December 2012 - the sleep and poo thread (too much of one, not enough of the other)

[PurplePidjin]

My 3.5 year old nephew has got chicken pox - he came out in spots last Sunday. His 22 month old sister has not yet come down with it.

Is Edward likely to be immune as I have had chickenpox and I am breastfeeding?

DO you think i should avoid seeing the kids or not just in case Edward isn't immune?

FoD I would say avoid until they aren't contagious. It's possible to get chicken pix more than once so I doubt your LO has immunity.

I love how people help each other on this thread

spotty re supply - in the last few days, since I've been hand-expressing more to compensate for the extra bottles, I've noticed my breasts are getting FAR more engorged between expressions. So for 6 weeks poor little Z has obviously not been feeding from them effectively, but even at this stage it seems that I've been able to increase supply by increasing demand. So I'm sure you will be fine.

Finding time to express IS hard though, I agree - it's been pretty punishing for me to bottle feed and wind Z and then to express as well, especially at night. I find it easier to do it by hand than with the pump - I have a bottle next to me and squeeze into it when I have a minute, and then after 5-6 hours have passed I add the contents of that bottle to what's in the fridge. I have a medela swing pump but tbh I think I get more by hand - I use it just to give my hand a rest now, pretty much. Plus rigging up the pump is such a performance and needs time set aside, unlike just giving myself a quick squeeze!

It's hard enough on dd actually feeding ds though that's when she always plays up. I think his latch could be the problem

Did you try nipple shields spotty?

Thanks dudes, I'm well and truly chuffed with the outcome. My stomach was churning while they did it though He will not go in his Moses basket now though. Absolutely hates it.

Sorry to hear you're struggling with the colic honey glad the tiger hold worked even if only for a short time.

Can you not express am from the second breast while feeding DS spotty? Sorry if that's a stupid question. I had a friend who did that but I'm not sure if that was after a certain amount of time (ie when the baby was x weeks). I know how hard it is, I just couldn't cope with the relentless bottlefeed, sterilise, express, sterilise. And that's without adding sore boobs/nipples into the equation.

Yeah I did but I haven't had any pain and after I used them he got lazy with his latch so I haven't used them since

I need two hands for both ATM

We haven't had any pain but they really helped with D's latch. Good luck!

spotty I don't know how you're managing all that #superwoman!
honey colic sucks -arse- the only way I used to be able to calm down dd1 who would scream and scream for hours would be to put her in her car seat and rock the fuck out of her! -disclaimer, pretty sure any Health professional wouldn't approve/recommend but it was the only damn way! I was pretty vigorous Good luck

Dp is exhausted but, apart from some spectacular vomiting (2 outfit changes, got it on my pants! Think his eyes are bigger than his tummy wrt formula) my lads survived without me for 4 hours :o

They're both fast asleep, first time R hasn't fed to sleep. I leaked all over my top, teens all think he's fab (pics on phone), I've pumped off 5 1/2oz (and leaked another oz all over the bed and my clothes) and dp is rightly very proud of himself - as am i.

Must try and sleep

Honey, Woodwards Gripe Water is absolute genius for R. Instant calm!

Thanks for support re:colic. Hadn't realised apparently colic goes by gestational age so when I thought we'd escaped we hit it bang on. We've got Woodwards gripe water but it does sweet fa. Might try other brands. The colief drops are helping slightly but are putting me off bf as every time I feed I have to express, add drops, syringe into mouth then feed so especially when we're out it's a right faff. Plus they've made his poo really watery so I'm dreading what will come out at our first baby massage tomorrow so gonna revert back to infacol as at least there aren't any nasty side effects. Hopefully the new magic tiger hold will be enough...

Arghhhh Heidi has fed off me nearly constantly today i've had 4 hours with her off my breasts. If she comes off she screams if i wind her she screams and not just little screams heart wrenching sobs! The boyfriend has slept because 'he's knackered' (he works nights and normally goes and sleeps at his dads after so he can get a good sleep!!) i've just bounced her in her bouncer to stop the screaming. Need to pull my hair out and rip my nipples off the pain is getting unbareable

Spotty sorry your having such a hard time bf. I'm sure if u threaten to stop help will magically appear.

Honey my LO has colic i feel your pain and will also be googling tiger tree. I use colief but i express onto a teaspoon add the 4 drops and give her it from the teaspoon.

For gods sake will this child not just fall asleep. I am bloody exhausted. Not fun any more.

Mama, i completely understand mine is awake again and bf (surprise surprise i hate my breasts now). Did you get told that newborns sleep 18 hours a day? I wish that was true we're lucky to get 8 over the 24 hour period!

Mama and hales sorry you're both having such a bad night I hope you manage to get some sleep soon.

After such a fretful evening ds has slept for four hours so he must have been getting enough milk?? I haven't felt my letdown since yesterday and it was always so painful so maybe that made me think it was low supply?

She finally dropped off (like flicking a switch,
She went immediately from eyes wide open to zzzz) and gave me nearly 3 hours. Now, if she'll go straight to sleep after this feed j will consider resuming my position as her mother. :)

Spotty, I often don't feel the letdown, but given my Amazing Growing Baby I know it must be happening.

That's interesting mama I knew it would stop somewhen but wasn't sure when. Also I've always leaked a bit on the opposite side when I first start feeding and that's suddenly stopped too.... I'm glad you got some sleep

Argh! Another hellish night. Desperately hoping she'll go down for a bit now before big 2 wake up. Think I might cry.

I can categorically state that from the conclusive evidence of one baby over one night...

Drum roll please...

Babies do not sleep better on formula.

No appreciable difference here!

Oh pidj, at least not worse though? Sorry to those having tough nights..

O had another wild day of mega feeding and managed to totally drain left boob which i didn't realise until 5 mins of v frustrated sucking/boob hitting later. How do you tell? We're always being told to drain one side before starting the next..

eggs we're big grobag fans! He's only 2 weeks but the 0-6 month size fit fine, no way they could slip off, and he stays nice and snuggly at night without me worrying about blankets over faces..

Spotty - another one here that doesn't feel let down.

Sorry about rubbish nights sleep

A seems to be trying to have a conversation with my boob!!! Suck instead please!!!

Oh man - only another hour since then and I think that's all I'm going to get. Supposed to be going out tonight to a pub for friends' birthdays, but I think I am going to have to opt out. This is so unlike me, but then again being a new mum is unlike me as well! This time will pass and I'll be able to see my friends again... I just need to take more opportunities for sleep, especially in the evening, because this isn't sustainable.

Who said things get easier around 6 weeks? God I hope you're right!

Bella, how's the feeding since the TT op? Has it made a difference?

If course she didn't settle. Think I've had about 2 hours sleep :-(