November 2012 - hurry up to graduate, we're running out of November

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1611078-November-2012-the-birthplosion-thanks-Peaky

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Prob not reflux as you said, but could be wind or if he's getting a cold, maybe can't breathe very well when latched on? And iirc its a nursing strike when they just start refusing feeds despite being too young to feed. Hope "Kelly" helps!!

hi there,

anyone had a thick layer of nipple cream which doesn't seem to want to wash off. im using lansinoh. its dried into a sort of rock solid cement. baby still seems to be able to feed. thinking about a deep bath, tried soaking boob in sink of hot water too but think it might need some extra help.

Morning ladies, sounds like we all had crackers of nights. I by no means wish you poor nights but my goodness it feels better when you come on here and everyone is in the same boat.

P is still very unsettled with constipation. She is doing one poo a day but is clearly spending most of the day trying to shift it. I am not surprised she is struggling, when it comes out it is massive and pretty hard for a wee bottom.

We are still in a cycle of mini-feeds followed by mini-sleeps. She is proving extremely difficult to settle now meaning she is hunrgy almost as soon as she falls asleep. I fed her at 10 last night and was still struggling with her by 1. She eventually went into her basket and woke again at 2. That one was only half an hour thankfully and actually she did then sleep from 2:30 to just after 6. DH got up with her but couldn't get her to settle after a feed - she keeps letting out these shouty cries - so I got up. She slept for an hour then awake again taking another hour to feed and reusing to settle. Eventually I burst into tears so DH took her and I went to bed for half an hour. She is now sleeping a bit fitfully in her swing.

My real issue is that I am finding it massively difficult to sleep even when she is sound asleep. I am constantly half listening and often lie there for an hour or more listening to her. When I feed her I feel completely knackered but can't actually sleep when I do get her down. Even going for naps doesn't help as I hear her down stairs - I have been known to hear her making noise when she hasn't actually. It was in my head!

You would think of all the times in my life I would be able to sleep it would be now!

katkit I had what I thought was nipple cream dried on so I soaked it and rubbed it off. It wasn't the cream it was parts of my nipple which were hardening. I ended up in agony trying to feed P without knowing why until I saw my horrendous bleeding nipple. It has only just healed.

It might not be this but mine looked just like the lansinoh cream.

Morning all.
Those of you who are breastfeeding, I want to express some so that it can be bottle fed but how early would you introduce the bottle?
I don't want to go too early and create nipple confusion. I know guidelines aren't before 6 weeks but then I've read about people who leave it and the baby refuses the bottle. Thought about expressing a bit a day and freezing it but then I don't want to create oversupply issues.

thanks pass I've been in the bath soaking and nothing has changed. I think you're right and I've got damaged nipples. The right one is alright (ish) the left one is grazed and very red and hurts by itself. Did you continue to breastfeed throughout? I'm very, very close to giving up.

Pass I'm the same I struggle to sleep for half an hour after each feed or if J is up with his Dad even if he's a happy camper. Damn hormones!!!!

I've got breast pads on at the moment but no cream, should I add some cream and try and carry on - the midwifes all say to stick out for 6 weeks when things will "click" but I feel my toes clinging on to carpet when I'm feeding him at the moment - not sure I can carry on for another 4 weeks (it wasn't always painful) just painful now that I've had a few bad latches.

Fatima we mixed from day 1 as J was premature and couldn't suckle from the boob initially - no confusion here. We were advised to use both and keep going once a day with an expressed bottle to make sure he kept the skill of bottle feeding if we wanted to - even though he's only on EBM. I think if you leave it to 6 weeks they struggle to take the bottle but before 2 weeks can be problematic if they are struggling with BFing. If you have a wee glutton like mine you should be fine.

Keep applying the Lanisoh cream Katkit and your nipples will get used to it. Mine were raw until I got into the habit of liberally applying the cream at every feed. If you get any break at all, even just a longer than usual gap between feeds, then they will heal a lot in a short time. If they get really sore then expressing a bottle or using nipple shields can give you a break. It is tough now but remember that down the line you'll be able to feed whenever you want without worrying about having an extra bottle with you or about the baby not finishing bottles. I have bf'd on aeroplanes, in cinemas, in parks, in other people's houses, in the car (not while it was in motion obviously). If you can stick the first few weeks then it is so worth persevering.

katkit had I known that I had picked off bits of my nipple then I would actually have stuck at it. The pain was extraordinary but had I left them alone they were hardening and it would have been fine. It's a bit like picking at dry skin on your feet. It was later that I saw the bloodied nipple and realised what I had done. Also, check with your midwife for thrush - I think I had this as I am certain P has it in her mouth now. Looking back I had pain which felt like i was passing glass. Someone on here suggested thrush.

katkit - nipple shields saved me last week when I was in agony. Although he won't feed without the damned things now, so not sure if I should be using them but have no other option. They don't seem to be affecting my supply tjough. The medela half shell ones are good, as they can still stimulate the areola when feeding.

DS has been asleep for 4 hours! Slept for 4 last night too:) will have to wake him for a feed now, my boobs will explode otherwise... Got the house cleaned, laundry done, can sit and feed for the day now if I want without itching to clean and tidy up:)

thanks all - just applied more cream and that has helped. We had a carton of cow and gate so have had a drop or two in a bottle just to give me a rest. Baby feeds for an hour each time and will feed 5/6 hours per day - I'm never sure if he is always feeding during these times or whether alot of it is just comfort. I'm feeling a bit rotten this morning for being in pain and for feeling like giving up - especially after everything was going so well. Thanks pass - I will stop picking at mine now, I was so sure it was dried cream - thank god I didn't rub it off with a face cloth which was my 2nd plan of action. I have a good 10 seconds of intense pain at the latch then things ease off (except from last night when it never got better) - normally I could watch a tv show and almost forget I was feeding.

Thanks Freddie and stunt for your tips too - I'll pick up some nipple shields today - no harm in having them in the house - last night was too late to do anything other than grip the sofa in pain - don't want to be disorganised again. I do love breast feeding - the ease of it (when it works) - and would prefer not to have to organise bottle etc... when out and about.

Katkit last week I was biting my hand when J latched on because the pain was intense for the latch and letdown. Now I'm not in any pain at all when latching or during letdown. My nipples are still a bit tender between feeds but that will pass soon. Also my nipples aren't exactly hardening, they still feel soft but they aren't getting as irritated now.

Does anyone have any recommendations for websites or shops for cheap baby sleeping bags? Our bedding supplies still haven't turned up in the loft so I'll have to buy some more. J is being weighed tomorrow, hopefully he'll be big enough for a sleeping bag in the next couple of weeks as he must be around 8lb by now.

Thanks stunt and everyone. I feel much better - and ready for a new day especially knowing that I'm not alone in feeling the pain of a chompy latch.

Think Tesco sell sleeping bags, they'd be fairly cheap. Try looking online first, also Boots/ M&S/ Next might do their own version.

Asda stunt used to do sleeping bags.

I think we may be getting a little routine now. I'm not one for routine, but when I have to do the school run we will need one so I can at least not worry for that hour each morning and afternoon! He seems to be going 2.5-3.5 hours between feeds now. Still vary a lot in duration though.

I've done most of the housework in between his last feed and the one he is due any time now! Once he has fed again then it's Christmas decoration time!

Can I just ask - please tell me I'm not alone in not bothering to dress if we aren't going out? All of us are staying in pjs unless we are going out. Feel lazy but it's so much more comfy, and easier! Plus nothing really fits nicely anyway! I don't even bother changing if the midwife/hv is coming . I'm not a slob, but I'm not one for standing on ceremony when I've far more important things to be doing!

I just need to encourage Oscar to be put down sooner after feeds. I love cuddling him but sometimes I need to put him down quicker than 30 mins, especially if he has fed for over an hour! I end up going cross eyed needing a wee.

tk maxx are good for sleepingbags i find.

tk maxx are good for sleepingbags i find.

baby here feeds for an hour each time then requires 30 mins cuddling time. if i put him in the basket too soon then we need to start again from scratch.

What weight should they be for a sleeping bag do you think stunt?

Yep kitkat that's about the same for us! Put him down too soon and it ends up leading to a comfort feed!

I now want a kitkat

Gro Company recommend 8lb 8oz Sophia, I assume that's so they don't wiggle down inside it. I have a travel Grobag for the carseat but I think they're a bit pricey. Asda and TKMaxx are good suggestions, I didn't see any in Tesco but will ask DH to have a look this afternoon. I had some lovely ones: Grobags and one nice soft Rocha John Rocha but they're all missing. The only one DH found was Peter Rabbit and I have an unreasonable loathing for stupid anthropomorphic animals wearing clothes and with stupid names Peter Rabbit.