Oh Taurean, I know exactly how you feel and it is completely devestating hey Big for you.
Lottie still isn't at her birth weight.. fingers crossed that will happen in the next two weeks. I only get a max of 50ml from both breasts but last week I was only getting 20 so I'm positive the herbs and meds are doing the trick. Are you seeing a lactation consultant?
Basically our LC said I had to 100% express so we knew exactly how much she was getting. I'm still putting her on the breast during the night feed because I can't be bothered expressing at 4am and my boobs are really sore. Its also really nice as a comfort thing for both of us.
She's also on a max of 2 formula feeds each 24 hours (every F feed she vomits though, so frustrating!). I feel quite bad about the formula but since talking to lots of friends & experts I realise I have to do what's right for Charlotte and if she needs food then so be it. My MIL BF all her babies until they were about 14 months old though (5 of them!) and she made me feel a little guilty, over that now though.
Definitely go see a LC if you haven't already and trust me things can improve within 48 hours with help. Its wonderful your mum has been helping you, mine has been amazing as well. I'm not sure what I would have done without her to be honest. We're at the point I just sit there pumping in front of her..
Cows only get milked once a day.. its so unfair! lol..
Shopping trip was lovely. I missed my little one so much but it was really nice to have a few hours of me time. I brought a pair of pants a bit too small though.. only 4kg to go to my pre-birth weight so I thought I may as well!
I also got a new little camera for my handbag so I can get snaps of Lottie wherever we are. Better than lugging a bigger one around.
If you have a heat pack, try putting that on your boobie while expressing. Hot showers and warm heat packs seem to make me give more, so I'm hoping my theory is correct for you too.
Hugs to you. If you are feeding her and she is gaining, even if it is slowly, then you are not failing!
We had another weigh in today with the maternal health nurse. Ava has gained again, and we are now 30g above her birth weight. So hubby and I are chuffed. She is such a wiggle pot and is getting so strong now!
Hope the rest of you ladies are going well. Hugs to your bubba's!
Taurean - You're doing a great job, and have a good plan going... Why, oh why is something so natural problematic and sore! My nipples are crazy sore, I tried nipple shields last night ande they didn't really help at all... I think it's just another test mother nature puts us through to prepare us for motherhood So mean. Hope it gets easier for those of you experiencing hurdles with BF.
Kosi - Nice work with the weight gains, she's obviously thriving!
PB - It's nice to have a couple of hours of "you" time, even though all you could probably think about was your little one, lol. I left E with mum for a couple of hours to go shopping, and although I know she's perfectly safe with mum I couldn't stop thinking about her and it felt good to get home.
Hope everyone else is going swimmingly well!
Sooo.... Emily is driving me crazy! She's having far more awake time now, but has to be rocked and bounced. As soon as I put her in her papasan seat or even just sit down whilst holding her she screams. She loves the movement. I spent 2 hours straight this morning at 3am bouncing with her on the fitball, and did the same for about 6 hours total yesterday, my legs are killing me! But my arms get too sore by holding her and rocking her as well. Not only that but I can't get anything done in those times, and whilst DF is away at work I have no-one else just to take her for a bit so my arms can have a break (or go to the toilet, or have a shower). So the time has come for me to fork out the moolah for a baby swing. After getting opinions on BB from people who have used them, plus my own research on the net, I've decided on the Fisher Price Precious Planet Cradle 'n' Swing. Pretty $$$ for a swing, but worth it if it gives me somewhere to put her whilst she's awake to keep her happy and where I can keep my eye on her. So pick it up this arvo if all goes to plan.
She's still feeding for twice as long as she used to, and more frequently so I'm assuming this is a growth spurt. I was supposed to have her weighed yesterday but didn't want to take her out in all that dust, so will have to find somewhere else to do it tomorrow, as the baby nurse is only at my local on Wednesdays.
I'm completely exhausted and feeling sorry for myself today, I miss my DF heaps and don't know how i'll get through another night tonight by myself, he'll be home tomorrow. The last 6 nights have been tough and i feel drained. My house is a freaking mess and I feel like I need some time to actually clean it before DF gets home so he doesn't come home to a pigstye. I wish he had a normal job where he was home every night and weekend, but unfortunately his job is the reason I don't have to go back to work and with the cars and mortgage we just couldn't afford for him to halve his salary as the mines just pay too well to walk away from.
Just having one of those moments, sorry for the emo post.
Sigh, she's awake again... looks like I have another fitball session to do. I better look like Kate Hudson after all these workouts.
Janine, I feel your pain, DS was like that - wouldn't sleep anywhere but on me, was awake for hours at a time and I couldn't put him down to get anything done. I remember he would finally have a nap around 11am and I would have to pick between having a shower or breakfast that day because he would only sleep for 20 minutes if I put him down lol. My suggestion to you is to get a sling. You can get an over the shoulder ring sling for about $40. Amelia likes to be held too and some days I would get nothing done if not for the sling. She falls asleep in there within minutes and will stay asleep for a couple of hours. It gives me a chance to at least get some cleaning done, tea ready etc which really heaps with the mental health as it is a bit of a downer sitting all day holding bub, just looking at the mess but unable to do anything about it.
Taurean, I hope you can build up your milk supply, sounds like you have had a bit of a rough few days. Yay for your mum being around to help.
PB, I am jealous of you being only 4kg from your pre baby weight. I don't have any scales here, but I am sure I am a lot bigger. Last time I was back to pre baby weight by 6 weeks, but I had to lose an extra 5kg to get back to pre baby size.
Kosi, great to hear A is putting on some weight, must be a relief for you.
DH was back at work yesterday and so far I am managing to juggle DS and A. She had a good weight gain when the midwifes came to check her yesterday and she is a very settled and content little girl (as long as I am holding her lol).
I put her in her swing the other day after a big feed and when I walked back past a few minutes later her face was white with vomit lol - she must have let go during the down swing. She was looking quite bemused about the whole thing.
Taurean - good luck hun, the fenugreek and regular pumping sounds like a great plan. And please don't think you have failed. Far from it hun, you are doing a great job and things will improve. Honestly if I was you I'd be topping her up with some formula just until you get your supply up. My milk didn't come in until day 5 after birth so we topped Ethan up with Nan formula while I madly pumped every couple of hours. That worked well for us, Ethan was happy and my milk came in and I have had heaps since then.
Janine - Yay that your DF is coming home soon. Don't worry about the housework!!!! You have done a great job taking care of a newborn on your own. Make sure you get to have a sleep when he gets home!
Kosi - yay on Ava's weight gain!
PB - I hope your MIL isn't putting pressure on you hun I'm pumping as well as Ethan just keeps damaging my nipples. I tried shields but we can't get the hang of them either. How often do you pump? I've been doing it 4-5 times a day and thankfully I can get heaps but its a PITA lol.
I'm exhausted today. Ethan fed every 2.5-3 hours all night and as DH had to drive 2 hours to a conference today I didn't want him to get up and get no sleep. The night before Ethan slept for 5 hours! So nights are a bit hit and miss at the moment. Apart from that we are doing well, we were supposed to go the nurse today for a weigh in but that was cancelled as the nurse is sick. So we are going next week instead. I can tell that my man is putting on weight so I'm not too bothered. He has suddenly got chubby cheeks
Art - I have a hug-a-bub, but it's been soooo hot here I don't want to overheat her by having her pressed against me. She had her head on my chest for awhile this morning but because it was so hot it was starting to get all moist and sweaty between us. I don't know how on earth you cope with 2 kids, one is handful enough! I'd like more, but right now I can't comprehend how you do it. Most days I'm not eating, drinking or having a shower until about lunchtime as she tends to have alot of awake time in the morning and has to be ON me or she screams the place down. She loves being draped over my arm getting her bum patted whilst I swing her from side to side but my arm is usually dead within 15mins.
Sangie - Thanks for the support, yay, only 1 sleep to go!!! yeah DF is fully aware he has to do some baby shifts when he gets back, he misses her like crazy though so I don't think he'll mind too much at all. He's a great help around the place too. Hope Ethan gives you a bit of a break and some rest soon!
Sanchez - i just leave the nipple shield on for the whole feed. I have tried to get him to latch a few times mid feed with no success - its like he's looking for the big bump to actually latch on to, and completely misses the nipple. He is also very impatient, so just keeps bobbing his head around hunting for it. I figured if i need to use the shield for part of the feed, then its easier just to leave it on. My Lactation Consultant said it seems once a day pumping and the shields are not making my nipples stick out more all the time so just to stay with the shields - a hassle, but worth it for a baby that feeds well. Goodluck with the holiday packing - i think keep some paper on the bench and everytime you use something in the day write it on the list to take if you think you'd need it. We are also going away for a long weekend next week, 6 hour drive - so hoping Tadhg sleeps all the way with one stop for a feed - thank goodness he likes the car.
Sangie - you are certainly not a dummy for not getting shields to stay on, they are a pain in the butt - but i can't feed T without them, so not much choice for me. It gets easier with practice, and the odd 'stop and have a deep breath then try again' its very tricky to keep 2 hands away from bub's face / your nipple and get them in the right position whilst holding the shield on!
Janine - i was going to suggest a sling or front pack too - but that does sound tricky with being so hot You are doing a fantastic job, but you need to look after yourself and eat & shower or you wont be able to keep it up. I'm sure it will feel horrible but Em isn't going to hurt herself by having a cry for 15 mins while you shower and eat. Goodluck x
AFU - i feel a bit bad to say i have the opposite issue to many of you, with having too much milk and a very sucky baby. You can almost hear him drowning as he latches on and does these massive 'glug, glug glug's so he only takes 10-15 minutes to finish a feed, but then about 20 minutes to burp and often still can't be put down on his back cos of the wind! We are trying infacol now and working hard on our burping techniques - and so far doing much better (in 24 hours). Tadhg is attached to his dummy, not surprising when he only gets 15 mins sucking time from a feed i guess. Our little bottomless pit will finish off 100ml EBM at a feed and be hungry 2-3 hours later - no wonder he is growing. He fed at 7:30pm, 12:30pm and 5am last night which seemed pretty good to me. Today's goal is to move the last feed to 9pm and aim for a slightly later wake-up call!
Hugs to the bubs.
Kelly
Kelly - your boy is exactly like mine! Ethan will have 120ml EBM and be hungry 2.5-3 hours later. Last night he had 120ml at 8.30pm, 11.30pm, 2.30am, 6am. He also guzzles it and gets very windy. I bought some brauers colic relief and we are going to try that this evening. I'm over the shields, I just can't get the hang of it so I'm just expressing and feeding EBM. I'm going to keep trying with the breastfeeding without the shields and see how we go.
Kelly - Emily was like that as well, but i've found my supply has settled down a bit the last week or so, not feeling so uncomfortably full which is good, as she doesn't have to struggle with the flow as much as she was. I use Infants Friend for wind which I've found helps alot, very similar to Infacol.
I just had another hour on the fitball again, my legs are about to drop off... ooh I hope I can get this swing this afternoon! Munchkin is asleep again so I best go do washing and dishes whilst I can.
Oh girls, I've missed out on hearing about so much!!!
Congratulations to everyone on their brand new arrivals - what a wonderful, full-on, exhausting time it is!!!We have a brand new baby girl, born 2 weeks early on 28th August (no time now to give all of the birth details but in short, completely happy with our c-section, great recovery, ecstatic with our hospital and all of the staff - and have a beautiful little bubba as well!) Our eldest daughter is a wonderful big sister - helpful and protective! No signs of jealousy thank goodness!
Kellynz - just thought I would let you know that I used a nipple shield for the entire 6 months I breastfed our eldest daughter and am doing the same thing this time around. Found a supportive midwife who just encouraged me to continue doing whatever worked and it was the only way I could get our DD's to attach. Both started BF well but once my milk came in my nipple flattened out and they couldn't get a good mouthful to get attached (no matter how much the midwives squished my nipples or encouraged me to hand-express!!!! They tried every trick in the book and the only thing that worked was the shield!).
All the best girls - will post more details etc soon!Lily
Last edited by Lily J; September 24th, 2009 at 02:34 PM.
Will write more later but just had app with LC - Lottie put on 240grams in 3 days!! The LC was very happy for us as she said that's usually a weeks worth of gain. She also said it was great to see a smile on my face
Sangie - I pump about 5 times a day for 20 mins. It's not bothering me at all anymore as I just sit there having a cuppa watching TV. Quite nice time out actually!
Will be back soon, I've got a mate of my brothers coming over to finally put our clothesline up. lol!
Indigo feeds every 3-4hrs over a 24hr cycle..Im pumping every 4 or so hours but have stopped overnight because Im too tired to sit up pumping. So Indigo gets approx 2 bottles of EBM a day the rest is NAN HA Formula. I get about 50ml at each pump and she drinks approx 100ml at each feed. Not sure how long I will continue expressing for but with Zander I did it for 8wks.
Anyway for those that are having problems with milk supply and are worried about not having enough milk - the best thing you can get is a prescription from your doctor for "Domperidone" or "Motilium" - it increases milk supply, if you take approx 3 tablets a day and pump your supply will double. It should only be a last resort and used after attachment issues etc have been sorted.
Sounds very similar to our pattern Nicola except I'm getting our mostly bottles of EBM and only 2 - 3 of formula.
I'm over the night pump as well but the (.) (.) are so sore I have to in the end.
The Motilium has been working a treat and my supply seems to be increasing daily.
It a snag last night - I broke my electric pump after only a week!!! Well it was really a fault so DH is sending it back today and getting me another.. thank god we have a pharmacy! lol..
PB - Thats great that the meds are working..I didnt even know about them until I was talking to my mum (child health nurse and lactation consultant) who has been staying with us for the past 4 weeks to help out and I was mentioning the lack of milk supply and she said thats the best thing to get. She has been great to have around and didnt pressure me at all about breastfeeding (I wasnt in the right head space) even though I get the guilts that I didnt try hard enough.....but she goes home today
Hi ladies. Have been MIA lately. Jackson has been fairly demanding the last week or so with feeding almost every hour to 2 hours so its been really exhausting. He is doing really well though and has gained 1.4 kg since birth. We had his child health nurse check yesterday and she is very pleased with his process.
I will have a better read and catch up later. I'll also get our list up to date too so its correct.
hi everyone thought i should post! my boy came 2 weeks early on sep 1st via emergency c section due to failed 30 hour drug free induction, posterior position and cord around his neck! it was not the birth experience i was looking foward to but he might not have made it had it not turned out this way so im very thankful. He is quite a good bub sleeps 3 hours at a time sometimes 4, is bottle fed, mostly formula due to losing half a kilo in his first 3 days of life, low bsl's and i had no milk til day 6 coz ceaser can sometimes stuff it up.Im feeling like ive let him down but i didnt want him back in hospital and that is what was going to happen if he kept losing weight. He was a wopping 57cm long! and has huge feet and hands! i had a few tears for the first few days but im ok now he is asleep next to me as we speak! he is a guzzler, he has 150 ml bottles about 4 or 5 times a day and 4 at night! also has expressed milk about 50 mls if im lucky! i allready cant wait to try for another!
Big 
for you. 
Sounds as if you have a good plan in action. Breastfeeding is so random....i can see now why so many women give up.
I'm pumping as well as Ethan just keeps damaging my nipples. I tried shields but we can't get the hang of them either. How often do you pump? I've been doing it 4-5 times a day and thankfully I can get heaps but its a PITA lol.
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