Babies Born~July 1st-15th 2009 #1

Thanks Debbee! Yes i am recovering really well from the c/section, better than I thought. I have walked around the block twice so it is nice to get out of the house and took Samuel with husband to first outing yesterday which was great!
Can I ask everyone. Samuel is 2 weeks and 5 days old and seems to still pretty much fall asleep after most feedings. When did all your babies start waking up to the world? Also how long including feeding did you keep them awake for? I am aiming if he is awake after a feed for no longer than about 1 hour or max 1 1/2 hrs.. I am changing his nappy in between feeds so I think the last part of the feed is when he dozes off!! I just don't want it to be a habit!
I have hard about that Priscilla Dustan cd as well and think it could be worth a shot as I am just guessing most of the time!

my goodness a lot has happened since I last posted! I'm not even going to attempt to replicate Deb's post - there's no way I'll be able to stay on line that long anyway ;-) Hopefully my general post will address some of the issues/questions...

Zac will be 5 weeks old tomorrow (Tuesday). We had our 4-week MCHN today (have found it hard getting to appts with c-section and having to rely on others to drive me around) and he is apparently the size of an 8-week old! He is 4.54kg and 56.5cm. Smiling up an absolute storm - beautiful open mouth smiles with crinkly eyes - the whole works.

I feel like I've been really lucky with my c-section - I've been moving around fine and feeling barely any pain after 2 weeks. I drove for the first time yesterday and felt fine - the worst bit was driving for the first time with a baby!

Jetta - I wouldn't worry too much. Zac was like that for much the same length of time. Eventually they start waking for longer and you wish they wouldn't some times!

It's good to hear about others' experiences with dummies. We've used one a couple of times recently - Zac just seems to get absolutely frantic, and we are sure that he's not hungry, so the dummy seems to give him an opportunity to pull himself together and calm down.

Jessica R - that's no good that Sophie's having some problems. Hopefully you get it sorted out quickly - for everyone's sake.

Jess - good to hear that things are looking more positive. Please take care of yourself and your babies. I have to say I'm curious how you managed to get Anton to sleep for such a decent stretch at night time.

Is anyone else co-sleeping? We somehow fell into it - I've been sleeping much better, and I think Zac is too, but I'm a bit nervous about it. I would also much prefer if he could sleep in his bassinette - I would sleep even better if he was in his own bed (for a good stretch). I am nervous about the risks, although I think they've been hyped up a bit - we must be one of the few cultures that expects our babies to sleep by themselves.

Better go, there's some little moans and groans starting to wind up :clap:

Good to hear lovelycate that you are recovering well from your c/section. I feel pretty good too but I agree it is really hard getting around when constantly relying on other people. I feel totally useless!!
We havent done the co sleeping thing, I was too nervous about it but I do think that if it is helping both of you get some much needed rest then it should be fine. They mainly talk about the issues being if you are a deep sleeper or have been drinking or on medication when it is a serious issue, other than that there are a lot of people who do it and it seems to work fine.
Can I ask if anyone is having trouble getting their bubs off to sleep. Samuel shows signs of tiredness, gets put in his cot after a little rock and then proceeds to lie there for up to 3 hours in which case he starts howling and I assume that because it is up to feeding time again, he is hungry! Is anyone else struggling to get their bubs to sleep during the day? Unless I feed him to sleep he is really struggling!! Would love to hear what other people are doing during the day.
Thanks!

jetta - that is exactly my problem with Zac. He really seems to resist sleeping in his cot - unless he's full to bursting or in our arms, he just doesn't seem to go to sleep very easily. We're using a bassinette that fits in the pram, so I've tried wheeling him around (inside the house if necessary) or rocking it back and forth. Also, going outside seems to help - fresh air seems to tucker him out quite quickly. Or going for a drive. The MCHN keeps repeating 'back in bed within an hour of getting up for a newborn' but he can easily be awake for 2-3 hours. Sometimes he seems pretty ok - he seems to zone out a bit - but other times you can see that he's just sooo tired!

I am so disheartened right now I feel like the world is ending...

Sophie is having digestion problems (or so I think) and we are trying a new formula

My family is trying to tell me how to raise my daughter

Sophie hates cloth diapers and screams when I put them on her... disposable it is


.... can I do anything right?

Lovelycate - pls dont worry that the MACH nurse said that - Jacob is not asleep within an hour very often during the day and he too is waking up more. Keep doing what you are doing, work at the settling when he seems to really need it but dont watch the clock... you are doinga fab job and i dont want to see you get upset bc you dont fit some 'rule'. each baby will be different.
Jess - hugs, i posted in your other post too. you are doing a fab job.

hi all. out of all 4 kids anton has became my best sleeper at night i think the dummy plays a big part as night time is the only time he is allowed a dummy where my other kids never had one they where happy suking there fingers. i got tired of anton using me as a dummy so i gave him one.
had a day out with my 2 boys today took them out to maldon to see their great nan.

jess ur doing well. u could alway just thank ur family for their advice but tell them this is your daughter and u are going to do what u think is right for her and yourself

Thanks lovelycate for your response, it is so nice to hear there are other people going through similar things. It is impossible to get to a mothers group due to not being able to drive and also with him being so young I am not that confident getting out and about yet! I went for a walk this afternoon with him for 20 minutes and I am tired now!! I am going to try going out into the sunshine and walks and see if that gets him off to sleep! Thanks for your advice though.

Jess try not to get too disheartened and as the other girls have said, you are her mother. Both grandmas were from that generation of being on their fronts etc and I had to say a lot of things like they don't do it like that anymore etc. I truely believe that the SIDS guidelines are there for a reason as soooo much research has been done on it. I think that you should definately sit down with your parents and tell them how you are feeling. You have a connection with your child and you know what is right for them. This is meant to be a fantastic time and you should be enjoying it. I hope that things get better for you. Just know that you are doing a great job..

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*** Warning - Marathon Post **** :rolleyes:
Chrissy ? we too are having some challenges with Annie?s wind pains ? and have tried Infant?s friend as well. I was giving it to her following a feed & then giving her a little bit more of a bf to wash it down (she doesn?t seem to like the taste!). The first day it seemed to be working a treat, but the next couple of days she was so unsettled? so we stopped using the drops only last night. Now we?re not sure if it was to do with the drops, as she?s had a few fussy moments today. It?s just so hard to know what?s causing her unsettled periods. But I have also made sure my diet has been pretty bland, keeping away from those supposed ?problem? foods.
Can I ask how you knew Blake had silent reflux? And how are you managing/treating it?
So cute that you are calling Blake your little turtle! Annie looks to the sky too. She seems to have quite strong little muscles, which has really surprised me as a first time Mum. She can really kick those little legs, and careful not to get ?swatted? by one of those flailing arms when she?s cranky! Still waiting on a smile? but I don?t think it?s far away, she?s definitely responding to our voices & faces. I can?t believe Blake is already 6 weeks! The time sure is flying!

AFM ? Annie is 4 weeks today? so hard to believe. She?s growing well, has put on a kg & grown 4cm since birth. We are still finding our feet with a routine, but all in all I think she?s a pretty good bub ? not that I have anything to compare it to! I?m finally starting to feel much better, as the wounds from my c section heal. Still very tender & I certainly know when I?ve overdone things? I?m just finding that I feel a bit housebound? not being able to drive & we also hadn?t got around to buying a pram, as Annie decided to arrive the day we?d planned to go ?pram shopping? (our last thing on the list)! So I?m really not mobile at all. We?ll have to rectify that really soon, or I?m going to go bananas!

Which wind drops is everyone using & having success with?

We have resorted to use of a dummy to settle Little Miss. I always said I wouldn?t use one? but it really pacifies her, particularly when she?s really unsettled. What do you all think about using a dummy?? How hard is it to break the habit??

I was also wondering how many of you have bubs sleeping in your room v the nursery? We?ve had Annie?s bassinette in our room to date? but we?re wondering how soon to move her to her nursery? any advice?

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Debb....wowwee...what a post...:clap:
Ill try to answer your questions about reflux and wind pains and what medication....I guess i had an idea with Blake when he didnt settle after feeds when he first came home...he always 'pulled' a face and his cry was quite high pitched...not the normal cry of pain....and when he did go down for a sleep he never liked it on his 'back' flat...so i placed a support pillow under the bassinette mattress to elevate him on a angle...and when he burped his breath was very 'acidly' like vomit (tmi) but he never vomited milk just air....this continued for 7 days...with no relief so i went to my doctor said it was silent reflux and Blake was put on Zantac...this medication actually dilutes the stomach acid...and the fact that Blake settled easier after a formula topup at night also contributed to the diagnosis...as formula is heavier and keeps the acid down. But also i had my 3d daughter with reflux as well so it was also a bit of experience...

Wind pain...i think every baby has them....Blake was always good at burping and farting but when he couldnt get it out it started to become a problem...again experience kicked in....my first was a severe colic baby....and she lived on 'gripe water' and slept in her pram for the first 9 months of her life...so with every child i adjusted what i knew to them...and alot of different homapathic remedies have come on the market...like 'infants friend' and the 'brauers' range....and 'infacol' has always been a favourite too....i believe in trying everything....find out what works for your child....cause what works for one may not work for another...and ask questions at your local CYHS or doctor surgery....and if in doubt get a second opinion.....
Glad your section is healing nicely....and im sure once you are mobile you will feel alot better...
Dummy????? A BLOODY GOD SEND lol Yes all my kids have had them....and all of them have given them to SANTA or TOOTH FAIRY OR EASTER BUNNY what ever works lol
If friends or family have a problem with your child using a dummy ?? its their problem not yours...if it soothes your baby...gives them relief whats the harm....
Getting baby out of your room??? All of my babies have spent the first 3-4 months in our rooms...just easier for feeding...but i have already started Blake into his own room...im slowly letting him sleep in his cot during the day...i leave a piece of my clothing in the cot so he can smell me...so hes not in an environment that he doesnt know...but it all depends on you....i have friends that never had their babies in their rooms...others alot longer...i dont think there is a time frame just what suits you....

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Hello Ladies!

Sorry it has been so long.

Seems we are having difficulty diagnosing Sophie's fussyness and extreme gas. We are trying a lactose free formula. Hope it works.

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Ohhh babe i hope the lactose free formula works....ive never had a child with difficulities with formula....just had babies with wind problems and reflux....

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Oliver's sleeping in our room (obviously, his nursery still isn't bloody built!), and probably will for the first 3 months or so. Noah slept in our room for the first 3 months and it worked well for us. I think this is purely a personal choice though, if you feel comfortable with Annie sleeping in her nursery now, there's no reason you should wait. On the other hand, if you want her in with you until she's 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, nothing wrong with that either!

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Well said lotus....its all a personal choice....

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Can I ask everyone. Samuel is 2 weeks and 5 days old and seems to still pretty much fall asleep after most feedings. When did all your babies start waking up to the world? Also how long including feeding did you keep them awake for? I am aiming if he is awake after a feed for no longer than about 1 hour or max 1 1/2 hrs.. I am changing his nappy in between feeds so I think the last part of the feed is when he dozes off!! I just don't want it to be a habit!

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I have to admit Blake wasnt an alert baby at 3 weeks...he was recovering from jaundice so i think that had alot to do with it....but he was awake for maybe 3hrs out of 24hrs...so not alot of waking time...but thats definately changed now...but all babies are different...some are alert some arent.....

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Zac will be 5 weeks old tomorrow (Tuesday). We had our 4-week MCHN today (have found it hard getting to appts with c-section and having to rely on others to drive me around) and he is apparently the size of an 8-week old! He is 4.54kg and 56.5cm. Smiling up an absolute storm - beautiful open mouth smiles with crinkly eyes - the whole works.
Is anyone else co-sleeping? We somehow fell into it - I've been sleeping much better, and I think Zac is too, but I'm a bit nervous about it. I would also much prefer if he could sleep in his bassinette - I would sleep even better if he was in his own bed (for a good stretch). I am nervous about the risks, although I think they've been hyped up a bit - we must be one of the few cultures that expects our babies to sleep by themselves.

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Well i think Zac is just fine...i dont know what his birth weight was but he seems to be doing very well....co-sleeping...i dont like doing it myself but at the end of a tiring week we have done it...my DH has...i am too scared to do it as i dont have that control and i fear i would hurt the baby...but i know you can buy those beds for your bed so you cant roll into the baby....

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I am so disheartened right now I feel like the world is ending...

Sophie is having digestion problems (or so I think) and we are trying a new formula

My family is trying to tell me how to raise my daughter

Sophie hates cloth diapers and screams when I put them on her... disposable it is


.... can I do anything right?

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Dont put yourself down...you are doing everything in your power to give your daughter the right formula....and you can tell your family it doesnt take 2 days to do this...it is a trial of many days even weeks to get the right formula...and if its disposable nappies for the moment so be it....i think once you have sorted out the formula i bet she will settle down and then you can try the clothe nappies...its probably the formula giving her the discomfort not the nappies....all the best i hope she improves...


AFM: Blake is 7 weeks ....and his reflux is coming in waves....i think i have it all good and bang its all out the window....he has another cold....so this week has not been a good week........ill get him weighed again on thurs...but i think he will be around the 4.5kg mark...he seems alot heavier than last week lol
Blake will be going onto formula as of next week....ive given him 8 weeks of breast but sadly my boobs arent giving him enough for him to be satisfied and his cold hasnt helped...will be seeking advice from my doctor if i have any options left...

Hope everyone else is doing well

Hi Ladies...

There is no way I am going to be able to do personals!
But I do want to say Jess - you're her mum, you do what is best for you, her and Dad. You're family may be well meaning, in which case I suggest saying thank you but this is how I am doing it. If they arn't well meaning then tell them this is how you are doing it and if they can't support you then perhaps they shouldn't come over anymore. I know it's hard but at the end of the day you need to do what YOU need to do - not anyone else...

AFM - I'm hoping someone can help.
Teaghan was put on Karicare formula in the hospital but she projectiled every bottle - straight away and at least 3/4's of it.
So on the second midwife visit at home, she suggested we go onto Soy formula as that was what my first born was on.
This she kept down but we discovered she was having trouble with wind and attaching to the teats in her bottle so we changed those (after buying one of just about every bottle on the market) to Mam Ultivent. This has helped a bit but she was taking almost an hour to bring her wind up so the chemist said to try Infacol. There is a difference when we use it and when we don't but she is still difficult to burp.
Is there anything else we could use that is better??

Also - she has a cold and green snot. I got some saline drops and use those when she gets snuffly and lately her temp has been a little up but not burning.
The last 2 days she has been off her bottles - she was taking 130mls and now we struggle to get 100mls in...
She has also started projectile vomiting half her bottles - not every time she feeds, but about every second bottle. It seems to happen when she gets a little warm...
Should I be worried? What should I do? Should I take her to hospital or the doctor?
I think to put my mind at ease, I'll take her to the doctor...

Thanks in advance girls... Will try to be a better baby buddy!

Bec - What is bub's temp? If you think she is still getting warm I would go to the doctor just to have a check up. Regarding feeding: Feed upright, slow feeds down but stopping the feed every quarter of the bottle and burping, and hold bub upright for 20 mins after a feed. DD1 had protein intolerance and the only formula without proteins is S26 LF. On this formula she did not have wind issues but she was a happy chucker until she was 6 months old. Bub may also be vomiting up her feeds due to mucas in her tummy

hey Bec
I agree with Bekz - if she is still getting a temp I would go to dr, just to be safe - they are still so new and tiny it is worth getting it checked out. sorry i dont have any advice on the formula but Bekz feeding upright and slow idea sounds good - i have a fast letdown and i have tried to stop J mid feed t help with wind and also posseting. so i guess the same principle? sorry dont have much advice for you!
sorry no other personals - hope we are all doing well today
afm all is well here - J is sooo gorgeous and i am totally in love! i wonder if he is going to end up with reflux -= he is def more 'windy' and throws up more than DS1 ever did (or have i forgotten). he is still a bit unsettled around 6-9pm but aside from that is going great. he hs put on heaps of weight (will get him weighed again on thu) and is also developing so much - i think they say there is a growth spure/developmental leap around now and i can see it - he now follows you across the room, maintains eye contact, smiles and i saw himreaching out to touch his basket yesterday. today he is 1 month old! i thought i wouldnt get as excited about these small things with number 2 but man it is wonderful to see them develop and i just love it! DS1 is adjusting much better now too, when he lists our family he includes J, has to kiss him good night each evening and looks for him as soon as he wakes up. so there is light at the end of that tunnel too!

hi everyone. it a bit quiet in here. i hope everyone is doing ok and getting some sleep. as for me anoton is a really good sleeper ill express some milk during the day and he'll have the bottle between 10.30pm-11pm then will sleep until 4am-5am

!! I can't believe how little time I have these days
I will try & keep up a bit better :redface:

Jess, lucky you! having your little guy sleep like that! Glad things seem to be getting better for you.

Preagainpan glad to hear everything is gong so well & you are enjoying it! I can't wait for A to start focusing & reacting to us :)

MissBec hope your little one is feeling better? It's horrible when they are so little & not well.

Chrissy sorry to hear of Blake's reflux & feeding problems. Have you tried Motilium? I got a script today just in case, I am so paranoid about losing my milk. having said that if he does have to go onto formula...he's had 8 weeks of breast, that's a great start for him.

JessR :hug: s the others have said... she is your baby. Sometimes the most well-meaning advice is given a bit too freely! If you can, try & let it go in one ear...then take what you want to & discard the rest, you're doing a great job & it will all get easier.

Jetta & Lovelycate - re the sleeping - Arlea was soo good in hospital, I would wrap her & put her down & off she'd go. Not sure if it was her age, or having plenty of warm arms to cuddle in but within a few days of being home she began to be a little harder to settle. Yesterday & today she is virtually impossible to get to sleep, she will go off with a cuddle & wakes as soon as she is put down. She spent over 4 hours awake this morning! But she doesn't seem to suffer too much for it, she just has a really big sleep eventually. As for co-sleeping.. we did it with DS2 and A has spent an hour in with us last night. But I do sleep much better when they are in their own bed..it comes down to how badly do I need them to sleep right now! vs can I try a bit longer to get them in their own bed. In the end everyone works out what is best for them. ;)

LotusFlower - glad to hear you are using the Brauers Colic relief, we have it but I wasn't sure if it could be used for newborns. A has only had one night with a bit of wind so far so we haven't used it but it's good to know it's there.

MissE - ahhh the washing! It was hard enough to keep up with 5 of us... hence why we decided to use disposables... I feel guilty but I just know there is NO WAY I could keep up with the extra washing plus nappies! hope your machine hangs in there for you just a bit longer!

Deb - I used dummies with DD1 & DS1, DS2 wouldn't take one....he had me :rolleyes: We are trying to avoid it with Arlea atm only because it doesn't help with trying to re-establish BF. But down the track or if BF is already going well... they can be a godsend. Both my older kids ditched them at about 2 1/2, it wasn't too hard. Do what works!
As for sleeping we have her in with us atm in a bassinette, but when she is too big (not far away sadly!) we will have to move her into the cot, in DS2's room. I would really rather have her in with us a bit longer... we hd DS2 inwith us for a bout 10 months, worked fine. Again it's entirely personal and up to you.
I think the golden rule with babies is, listen to other people's advice.... & then do what works for you.

SS Storm sounds like Hayley is doing great :)

Sloane looks like resting did the trick unfortunately I haven't had enough since! Peanut sling sounds great! :)

AFM...I am still expressing fulltime, that is SOO time consuming & I can't wait to get her back on the breast! I am pumping a litre of milk a day :o I had no idea it was so much. We saw the LC on Wednesday & she was very encouraging. Arlea had a 3-4 minute bfeed today which is more than she has done in a week, so fingers crossed...
Apart from having no time for anything at all besides milking & feeding everything is going really well. My fluid is dropping, I have lost 12kg in the last week & feel like a new person!. Arlea is doing great, she had a bit of a projectile vomit last night which had me a bit worried about reflux but nothing since. She passed her birthweight on day 12, 4800g. We are a bit busier than I would like... hopefully we can settle a bit next week.

Sorry if I've missed anyone... time to go & feed & pump...ahhhhhhhh it's neverending ......

Hi Everyone

I'm going to try to read all the posts to catch up, sorry I haven't been in for a while. I had surgery on my left nipple on monday and since then I have been feeding on the right and expressing on the left and feeding that to grace. It is taking up heaps of my time and due to the pain I just want to sleep. So I've hardly been on the computer at all lately. So far we haven't had to give grace any formula at all (DH wants to get some just in case but I'm not buying it and he keeps forgetting!) So I'm really proud of myself for keeping on feeding her and expressing from a very sore nipple. I was finally able to use the breast pump yesterday which is speeding up the expressing and emptying my breast better as well.

Grace is still happy and seems to be growing and putting on weight. My CYH nurse checked her on wed and said she is a little low on the weight gain, but I was happy that she has put any on. They are going to monitor her pretty closely due to the surgery to make sure she is ok.

She also has nappy rash, still, grrr. I swear we have tried every product available and they just aren't working! We are now onto the third and strongest anti thrush cream on the market and I have bought 3 different types of barrier creams. I also got a hemp balm and aloe vera gel to try on her bottom. We tried the cornstarch and egg white and she is also getting about 2 hours a day nappy free and in the sun. I just fee so sorry for her toosh as it is so red and raw. I think if it still hasn't improved I'm going to ask to see a paediatrician to try and get it sorted.

But after all this, Grace bring up her wind really easily since we started using infacol. It has also reduced her bringing up milk after each feed which everyone in the household is thankful for - we aren't all covered in milk! She is also sleeping well each night and isn't unsettled.

So I'll be back on to do personals, hopefully it wont be such a long gap between posts next time! Hope everyone is doing well.

Ryatha hope you heal up quickly...that sounds painful! Hope Grace's little bottom starts to get better too... Hayley started getting a bit red in the folds at the top of her legs but I just rubbed some cornflour into it after her bath for a couple of days and it disappeared thankfully!

My mum has been down here for the last week, she went home yesterday. Was so nice having her here, she cooked dinner every night and did all the washing/folding for me it was great! Back to doing it all myself now though...lol. She also flew my nan (her mum) down for a couple of days so that was really good, and she was so excited to meet her new great grandaughter - her first great grandchild! We got a "4 generations of women" photo so that is something quite special.

Hayley is now fully formula fed. My supply was drying up and rather than battle on and spending hours every day expressing I just decided to go formula full time. She was only getting a couple of bottles of EBM every day so was mostly on formula anyway. I do feel a little bit like a failure...thinking maybe if I tried harder or was more motivated...not much I can do about it now except at least I have the experience for number 2 (not that I'm planning on a number 2 for a very long time! Lol).

Hayley is starting to make lots of little noises and funny faces...she is smiling and poking her tongue out and spends usually 2 periods a day between feeds awake. Night time is still a bit of a battle, mostly falls asleep fine in my arms but as soon as she in her cot wakes up again unless she has fallen into a deep sleep in my arms. We put her in our bed after her 3am feed this morning as she wouldn't go back to sleep in her cot and would just cry. Don't want to make a habit of it although it is nice having her in bed with us, but at the time it's just whatever gets you through!

Hope the rest of you and your bubs are going well, better go she is starting to stir (and is quite noisy while she is doing it...lots of grunts and squeaks which crack us up all the time! Lol).

Ryatha - I am so glad to hear that you are ok. My DH wants to buy some formula too just in case but I have told him that I won't try it until E is 6 weeks and if my supply doesn't improve then we might comp feed.

Pregagainpan - So glad to hear little J is developing well.

SS - Don't hold onto the guilt of not bfing hun. I wasn't able to bf DD1 and I felt guilty for months to the point that I cried every time I fed her a bottle. In the end I realised that she was a very happy baby on forumula and very healthy so as a mum I made the right decision for her.

Hi to all. Miss E has a gooy eye and I think she may be getting her sister's cold. Apart from that she is still feeding a lot and we only average about 4 hours sleep per night. Still I am coping