April 2006 Babies - Spring has finally Sprung!

[Ponka]

Anyone want to join me here? Mrs. Q, Pachinofan, Spots, Anyone else?

My name is Ponka and I had a little boy (Luke Elliott) on the 7th April. We are doing well. I also have another DS age 22 months.

Please excuse me if I don't get back here very regularly for the moment, it's very busy here, as I'm sure it is with you, too! I thought there should be a thread though.

cloudberry, dd1 is 21 months and it is definately a massive challenge. Some mornings I wake up and just think God, how am I going to get through this day, but somehow the day always passed OK. I have to say that DD1's playgroup and other little activities have been a godsend. For a start it forces me to get my sh*t together and get out of the house (rather than sit on the couch in my pjs buried on toys, which is what I sometimes rather be doing!). It also gives DD1 something to focus on and be distracted by, she doesn't seem phased if I'm feeding the baby when she's tearing round with her little friends. Plus she did all those thing before the baby, so I wanted her to feel like her life hadn't changed that much by carrying on with them all (I was at one of her classes 5 days after having the baby!).

It can be daunting joining these groups, but definately worth it I think if you find a good one. For you as well as the little one, I've found the help and support from the other mums invaluable.

2 plus - met a mum at a breastfeeding support group who has a business selling slings that she imports from south america - fair trade stuff. They look really comfy. Haven't checked out the website myself yet but address is www.rumplebums.co.uk/acatalog/info.html

I'm afraid I hate bfeeding so much that I am starting to drop feeds. Have already dropped 2 in the day time and one at 11pm. dd2 should get at least 8 weeks or so of SOME breast milk.

Does anyone have any tips on how to ease off/drop the middle of the night feed and first one in the morning? My breasts are so full and hard at those 2 I am scared of dropping them. Any experience?

tonton, I hate bf so much I didn't even try this time round so don't beat yourself up about dropping a few feeds. I'm afraid I went cold turkey when I stopped with DS1 so can't advise on a gradual drop. Can you express just a little to ease the pressure but still give the milk machine the idea that supply can drop off a bit?

Thanks to everyone for their kind suggestions re our hideous overnight screaming baby nightmare... I've now started using infacol which helps a little (BTW - why is it orange flavoured?? they've only tried milk so far? why isn't it milk flavoured?)
Anyway, I've also tried moving to the slowest teats available to stop the desperate guzzling and the projectile sick hasn't happened since thursday and I had 4hours sleep in a row on friday night.

In response to the "how do you cope with 2 little ones" debate - If only the weather would cheer up it would be so much easier! DS1 has cabin fever already and CBeebies has been on for over anhour now to take the edge off.
I'm so glad we've had spring/summer babies - imagine if it was dark half the time as well! I'd be in bits by now.

Pepper rabbit we also havr a huge puke problem. I was thinking of taking dd2 to the doctor to see if it's reflux. Is that what infacol is for? Perhaps I will try it.

Don't feel bad Tonton. I stuggled for 6 weeks with breastfeeding with DS1 and almost got depression over it. This time I tried for a week and when I got bleeding nipples again, I decided to call it a day. I'm not saying that you necessarily should but if it REALLY is making you miserable, you should drop it altogether, I reckon. Breast is best but it's best for kids to have a happy Mum, rather than a miserable one. I have to say I'm actually enjoying my DS2 as a newborn, something which never happened with DS1.

You can either go cold turkey and just drop the feeds and have full and unconfortable breasts or you could express a little bit to relieve them at first, as pepperrabbit says.

Everything is going well here. Am very very tired though. DS2 is hilarious. He snores REAALLLY loudly. He takes after his dad, then!

Doc didn't think it was thrush (surprise). It does seem to have got a bit better (and I don't think it is as sore as you were Emma) so maybe I was just being one of those patients who must annoy doctors by self diagnose themselves based on internet research. Does still hurt though so will see how it goes. On the whole finding breast feeding ok though.

Thinking about giving a bottle (expressed or formula) at the last feed to see if it'll help him sleep through the night as I'm not convinced he gives himself a full feed then. I'm also thinking that I might then wake up with uncomfy full boobs too.

Glad to see other babies are putting on lots of weight, mine put on 19oz in 9 days which seemed rather a lot but then at least he is gaining. Still vaguelly following Gina Ford (only really with feeding, not the strict sleeping routine) and have put him onto the 6-8 week routine even though he's not quite 4 weeks as his weight is so high. So we're on 4 hourly feeds which he seems fine with.

I wondered too why infacol (which isn't amazing but does help) is orange flavoured. Odd

Hi ponka - i really think i'll enjoy dd2 being a baby much more once I've dropped the bfeeding altogether. I too had the bleeding nipples! Lovely. She's starting to refuse my boobs anyway so I may end up doing cold turkey. Will handle engorged boobs by dosing up on paracetomol and drinking myself to oblivion...bother can't do that, have a small baby to look after!!!

Not much weight being put on here but I live in hope.
Those of you that are doing a late feed (11pmish) - how long does your baby last to until that? Mine only seems to go 2-3 hours at the most.

tonton- DD only goes 2-3 hours after a late feed as well. She's also just had her first cold as well which makes her very sickly/colicky. The only way to get a decent nights sleep is for me to sit with her holding her. Hope she's not going to be like DD1, who fed every 2 hours day and night once she'd got into a routine.

Debi- I found Infacol didn't do much either with DD1. I think with all the screaming she did that I felt so helpless that I was glad to be doing something that might help.

Those of you with bleeding nipples, have you tried putting some breastmilk on your nipples at the end of a feed? Have been told it helps.

Hi all,

So frustrated by this BFing business - seem to get over one issue then another one rears its head. Thought I had finally got it under my belt, DD3 actually put on 6oz this week & feeling much more relaxed. She has even grown out of newborn sleepsuits so must be doing something right. Have had some sore nipples this week for the first time but what do you expect when dd grabs nipple & twists in temper. Have trimmed her nails since (lol)!!!
Just as I get it sorted though DP seems to be having major probs with me Bfing, putting me back to square one. Whenever we have discussed all of the issues I have faced previously he verbally supports me, but his behaviour tells a different story & he is not to keen on me BFing in public. I have just ignored all of that & got on with it. The last couple of days DD3 has been cluster feeding big style in the evening, meaning that every time he tries to hold her she screams for a feed within 10 minutes (especially if I try to to anything vaguely useful). He seems to be taking it personally & even shortened his own trousers last night in preference to holding her while I did it. I feel that I can't even go for a shower cos she will only start when I am gone & don't like the idea of leaving her alone in the day because it is hit & miss whether she will sleep in her crib for more than 10 mins during the day (visions of BBs Dawn coming along here). Really don't know what to do. If I go to formula at least he can feel more involved, but it seems such a shame now that I have got around all of the other issues. . I could stick it out until she is a bit more alert & 'playful' between feeds when he can involve himself but I don't want too much damage to the relationship to be done in the meantime. What would you do? I just feel that I have spent at least 1/3 of my energy over the last 2 weeks doing the bottles/breast debate in my head. Getting to the point where I just think the sooner I switch the sooner I get it over & done with - but this seems such a pathetic reason to stop & I know that I will regret it. But at the end of the day I think that her relationship with her father is more important than how she is fed.

Anyway after that rant I would have had time for a shower

2plus2plus1- how about doing 1 or 2 feeds a day as formula then DP can be involved and you don't have to feel guilty about not giving breast milk?

tonton- my ds is feeding at 10.30pm then again at 2.30am then at 6.30am (then he usually goes back to sleep till about 9.30am). He was going till about 3.30 a couple of weeks ago but seems to have settled into a 2.30 and 6.30 routine.

2plus2 - Is this just a little blip in your relationship with him or do you feel it could really get in the way of your lives? How long have you been together? It sounds rather heartrending and not what you need but it's very noble of you even to consider stopping for 'his sake'. Please don't end up resenting him for getting in the way of what you want for your baby. You can tell him what you've said here - about getting so far dealing with all the other bf'ing issues and wanting to persevere - if verbally atleast hesupports you he does know it's for the best. Does he know other dads? Is bf'ing 'the norm' for him?

I do think it's tough for dads. My dh also gets the yelling for a feed when hetakes over in the evening. But he also takes dd2 in the sling at breakfast time when she's all fed and changed and guaranteed to sleep... just to balance it out. Yet another thing that willimprove with time I suppose, but doesn't help just now does it?

Who invented this breastfeeding larkanyway?

Hi all, just popped on to say hi and hope everyone ok.

We are really very busy now with our forthcoming house move, about to exchange contracts any day now so very excited.

DD2 doing well, gaining around 10 oz a week so I am very pleased. Breastfeeding still going well, if I'm really honest I'm enjoying feeding her immensely. I bf dd1 for 6 months, hoping to do at least 12 months with dd2 but making no promises, will see how things go. Although I haven't had the problems others are describing, I must say it really does take up a lot of time. A full feed can take up to 40 minutes whereas giving her a bottle of expressed milk is so much quicker. Haven't been expressing much at all this week as totally busy with the house move. Also, am now doing a 30 minute dvd workout every day in an effort to slim down a bit. Have a wedding in 4 weeks and don't want to go looking quite so chunky. Can't really diet whilst breastfeeding so just trying to 'trim up' really. Not easy to fit the workout in, but luckily dd1 joins in and thinks it's quite good fun. My friend, also going to the wedding, is joining me in the 'Ebay' challenge - that is, to wear a really nice outfit to the wedding purchased on Ebay. Makes perfect sense to me as hopefully outfit will be too large in a few months. Anyway, it's a bit of fun!

Off now for another feed whilst catching up on Eastenders!

Hi all, we have DS2's 6 week check this afternoon so hoping to avoid projectile vomiting just for that half an hour!
pacinofan at your 40 min feeds - DS2 takes an hour to feed, every time, longer if he's sick all over everything and needs a full change. 40 mins would be bliss!
Yesterday we had to take DS1 to the local hospital for a routine check for his undescended testicles. Bearing in mind I took DH with me and doc was male, I floundered my way through a testicle conversation. I mean, I'm 37, married and (ahem) relatively "experienced" but there's a lot I don't know! DH was No Help At All. FGS he's got them, why leave me to do the talking. Anyway, if anyone's interested - they're on their way in the right direction, he has to have an ultrasound and then go back in 6 months and may need a small operation.
Also it's his 2nd birthday today and he has conjunctivitus. Am thinking of getting my own chair at the GP surgery...

Hi all, glad we are all surviving despite sleepless nights and BFing issues. I can't complain about the nights too much mind you, DD2 is still sleeping 10-5ish most nights and last night 10-7!!! If I hadn't been up from 1-4.30 with DD1 it would have been lovely!! Think I'm just about starting to get the hang of this BFing business too, it's taking a while but I think we're getting there...slowly!

2plus2plus1 - agree with others that maybe you could give 1 or 2 bottles of either expressed breastmilk or formula that your DP could give and therefore not feel so left out. That way you would feel all your perserverance with the Bfing was worth it by still doing some feeds yourself but you could also include him. I am still giving DD2 2 expressed bottles a day, one DH gives her at the 5am sitting and the other I often use when I am out and about. Here in the US they are a lot more prudish about BFing in public and you rarely see it done, so I find it handy for that and maybe that would be an option for you too? Hope things improve for you

I also agree that though breast milk might be the best thing, baby can't survive without a happy and healthy Mummy but can survive (and do very well!) drinking formula, so if BFing is just getting too hard I don't think anyone should feel bad about switching. I think it's great that people are encouraged to BF more and more these days but I do think sometimes it makes people feel unecessarily guilty about not doing it - like this parenting thing isn't hard enough without throwing more guilt at us!!! Good luck everyone!

Hear hear Mrs Evs - good luck to the bottlers and bfeeders alike! I'm currently half-and-half myself.

DD2 seems to be developing birthmarks post birth. All dark rose pink,one small one betwee her eyebrows, another small one on her chest and then a larger one on her back which is starting to protrude like a largish mole. Is this normal? Have 8 week check in 2 weeks so will ask doc then but just wondered if it sounded familir to anyone?

Hello every1, my DD was born on 25th April, i have a 3 year old DS and a 21 month old DS.
i am very busy!
I really wanted to breastfeed this time i did it for a week but it was agony my nipples were bleeding and the pain was toe curling, i was really upset when i had to stop. it was worse because as soon as i started giving her bottles she was really sick it has settled now luckily.

Tonton, my DS2 has a birthmark like your discribing its on his knee its called a srawberry nevus, and they do ushualy fade eventualy. I dont know if its the same as your DD, but DS2S is getting smaller already.

Hi all, looks like we're all a bit busy and just popping in at the moment on this thread. DS2 has started smiling properly and cooing at me which makes it all worthwhile as the nights are still pretty horrendous. Also DS1 is still waking up screaming about one night in 3... as I staggered from one room to the other last night I could hear DH snoring gently in bed! And then he says this morning "did you have to get up in the night or did he sleep through?"
He's lucky he got out of the house alive!
Hope everyone is OK (and welcome pinkbaby3 - sorry - very rude of me to ignore you like that!)

Welcome pinkbaby, blimey I bet you are bloody busy with 3 kids 3 and under - how do you manage?

you are much kinder than me pepper, I make dh do the night feed, though the last 2 mornings it has been 6.30 rather than 5.30. I still have to get up with dd1 mind you as she won't have anyone else in the middle of the night - no full nights sleep for any of us for a long while yet I think!

Hi pinkbaby - with 3 small kids I think painful bfeeding was the last thing you needed!

Now I'm nearly entirely bottling, I can't wait for dh to do the 3am feed!

Hello all!

Sorry I'm late, I only just realised there was actually a post-natal section!!

Eliana-Marie was born 14th April weighing 6lb 1oz.

At 7 weeks she is the smiliest baby I have ever seen! Sleeping through the night already too (All her, nothing to do with me!). I have bottle fed from 1 week old (I know I know, shoot me!lol) as she has a brother who is only 15 1/2 months older than her and I thought it was too much to cope with, for me anyway.

Xavier is really good with her, ever so gently and isnt jealous at all, doesnt even notice she is there unless someone is holding her, and even then all he wants to do is kiss and cuddle her. I think maybe it helped that he started walking (quite late I know) on the day she was born so he had loads of special attention for that!

Don't you find it amazing how newborns change from looking like little wrinkly old men to round chubby babies so quickly?

Also, does anyone notice that they can actually SEE there 2nd+ baby changing from day to day as opposed to the first one? I remember just wanting Xavier to do something!!!! lol Really enjoying having one child that stays where it is put!! lol

Sorry if I rambled, just wanted to post about Elli somewhere!

Hi all,

Still no smiles here despite hitting the 6 week mark yesterday. Thought we had a couple of was it/wasn't it, but have had nothing since so I suspect it wasn't.
Getting really tired as Izzie won't settle in her crib for more than 10-20 minutes during the day & although she is sleeping 5-6hrs before her first night feed I am luckiy if she goes down for much more than an hour before the next feed & then stays up. Having said that I laid her in her crib at 9:30 this morning (awake) while I went to get dressed & get her some clothes, came back & she was barely peeking at me through slits & now she is still asleep an hour later . At least she Can settle herself when she wants to. The BFing saga continues here. Decided last Weds that I had enough - definately going to quit, so I would buy formula at the weekend. But then had a REALLY good day on Friday (probably 'cos I was more realxed 'cos 'I had made up my mind') so bottled it (pardon the pun) only to have a crap Saturday & REALLY crap Sunday. I think at lot of it was driven by the heat though as she would fall asleep so quickly and then not sleep properly & wake up hungry quickly. She also didn't seem to be latching on very well at all & I haven't worked that one out 'cos Friday she was doing that brillantly. Spent most of Sunday afternoon in tears which didn't help my letdown, by which time shops were shut. Weekends are always the worst for me as I miss spending time with the rest of the family. It doen't bother me too much when I am at home on my own during the week. Anyway yesterday wasn't so bad, until the evening. So she had a bottle of formula. It was so liberating and I kinda felt jealous of DP giving it to her. I think that is the routine that we are going to strive for for a bit, to have a bottle in the evening, with a view to introducing more bottles (probably completely) if she doesn't space out her daily feeds (still goign hourly) in the next couple of weeks. I am waiting for that '6 week miracle'.
I am desperate to take DTDs swimming again as they have just started lessons & DTD2 desperately needs to build her confidence & DP 'doesn't do swimming'. If DD3 would start feeding 2 hourly that would be long enough cos the pool is only a 2 minute walk. DP wants me just to go & let him do a bottle (which I am happy with in principle)but I am more worried that if I 'miss' a feed I am going to start filling the pool with milk (lol).

Anyway must go. Izzie is starting toi stie & I want to get out after her next feed so must get ready.

WOW that was a mammoth post - proves how long she has been asleep.

Welcome Xavielli, I agree re the 2nd baby thing. One minute DS2 was unable to do anything and about a second later he was bashing hell out of the dangly toys on the play arch!
2plus2plus1, sorry you're having such a miserable time feeding, it's no fun at all at this stage where the sleep deprivation really really starts to catch up with you. DS2 has Just started to sleep slightly longer at night - perhaps 5 hours at a stretch (he's 8 +3) and last night he slept in the evening for only the 2nd time which was such a relief to DH & I that all we talked about was how glad we were!
I hope everyone else is well and enjoying the sunshine.