father and grandfather came on "visitation" yesterday, we went for a first walk with the stroller, and then they harassed me while I was breastfeeding! Luckily we were at the local AFL club down my street, a small canteen and young families there, I felt very safe, I ended up quite exposed (with my feeding issues and trying to juggle bubs) but luckily the players were on the other side of the field lol.

I haven't been keeping a proper track of his feeds unfortunately but last night, even lying down my boob was squirting like a sprinkler LOL.

So to cut a long story short, I have everything in my unit nicely organised and I manage to keep up with things due to the confined space. I could improve what I'm eating for breastfeeding, protein wise. It's my birthday tomorrow and today we are going to get his injections, and then I'm going to my parents for dinner. I've got lovely clothes for him. We are going to see a Lactation Consultant. Everything is not too bad...

Apart from my ex is a right PIA, just prior to the above "incident" he was using the stroller with ONE hand walking down the middle of the road, and I said I don't think that's a good idea..well no he thinks it's all ok and I don't want to take up this thread with what a silly man, Jim's father is. I am just disappointed for Jim.

Jim makes life easy though, he is a smart baby, he does signal for breast or bottle, and now I know why he was coming off, that he was pausing not because he was tired but because of my let down. Yesterday he would come off, and I would express the let down or try a let down on the other side (that was awesome advice from someone on this thread) and he wouldn't cry he knew what was happening. They are smart cookies at this age even.

Happy Birthday Emma !! Hope you have a lovely day. Glad things are coming together as far as b/feeding. BB is great for advice huh :D

AFM just a quick one. I have changed Brianna to size 2 teats and 180ml (200ml) bottles, so far so good. Still not finishing every feed, but she is doing well. She has had some trouble with wind though at times, but that was happening before changing her teats etc. I tried infacol, but that seemed to make things worse. She is drinking a litre of milk a day now :O Bought a bigger bath to sit on the bench as it was too hard to bath her in the big bath. New things happening all the time, its hard to keep up! She plays with her toys now, well when I say play, she punches the ones hanging from her bouncer lol, and grabs onto them and swings them around. She spends time listening and trying to talk and babble, its so beautiful. So much better than the times when she is screaming :D She slept through last night again, so hopefully, the increase in ML's with each feed is just what was needed to help her get back into her routine. I think it is safe to say she has escaped whooping cough. She still coughs occassionally, but I think she does it for attention now lol I have noticed too that she is starting to put her arms up when she wants to be picked up, or maybe its a coincidence? cute either way.

Hope everyone else is doing well, sorry not many persies today, too much to do.

Gemini - thats great, i am glad the new teats are working

EMC - bummer about your ex :( At least Jim has one cool mumma to look out for him ;)

ttfn

Hi Ladies

GeminiGirl - Thats great about the feeds. And Yay to the longer sleeps lol. I've noticed L plays with her jungle gym as well. She talks to them and smiles lol. It is very cute. I must remember to get the video camera out. Great 21st footage that will be hehe.

EMC - EX's are just so difficult to deal with. I sympathise with you. My ex is such a deadbeat and I have 2 children to him :doh:. Unfortunately we will have to deal with them for the rest of our lives. Oh and a big :happybirthday:!

AFM - I had my 6 week check up at 7 weeks as we all did and it was all fine. About a week after my check up I had some light bleeding that lasted about 4 days. It wasn't heavy, it was more than spotting and it was fresh blood. It stopped and I thought nothing more of it. I did mention it to my mother and baby clinic nurse and she didn't seem too concerned about it. She said it could have been a very light AF. I am BF'ing so maybe that is part of it.

Anyway yesterday I noticed some spotting and it was fresh blood not old blood. So I have no idea what is going on. I've also had EWCM which started 3 days ago. I've never had ovulation spotting before so I doubt that this is the cause of the spotting. My spotting has turned to a browny yellow today and not as much as yesterday.

I guess I'm curious if anyone has had anything similar?
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Have agreat day ladies!

porsche - with DD1 even though i was breast feeding AF came back at 10 weeks.... hoping it stays away this time lol

Sorry porsche I can't help with the af advice. I didn't get AF back until long after I stopped BFing Caden, even when he was on solids and only having two feeds a day. I BFd him for 14 months. I know a few ladies that get AF fairly soon after birth though, even when bfing. One poor lady was pregnant at 6 weeks post partum! (that would have done my head in, eek! And I am talking about the DTD part, not the pg part! LOL).

Nothing new here although we did go for a long drive today for a 2nd birthday party. I had to stop a few times to cuddle, but we got there in the end :)

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porsche - with DD1 even though i was breast feeding AF came back at 10 weeks.... hoping it stays away this time lol

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I'm on the mini pill, but no AF as yet

Just thought I would add that I am going to get the Mirena. Has anyone else used this?

I've had AF more often than not since delivery :( I am not using anything yet. Thanks for reminding me though, I am meant to organise mirena. I asked the doc while I was there, but he said to ring the hospital. I have had it before. The first one I had was fine, had it in for over 5 years, then I had it removed for a new one and I had heaps of pains associated with it (I assume it was from that, as all other tests and investigations came back fine) I am dreading going back for another one, not only because of the pains I had last time, but because they really really hurt having them inserted :( Feel like going in drunk or something lol

Almost forgot... Bree slept from about 9:30 til 7:45 :O those bigger bottles are working!

GG! I am getting merina put in on 27th July at Lyell Mcewin, never had it before, wish I hadnt read your post about how painful it is, now im freaking out!!!!!!! My GP sent a referral letter to the hospital when i saw him for my postnatal 2 week checkup, then i got a letter saying i was booked for 27th

Hi ladies,

I have been reading then get interrupted before I can post lol.

Had Phoebe weighed today and she has only put on 600grams in the last 5 weeks but she has grown a massive 7cm. She is now off the charts for her height so I am going to have another tall girl here :) unfortunately she has a bit of conjunctivitus so has to have the eye drops. I also had to take her back to the dr for a recheck of her heart. Her heart rate is faster than they would like still so she has to now have an echocardiograph done. I'm hoping that it shows that everything is normal. I can't believe my baby is now 10 1/2 weeks old. I really want time to slow down so I can enjoy her.

Re the contraceptive issue DF is going to get the snip. Not sure when though lol so he is not getting any atm lol. My doctor said the best oral contraceptive is the word NO hehehehe

Oooooops have to go again as Phoebe needs a bum change and the other girls want dinner :eyeroll:

Take care all xxx

I spoke to an LC on the phone tonight, she went through a number of things with me, and really the options are I either continue to comp feed or switch to formula. She was extremely helpful and basically gave me a free consultation on the phone, as the other issue was to do with the fast let down. Basically I've done everything I can.

I've been doing a bit of shopping on eBay and other sites, I found out about apron towels (Cuddledry and Clevamama) so I have ordered a Clevamama towel, that will make things easier.

emma - besides fast let down, why is it you have been told to comp feed or switch to formula? what is comp feed? is it expressing breast milk or is it formula?

RE birth control. I'm not on anything nor do I intend to go on anything. With my history of fertility problems (PCOS) I ovulate irregularly any way. It will be DH responsability to do that side of things. But I don't think he will because we want another anyway. If it happens naturally then so be it if not we have our 4 frosties which we'll look into using in November. But I think I am ovulating and we've been DTD in the prime time eeek! Not intentionally I wasn't really paying attention to my cycle and the other day I noticed EWCM and we had DTD the night before. If we do get UTD I hope it's a boy lol. I told DH that I thought I was ovulating and he's like oh well it was meant to be if we do.

Bern - Comp feeding is a combination of both breastfeeding and formula feeding. It helps if you don't have enough supply to BF you basically top up with formula. Does that make sense?

Kim - L hasn't really been putting much weight on either. Their not worried because she's growing and is in the 95th percentile. I hope the echo comes back ok. What a scary thing to have to do for a little baby. FX for you.

Gemini - Yay to bigger bottles.

What is the Mirena? I've only ever been on the pill.

I just dropped my phone in the toilet. It wouldn't have been so bad but DH didn't god damn flush it!!!!! I want a new phone now. Even though this one isn't very old. I'm a bit annoyed and on my birthday too grrrr.

Have a great day ladies!

Happy birthday! Go get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S II mobile and make me super jealous! I have the galaxy s, the first model, launched a year ago now.

Mirena is an implant into your lady parts that lasts 5 years. It doesn't cause the delay in conception that other contraceptives can when you take them out. I chose it because I'm hopeless with the pill, I heard too many bad experiences about implanon, and 3 monthly injections I think would be a PITA

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Happy birthday! Go get yourself a Samsung Galaxy S II mobile and make me super jealous! I have the galaxy s, the first model, launched a year ago now.

Mirena is an implant into your lady parts that lasts 5 years. It doesn't cause the delay in conception that other contraceptives can when you take them out. I chose it because I'm hopeless with the pill, I heard too many bad experiences about implanon, and 3 monthly injections I think would be a PITA

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A Galaxy you say? hmmm wonder if I can wrangle one out of dh.

So is the mirena like an IUD? I've had the injections and never ever again would i have them again. I don't like the idea of the implanon.

Ah AF and contraception....

Still waiting to see when AF arrives although only stopped post partum bleeding about 2 1/2 weeks ago, but my usual cycle is soooo crazy it could come tomorrow or in 10 months time - thanks to PCOS..

Contraception in our house is 3 kids under 2 (including the twins) and a bit of sleep deprivation as well so no DTD happening here at all. We still have 3 embryo's on ice but as we are not planning anymore kids we will consent to have our remaining embryo's destroyed and just to be extra sure DH is going to have a vasectomy (not that he is looking forward to it...please I've had to carry 3 kids in 2 pregnancies and have 2 c/s's) when the boys are 6 months or so. Until then, if and when it happens it is down to DH.

Boys got weighed on Monday and they both weigh 4.59kg's and are just under 56cm long which make them in the 10% percentile for both weight and height, but we are not too concerned as they both put on around 500grams in 2 1/2 weeks so they are doing all the right things. They have improved sleeping and after I give them a feed at 10pm - if it is a scheduled feed or just a top up they get fed at 10pm - they have been sleeping through pretty much until 6am the next morning (with a few dummy reinsertions during the night). They also had immunisations yesterday and were really good with only a little cry from both although Liam had a 30 minute screaming session last night at around 6pm but after some panadol and a bottle and then mummy hugs he settled down and today they are pretty much back to normal.

Anyway, I'm going to go make a cup of tea and put my feet up as DD and the boys are all asleep at the moment and my home help comes in an hour so I'm going to have a bit of time to myself.

gah now I am having computer trouble so I might be offline.

Contraception, well I don't think I will be DTD for quite some time, however IUD's aren't an option I would personally consider, as my Mum used one in the 70's and it's the one that caused a lot of heartache for many women. However I know it works well for some. I just prefer condoms even when I was in a long term relationship. Most recently anything hormonal including the "ring" made me nauseous and that is why Jim is here.

Comp feeding, in my case my milk kept bubs very well hydrated but not fed. When my milk came in it was quite late, it was coincidentally the same day we had an appointment with the LC at the hospital as an outpatient, so that feed went really well. Since then I think a lot of the problem has been stress.

A local LC spoke to me for free over the phone the other night, and also I have got more advice from an ABA counsellor via their email helpline. I am going to continue to offer bubs the breast. Some days we do formula top ups other days we do breast top ups. I also have fast let down as well, in that I will lie down and I'm like a garden sprinkler! BUT it's often very watery. However it does make bubs a bit colicky but also it must be doing him some good as well.

So I'm continuing comp feeding, hoping to maintain some supply for as long as possible. Sometimes I'm not sure if he's hungry so I offer him a breast first. It has been a small saving on formula but as the LC said he is still taking in a lot of formula. Also I need to get more rest.

I am getting some more Pigeon bottles from eBay so I will just have to get some new teats. I also got a bottle drying rack finally, so getting a bit more organised.

With nappies I'm using terry flats and PUL covers mostly from Baby Beehinds. Their wetbag is a handy size, and I'm not using it as a wetbag but rather I have the changing gear in it, I have three nappy bags as I don't have a car, it will be handy, I then just put that bag in whichever bag I'm taking. Big W also have a cheap but awesome folding change mat which is quite large and I've got that on my stroller.

This forum has been great for advice on feeding, I think we would just be on bottles by now, being my first and probably only child it has meant the world to me to breastfeed him.

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emma - besides fast let down, why is it you have been told to comp feed or switch to formula? what is comp feed? is it expressing breast milk or is it formula?

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Bubs was losing weight but he was just hungry, and my milk even when it came in was watery overall for part or all of the feeds (a lot of foremilk). He was well hydrated so that was a relief as he had loads of wet nappies.

In hospital we were doing small top ups, but sometimes I would have to wait for a shift handover, to obtain them, as the staff don't have time to read your file, and put two and two together. Basically I was having no trouble feeding him, despite being tethered to the bed and in pain and throwing up on him, so I think they're used to advising about BF and they were a bit stuck, we got lots of advice about SIDS and why wasn't he dressed more warmly?!

I only had two packs of premixed S-26 at home when we left hospital (stayed with my parents), and basically poor Jim was feeding off me for hours and hours, and losing weight from sucking, he was burning off the energy :-(

We went to the Royal Children's as it was a Sunday, and the home visiting midwife rang ahead for us. (We have been treated like royalty as outpatients and have had to pop back to the hospital as when things came up it was the weekend or public holiday). They gave him a thorough check up which was reassuring and gave me Motilium. That gave me a supply which kept going. I took Fenugreek but that made me vomit (another trip back to hospital for a check over, and I had a bladder infection).

Sorry have forgotten to mention, yes so I have two breast pumps, a Pigeon manual which I get the best result from; and a Medela Swing. In the early days, luckily we had Jim's grandparents to help out, as he would get a four course meal for some feeds ~

Left side
Right side
Expressed Breast Milk (EBM)
Formula top up

Hope that gives you some idea about comp feeding. It can be done but it's a lot of work. However in some ways I don't have anything better to do, lol, and I don't mind doing it. BUT sometimes it has been too exhausting where I end up putting him in the bassinette, and wake up 4 hours later, and he's lying there awake!

Jim's certainly been like having a couple of baby experiences in one bubby. With the labour, I had contractions and felt the urge to push which I had to not do, and then having the emergency caesar. Now with feeding I have experienced a lot. Goodness I wonder if this is going to keep up, he is going to keep me so so so busy!!

Just a quick one! (do I ever have time to post anything but? LOL)

Kim - I am glad you mentioned the weight gain, as my little guy has only put on 300gm in 2 weeks. I was worried, but not so much now as it seems to be a trend here. Good luck with the echo, I hope it is just your little girls uniqueness and nothing serous.

EMC - gosh hun you have a lot on your plate! I need to start expressing, just so DH can do the evening feed and I can have a break. You are doing a great job babe.

Kelly - LOL about your contraceptive choice! I got my mirena the other day, just need a dr to put it in. I told DH about it (as he wants to get the snip right NOW but I told him to wait a year) and he said we are on the perfect contraceptive, as in NO DTD ROFL. It is a bit hard when bed time coincides with River's night time unsettle period.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PORSCHE!

AFM - all good here. Went to sleep school (Ngala) yesterday. It was a bit stressful, hard work and I was exhausted by the end of the day. Plus I stayed an hour too late and got stuck in peak hour. I was so angry as I just didn't know how I would cope with my 10 week old screaming in the car and peak hour. Lo and behold, he slept the entire trip home! OMG I was thrilled to say the least :). I put him in his cot (next to my bed) last night and he slept fine in it, and this morning he has settled quite well in it with me stroking his head. It is still a bit of work, but soooo much better than carrying him all day. My neck gets these weird shoots of "sparks" in them, which I take to be a bad sign, possibly some nerve issues associated with the sling use. Hopefully the cot sleeping gives me a bit of a break.

Better go play with Caden while River is asleep ;)

Wow, so much has been happening. I'll do my best to catch up, but I'm typing one handed lol

BBB I was going to say sorry for scaring you, but probably better you have some knowlege, its def not sunshine and lollipops lol. How was you trip to Sydney?

Kim I hope the heart thing is nothing serious. When will you find out?

Porsche Happy Birthday! :) that's cra* news about your phone... maybe you can talk ur hubby into buying you a new one!

Kelly lovely to hear from you again. Extra happy to hear you are getting time to put your feet up :) Your doing a great job! 8 hours is awesome :)

Dragonbub What is sleep school? Can I come? :) Did you fit your mirena in your handbag? (are they still in those massive boxes?) LOL I found that by changing arms - use to feed Bree with her always resting in my left arm, but now always in my right - this has eliminated all shooting pains I had in my back/neck/shoulder blades. Except, in saying that I am holding her in my left now so I can type and I am getting tight in the shoulder again. Just a thought. Hopefully getting to use the cot more will help.

As for us... Ive had it with my doctor. I have been to him 3 times to do something about Brianna's reflux and wind, but he refuses. I bought some Infants Friend today because Infacol done nothing, bit like my doctor. I called a locum today. He suggests I take her to a peadiatrician. He thinks she needs better treatment than what she is receiving, but because he is a locum he didn't want to prescribe her anything. He has given me a letter that he says can be used as a referal so I don't have to ask my gp for it. Heaven forbod should I ask him for it.
So yes she has been struggling with that a bit. It wouldn't be so bad if she was just a bit whingy and unsettled, but she is clearly in pain, and it is causing her to cough, gag, and choke.
I asked my doctor to give me a referal for mirena and he wouldn't do that either... Am I missing something here?

Anyway, I know I have dribbled on long enough because my arm is now killing me LOL

Hope all is well with everyone!

I've used Infacol, then Infant's Friend and just plain cooled boiled water too.

At the moment I'm waiting for some baby probiotics in the post, although there is some in Jim's formula - NAN HA. I've also read about some people getting their pharmacist to work out a baby sized dosage of Inner Health plus.

Hey all!

Jacob is 11 weeks today!!! OMG!!! I had to pack away all his 0000 and 000 today and get out all the 00 and 0's. He's just over 5kg but he's very long in the legs and torso. He has seemed to recover from all his vac, but that rotavirus one took like 6 days to clear his system, it was very yuk!
Sydney was great GG, it was like a holiday because so many friends and family wanted to cuddle him and read him stories and play with him! All I had to do was feed him, eat and sleep :) I didn't want to come home! poor DH!

The last 48hrs Jacob has decided he is full from only one side per feed, and refuses to take the other boob no matter how much I try.... but then 2hrs later is starving again.... Its pretty tiring! Hope its just a growth spurt thing, he has been pooing most of it out from what I can see!

GG I hate my Dr too, let me know if you find a decent one, and don't bother trying the Springbank medical centre.

Has anyone tried the razbaby soothers? I got one for Jake from Big W in Sydney, they are awesome, they CLOSE AUTOMATICALLY when they are dropped!!! Already saved me a bunch of times! They also have the cutest designs, I got Jake the aeroplane one.

sorry have to cut it short, Jake is whinging...

Em Bree is on Nan HA too. I have considered going back to S26 because they have AR (Anti reflux) but I don't want to keep swapping and changing. The doc said their is no problem in doing it, but I don't feel comfortable doing it. They also say their is no harm in babies screaming in pain for hours at a time, but I beg to differ on that subject too.
I have changed Bree's dummies back to the cherry shaped ones. (I had to buy more) she had them before but she pooped them so I had put her back on the avent brand dummies, and I am wondering if that might be contributing to her seemingly worse colic and reflux lately. She has had a bit of Infants Friend, its hard to say if it is helping.
I gave her some Mylanta this morning after her morning bottle because she vomited x2, they were only small ones, thank fully, and I managed to catch it all without wearing it. YAY She has been fine since then (a couple of screams occasionally for a moment). I have been able to sit down and continue reading a book that I have not touched in about 3-4 months... but the kids are keeping her entertained between her naps too :) Nan bought some nice shiny books which she loves to look at (she has a major fascination with lights) I don't remember if my older 3 were like that? She likes them that much that she even smiles at them when they are turned off LOL
Does anyone else notice that with their bub?

BBB must have been posting at the same time :) Glad to hear you had a great time in Sydney. It's nice to have a break! I hope you are feeling energised again. It does sound like Jake is going through a growth spurt. I remember Bree on one night in particular had a full bottle at about 10pm and then by about 10:45 she was having another one, and left very little of it. I think that was because of a growth spurt. DH spent more time with her over the weekend and when I took over again in the evening, I looked at her and thought, Wow you have grown so much today! I am finding that I just cannot squeeze her into 000 anymore. I don't think it helps with her reflux by having a tight jumpsuit on either, so I have packed most of her 000 away, but I need to buy more 00 and I haven't got any 0's at all. Maybe we should go shopping. I had some stuff here I thought I would bring down and see if it fits Jacob, even if it was only a week or two, but I left it too long now lol... blink and you miss it huh! lol

Oh I have to share with you this little story;

So the other night, I came home from the footy (watching the crows loose to essendon) :rolleyes: anyway, when I got home, Bree was awake in her basinet. I looked at her and gave her a big smile and asked "Do you want mummy to pick you up and give you lots of cuddles, she looked at me and shook her head - No. Oh I said, do you want Daddy to pick you up and give you cuddles, she looked at me, smiled, and shook her head, No. Oh I said, do you want Nannles to pick you and give you cuddles, she looked at me, smiled, and shrugged one shoulder.
It was so cute, it bought a tear to my eye. I know its all coincidence but it is still so beautiful. I just wish I had a camera rolling. It makes all those poos and late nights worth it doesn't it... :D