October 2011: our growing, rolling, sleeping (we hope) and growing more gorgeous by the day babies

[LittlePebble]

Our third thread!

one drink I don't pump for. So little gets through and you'll probably drink it slowly anyway. I think 1 unit takes 2 hours to leave completely.

The bf midwife told me it was 1hr per unit....

well there you go then, remember DC won't be getting the full unit (no where near) tbh I don't pump for 2 drinks or more if spaced over a day

i think I remember it as 1 drink = 2 hours as lets be honest who has a 1 unit drink

Ah it'll only make him sleep (hopefully). I had it before 8 and I dream feed at 11 if he doesn't wake before then.

I kept thinking we had no routine, but the last couple of days I've kept tabs on things and we do have one, Ellie just seems to have fallen into it naturally without any input from me. I'm trying to tackle bedtime now she's over the growth spurt and a bit happier- at the moment she's still cluster feeding late evening and bed is around 11pm.

Scheh you don't need to 'pump and dump', the alcohol clears from your milk at the same rate as blood, so about 1 unit per hour. I don't really worry about it tbh, the amount of alcohol in breastmilk is miniscule, a glass of wine is fine.

Bath time (otherwise known as 'Splash Daddy' time) over and Seb in bed being grizzly!

Thanks for advice Cheshire/Jnice. Went to Boots and got a saline spray and mucus sucky thing (nice!).

Sch so glad the sleeping thing is working for you. Seb goes down several times a day and it does make a difference. Although we don't have a proper routine putting him down in his pram for 30 mins or so if he's been up for 90-120 mins and is getting grumpy really does help. I can't remember what I did before. Seb needs a dummy though.

LP How awful. I'm so sorry. We've got two cats and I'd be devastated if one had to be put down.

Question for those ffing (Fuzzzy I think and someone else mentioned it, I forget who), do you prep feeds in advance and if so how do you do it? We make up the feeds as normal, cool, and store in back of fridge until we need them and then warm up, but a friend puts the hot water into bottles, leaves to cool and then adds the powder when needed. However I thought the water had to be 70oC to kill the bacteria in the powder. Any thoughts anyone?

sound I didn't believe her at first, as I thought the kidneys filter blood alcohol, but milk just seems to collect?

My docs trying to get me to stop bf, but I really don't have the patience time to be faffing with sterilizers and kettles and figuring out night and on-the-go feeds, the whole thing is so daunting! I'm a lift top and whack on type person....!

tally your way is the recommended and right way but your friends isn't uncommon as people believe water is the issue, not the powder.

I tend to put DS down if he's been up 90 mins although afternoons he tends to be awake only a short time say 30 mins before going down again.

We have no routine here either but Seth is so chilled it's very easy to go with the flow. He only really cries when he's hungry or has belly ache. If he's grizzly because he's tired he either feeds to sleep, or just with a cuddle. If neither of those options work I put him in the sling and he's asleep in minutes. Today he's had a sleepy day. I think he's been awake for about 2 hours in total. I woke him this afternoon as MIL came round when she'd he fell asleep on his playmat for a few more hours.
However he's currently laid in my lap grinning and chatting ... and trying to put his whole fist in his mouth again!

I don't drink often, but if I do I make sure I've fed Seth, and just have 1 drink. I read somewhere (probably MN) that safe levels are equivalent to the levels for a drink when driving.

Tally, you're right that the water has to be hot to kill bacteria.

Scheh - why does dr want you to come off?

Mama - So glad it's sorted, how old is ds now?

Pebble - I also have revels, peanut butter m&ms and minstrels, i'd forgotten about them! And I clearly eat too much chocolate!

tally a good way for making up formula is to do what your deems does but still boil kettle and say for a 6oz bottle u put in the 6 scoops and 3-4oz freshly boiled water then add the cold water from fridge to cool (I saw this on baby whisperer programme and she used to be a paediatric nurse so I figure this must be safe)

Potty training wasn't too bad, 3 accidents nothing in potty but by dinner time he had courage to sit on it a few times then gave the big toilet a try too. Rookie mistake though, I left him on potty on his own "colouring in" while I made dinner and he drew all over his hands arms and legs in purple ink pen! Bathtime took ages tonight!

It's mhairi's first night in sleeping bag tonight think I was clinging to the swaddling as made her feel more like a newborn.

tally I boil kettle first thing in morning and put water into a flask (will use through day rather than boil kettle every time) then I pour into bottle, wait a few mins then add powder. I heard that your not ment to use really really hot water, as it kills the nutrients but don't allow to cool to below 70 degrees (I think over half an hr in kettle). I'll then put in a jug of cold water to cool, usually change S nappy during this time. Can't let her see bottle or a bib as she goes crazy for it!! If I'm going out, I'll do the same (if she is due feed within an hr of making) and store in the insulated bit of changing bag. If I'm somewhere and it's going to be a faff to make a feed, I just use the cartons. She will take them at room temp anyway! But yes, adding powder to cold water is dangerous, but if you need/want to prepare in advance then above, rapid cool and into fridge is fine.

God, that was like an essay!! Hope it helps!

do you have a sugar thermometer to test your water? I've heard that some kettles cool down surprisingly fast.

I never have tested it but tbh, I never leave it that long. It's usually used within 10 mins max and there is still plenty of steam from the water in flask at the end of the night. If in doubt, I would always boil more. For the sake of a few extra minutes.

Urgh, its such a faff isn't it :( I just can't face it, I'll only get it wrong. My doc wants me on medication for PND that I can't bf on, but I think not bf will only make me worse, I CBA with all that's involved with ff, at least when I'm having a down day there's no risk with bf. I can just spend the say in pjs on the sofa

but there are bf compatible drugs aren't there? Also GPs are reknown for saying certain drugs aren't bf friendly but are. Don't know the correct resources though, the feeding board would. Are you on medication already?

need distraction from DS

I agree sche I'm another that can't face FFing I've already cancelled a night out and trying to think of excuses to cancel another 2 as I can't be arsed with expressing/sterilising etc!

And sometimes I don't know if he's hungry, so just whack on to see if he's hungry. What if he wants a top up? Or a snack? Or if he's growth spurting and wants feeding every hour rather than 3? Or needs comfort (he won't take dummy)? And at night time letting hum suckle is the best way to get him back to sleep fast. What if I miss the oxytocin release? This is why my doc doesn't stand a chance!

Sche - the SSRIs should be fine with bfeeding. I took paroxatine with ds1. I know what you mean that not bfing would make you feel worse, that was how I felt when diagnosed. I didn't want to take anything just in case.

Yes she prescribed seroquel but when I looked online it said it did pass into BM which worried me. seeing my nurse tomorrow so will discuss it then.

I don't mind discussing it so don't worry!

scheh - you tell him and go with list of drugs you can take.

I can't take anti depressants.

Sorry, x post mama! Will just have to see how it pans out.