March 2011 - we made it!

[Muser]

The waiting is over, the babies are arriving. March 2011 mums, come on in your time is up.

Lozario if you have a sling you can carry the baby around and still have two hands free.

My girl has started to sleep for nearly 7 hours at a time. Great for her, theoretically great for me. Except my boobs can't take it and I end up waking before her in a pool of milk.

I am always waking up in a pool of milk. I either put the pads in upside down in my half asleep state or they seem to move in the middle of the night. Lovely.

Still on waking every 2 and a half hours at 4 weeks tomorrow. Thinking of moving Hannah into her cot as she likes to sleep spread out. Arms and legs everywhere - maybe they hit the moses basket and wake her? Worth a shot I think to see if we can stretch the wakings to every 3 hours!

Best go - the bouncer only keeps her amused for 5 mins at a time.

Happy Easter everyone. We are off for an Egg Hunt today at the local farm, not sure what to expect as never done it before but sure DSs will love it.

E has gone 3 nights sleeping really well. Saturday night was going to be DH first night feeding, however E decided to sleep from 9pm - 6.30am and last night he slept from about 9.30-5.00 so that is 3 nights of really reasonable sleep, dare i think it might be coming together.

Will be quite glad for DS1 to go back to school on Wednesday as him and DS2 are starting to really bicker now, I suppose I shouldnt complain as they could have been doing it all holiday.

They are constantly disturbing E though which is driving me a bit round the bend.

Lovely day here today so must get dressed.

Hi all. My self- settling was a fluke. Starting to despair as E will want to guzzle on my breast for an hour- complain if he gets de-latched and falls asleep and will promptly wake up crying.

He then wakes (usually in my bed- had to cave and try cosleeping) an hour or less after for another long feed. This is unsustainable as I am getting no sleep by the time Ive settled him. He's 3 weeks and 3 days. any suggestions?

typing one handed Aas he's on the breast now. shoud i try expressing? how much milk should i offer in a feed if i can express into a bottle? he's a big boy.

any suggestions desperately received.

K Poor you, you sound exhausted. Can someone take E out for a walk each day whilst you get a nap? I know its hard to be away from them but it might give you an energy boost.

Are feeding lying down in bed? I can doze/close my eyes whilst feeding at night. This could help you get a little more sleep?

Could your DP settle him whilst you sleep before the next feed?

Do you offer both breasts at each feed? DD started to need 2 breasts at about 3 weeks - seems to be less often she needs 2 now. Looking back this was probably the 3 week growth spurt - maybe E is going through his. If so it will pass.

I don't know about expressing as not tried it yet. I am thinking of starting that soon though to get DD used to a bottle. I hope others come with advice about that soon.

I hope this helps as i'm no expert, just muddling through.

mixedmama Enjoy the egg hunt!

K try expressing 3 or 4 oz - that seems to be the amount they generally take at this age I think. Takes me about 15 mins to get that in the morning -will be useful for you to see how quickly he eats, I remember watching DS down that amount in about 5 mins, made me feel better about how quickly he ate! Lara has fed all day today so I feel your pain - I'm putting it down to 3 week growth spurt (she's exact same age as yours) and this heat which makes them thirsty.

took me ages to read all your posts. Will have to make this post fast as Anya is getting bored of her bouncer.

Very of all you that are getting 4 hours at a time or even have a day/night routine!! I am letting Anya dictate waking and sleeping times as I don't see how I can force her to sleep. She is currently sleeping in the evening then awake from 11pm till about 4am then she sleeps till about 7 has a quick feed then off to sleep again till 10am then another quick feed then we both get up and start our day at midday-ish.

[incoming typos as Anya is now feeding and I'm typing 1 handed]

K, I tried expressing to have a break but gave up during the growth spurt- she was just on my boob too much that the thought of then pumping them was too much - my nipples needed the break. Now she is feeding slightly less I feel like my boobs have 1 extra feed in them per day so express a bit to make me more comfortable. For Anya at 3 weeks a feed was about 2 to 2.5oz. I tend to store them in bags of 2.5oz atm as breastmilk is very precious and hate to have to throw any away. Remember milk comes faster from a bottle so babies might overfeed then throw it up _ Anya managed to down 4oz at 3 weeks but then it all came back up, after that we limited it and then winded her to give it time to reach her stomach then see if she still wanted more.

RE swapping boobs - I'm really confused about this as people keep telling me different things. One MW told me that I should think of each boob holding 1 hours worth of a feed. If she comes off my boob then wants back on within the hour she started feeding I should give her the same boob. I read elsewhere that after she pulls off and has been winded she should be offered the other breast. After a few instances of very green poo I googled and read that this was probably due to her not spending enough time on the one boob . I'm back to using the boob an hour principle as at least her poo isn't green any more

Think Anya has a touch of Colic - as a newbie to parenting and babies I have only just learnt what this is so have stopped giving myself such a hard time when I can't comfort her. She sometimes cries for half an hour none stop and usually it is in the early hours of the morning when I'm desperate to sleep myself which has been known to bring me to tears too but I'm hoping that now I know it isn't my fault I might be able to cope better.

must stop typing now as my arm is aching and I managed another monster post!

RE: boobs - we go with feed from one side until Arthur takes himself off/falls asleep, nappy change then offer the next boob (which he always takes!). This whole process takes about an hour and then he sleeps roughly 2 1/2hrs ish. He can go up to abut 4 hours if we are out and about. On the next feed we start on the boob we finished on as he normally will have taken less from that one. We have had different advice from different bf counsellors but this is what works for us. Also we feed in an upright position otherwise he just chucks it all back up and I feel like crying at all the lost milk!

we dont have a bedtime routine really other than we both go upstairs about 8pm an carry on with the 1hr feeding/2hr sleeping routine (if we are lucky!)

I think it is difficult to dictate to them. They are still so small. I just go with the flow and am very pleased with E 3 nights, but certainly dont expect it. Bizarely, E self settles really well in the middle of the night but in the daytime needs rocking, wlaking about, dummy etc. I find the daytimes very stressful really as he seems to be awake alot of the time.

Thanks guys. It took me 40 mins to express 4oz and the electric pump manual said it takes the average woman 10 mins so am a bit worried that it's my flow that is part of the problem.

I gave him the 4 oz from the bottle and it took him 10 mins to drink! He will feed reaaaally slowly on me for an hour. So I'm going to keep expressing and breast feeding to try and up my production.

Had another terrible night though. He will only sleep if he's on one of us at the moment- so co-sleeping doesn't really work as he's not happy sleeping snuggled next to me and I'm too frightened to fall asleep on my back with him on me in case I crush him.

I'm really despairing to be honest- my OH is back in work tomorrow so can't take over and help as much in the night. I desperately don't want to FF but the three of us can't go on with no sleep.

Got the health visitor coming today so will ask her- hope she has some helpful advice.

K - Anya is the same in the evening (well morning 3am - when she is colicky). I've started doing something I know I shouldn't which is falling asleep with her over me on the sofa - HV has told me off for this as apparently you shouldn't sleep on the sofa with baby. This is only for 1 nap a day though as during the day she settles quite well on her own. I don't worry about crushing her though as I tend to fall asleep with her in a feeding position with my arms around her keeping her secure. I only nap in this position too so always wake in exactly the same position as I fell asleep in. I guess it helps that I'm a light sleeper. Not advising you do this unless you too are a v. light sleeper but hoping that knowing you're not alone makes you feel a tad better.

BTW, how do you feed upright? I can't imagine a position that would work to do that but am willing to try anything to prevent the wind that seems to cause her so much pain :(

KPidgeon I find expressing really difficult and feeding is going fine here. My little girl has sped up a lot as she's got bigger. Try expressing at different times of day to see if you have a peak time. You can also try expressing from one side while feeding from the other, although that can be a challenge.

And I believe that the more you express the easier it gets, especially if you do it at the same time each day as your body gets used to needing to produce for a feed.

Personally I find expressing more hassle then it's worth. I have a frequent feeder so the last thing I want to do when she's not feeding is express.

Hi everyone,

Sorry not been around much, it has been rather hectic with the Easter holidays and trying to entertain an excitable 5 year old along with managing beautiful baby and visitors!!

I need to back track a fair few pages to catch up with you all!!!

The latest here is..Bethan is now happily breast feeding on demand with some expressed bottles occasionally to give me a break. We had a follow-up appointment at the hospital last week to check on her heart and the news is still good and really positive. We will have another check-up in 12months, but a more detailed examination in Oxford in 6 months!!

Bethan is gaining weight nicely and now at 6 weeks she is 6lb 6oz - nicely following the 0.4th centile!!!!
The health visitor also measured her height/length last week and she is off the chart for that one!!!! (my little shortie!!)

Hope all is well with everyone... I am going to make a cup of tea and have a read through all your posts now whilst Beth is sleeping.... xx

K - Ask the HV to check E for a tongue-tie, if he hasn't been checked already. And re: the expressing, try first thing and lift your boob a bit as that might help it flow better. 10 mins seems quick for 4oz though, I can get that in about 10-15 ounces but all my NCT mates said that was quick and they took much longer, so don't worry about that. Like Muser said though, if you're not suited to it then don't worry about it, it's not for everyone. Hope the HV is helpful. My DS was the same, only slept on us for first 6 weeks - I thought I'd never sleep again. He grew out of it though and once he was in the cot he was a lot better. (He hated moses basket - I'm amazed that DD now sleeps in it for most of the night!)

Purple good to hear that Bethan is doing so well! She sounds so cute. 0.4 centile!!

Catherine to feed baby upright, you draw them up your thigh and under the boob - try this link pregnancy.about.com/od/breastfeedinginfo/ss/breastpositions_5.htm or even better go to a breast feeding group and they will show you how (I only did a quick google but I can't find a video or explanation of how to use this one but its very popular in a few of the bf groups I go to). Its the only way me and Arthur can feed because I find any other position excruciating for my nipples and tear-inducing when he chucks it all up! This hold has been a life saver!

Hi everyone, Its been crazy in our house the last week so haven't had a chance to check in, DD2 got the chickenpox last Wednesday so DH stayed minding the 2 older ones while I took Mya to my mothers for a couple of days to try and avoid her being infected, it was probably pointless though cause if she was going to get them she's probably infected already but fingers crossed she doesn't get them, she's a month old today and that's just too young to get chickenpox.

Mya is doing great, growing in front of me, she's seems huge compared to a month ago. She wakes usually twice a night, the last two nights it's just been once but last night that once was for 2 hrs, I am FF but still it takes time and I find it hard to stay awake, a few nights I've dropped off for a few seconds and opened my eyes again to find the bottle just hovering over her mouth with her asleep, last night I dropped the bottle when I fell asleep for a sec but I have never even loosened my grip on her so for those worrying about that I wouldn't, i think it's an instinct thing.

After all my talk last week I still haven't managed to resume marital relations (don't know why I don't just say sex, I must be bashfull at heart) I mentioned to DH last week that I'd be willing to give it a go and he practically jumped up and down bless him but it wasn't to be cause our only condoms were in the top drawer of a locker that was jammed shut, it was very funny really, DH struggled for 20 mins to get it open at 12am before he gave up. Then we were all over the place with the chickenpox thing so nothing has happened yet but definitely soon, gagging for it now.

On sofa sleeping, it's risky because the baby could slip between you and a sofa cushion and get stuck. Could you not do that nap in bed 1Catherine? Make it more comfy and secure.

Has anyone got any advice on settling LO for daytime naps? Rosa is doing ok at night more or less. She is now sleeping in her cot and wakes twice most nights but settles down again quickly after being fed, but in the day time will not settle at all would go for the whole day without sleeping if it was up to her. she will only sleep if it is on me walking around the house and then i might slowly be able to lower myself onto the sofa (but not my bed for some reason - she wakes with a start!) or if she is in her buggy/sling. Once she is settled if i then try and move her into her cot she wakes within minutes. so it means I am not able to do anything at all during her nap times, neither nap with her or get jobs done or relax in the house. It's driving me a bit crazy.

Anyone else finding this or got any ideas? Thanks :)

nello, I experienced the same with my LO, though now I'm typing w/ both hands which means there is some progress at 7 weeks! My DH finally started using a dummy (much to my dismay) both at night, which I'm fine with, and during the day. I use it when he's napping/sleeping only to keep him calm if he wakes up and I'm in the shower, for example. The funny thing is that it was driving me crazy like you, and stressing me beyond belief, but yesterday he slept SO much in every part of the house w/ or w/out his dummy during the day that it scared me to death!!! :) Good luck and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel...

nello My dd is currently napping, sound asleep and she is in her pram. It is lay flat so no harm in staying in there for an hour or so. Means I can still see her, get on with things etc. Will be more rigid about proper 'nap times' in cot as she gets a bit older, but at 6 weeks she is still asleep more than awake so it is easier to let her doze in her pram than try to battle with her and get her to settle in bed. Like you, night time is fine, wakes twice for a feed but sleeps between 8.30pm-8am.

Another thing I do if she is unsettled, I open the front door and put pram near there for a few minutes as the sound of traffic/wind/general hubbub seems to settle her down. That or the washing machine! White noise rocks.

Thanks all for your support. I tell you what- this forum and a few familiar names and bits of advice is a god send when you're feeling down.

The health visitor weighed Elijah and he is now 10lb 12oz (and 3.5 weeks) so no problem with my milk flow! Just a demanding hungry growing boy who needs to feed for an hour or so at a time. We've just got to get on with it until he learns to guzzle faster. I'm really glad he's thriving and it gave me a boost.

I think the expressing is more hassle than it's worth at the moment. But glad I've got it as a back-up.

Bought a vibrating chair and that has helped massively for naps in the day time- that with his dummy (and I said I'd NEVER use one!) means that he sleeps properly during the day between feeds which makes for a less frenzied baby

SO my tip for daytime sleeping is vibrating chair (cradle is not much good at the moment). The one time yesterday he slept soundly in the cradle was when we vacuumed loudly all around him!

Have moved hubby out of the bedroom for the time being- so he gets proper sleep and so I'm calmer. He was on the floor so E could come in with me if he wouldn't go in the cradle. Not ideal at all and I miss husband cuddles (don't fancy anything else right now!) But it's just temporary whilst our little one needs such constant feeds. I do think I got about 4/5 hours last night and I seem able to function on that so all positive steps forward.

Am really looking forward to the 6 week mark and hoping for bigger gaps between feeds then.

k - that is an impressive weight at 3 and a half weeks! I also swore I wouldn't use a dummy but now am deverstated that DD won't take it..

nello - I'd just popped on to ask a very similar question as my DD would also stay awake all day if it was up to her. Anya is now 5 weeks today. She woke up at 2pm for a feed and at 4:30 I decided it must be nap time but she disagreed and went hysterical when placed in the carrycot. Finally rocked and shushed her to sleep at 5pm but somehow I need to put her down in a second but I suspect she isn't really asleep because every 5 minutes she opens her eyes, looks at me then closes them again. It is almost like she is checking on me . I was just wondering how long your LOs are awake at a time.

We are the same with daytime naps but as another poster said I just let him sleep wherever he falls asleep, whether his chair/beanbag or pushchair rarely the cot in the day, but as already said he is still small.

Had a terribel day today with DS2. Went to meet a friend for lunch and DS decided he wouldnt sit a the table and sat on the floor in Pizza Hut. I ahd E in the sling and DS2 was screaming everytime I tried to get him up. He ended up falling asleep in the chair eventually. Then I lost track of time due to all the faffing and missed the bus and at 3pm was still 45 mins away from school pick up. Managed to text a mum and ask her to get DS1 and we met them in the park only 15 mins late and a £24 taxi ride later. Just nothing has gone right today.

Must dash as E is moaning.

K Glad the HV reassured you. I hope your not so little man starts to get more efficient sooner rather than later.

mixedm Poor you, that sounds like a stressful day.

catherine Hannah has been known to be awake all day. Or at least only sleep in 20 minute bursts post feed. She does get grouchy in the evening then but I find it hard to make her sleep and am just letting her do what she likes for now.

Today however Hannah has slept loads, so guessing i'm in for late night. The transfer to cot hasn't worked and we have co slept last couple of nights. It makes night feeds easier but I don't sleep as well with her in the bed and tend to wake up aching from holding the same position. Am wishing we had a king size or even a super king so we could spread out. Best go, I think its feed time again.

Hi on day sleep Ollie is 7 weeks tomorrow and still sleeps as much as he is awake during the day but only does it in a sling or in my arms! He can't stay awake more than 90 mins to 2 hours ( same as ds1 and ds2 at this stage).

Generally I get all the kids up then when ds3 starts grizzling i pop him in the Sling and he nods off within minutes but i do haveq to keep moving to keep him asleep. Then at lunch time I settle the older ones for their nap and a hot foot it to my bed where ds3 and I curl up for a sleep. We both nod off bf -ing. When he is in a deeps sleep I can creep out of the bed and he will have up to 3 hours asleep which allows me a small amount of time to get things done. Then wither sort sling nap of nap on the boob late afternoon before night time.

Frusqtrating that he is a limpet but i know that it gets easier as both my others were like this. And is impossible to out down in his Moses basket or pram. I do know from experience that if they get over Tired it get hardeer to settle them so after an hour and a half or so at this age they could well be tired! For me the sling is very liberating from any trying to settle baby As he is asleep so quickly but IMO it needs to be a soft sling as it is a more natural position.

Hope his helps but do appreciate the baby wearing approach is not for everyone!