April 2011-kicking back drinking lactulose cocktails and riding the maternity surfboards

[Petalouda]

Post-natal thread for all the antenatal April 2011 Family!

Share the birth stories, the baby blues and everything else.

I've got a pretty sleepy baby too, unfortunately also quite a vomity one. I've already been thrown up on twice this morning :( resulting in a full clothes change for both of us, other than my socks!
I'm wondering if it's reflux - she's always brought something back after each feed, usually just a bit of milk but sometimes it seems partially digested, sort of like small cottage cheese lumps. We've only had big projectiles a once or twice. Should I worry? She's not upset about it so I'm thinking not, unless I find she's not putting on weight - currently difficult to judge but I'll be taking her more often now I can.
I've tried holding her upright after feeds, but even after about an hour lying her in the crib resulted in her spitting milk back out
Any advice?

lis am about getting back into pre-pregnancy jeans - i tried on a number of things this morning but no luck, and maternity clothes are still so comfy... I guess staying in the house so long after c-section hasn't helped, so on that note I might have a quick walk out to get some veg and possibly a sandwich for lunch.

Can't quite believe T is 8 weeks old already, I have had to put the newborn babygros and vests away as he is now too long for them....have hundreds of 0-3 that no longer swamp him :)
He has his jabs next week :( not looking forward to that but it has to be done.
It's all going too fast! Although sleeping through the night still seems a long way off. He started going for about 5 hours from 11-4 ish but it only lasted about a week and is now back to 3-4 hours again.....Sorry, that must sound like gloating considering what a lot of you ladies are getting sleep wise at the moment. I had meant to make some blackout linings for T's room before he was born but didn't manage to get it done due to him arriving a little earlier than expected. He is in his own room as he wouldn't settle at all with us unless in our bed but DH takes meds that make co-sleeping dodgy. I think I really need to get the blackouts sorted as I'm sure he is being disturbed by the brightness of the early mornings. Just need to find a good time to get the sewing machine out.
Does anyone now of anything for reflux that doesn't cause constipation? as gaviscon is making T uncomfortable and bunged up.

I am trying to get organised with putting some bits on ebay such as maternity gear pregnany books and my tens, but I think I am putting it off in the hopes of getting to use it again at some point lol. Constantly re-designing the house in my head to try and figure out where I could put another baby.....I am clearly getting too much sleep if I can even think about it yet so should probably shut up moaning

Oh and I am not able to get rid of all the maternity clothes just a few bits that I never really liked that much. Am also at anyone fitting into pre-preg jeans.....not going to happen for a while here!! Thinking of joining weight watchers to help shift the stone (plus the extra that needed to go even before getting pg) that I put on. I have tried my biggest normal jeans but it ain't happening lol.

Hi gang, am posting from France.

The night after DP got back H didn't sleep and then I had to get up early to finish the packing and get H to his six-week check and BCG vaccination We were at the doctors for two hours because they were running so late!

We then legged it in a cab to my sister's where her soon-to-be in-laws drove us to Portsmouth to catch the ferry with my parents. Thats when the real fun began. Does anyone else have experience with green foamy poo, because I do. Dunno if it was seasickness or the BCG but H went through my stash of nappies in no time and it was bright green and farty. He screamed continually and even my usually serene mum was at her wits' end. When we docked it was 9.30pm and he'd not slept for more than 20 minutes at a time all day. He went off in the car but it was 1am when he finally slept. He then didn't wake until 6am! He was asleep all morning too, waking only to have dozy feeds.

His poo is back to normal now and he's had a play and seems fine but anyone know what the green poo was all about?

Yeah, I've got about a stone and a half to get back to pre-pregnancy then another stone I wanted to lose anyway. I'm not convinced it'll all happen :( I guess some extra weight will be breast milk
At 20 weeks pregnant I thought i was doing well as I'd put on less weight by then than I put on in 2 weeks in America!

Yeah I thought I was doing brill at that stage too chillikat but it went downhill as the hips got worse and I could hardly get out and about. Still did better than with DS1 lol.
Wish I could say any of the weight was down to breast milk here, def not. My aim is to get to 10 stone so 2 stone 1lb from today's weight....I reckon the first stone will shift with not too much work it will be the second that gives me trouble. Need to break out the Wii fit. I am trying to cut down on the calories aswell but if I eat too little I feel too knackered so it is finding the balance at the mo.

stuffed we could compare notes as I think I must be about the same weight at the moment. Though seeing as i just bought scones I'm not entirely dedicated to the losing weight thing. I'm using the 500 calories extra for breastfeeding as an excuse, but i could choose healthier snacks :o

Ummm......I'm not breast feeding but had a pancake with golden syrup for breakfast.....oops lol it was a small pancake dinner will be spectacularly healthy.

Cycle - we've had the odd green poo, asked Health Visitor about it today, and she said it was fine so long as it was only every now and again. So I guess if it returns to yellow soon you're ok! The green does seem to coincide with particularly screamy days with S so they could be linked somehow..... Purple-faced inconsolable screaming abdabs is also apparently perfectly normal in moderation, just do what you can was her advice and definitely thumbs-uped the SLING. Hurrah! Get a sling, everyone, they are magic....spent many hours yesterday evening pacing round the house in mine.....with the baby in, obviously.....

Me again! I have a question I'd like your opinions on :)

Think milk supply is dwindling with the expressing, am really only managing to get around 8 ounces a day, enough for 2 small feeds for R.
Do you think I should continue to give her both these feeds each day or start storing one of the feeds so that in the inevitable event of my milk drying up soon I can continue to give her breast milk once a day for a bit longer?

Hope that makes sense!

Green frothy poo is too much lactose - usually if baby is getting too much foremilk not enough hindmilk - but it can also be due to diet.. I cant say for certain but I think george might get green poos if I go to town on the chocolate. So if you dont think its the foremilk/hindmilk imbalance then see if there's anything you're eating that causes it (cows milk is another contender) The extra lactose gives them a windy tummy so that is why it goes hand in hand with an unhappy baby! The green poo usually means his tummy is on the mend for us.

chillikat G has the exact same thing and I still havent worked out what it is. He also sounds really phlegmy sometimes after a feed and can be hocking up lumpy breast milk for a while after hes fed.

I also need to get back to healthy eating (though i'm back in prepregnancy jeans yay!) but could definitely lose a few pounds! I don't ever seem to get a chance to put the baby down for long enough to make something to eat though.. let alone actully eat it! had a banana for breakfast and cake for lunch

Somehow found myself in a local antique shop this afternoon buying a chest of drawers, which was a little strange. It's a lovely chest of drawers but still....

I sympathise with all those of us struggling with the sleep thing - I'm not sure what I'm doing really (so long out of practise!) and it's so hard to guage - are they crying because they're overtired or because they still have wind? Should I put them down yet or keep them awake for longer. Have dug out my Tracey Hogg for a re-read and have also got in a maternity consultant/trouble-shooter genius lady who has given me some pointers. Apparently we're doing okay and I need to stop worrying. It's easier said that done.

No chance of getting into my pre-pregnancy jeans as I can't do the zip up over my c-section scar - it's just too painful. So it's a few more weeks of soft waistbands for me which is SO frustrating as I really want to wear all my trousers and jeans. On a plus, I am back in my thongs (albeit with massive breastfeeding bras to match) - damn, it's good when that lochia stops!!

Anyone else totally zoned out of current affairs at the moment? Honestly, I've turned into such a moron. I caught the news last night and they were banging on about the historical importance of the Queen's visit to Ireland and my husband was nodding sagely next to me and making acute and perceptive comments about it whilst I stared at the screen and thought milk output and expressing machines. My cerebral limit is a MadMen boxset at the moment!

MrsWajs do you mean store one of the feeds so that your baby gets the milk for a longer period rather than more volume for a shorter period? I'm not sure it makes much of a difference but I could be wrong on that. Maybe if the idea of giving milk for longer feels better then I'd go with that.

Have you tried boosting your supply with fennel tea/fenugreek tablets (Holland & Barratt sell both) and/or alfalfa tincture (you can buy it online at the Organic Pharmacy)? They can help boost your supply. Also, get hold of some coconut yoghurt if you can (Waitrose sell the Rachel's Dairy one) - coconut really boosts your milk and as this is made with full cream it's an added bonus.

chillicat I think that sounds like a floppy 'trap door' i.e. her oesophagus is still a bit weak and flappy. It's normal in newborns, although some babies have flappier ones than others. If she's happy after feeds and doesn't writhe in discomfort or bring her legs up, etc. then it's a sign that she's not getting a burn after feeding which is what reflux is (stomach acid coming back up). Reflux doesn't always result in vomiting (i.e. 'silent reflux where they just writhe and scream in pain after feeds but don't puke but equally puking/possetting doesn't necessarily mean she needs medication. Tummy time will help strengthen the trap door as will time - she'll just get stronger as she grows.

That's probably a bit garbled. If you're worried then mention it to your health visitor but the fact that she's not presenting symptoms of pain is a good sign. That's when it's really horrible. A friend's twins were very sicky babies and would puke everwhere after every feed. They never cried though - would just roll around happily bringing up quantities of milk. They grew out of it pretty quickly, although my friend did need to replace her sitting room carpet!

S sicks up a bit of milk when he's stuffed himself on milk. It's happened more this week which makes me think that since improving the latch he's finding it easier to feed so is taking advantage (he went through a similar phase of over eating when we switched from expressed to breast).

MrsWajs I can't give you much advice but I do know that a small amount of breast milk helps babies to break down formula milk, which is something you might want to keep in mind. (Random info picked up after spending many days at the BF clinic!)

Is just continually sick. Am so bored of it!

Thanks for the poo wisdom, he's just done another yellow one so whatever the cause it's clearly been swept away on the tide of H's poo!

Just read back and it's JoEW I need to thank for recommending The Sensational Baby Sleep book.

After last night's awake-fest, the 3-hourly feeds & naps have gone down well. F's gone down in his crib without a fuss (so far). I wonder how it'll pan out overnight...

Regarding the foremilk/hindmilk issue, the BF ladies recommended block feeding, where you feed from the same boob for a few hours. I usually start with the one F was on last, as he often won't empty the 2nd boob.

Only problem is that I got a bit confused yesterday and.ended up with a mega-boob! Pumped 160no out of it in 5 mins!

Keep us posted on the Sensational Baby Sleep book Pet - I might well speculate on a copy if you have continued success! I'd be interested to know how it works for people who are breast feeding. Some of the reviews on Amazon suggested that it was aimed at FFs?

Really struggled to get the little one to sleep at all today, so am willing to try anything!

MrsWajs coconut yoghurt - Big tick here! Also are you expressing through the night? Between Midnight and 3am is when your prolactin levels are at their highest ( sorry if someone else has already mentioned that ) I know its a pain getting up to pump, but i only did it for a few nights to get my supply going and if I notice my supply waning I'll pick the night pumps up again. My supply is still on the up and my boobs are getting bigger and bigger . Sorry, probably not what you want to hear. You are doing so well giving R what you can, don't forget that. She is happy and healthy :)

In better news, the BFing clinic today went better than last week. The infant feeding advisor was back from her hols and it wasn't half as busy as last week. Came away with a referral to the childrens hospital to have his tongue tie assessed. 3rd of June was the first available appointment. So will have to persevere until then. We tried to latch again today at the clinic but B was back to his laid back self and kept falling asleep! So that was a bit pointless! We will keep trying to latch at home, now I feel confident I am doing it right, and you never know he might just cotton on!

Mother/duaghter relations broke down today I'm sad to report. I think mum feels awkward here and I feel like my house isn't my own. Mum isn't one to sit idle so is constatnly asking for washing or sweeping up or washing the floor. I just want to shout at her to "bide at peace". Result tonight was us both having a snipe at each other and me stropping off to my room like a teenager. Not my proudest moment. But we've made up now!

We now have to plan for a trip up the road as my grandad is ill in hospital. We weren't planning on going up so soon and I have no idea what to pack! Babies don't travel light do they!!

I am definitely eating more healthily this time than after DS1 - I have to make something for him so I make something for myself at the same time. I am a fair bit lighter than when I got pregnant, but the jelly belly means I'm about the same size!

Petal - @ 'mega-boob'. I get one sometimes when I've been feeding during the night and been too tired to remember which side was due a turn. I had to hand express some out into the sink at 3am the other night because I couldn't lie down it ached so much!

Cycle - the times DS1 had green poo were always after we had been busy/out and about for a few days and I had fed him in a hurry or on the move and perhaps his latch wasn't so good - and therefore he didn't get enough hindmilk. If it has gone then I wouldn't worry about it.

MrsW - I think I would give a little milk for longer, although you could boost your supply as kits suggested to get more for a longer time.
It would be very useful to have some BM frozen if R had an upset tummy for example, because BM is the most easily digestible thing. Drs will recommend that you stop feeding an FF baby and just offer water until they have stopped throwing up, but will recommend you continue to BF because the baby will get better quicker than with just water.

Lis x-posts. You sound much calmer about the feeding, and the referral is good news :)
I guess you need pump and bits and then a ton of babygrows and nappies! Will you have access to a washing machine?

Thanks kits, I've noticed some writhing and crying but most of the time she seems to drop off to sleep after a feed.
I haven't done a lot of tummy time, but will increase it and see if that helps.

Kits - how did you get on with Tracey Hogg with your twins? I started reading it yesterday and seems to make sense. I think the one I've got is not the original one it's called The Baby Whisperer solves all your problems (god I hope so!)

Tried to implement EASY today but went wrong straight away when G just would not go to sleep! so we had Eat, Activity, Cry, Eat, Cry, Eat, Cry, Cry, Cry, Eat, Cry etc etc :(

Like now for instance.. he's been feeding almost constantly since about six - just been sucking away for the last hour solidly till he was sick (am sure this is because he'd overfed) passed him to DP and he's still rooting.. Any ideas????? He just never seems to be happy :( :(

We have that a lot lucie I tend to just keep feeding and she'll settle by bedtime. Tonight we've just had howling :( not even boob is working. She's quiet now but only through exhaustion and i'm sure when i try the crib she'll be howling again and my shoulder is killing me :(