Hi girls,

Sorry I havent posted in so long. Like others have said, my days seems to get away from me and I dont even bother showering some days Just stay in my pj's all day...oops!

Its so nice to know that Im not the only one going through the same things. My DP and I never knew how hard parenting was! Mostly the lack of sleep is whats hardest.

Trent has had lots of wind and I think he suffers from reflux too. Again, so hard to know what to look for. He often cranes his neck back after a feed and we were thinking, What a clever boy!!! But after mentioning it to the MHCN, she was saying thats his way of stretching out his tummy due to reflux and wants to relieve wind. So now we let him be so he can get rid of it. We feel so helpless when he is crying in lots of pain. We have been using infacol for a few weeks now. It seemed to be helping initially but he's had a few bad nights lately. I also think what I eat affects him alot. Had my work chrissy lunch yesterday with different things and he was very unsettled last night.

I am only b/f about a third of what he needs. After b/f for 1hr (30 mins each side) he is still hungry so we then top him up with formula (he has up to 100mls of it) after b/f. Im hoping to b/f until New Years eve in which he will be 8 weeks and then may give it away. Feeds take so long and no wonder I dont get much done! He sleeps anywhere from 2-4 hrs at a time. Makes no difference with the formula. I was initially only giving him formula for those middle of the night feeds but he was still not sleeping any longer. Since my boobs are so big if we are out and he is due for a feed, we give him formula instead so thats not helping my supply but I try not to do that very often but sometimes it cant be helped. With such large breasts I only feel comfortable b/f on my chair at home with my pillow so hard to do it elsewhere. I get cramps in my hands holding my breasts while feeding they are so heavy

Alison - sounds like you have things under control. I am demand feeding when Trent wakes up. Have been told they are too young to have a routine so have been going with that. If Im lucky, I get maybe 3hrs sleep in a row

Shayna - I can totally understand how you are feeling! I feel like a zombie most of the time too. Im the same if I express, get different amounts from each breast. I dont bother with the pump anymore. If we are out when its feeding time, I cant express so Trent gets formula. I was expressing all the time and was getting anywhere between 60-100 mls at a time but that was without any b/f at all so Im sure thats different.

Kymmy - I have found that if I eat some things Trent gets an upset tummy but its hard to know WHAT it was. Unless you eat and drink the same thing everyday (BORING!) then how can you narrow it down

Billykat - make the most of your parents doing the housework! But like others have said, it comes second to the baby and your wellbeing. My mum was coming over once a week and staying the night so I could sleep to give me a break and do housework but that is stopping as of this week. I think as long as DP and I are fed, our clothes are washed and Trent's bottles are sterilised, the rest can wait!

Alicia - wow, cruz sounds like a big boy! Trent was born 3.8kgs, lost weight in hospital and at his 4 week check up weighed in at 4.2kgs. As for feeding, you have to do whats best for you. As much as they drum it into us that BREAST IS BEST, its not always that simple. You may not have enough milk, you are EXHAUSTED so cant function properly. Thats why I was using formula at night as I needed sleep and Trent would drink a bottle alot quicker than he breastfeds and at 2 or 3am, all you are thinking about is getting the job done so you can go back to bed to get some more sleep! I know that sounds lazy but you have to think of yourself too.

Beany - most of our outings say like shopping are all planned around Trent's feeds. When he's been fed, we quickly go out and do as much as we can which is usually about 2hrs, before he is crying to be fed. Obviously if we are out for longer then we have to give him a bottle but thats not very often. I stay home most of the time or people come over to visit me as I like our routine and want to b/f as long as possible and as I said above, I feel most comfortable b/f at home.

Hello to all the other girls. I will try and pop in here more often if I can. I read most of your posts but then just run out of time to post a message myself

Take care girls and its so nice to exchange information with others whom are at the same stage as me My g/f's have school aged kids so I dont have many people to talk to about stuff. Started mothersgroup last week so am HOPING I make some new friends there

Night all!

Tania