Post-grad Brookers book in here!

[TooImmatureTurtleDoves]

Thread 2.

Pomme you've done really well. Maybe A is feeding more because of the hot weather? If so it might get easier again... But if not, you'll have achieved what you wanted which is bfing for a lot longer than most people manage! See how you feel in 2.5 weeks anyway...

Biscuits thanks for the advice. Will try combing it in the shower this morning! How long might a blocked duct take to clear? Am scared it'll turn into mastitis...

Morning. Well done pomme for getting this far!
D has been feeding well in the day and has put on more weight So I didn't wake him in the night. He slept for 5 hours :)

Pet it varies but often took me a day or more to clear it.

Just remembered one other thing I did that really helped which was to alter the feeding position. Normally e feeds across my tummy, so sort of like a cradle hold direction. Mostly I would get blocked ducts down the outside of my boob - like the bit closest to my arm. If I fed him rugby ball position even for one feed it really helped to clear it normally.

And if you have any doubt that it might be mastitis get thee to a doctor quick smart. It's horrible - I had it twice last time and it was horrid horrid horrid. So if your temp goes up or you feel headachey / flu like or it starts to look red get down to the docs quick smart and get some antibiotics for it. Also if it does turn to mastitis (which I'm hoping it won't) get some paracetamol down you for the temp / flu symptoms. Don't know if you could take ibuprofen for it too? Does anyone else know?

But of course I'm brooking it clears up (it's just handy to know what to do if it doesn't!)

Great sleeping by D Wants - he sounds like he has it totally nailed!

Pomme getting as far as you have with it already is amazing. You've got further than you did with DD1 right? And DD1 is fit and healthy and thrived with formula? You've given them both the best start and BFing when you have an older child (who is still very little) is bloody hard. Don't give yourself a hard time, do what you feel is best for you, A and DD1.

TBH I pretty much decided I'll be coming to an end with it myself very soon. I'm finding the long days alone with 2 DC very hard. Not that either of them are any trouble. It's just that DS is turning into a telly addict and I'm not getting any time for anything other than feeding the pair of them. I had a shower 2 hours ago, my hair is still wrapped up in a towel and I've not even managed to get a drink for myself yet today. I've some friends coming over this afternoon and I'm ashamed that the house is desperate for a good hoovering and dusting and I will not get time before they arrive.

Pomme I think the reason I'm finding it so hard to just make a definite decision is because I know this is my last DC, I will never be able to do this again once I stop. This is the only thing that's making me keep going at the moment. Is it the same for you?

scarlet - you are so right - we're pretty sure that's it for us now so I feel if I stop and regret it I will have no more chance to make peace with it (I've made peace with giving up bf earlier than I planned with dd1 through feeding dd2 for longer).

I just feel that if I had more sleep I'd feel so much more active with both of them. But then formula doesn't always solve everything. I also fear that she might not take a bottle.

I posted on the feeding topic and advice seems to be to give yourself small aims so my next aim is to get through the bank holidays as we're visiting family and don't want to cart bottles around. I also would like to show my MIL and DM that it can be done and not be thrown into that awkward position of having to give other people the chance to feed MY baby just because its bottles not boob.

Baby feeding is so hard!

Your ds has a lovely smile and both your dc's are gorgeous btw!

That's the best attitude pomme ,one day at a time and think of the positives for each day more that you continue the bf. :)
I have just been to work with D. He was a little star and slept most of the time. I think he recognised the noise from when he was in my tummy and it calmed him down. The children were very interested in where his milk was coming from when I gave him a quick feed!

pomme, what about giving a bottle of formula as a one off, or say 3 nights in a row and see if it does help the sleeping? You could always express at the same time for no possibility of impacting on your supply and then you'll know if you'd get more sleep? Though missing one feed is no biggie I think. That's what the hv advised me to do but I'm still stubbornly persevering ebf the boys. Now i really do spend all day & night feeding!! Doing a little better feed spacing though and that makes everything seem better.

scarlet & pomme, I find handing a baby on to someone else at a playgroup to spend time with DD or feed t'other (I don't tend to tandem feed in public, too freak show ish) gets them going longer between feeds and gives me a break so worth the effort of mobilizing my brood...

Ah, love the showing off of beautiful babies to work colleagues. And scream A is wearing such a gorgeous dress and she's so pretty!!!

Aw thanks Pomme Your girls are adorable also. Scream is right, all of the brooking DC are beautiful. Scream that photo of Autumn is just gorgeous.

I've been setting myself small aims Pomme. I've also said I'm aiming to get through the bank holiday. Like you I can't stand the thought of giving up to hand her over to all my relatives who are desperate to give her a bottle.

Absolutely scarlet, as a successful ebf feeder with DD, this time I've had days when my aim is to get through the next feed, never mind the weekend! You're doing so well- is your DD 5 weeks now?

pet I hear disposable nappies make great hot compresses filled with hot water, not baby wee of course. Getting baby to feed so their bottom lip is by the blockage helps iykwim? So if the blockage is near your armpit, rugby ball, near your cleavage, cradle etc. It gives baby most suction over the blocked duct. It really helped me.

Ah Dream - that makes sense about he bottom lip thing for what I was saying ha worked with me. I'd not clocked it was to do the bottom lip but that make a lot more sense.

Ds2 has been on his playmat for a while and has turned round a full 180 degrees

Right must get on with this mountain of ironing before I have to get ds1 back from pre-school.....

Ha ha - look at my typos

I am, in fact, a native English speaker believe it or not!

Pomme, sorry to hear you're having such a tough time. I go for the small aims technique too- especially to get me through the sore nipple moments...

Pet, on the buggy front I'd go with Dream and recommend the Baby Jogger City Mini. Not sure about the width... but it's very light, easy to fold and is quite small! I haven't yet taken DD out in ours as I've been using a carrier since she was born.

Scream, that's a gorgeous photo of Autumn!

Wants, glad D behaved himself. I wish I had a single workplace to go into to show DD off - but sadly as I was working in seven different locations last term it makes it a bit tricky :(

DD is in chest frog position, and is so snuggly and warm! I should put her down in the basket and get some chores done, but it's so cosy here...

Thanks Dream Yes DD will be 5 weeks old at the weekend.

Re tummy time. How old were yours when you started? I've been trying with DD for a couple of minutes every day for the last week or so and I think she's doing ok. DS really hated it and even at 8 weeks wouldn't tolerate it so I never really did it with him until he was able to support his head. So is it safe to do it as early as this? Should I have been doing it earlier? Or should I be waiting a bit longer? [Clueless emotion] Yes sometimes it is hard to believe I already have a DC

scarlet, a few minutes tummy time is great. She'll be working her muscles already. Back to sleep, tummy to play and all. It's definitely a good thing, though lots of babies don't like it. My DD hated tummy time. I only ever managed 5 minutes, once or maybe twice a day out of her and I do wonder how much it contributed to her not crawling. Which now means she still can't crawl, is a very poor climber etc. I could practice lots of things with her but I've no time.. how embarassing- my child is a bit behind with her gross motor skills when that's my blooming job!!! is this the time to confess I've done no tummy time with the dreamy twins yet?! I'm a terrible mother

Oh, dual crying... Seb, fine, he's done his four hour sleep again :) . Ben has been colicky for 5 hours and asleep 20 min :( :(

Oh- that tummy time post wasn't very helpful. You can do tummy time with baby lying on your tummy so you're tummy to tummy, over your lap, flying her round like an aeroplane, carrying them round facing down, like the tiger in the tree carry, from 3 weeks ish, on the floor with a rolled up towel or something under their chest with arms over it to help them prop on arms a bit. A few minutes at a time is perfect and apparently they should be doing an hour ish a day, all spread out, not in one block, from 3 months on. I do do flying, chest lying and small amounts of tummy time like that with the dts, but probably not enough per baby, and only got their playmat out today to start it on the floor. I am determined not to have another child who doesn't crawl if i can help it though... I will get the rolled towel out tomorrow

Please go to sleep babies, mummy is breaking, its 1:30 already.... I'm getting desperate with tiredness already tonight meaning I bet I let both babies stay in bed with me then panic about unsafe cosleeping... :(

Any other night shifters around? I want too's M to discuss sleep with the dts.

I'm around Dream. DD seems to be alternating good nights and bad nights. Tonight is definitely a bad night N.W.A. Especially as it started with her feeding at
least three times an hour from 7 til 12.. Zzzzzzzz...

I always panic about unsafe cosleep too. Even though I was advised to in the hospital..

Thanks for all your tummy time ideas! DD seems to really enjoy the bits I have been doing, so I'll add in some of your suggestions too for a bit of variety.

too's m needs to give the others lectures or publish a book!

A went down fine but fed at eleven, one and now half three. I predict both will be up at six so that's not a lot of sleep for me again. I'm thinking maybe 12 week growth spurt?!

Other people (dm, dh) have mentioned formula so now I'm back to wanting to ebf

7:45 - 4:15

Tummy time - I've been rubbish with ds2 as well. I always do a few minutes after his bath. We do TT to dry his back, then dress him and pop him on his tummy for as long as he'll do it while ds1 is playing in the bath. This also helps stops him falling asleep before I finish the bathing marathon . But that's not every day and frankly it's rare I get round to doing any more than that .

Dream this will sound v thick but what do you mean by the tiger in the tree thing? And how do you hold them for flying? We only ever did stuff like that with ds1 once he could hold his head up? Although I did do more just lying on his playmat on his tummy with ds1 as he never seemed to mind it.

I suppose I'd better make more effort to 'do things' like that with ds2. I suppose he won't raise himself .

Dream thanks for the advice on tummy time - I've only heard of it cos my nephew hated it but nobody 'official' has mentioned it to me at all so I'm clueless! DS likes being on his tummy on my lap to fall asleep sometimes, but I'm not sure that counts. I shall attempt official tummy time with him today on the playmat.

And Dream sounds like Seb's doing loads better! Hopefully Ben's colic will ease soon and his sleep will improve soon. Any smiles yet? I'm sure it won't be long now...

Biscuits well done to E! He and M could lead a sleep seminar for the others...

A was up at half four as well. What am I doing wrong?! Hv coming this am to weigh her for a three month review so may do something I never normally do and ask for advice. I need some help as cannot do this and chase dd1 around from half six to seven with no break as well.

dream - you are super woman!

Yes I meant to say that it sounds like Seb is doing well sleepywise Dream - fingers crossed that Ben can copy soon!

E has a cold now! He was very sicky yesterday but has been all snuffly and snotty since his feed at 4

Something else to disrupt his sleeping now then! And DH did point out that if he had a cold coming that might have explained the long sleep.

So consequently I've been up since 4:15 anyway. Oh well......

mornin.

we had a rubbish night too. DS2 would only settle on his own for his first sleep of the night. i spent the rest of the night from 1am upright with him sleeping on the pillow on my knee. he was then all awake so i attempted to get DH to settle him at 5, but his solution was to get me to put him in the crib and fall back to sleep while i was kept awake by R's increasingly annoyed noises. i got DS2 to take a feed and be a chest frog for a bit and he went back in his crib at about 6.15. then DS1 got up at 7.30. yay.

R hasn't had much tummy time either, all these slightly neglected second babies!