Dashing through the snow... One escaped early, which December baby is next?

[HoneyMum21]

Getting the thread ready when all the Christmas puddings start making appearances...

Sorry to hear that seconds hope you can get an appointment quickly (by law they have to see baby's under a year the same day) with Christmas coming up

I'm going to the doctor on Friday morning. I'm wondering whether despite my best efforts, breast feeding isn't working out for us.

seconds how long does he staysideways side for?

Not caught up, but wondered is anyone else giving the odd bottle of formula? One nipple is cracked and blistered. I feel awful - fluey symptoms just hit me and am praying it's not mastitis. Bf clinics etc closed. Feel sad as he's been a great feeder, but sorely tempted to give some formula tonight.

Can you express Rarely? Just thinking of your supply. I would call ooh tbh as sounds like mastitis

Seconds I'm not sure what to say I hope the dr can reassure you but keep going until then as you're doing so well

Sorry seconds, I missed your post. Not sure what to advise, but virtual handholding.

rarely u could call the bf helpline for advice. or just go for formula. I think there's a lot you can do at home to treat mastitis

I meant stay on each side for! Bloody I phone!

COD he normally only wants one breast per feed and stays there for around 20-40 minutes, but wants feeding every 90 mins - 2 hours or so. He gets sleepy and blissed-out after each feed. Some feeds are longer - up to almost an hour - but they're unusual. Some feeds are shorter - 10-15 mins - but come in quick succession a few minutes apart.

I do give him a bottle a day, as I was worried that he wasn't getting enough when I switched him from bottle to boob. I do wonder whether the 5 days of formula feeding that the hospital said he needed at the beginning, when his blood sugar was low, have messed up my supply. I did try my best to keep things going by expressing during that time - I didn't produce any great quantities but thought i was keeping my boobs going, but maybe the clue was in the fact that I wasn't producing any great quantities.

Secods, you'd be surprised. An hour ago i pumped off 2 floz, R is back on that boob now sucking away merrily spilling milk all over his face have faith - sucking stimulates the mammary glands which (almost) instantly produce milk. He's getting enough. Babies are immensely more efficient than pumps, too, expressing is no indicator of supply.

pidj you should be a motivational speaker

Seconds I definitely second(!) what Pidj said! I find loads of times after pumping for an age a while and getting precious little & then C goes on & gets loads (all over her & me) I think babies are just waaaay better at getting milk out!

But he's still so tiny. He's under 6lb now. It makes me really upset to think about him not getting what he needs from me.

Wish we could help, Seconds Sounds like a silly question, but are his lips dry/chapped?

weejo his lips are fine - they were chapped after the first proper day of breastfeeding but aren't chapped any more.

He hasn't done a poo since Sunday (when he did 3) but has done lots of wees.

R is still under 7lb at a month old. There's waaaaay more nutrition in bm than anything artificial.

Ring your local midwives and La Leche League. Get proper real life reassurance. Just don't give up on what you think is best unless there's absolutely no choice

Ah okay. Only reason I asked was because when Claudia dropped (9.8%) the paediatrician said she probably wasn't getting enough food & as a result she was likely dehydrated too (we had noticed her lips were very dry). So if he's having loads of wees then that's good + no chapped lips. I thought that the number of poos reduces?

I know it's really worrying. C was only a concern to the doctor for a few days and I found it so hard. They told us our choices were they could either keep her in & she'd be fed through a tube or we could bring her home & do a combination of breast milk & formula - we chose the latter!

LLL were incredibly unhelpful when I called . Had a few good feeds and am feeling better... But have some formula cartons in for the night, just in case...

Sending lots of positive vibes to everyone struggling with feeding - and feeling confident with feeding.

Just met up with the NCT women I met in antenatal classes, and it was interesting. In a group of very well educated and quite privileged women, there's still a huge amount of uncertainty/worry/lack of confidence around. I think it must just be part of this whole parenting lark - never being 100% sure whether you're doing the right thing, or if you just did this other thing, wouldn't it solve everything?

At the baby cafe this morning the woman there responded to my question about when to start expressing with the very sensible answer, 'Look, you can ask 10 people this question and you will get 10 different responses.' So there is definitely a role for seeking help and information but then not beating yourself up when it doesn't all align and you make a decision. Because you can never evaluate every single eventuality, and that's a difficult thing to face.

Blargh, I'm just blathering. I guess I'm just trying to send best wishes and fortitude to everyone on this ridiculously confusing and difficult and stressful and bloody rewarding journey.

Hear hear MamaPo! Three cheers for not beating ourselves up! Well...at least trying not to!

Thank you all. Even if I do have to give more formula, I can still keep the breastfeeding going can't I, so that he gets some of the immune benefits and the closeness?

I'm in contact with the lactation specialist who taught one of my NCT classes and she's been really helpful. I haven't been able to get to see her again but hope to do so at some point.

Seconds - I think nothing is off the table. Starting some formula doesn't sound like an instant 'thou shalt never go back!' when it comes to breastfeeding. Glad you've found someone helpful to talk to. Is there also a drop in you can attend?

Grrr. Just lost a huge message.

seconds sounds like a really healthy attitude - there is nothing wrong with ff bit of you still keep a bit of bf then you'll still feel that closeness :) unMNty hugs

Question- lots of people have given us really cute tops or Dash but they are vest style I.e really sweet t.short desin but with poppers under nappy. Can I put these over a long sleeved vest or is the only way to wear them at this time of year under a cardi?
Also- we have this for his Christmas outfit (had a santa top we bought in the sale but as he's so small it's far to big for him). The top under the dungarees is a t.shirt (no poppers) - would you put a short sleeved best under it or just put him in the tshirt and dungarees and poss a cardi. I'm so clueless about anything which doesn't just take a vest/sleepsuit combo!

I cannot fill this child!!!