April 2011 - cake-offing, gin-guzzling, wine-sipping, dreams of sleeping

[fraktious]

Thread 3!!!

It's Aptimil we are using. I was just a wee bit shocked at the stink of it, then had a panic that I'd fed him rotten formula. I always make the bottles up fresh though and use cartons if we are going out. Carton milk doesn't smell the same though, now I think of it. I'm just used to BM being ok for up to 6 hours out of the fridge, so if he didn't finish the bottle right away it was usually ok for a wee while! It's a bloody faff!! Next time, come hell or high water I will BF properly!!

Frak v at anyone who has more than one language. I've worked with many different nationalities, but we always spoke English. However, I can swear in Polish, Dutch, German, Italian and Norwegian ! Always useful to be able to insult in someones native language I find!! And the fact they were all men, swearing was the only way to communicate sometimes!!

Have all the tins smelt the same? If it's just this one I might be inclined to bin it as the manufacturing process isn't perfect and something may have gotten into it. But if it's that they generally smell slightly niffy it's probably just the brand.

This is only the second tin we have used. Opened it last week maybe. I honestly can't remember if they smelt beofre this tin. Maybe I'll just bin it then.

Why dont you buy another tin and then compare before you bin it? That way if it's fine then you're not wasting it and you'll get through it anyway. Sorry if that is obvious!

Wrote a long post earlier and then mumsnet had a blip and it didn't post..
Been busy the last couple of weeks so missed loads of stuff on here - just in the process of joining the fb group (thanks Dairy Beetle for adding me)

I've started giving George formula bottles as well as bfeeding now as feeding times were getting a bit stressful sometimes. I felt like I wasn't really giving him enough and although he was generally a happy baby feeding became a bit of a screamfest sometimes.

Also my pump broke so going anywhere meant I would have to give him formula anyway. He has been having about 3 bottles a day and then breastfeeding him evenings/nights/mornings. I do feel quite sad that hes not really a breastfed baby now like I've given up too easily as it'd been going really well but I was also a bit tired of having my boobs out for half the day.

Since he's been having formula his nappies have been revolting.. only way I can describe them is like wet sand and the last 2 have been like wet green sand! Having read some of the stuff earlier in the thread about how to make up bottles I'm now wondering if I've not been rigorous enough with making them up freshly - poor George. He's seemed fine though other than the nappies. Anyway we've had a lovely long breastfeed this afternoon :)

Bs nappies are revolting too Moley. Think blitzed up rotten cabbage!! [boak] And he never poos when its daddys turn to change him!

And I totally get what you say about him not being a totally BF baby, but he is still getting your milk, you are just suplementing with formula. Count e ery feed from you as a bonus!

I have another carton in the cupboard, might open it and see if there is a difference.

We have that too fizz! all the megapoos happen on mummy's watch

yum fizz! I can't even describe them the consistency is totally different and there is So Much of it!

Just be gawking at you all on fb. What a beautiful bunch of babies (and mums obviously!)

G did such a mega poo on Sunday (presumed to be a megapoo as he hadn't been since wednesday) that both DP and I went to have a look. DP got lumbered with the clean up op though

I think formula can bung them up a bit when you move from breast-milk. I remember C changed. According to GP mate of mine, the cartons can help shift it through as they are made differently. Just a little tip should anyone have probs.

Maybe it's Aptamil, Fizz. I had C on the normal Aptamil when I first started to introduce formula and it really didn't agree with him, he got very bunged up. I changed to Cow and Gate, which I think is more gentle. I know Aptamil is the trendy one to give but if you think it isn't suiting then try a different one. They're not all the same so worth changing if you're not sure.

I have now got food poos to deal with. Not pretty.

It's comments like the above that contribute to me not wanting to introduce formula! BF poo is bad enough (especially as S usually only goes every 7-8 days so there is quite an amount!), having seen the nappies of a FF baby I just don't think I have the stomach for it!

Frak I too am at you (and your DH and in the future M) being able to speak more than one language, I struggle enough with English (but then being from Yorkshire it does sound like I'm speaking another language at times)! I did try and learn Norwegian when I lived there but everyone wanted to use me to practice their English .

It's interesting how you all agree that age can be a factor with feeling a bit more pressured to get back into the saddle (so to speak) when it comes to DTD. I have a group of friends (from the Expecting in Oxford 2011 thread on the Pregnancy board) and as I'm the youngest and they assumed I'd be in there quick. But then we're looking at 4years until we think of ttc again where as some of them are thinking of trying in the new year

I too follow the 'boob fixes everything' approach during the day, which can mean S sometimes feeds hourly, but if it works, it works. Have to admit though that I do tend to get flustered if boob doesn't work, whereas DH is much better at settling and calming S without boob.

Jo I was reading on another forum shh! that many people who are cloth nappying had a 'poo stick' in order to help remove things before they go in the wash >boak<

There was also a mention of the 'identify what DC has eaten recently' game... >double boak<

I did get quite excited when it was obvious the first lot of carrot had made it through.

Sorry.

hmm, poo stick. Might actually be helpful...

Oooh 4oz off the pre-bed pump. This is bizarrely addictive. Or maybe I'm just too competitive and want to beat my 'personal bests'?!

Jo - that made me DH and I were utterly obsessed with the contents of DS1's nappy when we weaned him!!

Food poo and cloth can be a grim combo. These are my tips.

1. Make sure the liners you use come right to the edge of the nappy, or even overlap a bit.
2. Change them the very second you notice.
3. Rinse as well as you can under the flush.
4. Don't allow your child to eat too many blackberries

T is still awake

Can i retract my pevious statement about wishing I'd used cloth nappies! [boak]

Re: Formula, I give P BF's + 2 7oz Aptamil Stage One bottles a day. Never had any problems. I make it in advance, rapid cool and heat it when needed and then use it within 2 hours. It does have quite an aroma Fizz.

I used Aptamil for DS too, tried several brands but that seemed to cause less reflex than others. I did find that the ready-made cartons as opposed to the powder made him more sicky though. He was also on Gaviscon for months but I don't remember him suffering with any constipation.

If people think formula poos smell bad, just imagine the delights that await you in a couple of years when potty-training Only this afternoon I collected DS from Preschool where a lovely nappy bag of poo encrusted pants and shorts were hanging on his peg waiting for me. (DS told me he was too busy to go to the toilet )

Re: DTD, Not here yet, just don't fancy it TBH. DH is fine about it, we have 2 DC so he knows we'll get back round to it sometime. (Unfortunately neither of us can remember conceiving baby P. Either it can't have been that memorable or we were both knackered and half asleep ).

I'm 34 and DH is 41, we're not planning on having anymore DC so have talked about him getting the snip when we do get back to it.

Re: The Boob, I agree with Ali. I always offer one up to P if she's starting to get a bit antsy. Makes life easier if you catch them before the screaming starts. And like Dairy I also find DH better at settling if the boob doesn't work. At bedtime I always feed her and then if she doesn't fall asleep on the breast pass her to DH to bounce on the yoda ball.

GGF - no we can't remember conceiving T either

I have been trying to feed T to sleep tonight and failing, it has just given him more energy. A few minutes in, he adjusted his latch, grinned and blew a raspberry round my nipple. So, so cute He is now helping DH with a computer game.

I know what you mean Ali, P usually falls asleep at the breast but when I do have to put her in bed awake if she doesn't cry she does those lovely smiles and cooing noises so you spend ages smiling back and talking to them thinking "I shouldn't be doing this but how can I not, she's soooo cute"

I'm off now to put DS pants in some fresh Napisan so I can wash them in the morning, then to bed, where no action will take place whatsoever, Goodnight

Well, we seem to be paying the price for having a good sleeper before - I think Megan is a month late with the 4 month sleep regression :( I hear stirring on the monitor... more later.

Can I join the no sleep club?

After three fab nights of one wake up at 4am H has spent the past two nights screaming, snorting and demanding to sleep on us. He's go major snot going on so maybe he's just congested. Eugh.

No, still asleep. She woke up every 2 hours last night. DH and I are knackered. I remember when she would always do a good 6 hour stretch to start with at night - I would love her to remember how to do that. I don't think she's hungry - fed loads yesterday but didn't refuse when offered in the night either... I wonder if she's cold - added a blanket. Or teething? Should we give pre-emptive Calpol at bedtime?

41 seems to be a popular age for our DHs - mine too. I'm 34 at the end of the year.

Hats off to those of you with more than one DC. I had a bit on an insight yesterday when my friend was round with her 18 month old. I have no idea how I would cope with a baby when a toddler is running round too. It was hectic enough with 2 adults.

No soleep here either! I remember when G used to regularly sleep 11pm-7am. Habloodyha! All went down the toilet a few weeks ago (yep, round the 16wk mark) and now I'm in and out of bed aaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllll night.

He wasnt feeding all night but now I'm feeding him about 3x times a night - any thoughts? Can't be a growth spurt because it's been going on for 3 weeks now.

chilli I've been reading the thread in discussions of the day 'you know you have too many kids when..' and it's making me really broody! Can you send your friemds toddler over to give me a reality check please :)

Will do moley - the main problem was that M clearly wanted a nap and will usually only settle in my arms but she kept getting disturbed or woken up by toddler squeals. That means for a grizzly baby in the evening, which we hoped would mean a decent sleep but sadly not. Of course I'm now waiting for her to wake up as she's been asleep since 8 on our bed and I want to go to breastfeeding group which started at 10...

Not been on for a couple of days but just wanted to say thank you for your musings on P's habits ILTMIMI. Have tried to encourage a bit of cluster feeding over the last couple of evenings to see if that helps but haven't noticed much difference in her sleep yet. She's still waking three times every night. She doesn't always seem that hungry, so am now of the opinion that she's just waking up and needs some help (feed/rocking etc) to get back to sleep. We'll just have to ride it out...

Moley - G and P sound similar in their sleep habits. I'm feeling your pain (and that of everybody else with non-sleeping babies!).

We've got the last set of jabs coming up later this week, so don't expect they'll help us get a better night any time soon.