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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

How to stay awake during night feeds part 7 - put in your orders for sleepy dust!

999 replies

TeaandHobnobs · 29/01/2013 23:26

Can't believe we are on part 7! and I'm still here

Welcome one and all Smile

OP posts:
larlemucker · 22/02/2013 13:07

Oh god, just changed baby larles nappy and it looks like there is blood in his urine. Got emergency app at drs for 4.40. He seems ok in himself. Could it be urates? Can they come back?
I'm already a state today from lack of sleep

StitchAteMySleep · 22/02/2013 14:24

Oh Larle how worrying, best not to speculate or google and get to the GP.

They will probably want to check for a UTI. You may need to get a urine sample by trying to collect some urine in a small clean pot (not so easy I know, but most babies will pee instinctively when the cold air hits them if you leave the nappy off, or you can wipe with warm water and cotton wool to stimulate).

I haven't heard of urates being present past the first few days, but ask the GP.

larlemucker · 22/02/2013 14:29

Trying v hard not to google, drs had cancellation so brought app forward. My friend is a nurse and she said there is something they can put in his nappy to collect a sample, they use them with old people apparently.
Lots of nothing serious thoughts please

StitchAteMySleep · 22/02/2013 14:54

That makes it easier, I had visions of him hosing you while you tried to catch his wee.

Was it pinkish or reddy-brown?

It really is probably nothing serious, a uti is easily treated. If the tip of his willy is a bit sore it could bleed a little.

larlemucker · 22/02/2013 16:16

The more I've looked at it the more it looks like urates. Dr examined him and can't find anything wrong and he is fine in himself, no fever a eating well, so she wants us to keep an eye on it and take him straight back if it happens again

Thanks for the hand holding stitch

StitchAteMySleep · 22/02/2013 17:32

Glad to hear it. Is he passing faeces and feeding well?

Susieloo · 22/02/2013 17:46

Just catching up on thread, glad it all seems to be okay larle, what a heart stopping moment for you.

larlemucker · 22/02/2013 17:50

Yeah he is fine in himself, eating well and pooing and peeing as normal. Been no more in his nappy either so hopefully it was a one off

MissingMyMarbles · 22/02/2013 19:03

Oh Larle! What a fright. Hope it is just a one off.

On bedtime feed. A little late and deviated from normal routine with no bath, just top and tail, as we went out for tea. Hope it doesn't make too much difference (unless in a good wayWink).

She's having a bottle if formula at 11ish in preparation for me going back to work. That was always the plan, but now it's here I don't want her to have it, even though she's eating everything else now anyway. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against bottles/formula per se, it's just, well, I don't even know what it is Sad I think if she sleeps through because of it as well, I'll feel like my milk wasn't enough I wish I didn't have to go back to work yetSad If I didn't I'd be ok with the night wakings, provided its for feeds and no transfer fails, which is generally how it is. I just worry for DH if she refuses the bottle.

Transfer fail for me means crying within 5 minutes or so of being put down, Goat.

MrsNPattz · 22/02/2013 19:48

What a fright Larle! Glad he is ok!

We have had a busy day. Hubby comes tomorrow, can't wait to see him.

Little man still seems not quite right - teeth/cough I think! Not quite bed time here, hopefully not far off though.

funchum8am · 22/02/2013 20:35

larle I hope everything is ok, very scary for you. FC it was a one off.

marbles I know exactly how you feel about formula but honestly it gets better. I felt the same and couldn't really explain why, and you have ebf'd for a fair bit longer than I did. You have done a wonderful job and dd will be fine. Maybe see it as helping her bond more closely with DH (please accept my apologies if this is unhelpful in any way, it is just what helped me.). And I was fairly selfish as we started one bottle of formula a day way before I start back at work because I felt I wanted a break at times. Hugs!

DH has just woken up on the sofa, declared it is "too early to go to bed" and gone back to sleep. He is a wally at times!

MissingMyMarbles · 22/02/2013 21:26

Thanks FunchSmile I guess it's because I am so committed to bf. As I said, she's already started solids so its not like she's still ebf now anyway. I know she'll be fine, I just don't like it Confused Thank you for reassuring me that I'm not some kind of loon. Typically, she's really settled tonight; might back out.....

StitchAteMySleep · 22/02/2013 21:51

Marbles completely understandable. Breastfeeding is time for you and her. Going back to work is hard, it is not easy leaving your baby even if it is with your dh or someone you trust implicitly.

I found dd1 reverse cycled when I went back to work and I am sure some of that was for contact with me rather than hunger. Some children don't sleep better on formula either.

You could always try a small cereal based meal just before bed to see if that helps if formula doesn't hold her.

Ameybee · 22/02/2013 21:52

I totally understand too marbles, went through same dilemma but I was beyond knackered after 14 weeks of 2 hourly feeding day & night & it was the right decision for me and DD and DH loves feeding him (even my gp said that was a positive in stopping), its all individual tho! In an ideal world he would've fed every 3 hours in day & longer at night then I'd of loved to continue but I found it totally unsustainable for us...., not that we are doing amazingly well at night now however but hoping its a blip!

I'm finding the bad nights much easier to cope with knowing there's teeth coming (& one through) even tho I'm bloody exhausted! DD gone to grandmas tonight so me and DH are sharing the night and one of us can sleep in her room for part of it.

Decided to try hungry baby milk for night feeds - will let you know if any improvement!

Sleepy dust to all! X

Larle - hope you and LO are ok, scary x

larlemucker · 22/02/2013 22:09

marbles I know exactly how you feel, I ebf baby larle every hour for his first 2 weeks till the midwife told me to top him up with a bottle (at that point I hadn't been to bed for 3 days). Think it saved my sanity but I don't really like him having formula, Dh loves giving him a bottle and it means I get to have a shower but trying to replace it with expressed milk.

Baby larle has actually been better tonight compared to the last few nights, no screaming. In fact he has been lying on my lap gurgling! What ever it was in his nappy it hasn't bothered him!

StitchAteMySleep · 22/02/2013 22:19

Larle good to hear all is well with babylarle.

Funch DH does that. He also falls asleep on chairs and then slides off in his sleep onto the floor and refuses to go to bed. He always regrets it when his back hurts in the morning.

Stitch's canine is almost through, she keeps using my boob as a teething ring while feeding, ouch. She will be 1 tomorrow. DH is working so we are going to my dad's for the day.

MissingMyMarbles · 22/02/2013 22:21

Thank you everyone.
Stitch, I'm going back to work on nights, so it could actually improve our nights, if its a comfort thing. I know formula isn't a sleep cure necessarily and that's not why we're giving it to her. It's only if she does sleep better on it, I'm afraid of feeling rubbish. She has to have a bottle because I will be at work, if she needs milk, and I don't have enough ebm stored, so she'll have to have formula.

Amey, it is a positive that DH will be able to feed her. I think he's quite looking forward to itSmile I am hoping she will take the bottle easily. She has done it before, it's just been a while.

Quick question re teats, which flow should I use?
She's always just chewed a bit on the first stage ones. I got 3m+ and 6m+ to try and see which she manages better.

StitchAteMySleep · 22/02/2013 22:45

Marbles I stayed on first stage with dd1 so as to minimise confusion between bottles and breast. You could just go straight to a soft spout beaker if she is used to taking water from one already, Stitch just chews on bottles too, but knows what to do with a beaker. With dd1 I did express some bottles, but she had to have aptamil too as expressing while doing supply teaching was a bit difficult. Once she realised that was all she was getting she soon started drinking the bottles. I am sure that your dd will be fine.

MissingMyMarbles · 22/02/2013 22:53

She drinks her lunchtime water from a cup without a spout, but doesn't take very much. I've made the bottle up already in anticipation for her waking up so it will be the right temp. Haha - she probably won't and then I'll have to make up another one Grin I think I'll go and sterilise the cup too....
DD1 never took a bottle at all it was a nightmare
I am totally clueless regarding bottlesConfused Sorry.

This is a great thread. Thank you....

MissingMyMarbles · 22/02/2013 23:32

Sounds like she's taking it....
DH is in there as I listen on the monitor. Hope she settles again...
This is killing me Sad

StitchAteMySleep · 23/02/2013 00:31

Oh Marbles it gets easier. Once you go back and you see she really is fine with her dad and you get all those extra cuddles/feeds in the daytime you will stop worrying so much.

MrsNPattz · 23/02/2013 01:00

First feed here - I stupidly thought it was about half 6, couldn't believe it when I saw the time!!

Marbles I reiterate what others have said, it's totally understandable feeling that way - I would be the same. But it will work out and it will feel better!

MissingMyMarbles · 23/02/2013 01:04

She only took a tiny bit, then fell asleep, then transfer fail before DH left the room, then woke up to see him and thought it was playtime! I fed her around midnight and its all quiet again now. I know she will be fine with DH; I know she won't starve herself either, if she was hungry I'm pretty sure she'd have taken it, so back to stroke-head settling (unless we have the hungry noise) and try again tomorrow night.
Thanks Stitch

larlemucker · 23/02/2013 02:57

Glad she took some of bottle marbles, I know exactly how you feel, I was the same with baby larle and formula. In fact Dh was out tonight so he fed him early as I really don't like giving him a bottle. Silly though, it's not as if its hurting him!!

First feed here, Dh said he is going to take him tonight when he wakes and doesn't need feeding. I would love to believe that but considering I've just had to tidy up after his last nappy change and rip up more cotton wool I doubt it'll happen!
Hope people are sleeping

BrainGoneAwol · 23/02/2013 03:17

Sorry for absence all, babybrain has been waking every 1-1.5 hours so I've been too comatose to log in.

larle so glad things are ok - that must have been scary

Going to comment on posts but can't remember who asked the questions- sorry!

Babybrain has also never really recovered from 3 month growth spurt. I find myself saying "he normally wakes twice..." but have realised that hasn't been normal for ages! Finally saw the Dr who said his eardrums are a bit pink - probably due to his cold/cough but he is likely over the worst now. He's also not feeding well in the day so I wonder if he's making up at night Hmm Also starting to get cross at his inability to move. Sigh.

marbles that makes complete sense. I'm also ebf and have mixed feelings about bottles. Went feeding is going well in the day I love bf and wouldn't want him bottle fed, but sometimes when I want a life or some sleep I'd do anything for him to take a bottle. So far he refuses so I'm working on a doidy cup which he mostly tries to eat

Transfer fails for us are waking within 5 mins of being put back in bed. He never lies in bed all quiet. He's either talking so loudly we can't sleep next door with both doors shut or wailing. Usually he's ok at initial transfer though that's also getting worse he just wakes soon after.

About to try. Sorry to those I've missed. Sleepy dust or Brew as appropriate.