Babies born~November 16-31st 2009 #1

[Alison1973]

Hi Girls....I hope I didn't paint the wrong picture before, I'm not against demand feeding, it just doesn't work for me, tried it for the first week and I got NO sleep at all, Amelia was constantly feeding and the lactation consultant told me that it's most probably comfort eating as my milk flows so she was getting plenty from her feed. I only feed for 10-15 minutes on average (sometimes longer) and she's full. So the nurse suggested trying something a little different so the 3-4 hourly routine is giving me much more of a break in between and my boobs a rest as I have a strong sucker on my hands and my nipples were being caned. Everyone has a different way of doing things I guess. I know my life will never be the same, what I mean is that I can still go to the shops if I need to and not have to worry about whipping out my boobs in the middle of the shops, something I'm not comfortable with ha ha. I'm not strict on my routine with Amelia, some days it goes out the window and I realise she's only very young, I'm just trying to start somewhere and I'm feeling quite relaxed about it to be honest - my aqua class friends told me today that they can't believe how relaxed I look....I said, don't worry, I have my moments of insanity and crying ha ha - don't we all! Like you all I have bad nights where she's up every hour and a half wanting comfort or a feed, it's all about being patient I guess.....................it's hard work for sure but I just keep telling myself the sleepless nights won't last forever...............I HOPE!

Hi Heavenly - yes the nipple shields are just like a plastic teet - very similar to that on a bottle and it just goes over your nipple, they are a godsend for cracked nipples!

[~Serenity~]

I know what u mean Alison serenity is full after a 5-10 min feed too so I guess o have a routine demand feed thing cos I know she won't be hungry for awhile so if she wants to suck I know it's for comfort but I don't put a time on it so it's when I know she's hungry which can get tricky with the warm weather cos sometimes they do just need a quick drink

[JDsMum]

Hi there....

Tania - I'm the same with b/feeding.....my boobs are absolutely massive (which I totally hate....) so I dont like b/feeding in public either....if I can go to a mothers room in a cubicle or something then that's fine, but it's still a pain cause like you at home I'm surrounded by pillows which prop her up to reach my boob and without that it's really uncomfortable to hold her on and hold my boob up as well plus deal with getting the nipple shield on and her not knocking it off with her crazy hands etc....quite a nightmare really...but will persist at home....

AFM - Had a pretty good night last night, only woke twice for feeds and her wind seems to be not as bad....will lay off the chocolate for the moment to see if that makes a difference...it's going to be hard!

Have a great day everyone...

[Tecopa]

Count me in as another big breasted gal. I think I'm like an H cup at the moment! I've fed in public once or twice and it was tough. Otherwise I've only been going to places with parent's rooms or to friends houses. I also have a cushion I drag around in the stroller to help with feeding in the parent's rooms. I'm managing. I was caught out at a cafe though and ended up in a deserted dog walker's spot - the cemetery in Newtown so I could feed and feel better about it!!

[Arimeh]

Yup I'm another big breasted gal too!!!! Poor thing nearly suffocates I think.. LOL... I currently hold her in the football hold at home, with 3 pillows surrounding us. I have bfed her during an osteo appointment though - had no choice cos she was screaming - so luckily my osteo had spare pillows and I just fed her and continued the treatment.. LOL... and it is hard managing the pillows not moving, her squirming, her hands flying, holding the nipple shield, plus holding my boob back so she can breathe.. arghhh.. I'm sure it will become easier in time (even though DH keeps on saying stuff about her being on the bottle so he can do a night feed - ahhh well.. )

Not a bad night here, she fed at 8.30, then was up at 1am, and then 5.30am - then 8am. So not too bad. Would be nice if the other kids slept through though

So Alison - don't listen to my stories about kids not sleeping through, or else it will do your head in.. DS is nearly 3 and still doesn't sleep through... DD1 is up and down all night too.. LOL

[Snowy Love]

Hang in there girls - bf does get easier as bubs gets older & with subsequent babies. I'm *only* an E cup ATM (& that's the biggest I got with DS1 so hopefully this time is the same) and I'm feeding in the supermarket already with Mr I in the sling - I never did that with the Duke! I think I started feeding in cafes when he was about 3 or 4 months (and renewed my Iced Coffee addiction, 'cause I didn't want to spill hot coffee on him)

I think you are all legends perservering through!

I'm tired today - Mr I is again having 1 1/2 to 2 hrs awake during the night - last night from 1am. No idea what he wants - I feed him, burp him, change him, wrap him, but he won't settle. We had a week and a half where he didn't do it, before then a week of awake at 3am to 4am. I can't blame chocolate 'cuase I actually went all day yesterday without it. DH & I disagree about having air blowing over us - DH loves it as does DS1, but I think Mr I is taking after me and hates it (that's my excuse for turning the fan off last night anyway). I have to make myself go to bed earlier & stop playing on the internet when the boys are asleep.

Alison - the sleepless nights don't last forever DS1 now sleeps through (plus for about the last 6 months I've made DH get up )

I'd better get some work done before Mr I wakes - I'm working (very few hrs though) from home doing my Dad's accounts plus my floors need to be washed - quite a bit of baby spew residue.

[~Serenity~]

with my first i was very self concious about bf in public now i do it while browsing in kmart just put my hand over my boob lol

[Alison1973]

Hi Heavenly - absolutely! For example this morning she seemed hungry still so I didn't make her wait the 3 hours I gave her a bit more, it's all about being flexible isn't it. I just can't do demand feeding completely or she'd be on my boob all day and I'd never get anything done. It was stressing me out, I'm much more relaxed having a bit of a routine at least.

As for big breasted gals, ha ha I'm the opposite, I'm only a C cup now - I was an A/B before I was pregnant and my boobs didn't really grow until my milk came in! So I have what you girls probably have normally but when feeding, sad huh LOL! It's funny how we're never happy, I was looking forward to having decent sized boobs for once in my life and I didn't really happen, although they're definitely bigger than normal now and considering they're not biggens I've not had problem with my milk coming in. The lactation consultant told me sometimes smaller boobs are better as they contain only milk no fat......she was probably just trying to make me feel better ha ha. I get a little embarrassed getting them out in public though, I think it's just because I'm used to them being on the small side so have always been a bit conscious of it, I only have small aerolas and nipples too - I guess they're in proportion to the size....the nurses were like, you only have small aerolas, I'm like, yeah, because I'm a B/C cup, hello!!!!!!! Never happy are we....and to think my oldest sister had a breast reduction a few years ago, go figure! LOL

Heavenly, have you got smoke at your place? Are they burning off again here in Perth? It bloomin stinks out here. I just took Amelia for a walk around the block in the pram and had to come back cause I couldn't breathe!!!!!

[Tecopa]

Ha. Funny comments about areola. I remember being told to shove the whole thing in bub's mouth - not just nipple and I raised my hand in class and asked "What if my areola are the same size as his head?" HA. HA. Pretty close to true. I still have inches hanging out even with a proper latch!

[Alison1973]

Hi Tecopa - HA HA you're funny! I bet they had no idea what to say then! LOL

[Arimeh]

"What if my areola are the same size as his head?"

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!

Pretty much sums up the situation here too ... ROFL!!!!!

[Alison1973]

LOL Arimeh! As someone who's had a c-section followed by a VBAC, how did you find that VBAC and did you feel the recovery etc was much easier than a c-section? I had to have an emergency unexpected c-section but am hoping I can go the VBAC next time. Whilst I've healed well I hated being stuck in the bed on a cathetar feeling sorry for myself for the first 2 days and now not being able to drive is giving me the you know whats! Just interested in your opinion.

[~Serenity~]

yep stinks here too not sure whats going on

[Arimeh]

As someone who's had a c-section followed by a VBAC, how did you find that VBAC and did you feel the recovery etc was much easier than a c-section? I had to have an emergency unexpected c-section but am hoping I can go the VBAC next time. Whilst I've healed well I hated being stuck in the bed on a cathetar feeling sorry for myself for the first 2 days and now not being able to drive is giving me the you know whats! Just interested in your opinion.

The recovery from a VB is definitely quicker to get over than a section. I think I was feeling pretty good by day 3 - I mean, I was up and walking around straight after birth, but my tailbone hurt like crazy and my back was thrown all outta whack from labour - but I have a dodgy back, plus I had SPD during my pregnancy so everything was out of alignment. Now 2 weeks later, I don't even feel like I have given birth!!! Mind you, I'm not tempted to find out if my "equipment" still works - bwahahah!!!! I've told DH he's not going near there for at least 3 years.. haha... but yeah, I feel no different (well I have smellier gas ... LOL) but yeah, its so much better. I was driving by day 2, which is a hell of a lot better than my c-section recovery - plus - no infections had here!!! I only had two little tears from giving birth, so I probably got off easy - people with stitches or whatever might say their recovery was longer?

But yes, I definitely didn't miss the catheter this time round - oooh I hated that with my sections, and having someone give me a sponge bath, and replace my pads for me - arghhh the shame.

No way of giving birth is "easy" but i definitely preferred my recovery this time round (although I could have easily gone without the stinging whilst peeing bit for a week, christ that hurt.. lol)