May 2017 #15 No sleep, night feeds and the newest arrivals

[Tickyboovicki]

Fingers crossed this works, no idea how to make a thread but giving it my best shot. Let the May babies continue!

Oh and the tug-o-nipple or 'how long can I stretch a nipple?' contest has begun.

@mightymouse76 oh dear definitely sounds like the onset of middle age 🤔 and I'm with you on the sun as well!

So talk to me about pumps and bottles, I'd like to plan for a bit of freedom from 6 weeks onwards but I've spent today looking and I'm more confused than ever!! Do I need a double or would a single do? How many bottles do I need?

Worked out that I prefer microwave sterilising bags to a monstrosity that has to sit on the worktop so I did make some progress!!

@RedBlu wow I'm impressed at that output!
Expressing goals indeed. I'm more like 2oz from L and R combined in 45 mins. I need to get my milking cap on.

@mightymouse76 she's not quite 2 weeks so still lots of healing to do! I'm off the codeine but still taking paracetamol and ibuprofen.

When is it ok to start introducing a newborn to other kids? Should we wait until she's had her jabs? This may be more of an issue for a first child - harder to avoid with older kids!

Mum wants us to bring baby to her primary school but I'm not sure if we want her to meet lots of four year olds before her jabs!

@MrsJW15 they sent you home with codine?? I got a week and a halfs supply of paracetamol and ibuprofen. I've already stocked up for when I run out. Getting lots of uncomfy knitting together feelings from my scar the last couple of days.

@BouncingBlueberry my notes said bring paracetamol and ibuprofen for after the birth but they handed those out, plus codeine, and sent me home with lots!

So we (baby crazy and I) had our 6 week checks today. BabyC good apart from a mild heart murmur which is hopefully physiological and something he will grow out of.

My check... less than useless. Have anyone else had theirs? I was asked how I am feeling and that was it... No BP/palpation of ab muscles /checking of episiotomy ... And when I asked when DP and I can have sex again (yes I know I can't believe I am considering it either..!) and when I can go swimming again, the doctor didn't know..?

So we (baby crazy and I) had our 6 week checks today. BabyC good apart from a mild heart murmur which is hopefully physiological and something he will grow out of.

My check... less than useless. Have anyone else had theirs? I was asked how I am feeling and that was it... No BP/palpation of ab muscles /checking of episiotomy ... And when I asked when DP and I can have sex again (yes I know I can't believe I am considering it either..!) and when I can go swimming again, the doctor didn't know..?

crazy sounds normal....

I've never even bothered making an appointment for mine. No stitches, don't need contraception, mood fine thanks, just no point!

Should have said I've worked in a number of different practices and they all do them very differently. So some do the full monty as you were expecting, others do very little.

Yep, sounds normal crazy. I remember last time being surprised that the doctor didn't check me physically at all.

MrsJW baby Bees has been coughed all over by her big sister and been admired by all her toddler friends at nursery. So I'd say it's fine to let them meet other kids. However, if you have a choice you might as well wait a while. Newborns with colds are no fun.

Congrats raspberry !
I tried expressing for the first time this evening. After 45mins I had 1oz. 1 bloody oz! Still plenty of milk in there as I could hand express and little man fed happily there 30 mins after. I'm confused! I was using an electric closer to nature pump. Does pumping just not work for some?? I'm still exclusively bf but would like to let dp give the odd feed as he feels he's missing out. My superstar baby took the tiny amount from the bottle with no problem at all :)

It's take practice @Paige84 you'll get more skilled at it and more relaxed and so more milk will come.

Made it to day 6 here 😊.

A few breast feeding questions for those further ahead -
When did you start expressing/introducing a bottle? I want to get baby uptown on both so I can do the odd bit of work relatively early on and have some freedom but I've read so many conflicting things about when to start.

Can anyone tell me when I might expect feeding to get quicker/more regular? We're only a week in so I'm not expecting miracles but at the moment a feed is taking around an hour or two, I'm demand feeding and hoping a pattern emerges at some point so I can plan the day.

paige often it's just getting used to it, but check any valves etc are behaving. I'm not used to that pump though. Some people get a lot more if expressing while feeding from other side, or thinking of / looking at their baby while expressing.

Thanks! It was a waste if NHS time. Poor GP didn't have a good day.. Baby C pulled off my boob without warning and the let down sprayed over the docs trousers... Ooops!!

Congratulations @raspberry 💐

uptown I'd probably consider it from 2 weeks here, if feeding going well. If you just want to start building a stash, express first thing in the morning (you have more milk first thing) and freeze. If you want to make sure baby takes a bottle, might well express when a feed is nearly due and have oh give the bottle of freshly expressed milk immediately.
We're in the middle of moving house but I'll be starting soon.

I think it's worth having a go expressing at different times of day?
Seem to get more in the morning, plus that's when I feel more engorged and need to express to help baby latch.

I'm expecting a blood check at my 6 week appointment as lost quite a bit of blood so iron levels low. I was also discharged with Oramorph as well as paracetamol and ibuprofen

I had diclofenac last time (forceps, bad tear). This time only anti clot injections and iron (pph)

Forgot to add I'm using a medela harmony that DH ran out the buy from Argos on day 5 when my boobs were rock hard.
Only expressing once a day at the moment enough for one night feed.
I'm guessing I might need to think about an electric one soon to speed things up and build up a freezer full.

Wow we've just been asleep for 5 hrs, baby Rise has had a five minute feed and has now gone back to sleep. I'm wide awake with no idea what to do with myself after having slept so much!

Morning all

@1004Rise Wow that's a proper lie-in!!

Hi @uptown8617
In the last few days (4 weeks today), feeding has got more spaced out (2.5 to 4 hours) and faster. I think baby is getting more efficient at drinking now? Feeds rarely take more than 20-30 mins, sometimes he speed feeds in less. Still get the occasional longer haul but much less frequent.

We've started with bottles already- initially we had to use pre-mix formula as my milk took a while to come in, then again at two weeks I was on not so friendly antibiotics so had to supplement to stop him getting side effects. I haven't noticed any issues- if anything it's been a relief to know we can mix feed and so far he'll take it however it's offered.
I'm now expressing (starting to) as I also have to begin phasing work back in, so hopefully that will help protect and build up the supply?

Pump wise I'm using the medela swing single. I figured it was cheaper than hiring if I keep this up for more than 6 weeks. I only wish I could have afforded the double, as my supply is not exactly fast flowing! Hopefully things will speed up as I get into a pattern.

I've just slept for 4 hours too Rise, but don't think I'll get away with a 5 minute feed!!

Thanks @mightymouse76. That's really helpful, think I might introduce a bottle next week and hope we can get him to take both. I'm having use a nipple shield on one side at the moment whilst my poor nipple recovers, I wonder if that makes gut help the transition? I know the sucking action is different but the feel of plastic doesn't bother him.

Don't think I've ever posted any baby spam...