Alison - I can't believe WW online said you didn't have enough weight to lose?! I've used Kalorie King too. I started off using the little Kalorie King book (bought from local newsagency). Maybe us 'old girls' can motivate each other? I'm 7 inches taller than you, but even back to my pre-pregnancy weight I'm still 81kg! But I just can't get to the Gym with two kids and the hours that DH works.
Willow - Yes, TT is back on track now. You just can't TT a grumpy tired toddler. How was Soccer? I don't know how you do the 2 hourly feeds you must be wrecked.
My Mum's Group were saying that they're now being told that we can start solids at 3-4 months, when we were all told not before 6 months only 2 years ago!
Better run, Craig's having a bad night and he's still crying after the last time I put him back to bed. Time to go in and comfort him as he sounds like he's winding up not winding down iykwim.
Hi everyone, sorry I haven't posted for a few days. I've had a few neck/back issues and feeling generally a bit stressed with DH away so often and never really knowing if a move is around the corner or not. I'll try and do a proper post tomorrow but just wanted to send out a bit of an SOS about oversupply. My right breast has gone into overdrive and I'm waking up completely engorged during the night and in the morning. The stretch marks are more like stretch crevasses . I've just had to express 120 mls between 7and 11 tonight just to get the lumps down. I think I've created a bit of a situation by not keeping track of how much I'm feeding from each side because Matilda snacks so much. I'm going to call the Australian Breastfeeding Association tomorrow but does anyone have any suggestions?
Hi suzi The other *old girl* I think it's just the three of us?
Good to hear TT is on track again.
Soccer was good I'm glad I went in the end it's usually a bit of a social event for me too. DS has played soccer with one of the other boys for I think 7 years now and I get along really well with his family. They're a big Italian family so Nona and aunties and uncles and little cousins come as well. His aunty had twins (boys) the day before I had Harry and I hadn't seen them since we left the hospital, so it was good to see them too. She has a DD I think 6yrs, a DS 4 and now the twins 4months OMG I don't feel so bad a bout 2 hourly feeds. I don't know how she does it they aren't the best sleepers either, and DS is finding it hard and being a bit jealous, and with one of the twins being sick at the moment I don't know how she even got the motivation to get them all in the car and come to the soccer...and she went to Tuggeranong first (she lives in Gungahlin) to watch her niece first, then headed over to Deakin to watch the boys, with all 4 kids and the twins hate the car and scream from the time she puts them in their seats until she gets them out at the other end So my 2 hourly feeds and clingy not much of a day sleeper doesn't seem so bad right now...ask me again at 12am- then 2am- then 4am- then 6am ..lol Apart from all that the boys won so that was a plus.
When to start solids??? It seems just when you think you've got one guideline down they upset it by changing it again, it makes it very hard to keep up! We have decided to hold off on solids until 6months, purely because DP has allergies himself and in the family, and because we have decided, at this stage, to delay Harry's immunisations, we're still researching and will decide later if and which ones we'll do when ( I know I'm probably not very popular for that decision, we do have our reasons, but that's a different discussion for another post) So reason for holding off solids until 6 months is that your immune system starts pretty much in your gut, and it's my understanding that exclusive BF helps to build all the good flora/bacteria etc to build a good solid immune system IYKWIM (sorry it's late and I can find the right words to explain)
I did have both DS1&2 on solid way earlier than that DS2 started at 3 months if not a little sooner (he was a hungry bubby!) but they had a different gene pool with my XH so the allergy thing wasn't an issue, they were also fully immunised. Anyway they're both fine, well DS2's a little feral but I really don't think that's because I gave him solids a bit before 3 months
So did they say why the turn around again to 3-4 months? I'm very curious, as Harry is really taking note when we eat, which to me has always been a sign that they're ready to try food, so maybe it would be ok to start him sooner. I'll have to ask the chiro next visit he's just done a lot of paediatric seminars and courses including nutrition so maybe he'll have the heads up.
Hope Craig settled for you.
I'll stop raving on now geez sorry that was much longer than I thought, maybe I had too much sugar today!
Hi Tilda I lose track a bit too sometimes Harry's a snacker/frequent feeder so it's hard sometimes. I found if after each feed I put a hair band on the wrist I need to feed from next it helps me stay on track. If I don't feel that he's had a full feed, or just hasn't drank enough from that side I leave the band on that wrist so he gets the next feed from that side again, it seems to work well.
Expressing too much might keep your supply up in that boob, maybe expressing a bit in the shower to just take the edge off and when you even it out again it should come good. But definitely talk to the ABA tomorrow I'm sure they can give you more accurate advice than me!
Let us know what they say, I might need to know for when I forget my hair bands, it's a good system, when your baby brain remembers to use it!
Hi Suz - that's interesting, our health nurse said not before 6 months whereas it used to be 4 months! I'm like Willow and am trying to hold off until 6 months as I have a wheat intolerance and skin allergies run in my family. I'd rather not take chances but if she really looks like she wants food before then I won't deny her. She doesn't seem interested yet though.
Hi Willow - my sisters fed all their kids at 4 months as well, one even gave her son a nectarine at 3.5 months and apparently her health nurse at the time freaked - never the less he is totally fine and a strapping young 17 year old today lol!
Hi Tilda - I should feel sorry for you but I'm very envious at the same time. BF'ing is such a thing of the past for me and still a bit of a sore subject. My boobs have shrunk back to their former B cup self and Amelia is fully formula fed these days, I was only engorged once, I know it was very painful though. Hope you sort that out soon.
AFM - had a great night, DH is away until today and expected a bad night but Amelia slept right through! I did peep in at 2.30 am as I got up to go to the loo and heard her make a little noise but when I went in she was fast asleep and still as anything, I think she was dreaming. Next I know it's 6.00 am and then 7.30 am I go in and she's awake but just playing with her security blanket/toy thing. Usually she fusses at some point in the night so that was fantastic - this was after I'd put her to bed while still awake, although tired too - I just popped on her CD as usual and also put on the aquarium thing with the lights and walked out, 10 minutes later, out like a light! Anyway, it probably won't happen every night but I'll take it when it does...no dummy all night, not even going to bed, wow I'm excited ha ha.
Well today is the start of the 12 Week Challenge, so who joined me! I'm on a mission girls, 66kgs and I want to be back to 59/60 kgs and I'll be happy, anything extra will be a bonus.
Hi Alison Glad to hear Amelia had such a good night! I am very jealous!
Good luck on the 12 week challenge, I've seen the thread going round before sounds like a good idea for motivation and support
AFM I'm again trying to find motivation to go out. I need to tell the builder our selection of tiles today and I keep changing my mind (typical Libran) so I'd like to get back out to the tile place for one last look if I can. DP has just come home from work sick upset stomach, I'm hoping it's the anti-biotics he's on for an infected tooth and that he doesn't have a bug, I really don't want to catch it if it is and really don't want Harry to get it either. He wanted to come to the tile place, but I don't know if we should sit in the car with him an be that close to possible germs if he does have a bug. Maybe I'm just too paranoid?? I'll see how he is I guess, I would rather he came then he can drive I'm tired after a night of Harry waking even more often than usual.
Hi Willow - poor DP, hope he's feeling better soon, I'd leave him home too lol. Sounds like it could be antibiotics though, is he supposed to take them with food? You know men, they never follow instructions and antibiotics can often give upset stomachs. I get one with a common antibiotic called Flagyl, he's not on those is he lol. I'd stop taking them and see the doctor or pharmacist before continuing with those. Good luck picking tiles, I'm a Gemini so I change my mind a lot too, I can't make a decision if my life depended on it and get bored quickly!
Hello all! Extremely tired so will keep this post short...
Alison - thast great Amelia is keeping up the 4 feeds Good on you for starting a 12 week challenge! I'm too lazy!
Willow - I'm not sure what the official word is on starting solids, tho I have my Mothers Group Info Session on solids tomorrow so I'll et you know what she says! Gosh, the thought of twins terrifies me, how does she cope??? I dont' think you're being paranoid, you're just being a protective mummy!
Tilda - sorry to hear about your engorgement. I didn't get to experience that unfortunately (or fortunately!), so not sure what it feels like. Ihope the ABA were able to help you. I know they were very supportive when I called them.
Suz - great that the TT is back on track You're doing so well!
Rose - isn't it lovely when they suprise you with a nice long nap. Michael is doing the same this very minute...tho I'm sure now I've written that he'll wake up! Thats good to keep up the walking, I feel so good when I"ve been out for a walk...clears the mind. I think Michael is on the other side of the wonder week too...his grasp on toys and things is so much more...I dunno, determined. And he's really experimenting with his voice, tho he's starting this real whiney pretend-cry...hope that doesn't last!
BS - hope you're enjoying your hols!
Hello to everyone else!
AFM - Absolutely knackered today. Michael woke at 2am (earliest ever since he's been sleeping through), just a bit whingey and had his hands in his mouth, so put some bonjella on and gave him the dummy. Well. He didn't really go back to sleep for over 2 hours!! I do wonder if it had mor eto do with the stupid cricket that was outside his window (was really loud in his room), because he wasn't upset, just not sleeping. I ended up putting my dressing gown, a torch and the broom and traipsing down the side of the house to see if I could 'shoo' it away. It didn't work. (that was after asking DH to do it, and he wouldn't - grrr. (they really need a 'grrr' smilie, don't they?). Anyway, didn't get back to sleep till after 5am and even then I kept waking up thinking I could hear him. Oh I really hope that was a one-off...
Just popping in quickly while Liam is napping. I don't trust him to be asleep for too long.
Tilda - I had a huge problem with oversupply (and still have an overactive letdown, but Liam seems to cope better with that now). What helped me was block feeding - feeding from the same side for 2 hours, no matter how many feeds, before switching (and hand expressing for comfort from the other side if needed). The ABA will probably be able to give you some other ideas as well. And just feeding more from that side in general will probably help. I need to keep track of the sides I feed from using an iPhone application, otherwise I forget (and I'm hopeless at remembering to switch a hairband on my wrists).
Liam's been pretty unsettled again all weekend - on Saturday night he was back to two-hourly feeds, which was unfun. This morning he woke up at 5am with a poo, and was wide awake by the time I'd changed him. He's been catnapping all day, and I just have my fingers crossed that he stays down for more than 20 minutes this time.
Argh, I have more I want to post about, including replies, but I'm exhausted and my brain doesn't work well. I'll try to pop in this evening after Liam's gone down for the night if I can.
Hi girls. I'm hoping my computer doesn't crash while I'm posting, so here goes. And hey, with my 36th birthday looming I think I qualify as one of the "old girls"
Rose - thanks for those tips. I will give that a go. It makes sense. Sorry to hear you're back to 2 hour feeds. It must just wreck you. And I can relate to the catnapping, Matilda is a catnapper through and through.
Beany - sounds like you had a bad night too. I'm with you and Rose. I think I can count the hours of sleep I got last night on one hand.
Alison - sorry it's probably really annoying to hear other people complain about oversupply. Why we can't just all produce the required amount is beyond me! If it's any consolation I envy your full nights sleep. Good luck with the 12 week challenge. I'm sure you'll reach your goal in no time.
Willow - yuck, I hope your DH gets better soon and doesn't pass it on. Would you believe I do actually use a rubber band to keep track and just end up forgetting to switch it and then start second guessing myself.
Suz - hope Craig calmed down for you the other night. It's a moving feast (ha ha) as to when to start solids. I don't think I'll start until 6 months. Matilda doesn't seem to be suffering from a lack of nutrition!
hello to all the other busy mummies.
AFM - well I called the ABA and they gave me a bit of advice which was pretty much to express for comfort but I ended up talking to her for much longer about the feed to sleep thing. I've been feeling really terrible about it with all the pressure there seems to be around the place to self-settle and ended up bursting into tears on the phone with this poor ABA counsellor. She was really lovely about it and made me feel much better about it and reassured me that there's nothing wrong with it if I choose to do it. So, I really am going to try and let go of the nagging guilt that I'm doing the wrong thing. Please feel free to tell me to get over myself if I get all miserable about it again. But I guess the really big news at the moment is that DH and I have moved into the spare room. I felt all sad about it but I really felt we were starting to disturb her sleep coming and going and she was starting to get difficult to resettle at night when she could hear DH rustling around. And it seems to have helped heaps. Most nights she's only woken for one feed at around 3am and has then slept through to 7. Last night was awful because I didn't get to sleep until 12am and she was up at 4:30am but I put that down to not feeding her enough yesterday. Anwyay, I think I'll post this before I lose it!
Tilda - Don't worry hon, we all feel the guilt. It's part of parenting! With Craig I felt guilty because I didn't know what I was doing. With Ryan, I feel guilty about having him when my toddler needs so much attention. Hope your engorged boob sorts itself out. My right has been really full each morning but it gets like that when Ryan doesn't feed both sides. I just make sure he does and it usually settles down again (and if it's really bad I express a little bit, no more than 40ml). Don't feel bad about moving out of your room to help Matilda sleep and it's fantastic that she's sleeping better already.
Willow - Hope DP is feeling better soon and that you make a decision on your tiles. I'm a Pisces and you'd think I'd be indecisive, but my DH is a Scorpio and he irritates me no end with how long he takes to make decisions!
Rose - Really hoping Liam sleeps for you tonight. Catnapping is frustrating enough when they sleep at night, but 2 hourly feeds on top of that would be exhausting! I love the iPhone tip
Beany - Damn cricket! Has Michael's tooth cut through yet? Poor little mite, teething is no fun for anyone, bubs or Mums! Hope you have a better night tonight.
Alison - That's great Amelia's doing the 4 feeds. Ryan has settled himself in to a routine of sorts too, 5 3 hourly feeds from 7am-7pm. I'm excited about the 12 week challenge! But last night I was starving, even after a big dinner of slow cooker pea & ham soup with crusty bread.
AFM - I'm still not going to start Ryan on solids before he's 6 months because he's nice and fat, BFing really well and sleeping really well. Absolutely no reason to until he starts to need more iron than I can give him via BF. From what I understand, the health professionals have gone back to 4 months to start solids because the evidence has shown that it's not as damaging as previously thought. They've also relaxed the guidelines on which solids to introduce and when, particularly the allergens (egg, peanuts, wheat etc) because it seems that by avoiding these foods we actually create the allergies. As I think Willow said, they change it every few years.
Ryan is teething. I'm still trying to find him a teether that he likes more than my fingers. Bonjela helped once, but the next time I tried it he had no relief.
Exciting news! My friend and next door neighbour was booked for an induction tonight, but their car's not there so I think she's started labour on her own! They already have a little boy Craig's age and now there'll be someone for Ryan to play with
Suz - that's exciting news about your friend. How great that the kids will all be so close in age. Thanks for the . I really understand why they refer to "mother guilt" now. I suspect we'd feel it no matter what we did.
AFM - Matilda is doing one of those random 2 hour sleeps at the moment. Which is really well timed. It's given me a bit of a break with DH being away and some time to tidy up before the cleaner arrives and we head off to mother's group. We had another good night last night - 6:30 to bed, a feed at 2:30 and up at 6:30. I think moving into a different room has been the right thing to do. She doesn't seem to miss us and I think we're all sleeping better. I do worry a bit about the sids recommendations to share a room until they're 6 months but I guess we got pretty close. And feeding on demand rather than trying to stretch her feeds out seems to work best for her too. I think it bothers other people more than me. I don't actually mind feeding her any old time but I get the feeling that it seems to irritate other people. And my right boob seems to have settled down again mercifully. (Suz, I think I did what you do which was feed her a bit from both sides (but mainly the left which was the boob next in line) when she woke for her one feed last night and that seemed to help). And I think they've been adjusting to the drop in night feeds.
I think Matilda has come through the other side of Wonder Week 19 too. She's gained mastery of her hands at last and is really enjoying games with an element of repetition and prediction. One of her favourites at moment is having the clean laundry gently thrown over her and dragged across her face. That never fails to get smiles and giggles. And it lets me fold the laundry! Has anyone else noticed their bub's getting really active as well. Matilda just loves climbing all over me and then will just launch off me onto her tummy on the couch or the floor if we're down on the ground. It's hard to believe they just keep getting cuter.
Well I'm going to actually have to think about waking the little miss soon if she doesn't wake up! Hope everyone is enjoying the day.
Hi Suzi Congrats on a new little friend for Craig Nice name too
I agree with you on the solids with Craig being nice and chubby, like Harry, I don't think he probably needs solids just yet. Some babies benefit and some don't. But it's so hard to know what the right thing allergen wise is to do I think I'll be leaving it for 6 months for now
Hi Tilda The guilt is great isn't it! Go with your gut when it comes to when you feed Matilda and how you sleep her and how you do anything with her. Try not to worry what other people think. She's your baby and you know what's best for her, and how best to respond to her needs! If it doesn't fit into other peoples "right way" basket, then bad luck for them!! All babies are different, what works for you and Matilda may not work for any siblings that may come along for her. Do what works for you! You're doing a great job!!!
Hope you got lots done while she had her random long sleep.
Hi Rose I hear you on the 2 hourly feeds! I'm really feeling it today, some days are harder than others, and today I have that zombie feel! I hope Liam settles for you and you get more than 20 mins!
AFM Well I'm feeling very tired and have pretty much zero tolerance and no patience at all today.
One positive though is that after the lady from Amber Bebe rang me on Thursday to say she was out of stock for two weeks, the teething necklace arrived yesterday! Did you get yours too Beany? Looks much less girly than I thought and looks cool on his ankle for sleep time too
Time to check my soup better go.
Hi Willow - yay for your teething necklace, they look cute on the boys don't they - one of my mums group boys has one and he looks like a little surfie dude, so cute. I love Amelia's, definitely worth the money.
Hi Tilda - Amelia just had a 2.5 nap as well, must be growing do you think? I too was hoping she was past the 19 week thing, either that or it's the calmo before the storm. She's been sleeping nearly 12 hours without fussing at the night the last few too, hope that lasts! I agree too, Amelia has just suddenly got more active, definitely needs entertaining more but is easy enough like you said, she likes playing aeroplanes, she's the aeroplane! hee hee
Well, I think my professional pics of her are ready so just going to the Postie to pick them up. Will get back on later.
Tilda - glad to hear you had a nother good night! About time you had a few Oh thats too cute with the giggles at the laundry on her face! I haven't tried that one. Tho I have noticed he starts to giggle when I do...v cute!
Suz - yes, Michael's tooth has cut through, and the one next to it has just about, or has already, bit hard to tell - he gets real narky when I go poking around in there! Forgot that I'm meant to be cleaning them! Naughty mummy. The CHN said just with a clean wet cloth over your finger. So will start doing that tonight. Great news about the new arrival...how lucky are you to have playmates next door!
Willow - yes! I got mine yesterday too! He looks super cute in it, I must say! Can't say I have noticed any difference tho...perhaps it takes a while to take effect. Well, when I say difference, its not like he's upset with the teething, its more I was hoping it might help his night sleeps. Alas, no.
Alison - Oooh! What are your photo's like? Sooooooo lucky Amelia is sleeping so well...oh I'd love a night like that!
Hello to everyone else!
AFM - Unfortunately it was another very disturbed night for me. He again woke just after 2am, then woke another 3-4 times after that till 6am. I'm getting paranoid and wake up at the slightest noise, and lying in bed nervous and waiting for him to make a noise So I'm struggling to get some decent sleep.
Went to Mothers Group today for info on solids. I think the CHN view is to wait till 6m if poss, unless they are showing signs of needing food earlier, tho they don't nutritionally start needing food till 5-6 months. So, I shall wait till 6m. I actually bought some Farex at the shops yesterday...not cos I plan to use it soon, but just cos its exciting and I can't wait!
Some of the mums were saying how their babies sleep has gone down hill too. Those who used to have baby's that would sleep all night are now finding that they wake frequently during the night (these are babies about 4 weeks older than Michael) AND that a dummy is no longer enough to get them back to sleep. Also one is starting to show signs of seperation anxiety, she won't fall asleep unless her mum is touching her, which was never an issue before. And another, poor thing, slept on the nursery floor because he kept waking every 30 mins!!! So I'm now thinking its going to get worse than it is now...I can feel my anxiety creeping up
Anyhoo...making ratatouille tonight for tea...first proper from-a-recipe meal I have made since I had Michael! Must go and peel my garlic...
beany - I've only recently started trying to do some proper cooking again, too. Though I'm still doing very simple meals. I can't believe that Michael is cutting teeth already! I hope you get a more settled night tonight, though. Lack of sleep is awful.
Alison - Can't wait to see your photos!
willow - I got Liam's teething necklace last week, I think. Not sure if it's really making much of a difference, but it can't hurt and it looks cute. Though my MIL told him that he looked like a girl
Tilda - I'm really glad that Matilda had a better night in her own room. I'm torn at the moment with Liam's sleep - I kind of want to try him in his room to see if he'd sleep better, but I don't want to be up all night having to go to the other side of the house to feed him. It's nice not having to get out of bed. If he would consistently go to one feed a night, it would be doable. But then again, he might not go to that until he's in his own room. If only his cot wasn't a total pain to move, we could try it and see what happens. Funnily enough, though, I was talking to DH about it a bit, and though he'd been a bit against bringing the cot into our room, he really wants Liam to stay sleeping there for now. I guess we'll see how things are in another month or so.
And the feeding to sleep thing - I think it's only a problem if you feel it is. Liam is still fed to sleep 90% of the time. I figure that it's a very natural way for babies to go to sleep (why else would it happen so consistently) and they'll grow out of it eventually. When you don't have a great sleeper, you just take what works to get them to sleep, I think. And don't worry about breaking down when talking to the ABA counsellor - I think that's pretty par for the course with their work
Hi to everyone else!
AFM - Kind of exhausted (as it seems we all are at the moment). Liam had a couple of really good nights last week, but the last handful have been bad. Last night he was just screaming and screaming and took forever to settle. I think it's mostly teething pain, to be honest. I was getting to the point where I was going to give him some panadol to see if it helped when he finally went to sleep. He was awake for ages this morning, too - but happy most of the time. I managed to get him to have a couple of good naps this afternoon, at least, but he's still pretty overtired.
I'm making a commitment to try to start looking after myself again, too. I can't do any kind of drastic diet while BFing, but I'm going to really try to eat better (not that I did today, thanks to crazy chocolate cravings. And as I typed that, I just realised that I forgot my calcium/magnesium supplement, which would be why). I've been getting out walking every day for at least an hour, too, which is lovely. Though Liam tends to start whinging about halfway through if he doesn't go to sleep
Hi girls! It's been so long since I've posted. When I get on these days, I usually only have energy to read.
Well, Amelia was sleeping at night. Playing music all night really seemed to help. But it all went caput again just after Easter when I think she started teething. The weekend after Easter we went to Mt Gambier for SIL's wedding. It was beautiful and SIL made a stunning bride. Plus we got to introduce Amelia to DH's family and MIL hadn't seen her since Christmas. But Amelia didn't cope with it very well. We just couldn't time everything right...she'd be tired and we'd just settle her to sleep and then we'd wake her when we'd move on to the next thing.
The day after the wedding was terrible as we spent the day visiting family (didn't plan to but it just worked out that way). We stopped at SIL's place that afternoon and the best man was there with his wife and there 3 month old boy. Amelia had slept in the car but woke when we got there and started to cry just as we were going inside. The best man made a comment "Don't teach DS to make that noise" or something like that. WTF?! Oh yeah, my poor exhausted, teething daughter has a bad habit of crying!That was it for me! I took Amelia outside in the peace and quiet to walk and sing to her. By that night she was exhausted but couldn't relax enough to go to sleep. I was so glad to get her home to familiar surroundings and peace and quiet.
So for the last week, we've been back to being awake at night. She has a long sleep from about 4-5am until around midday. I'm trying to find the strength to wake her every morning at 9am for a feed in the hope that she'll get enough to eat during the day and not want to feed so much at night. But I'm with you Tilda, feeding on demand is so much easier than trying to get her to fit in with what I want. Our girls seem to have the same determination, something I'm sure we'll value as they get older, especially when it comes to dealing with peer pressure etc.
Her amber teething necklace arrived last week and it has made a difference. Although she still seems to be in pain in the early hours of the morning....I think she's just so tired by then....but I bought some teething gel as a back up. I bought a necklace for myself to help with tension headaches. I love it! My neck and shoulders hardly ache at all when I wear it. I've given it to my mum to see if it helps her with her aches and pains. Chemo is really starting to take its toll.If it works for her I'll get her one too.
I had my first appointment with my new psych a couple of weeks ago. She increased my dose again and gave me some ideas on how to get DH to help more. DH has been more hands on since Amelia has been so much more responsive, but he still has so many projects on the go. He had last week off but I don't think we got any more time with him than when he's a work. But he gets so defensive whenever I try to talk to him about it and I'm too tired to argue with him. He complains that my GP and psych make judgements without meeting him. I've asked him to attend appointments but he says he's too busy. But I really don't know what more he could do. He does help out whenever I ask...I guess it'd be nice if I didn't have to ask every time.
Now I promised myself I would mention some positives about my girl. As hard as I'm finding motherhood (I don't think there is any way to prepare for the sheer relentlessness of caring for a tiny person), I love my little girl to bits. We're seeing the wonder part of week 19 now. Amelia has always looked at everything intently, but now she has so much more focus on things. She wants to reach out and touch everything...she loves running her hands on the couch and wants to type on the keyboard when DH is on the computer with her. She is also fascinated with a mug of water I drink from. We've given her her own mug and she'll "drink" from it. So cute. She also laughs now while playing peek-a-boo....before she would just look kind of confused.
Ok I think that's enough from me. I just wanted to check in and let you all know what we've been up to.
Tilda - Please don't feel guilty. The best advice I have been given is to do what works. Matilda is happy and thriving and as long as feeding her to sleep isn't a problem for YOU, then that's all that matters. Don't feel you need to change what is working just because other people think it doesn't work. I came across an article on the ABA website the other night which I'm going to print out and post on my fridge Australian Breastfeeding Association - Mothers ... Are they expected to be the new Wonder Woman???. It talks about guilt a bit. There were also some good articles on sleeping as well which might give you some ammo if you feel the need to defend yourself.
Hugs to all the mums and bubs. I hope you're all doing well.
you must be wrecked. 
. I've just had to express 120 mls between 7and 11 tonight just to get the lumps down. I think I've created a bit of a situation by not keeping track of how much I'm feeding from each side because Matilda snacks so much. I'm going to call the Australian Breastfeeding Association tomorrow but does anyone have any suggestions?
I think it's just the three of us? 
When to start solids??? It seems just when you think you've got one guideline down they upset it by changing it again, it makes it very hard to keep up! We have decided to hold off on solids until 6months, purely because DP has allergies himself and in the family, and because we have decided, at this stage, to delay Harry's immunisations, we're still researching and will decide later if and which ones we'll do when (
I know I'm probably not very popular for that decision, we do have our reasons, but that's a different discussion for another post) So reason for holding off solids until 6 months is that your immune system starts pretty much in your gut, and it's my understanding that exclusive BF helps to build all the good flora/bacteria etc to build a good solid immune system IYKWIM (sorry it's late and I can find the right words to explain) 
You're doing so well!
Thats good to keep up the walking, I feel so good when I"ve been out for a walk...clears the mind. I think Michael is on the other side of the wonder week too...his grasp on toys and things is so much more...I dunno, determined. And he's really experimenting with his voice, tho he's starting this real whiney pretend-cry...hope that doesn't last!
Don't worry hon, we all feel the guilt. It's part of parenting! With Craig I felt guilty because I didn't know what I was doing. With Ryan, I feel guilty about having him when my toddler needs so much attention. Hope your engorged boob sorts itself out. My right has been really full each morning but it gets like that when Ryan doesn't feed both sides. I just make sure he does and it usually settles down again (and if it's really bad I express a little bit, no more than 40ml). Don't feel bad about moving out of your room to help Matilda sleep and it's fantastic that she's sleeping better already.
Really hoping Liam sleeps for you tonight. Catnapping is frustrating enough when they sleep at night, but 2 hourly feeds on top of that would be exhausting! I love the iPhone tip 
They already have a little boy Craig's age and now there'll be someone for Ryan to play with 
Just got a text from my friend, baby Holly arrived at 4.57am this morning. Apparently very quickly!
So I'm struggling to get some decent sleep.
Must go and peel my garlic...
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