November 2012 - the birthplosion (thanks Peaky)

[StuntNun]

Previous post-natal thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1579907-November-2012-babies-are-here-at-last

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

Chocolate is great for increasing milk supply but is one of the biggest triggers for wind - is it wrong to not even contemplate giving up chocolate despite this?

Sorry VQ I thought you meant he had done better after being fed in bed. No I was just suggesting that certain positions may make for a more comfortable feeding experience and lead to less wind but those positions will vary between babies. It's so frustrating, my DS2 suffered terribly while bfing and it was awful to see him in pain. But like you say, bottles won't necessarily improve matters. I hope you find something that helps soon.

I had read that YW but I stuck my fingers in my ears and went la-la-la-la-la.

blonder I feel anything but sorted right now. I'm not looking forward to doing it all on my own at all.

Although dh has been on his arse ALL DAY watching videos on his phone while I've practically done everything. Only thing he's good for atm is holding the baby while I do the dinner.
I don't care if he's tired, I'm more tired and its not a holiday it's PATERNITY leave, as in help out round the house/ with the kids. Grr men!

stunt I am feeding him so his tum is lower than his head and that may be helping. I appreciate your comments.

YW after the coffee I will be giving up chocolate. It will be a sad day. I need to be eating healthier anyway.

My husband viewed pat leave as a holiday too. He has been more helpful since he went back to work, although he has complained that he does not even have five minutes to himself when he comes home. I have said many times 'welcome to my world'. I do not even have time for a pee when I am woken up. Men!

Lack of bf support after birth is the main cause of my failure. Mw did not give a shit. Totally knocked my confidence n still mk me when I look bk on it. I was told "it's only colostrum" FFS. My attempts after that ill admit were half hearted. I was so deflated n gave up. I know I should have tried harder. I really thought bf was as easy as giving baby the boob. No one tells u how hard it is. In so angry at with ppl I know Who said "it's tough, but worth it", I feel like confronting them n saying y didn't u tell me what tough meant. Y didn't u prepare me. Y don't they prepare u before birth for the problems and solutions so ur not running around after looking for answers.

I'm just so angry about it. N really at myself as I really feel like I didn't try hard enough. I let those stupid MWs words get to me. Not helped at all by me being ott emotional today. No idea what is wrong with me

pass I totally sympathise with you. I recall being exactly the same with DD1. I found it very hard to express and ended up mixed feeding sooner than I intended. I said categorically that I wouldn't express this time round as I worked myself up into such a state with DD1, however here I am yet again with a pump attached to me, getting very little out and stressing about it! You have made the right decision for you and your baby. Everyone will be happier for it. I remember how awful i felt when DD1 had her first bottle of formula, but I also remember how life was so much easier and happier once we were in a good bottle routine.

It's so sad to read how many of us are having issues with feeding. Although I count myself very lucky that feeding doesn't hurt me and E latches on well I have issues with her weight gain and midwives trying to get me to top up. Hence why I'm pumping again! Still I saw the HV today and she was satisfied that although E isn't back to anywhere near her birth weight, she is now steadily gaining weight so hopefully we will be signed off midwife care next week. Can't believe she's 2 weeks old tomorrow!

DH I said the exact same thing to my DH the other day. He's been "busy" doing his own thing whilst I've been cluster feeding & doing the housework etc. Not impressed.

Please don't be angry at yourself GT. You were worn out after having a baby, emotional, hormonal and inexperienced and took their "expert" advice. I felt ground down by the HV advice with my DD and if it hadn't been for my Mum, I might have gone to ff. If isn't right that new mums generally have to actively seek support just at the time when they are least likely to have the time/energy to do it.

Eliza have you tried block nursing or compression to increase hind milk/fat in her feed to increase her weight gain?

horsey thank you for the feedback about the homeopathy. I appreciate it.

I have yet to pump. I am confident there is enough milk, I just do not have time. I need to soon so he can get used to a bottle. Everything is ready in the kitchen. I do not want to get to the point that I cannot go out without taking him. At present I am nipping out and hoping he does not get peckish.

I brought J a gro swaddle and he's sleeping peacefully in his Moses basket after a really good feed! First time ever!

I don't think I'd have questioned the edict to top up with formula if it hadn't been for the experiences of others on here which gave me the confidence to push for what I wanted.

Sorry to hear about all the feeding problems.
I must admit its very tempting to go to FF only, as his sucking is still very poor. [Confused].I'm EBF, but he is only having my milk one in the morning and once in the evening, (i take an hour to express) and it's not enough for him. I've changed my FF to Hipp and it has completely changed feeding time. He has less wind, is less grumpy, and is eating the right amount to. The night feeds are loads better using the hungry milk too.

Sleep still is a stranger to me, but I'm feeling loads better than yesterday. I also have my car back!!

My sister is taking him out tomorrow so I can tidy and clean the house for my SIL and her new boyfriend, I can't wait to get my judgey pants on!
Any tip or questions I should ask??

Evil

I've just cried. First time in nearly two weeks.

I've been alone all day, apart from sorting the contractors. Dh is out tonight, all night, I have a cracking head ache. Mum was going to come over but sisters boyfriend is stuck so they're going to pick him up. Ds keeps crying with belly ache, he wontbe put down and I don't know what to do. So I've just cried with him :(

Tomorrow will be a better day.

My mantra when things get tough is "this will pass". Only way to get through the day/night at times.

Big hug horsey. Are you drinking enough? Are you eating enough? Have you taken anything for your head? Does DH have to be out all night? Could you tell your mum to prioritise you? Could she stay over? Or a friend? Tomorrow will be better, but you have what could be a long night to get through before then.

It will pass. Tomorrow will be better.

I'd be ok if I didn't have a headache!! Always makes everything worse. I don't get them often. I just want to lie down in a dark room. Just hoping it doesn't turn into a migrane.

Vq dh will come back if I ask him to. But he has to play his game furst, so will be a couple of hours. Hoping mum will come over tbh. If not good idea, I'll call my friend see if age can help.

Taken paracetemol. Only drank tea, going to make a hot chocolate.

Any news on Detective?

Evening. Amazing how something supposedly so natural is so damned hard.

chunky she screams and screams when put on the breast. When she does latch on she spits out or just lies there flicking at my nipple with her tongue. We strip her, blow on her face, dab her with cold water and so on. She can be on for hours and drink nothing. She comes off hungrier and furious. At hospital after I had us re-admitted I had literally about 10 different MWs and a feeding specialist checked latch and positioning. All said she had a weak suck reflex and she would need to learn in her own time. Since then 3 further MWs have tried to assist. She is latched on now but keeps falling off. Apparently she does not have tongue tie but holds her tongue as though she does. There is a breastfeeding cafe near me - I will give it a go.

Anyway, what will be will be. I honestly don't know how I would cope without this group.

VQ we have not yet ventured into cloth. I am excited about trying them but must get the instructions emailed to me.

Visit from the in-laws was nice earlier - wee feed from granny then a long snooze. I got to go off to bed for an hour and a half. Lovely.

chunky I'm not sure what block feeding is. Will get on google! Do you mean only feeding from one breast for an entire feed? If so I do try to do that although I sometimes think she's drained it so swap to other side. Perhaps I should preserve with one boob. Honestly how did cavewomen cope without all the advice...and you lovely mumsnetters!

evil glad you've got your car back. Hopefully that will make things a lot easier for you.

Chunky l do like that. mantra. Mine (esp when dcs were toddlers) was ?everythiing is just a phase?
Hope everyone with feeding issues/having a bad day feels better soon
Baby H had his first injections today. He was pretty good when he had them (l bf him at same time) but a bit grizzly now. It was odd at hispostnatal check. Dr wwas. asking me questions about did he have vit k injection and why was hee on a ventilator and it made me quite because l didn?t know anything about his 1st day. l only got to see him once about 14 hours after he was born.

Anyway meant to say l wwent too a bf group yesterday and as well as meeting some nice people they lent me quite. a good book calledthe. breastfeeding mothers guiide to makking more milk. Also the bff co~ordinator picckked up he has a bit of a tongue tie so a little snip could help his. weight gain. l would def recommend bf support groups now
Sorry for typos. No good at one handed typping on phone.

Hi - my baby boy was born 5 days ago so can I join in?!

Catching up on the last few pages but

Missmummy1 this was exactly my labour. Bad backache for 2 days and watery discharge (as well as plug) went to get checked and they thought my hind waters had gone - they gave me a sweep, popped my waters and 35 minutes later he'd arrived!!

Everyone else.. How long does the sleepy baby stage last and they start to make nights difficult? He's awake every 2-3 hours but easy to settle and I can remember that false sense of security with my first!!

Eliza yes, block feeding is when you stick with one boob for a fixed time period or number of feeds.

A gets sleepy & slips off, so I always put him back on the same boob, 2 or 3 times at times, so it is completely drained, then put him on the other for the next feed. We don't tend to switch feed much.

You can also express a little off before a feed, so the fore milk is reduced when baby gets it iyswim. Kellymom.com is a good resource.