October 2013: Newborn snuggles and waddles to the finish line

[FeministInTraining]

Stats sheet here

New arrivals here

Key:
SC - still cooking (pre EDD)
SFW - still f*ing waiting (post EDD)
OWT - on way to theatre (CS)
IP - induction in progress
SWIL - somewhere in labour
LIT - lost in transition

legally little Eliana is home now, looking lovely and seems to be doing really well. No other updates from mon the last couple of days. And nat seems ok, she is on FB posting x

Roofio- I recently start making DS1 bottle feeds up to instructions on box. Then cooling in a pan of cold water. I then keep in fridge until needed. I microwave for 30second so at room temp. And shake well to avoid hot spots in the milk.
If you don't want to microwave warm in a jar of boiling water. It's quicker to heat up this way rather then cool down a very hot bottle.

Flyer I aim for 30 min feed on one boob. To try get boob drained.
Mw told me to top up with formula. I did. But not at every feed, just two.
I now don't top up at all, I will give EBM if I want a break.
Also flyer dont worry about cleaning the house! Concentrate on resting in spare time, if you have guest bliz tidy for 10mins, and then get them to do the rest take advantage of your mum being over.

Hello again all. Feeling a little more positive since going to the BF group. Yet another new position to try which C seemed to get on with and a good feed. It was only uncomfortable rather than painful which I suppose is progress. I'll make it to the weekend and then take it from there...

Glad it was useful MrsH and not too much new information, in hospital I got a bit overwhelmed by all the different latching advice.

Legally as always I am in awe, I don't know how you can feed two babies at once and type and contemplate fossil making. Sometimes I can't even manage my one baby with both hands. I need DH to hold his hands out of the way while I get him positioned. I suggested inventing some baby handcuffs but DH thought they might not be ethical. Sometimes when I am exhausted I lay on my side and DH holds Thomas up to me while I doze.

Postman has just delivered ink less baby hand and foot print kit - very exciting - so we might try that today, although we are also planning a tesco trip as we haven't left the house yet, and/or a first bath. I think one 'activity' a day is a good target for me for now.

Clapham that sounds rubbish but glad you know what to look out for. Bless your DP!

Hi everyone

Hugs to those still waiting and sending eviction notices to all overdue babies!

I am guilty of putting too much pressure on myself to keep doing everything as normal, such as dog walking, showering, house cleaning, washing and taking ds1 out and about in the afternoons...it's killing me though. My mum is a big help but last night I was up 3-4.30 with baby and then ds1 got up at 5. Totally exhausted but just can't get round to napping during the day:( I feel like a zombie.

Resent over, I know we are all in the same boat but feeling v sorry for myself today.

roofio ds has put on 1lb since birth too (in 15 days)...I also have a milk guzzler.

I'm still expressing but it's frustrating as a good 30 mins only results in 30mls...I know it's better than nothing. Any ideas how to increase supply? I do it twice a day, using the avent electric pump?

I'm not doing anything other than feeding baby - I can't right now. Too tired and sore still.

Dreading DH going back to work next week, I honestly don't know how I might cope but just trying to take each day one at a time...

Clapham - really feeling for you, the wait is so awful but worth it - I just hope LO hurries up for you!!

Xun feel just the same as you. Bf all day long is exhausting and my stitches a still really sore. All I want to do is sleep.

DH went to work for half day today asa practice run. Can't wait for him to get home.

Well I can safely say that it is definitely worth getting the medication for mastitis! Feeling a hundred times better today and no shakes in the night!
Tarlia it is fluxloxacillin that I have been prescribed..

roofio I have my last midwife check today too, before handover to the hv and I feel quite sad about that as well as I have had such good care from them. I haven't met my hv yet, so I'm hoping she is as nice.

A had been a bit sicky a couple of days ago, so I have made the decision to cut out dairy from my diet. Dd1 was allergic to cow's milk protein until she was 2 yo and her symptoms were sickyness and then blood streaks in her poo. The symptoms completely went away when I went dairy free, so I don't want to take any chances this time. So I have got myself some calcium tablets and I'm now back to label checking - its amazing what foods contain milk protein.

warlin it might not be supply, it might be the pump. I had a pump, can't remember make, and used to get similar to you. Then I bought a medela, and got about 100ml in 10 mins. They are expensive, but I expressed loads with DS so was worth the investment.

untitled I was dreading dp going back to work this week, esp as live on 4th floor and lift broken. But actually its been much better than expected, and DS has been easier to manage. I really really recommend getting out of the house as often as you can - both of mine seem much easier to manage when not cooped up inside, plus the admiring smiles and coos from everyone remind you how gorgeous your little one really is! I have a close caboo sling, and emilia has been happily asleep in it since we left the house at 10am, with one change and feed. If I had been at home I would probably been wrestling with her on and off my boob all day trying to get her to sleep!

Thanks jelly - must get myself a sling!

Any recommendations?

I've got the boba wrap - I love it but can see it will be far too stretchy when baby gets heavier. Lovely for a newborn though!

This is my first attempt at a sling, so no expert, but the close caboo I have seems good for beginners - its a ring sling, and so easier to get baby in and out of and to tie, and a bit more structured than a traditional wrap.

Another recommendation while I think of it - Emilia loves being swaddled, but kept kicking herself out of blankets and dp is useless at swaddling, so bought some Summer Infant wraps - they are £20 for 3, nice and light for my warn flat, super easy to use, and keep her in all night thanks to the velcro. I would definitley recommend to anyone swaddling a kicker!

roofio pleased to hear that H is gaining well! We too had a weigh in today and A has put on 1lb since birth, so we're very pleased too!

pinkforboys I am only on DC1, but only had 1 day of Dolly Parton (as thethreeblondies put it) and then they were back to normal. They only feel remotely full if Ailla sleeps through a feed time overnight (very rare!)

xuntitledx I dreaded DH going to work too, but I've actually found it quite relaxing being just me and A hanging around the house.

I took A into my work today to show her off and I couldn't have dreamt for her to be any better than she was! She was held by 7 different people, and was wide eyed the whole time. Not a peep of crying. Then I brought her home and she did such an explosive poo that it shot up and out the back of her nappy and onto the floor! So glad that happened at home and not in the office!

Ladies who are expressing and bfing; how are you doing it? I worry that if I express then I will not have enough milk left in my boobs for the next feed!

Just back from the midwife. She said the head is still 'at brim' and couldn't tell where he was lying as he is so curled up. Said if nothing happens by next week she'll book for an induction. Sigh.

How depressing. I fear I'll be the last off the bus

warlin I have the medela swing. I got it from eBay with breast shells and some storage bags extra for £57. It's brilliant. Especially as I do a fair bit of expressing. They're are some deals of your prepared to but a pre-loved one. My bf lady said she has a lady exclusively expressing and to do this she has to express every two hours! That's commitment!

rox I express the rest from the breast he's fed from and then express the other (not always though) if A wants feeding before you feel full again then You can e what I've expressed. If that makes sense? Then once you feel ready you can put her back on the breast. Isaacs late night feed and morning are both expressed bottles. Helps me to get out on time for school run! I think the generally tip is breast or express, never miss a feed.

Obviously that means give her what you've expressed!

I need advice

J is falling asleep at every feed so it's taking me an hour to feed him about 3oz out of his 4oz bottle. HV said he should be having at least 4oz bottles 3 hourly by now but it's just not happening. He is waking for his feeds, first 2oz is fine but the last 2 really ain't happening. He then falls fast asleep till next bottle.

Any ideas you wise ladies?

jelly exact same situation here. H drinks slowly and frequeantly. only difference is mw and hv have said to me that its fine as he's getting enough milk overall its just annoying for us. It's just ideal that he would go longer but not a problem if he doesnt. Can't give any advice as we're having the same problem! !

jelly I'd look at what he's having in 24 hours rather then every feed.

Jelly my H takes 3oz's every two hours, occasionally 2oz if he falls asleep but then usually wants feeding after an hour and a half. I'd love if he could go 3 hours, especially at night! but hes like clockwork every 2 hours. My hv said its fine as hes put on weight nicely so is obviously getting enough and their little tummies grow at different speeds and right now that's all he can hold and just to follow his lead. if he over feeds hes sick. hes just turned 4 weeks old so hopefully we'll be increasing his feeds soon.

How long is everyone planning on bfeeding? I was planning to do 6 months but with how things are going and the fact that it's so time consuming assuming I carry on I cannot see me doing more than 3 months

ThNks for asking after me legally I'm feeling a lot better this week thank you, today is day 8 and I have to say ds is just a dream, he eats well, sleeps well and winds well he's content about 90% of the time and to whoever asked about oz and bottle feeding as I say we are day 8 and H is taking 3oz every 3 hours, sometimes slightly longer over night and I really can't complain, dd was also this easy so either I'm very lucky or I have it all too come lol.

I haven't been posting much but have been keeping up as much as I can but a lot of the talk is breast feeding and I have no advice too offer on that front I'm afraid but I hope those of I struggling manage to find a resolution that suits u and baby best and manage to get as much rest as is possible with newborns

Baby H was officially registered today too :-)

Also can't remember who mentioned about recieveing cards/pressies for dc2+ I also have had very little in the way of cards but had tonnes for dd, and yes it does make me feel a little sad even tho recieveing cards isn't why we have kids its nice too no ppl care isn't it?

Good luck to those IP SWIL SC and SFW

I've started mix feeding already flyer as I just can't look after ds1 and devote the time to feeding little B. He gets a bottle if we're busy and I feed him at night and when ds1 is napping. I wanted to do six months but is forgotten just how time consuming it is and it's not compatible with looking after a 14 month old at the same time.
Ladies with formula troubles I asked the mw today about what they should have and she just said feed on demand same as if bf, some feed little and often and some gulp loads. We are feeding little and often at the moment but hopefully stretches between bottles will be longer soon.
Have any of the c section ladies had letters from their consultants? Mine is such a darling and has sent me the loveliest letter today saying how he hopes I'm not too disappointed by not being able to do vbac but babys position and size gave me a less than 20% chance of success and also he hopes I'm not too tired looking after two babies. I thought that was really nice of him.
smitten if you are last off the bus at least you get to have all the fab advice on here before you have your lo.

Flyer I'm going back to work in April so if this baby ever arrives then the max I'll do it for is 5 months but i'll be happy if I manage 3. I was not bf and I turned out kind of ok!! Even though I've no words of wisdom/ experience I think you're doing a great job and you should go easy on yourself. X
Have just had a sweep, am 2 cm and effaced apparently . Are you supposed to feel different immediately after or does it take a little time if its going to do any thing at all?
Clapham my bp which is usually low/normal has just shot up like yours. Very irritating. Have to back to doc in am. No protein so hopefully just white coat syndrome or something! But disappointing to get to this point and then for it to happen. Hope you're doing ok. X