March 2013: Smiles, sleep & excellent feeding.....the thread of wishful thinking!

[SoYo]

Well we may as well start the thread on a positive note before the grumbling about the little darlings begins!!!

Ps bebeparfait.com/limoncello-cover.asp

I have this breastfeeding cover and it worked well at the wedding I went too. I know the lady who makes them and they are fab! Very discreet and don't smother baby as they have a firm rim at the top.

I bought various BW books on kindle and worked my way through sleep one then bf one before starting secrets of,,, agree that schedule looks a little odd until reading the last one which suddenly actually talks about bf babies being on a 2-2,5hr schedule in the day which makes more sense. I can't get on with her feed from one side only rule. I am careful to make sure he finishes a side but usually have to offer the second and sometimes even top up of course, though getting less.

Quite a good night here. We had another bm last night -copious quantities of something which looked like peanut butter and just kept coming - and I think it left him comfier than he has been for a few days tummy wise. Went down about 8.15 and only woke up about 20mins ago. This was a rhythm we'd got into but last few nights have been 3 night feeds. And yesterday my two attempts to nap both failed (bloody phone).

My prob re just going for pashmina type solution for wedding is my standard posh dress is a fitted shift type with high ish neckline. Offers no access without literally taking top half off! This is the problem with having done one of these image consultant sessions where they point out what suits you, and living with results for some years...

Was it Leni asking about bf tops a while back? Mostly I have just invested in things which button, or x over styles you can pull down both worn over a stretchy vest you can pull down. My fav specialist bf top which is great for public feeding is this one from verboudet which I find discrete and easy. Also like their nursing bras as pretty and underwired again yey yet practical. Have one vest with those peep hole cut outs - mental! The holes are obv not in the right place and neither LO nor I can be that precise. Avoid.

Hi Eco, nice to see you again and glad all going well. We get on we'll with the Medela bottles, so fx for you as they are pricey! Fwiw, we do use them with formula as well as EBM, you just have to make sure the teeny tiny holes don't become blocked then they don't work and LO will get frustrated tugging away for no reward.

Up again so 3.5 hours sleep which is better than nothing (!) but considering on Wed she went till this time without a 12-1ish feed is a bit frustrating.

I've seen breastfeeding covers in TK Maxx but they just look like massive aprons to me! They also seem like, with their bright patterns and general size, they would actually drawn everyone's attention to the fact you're nursing whereas a big pashmina type scarf (which is what I use) seems more natural? One definite advantage they do have is that rigid edge though - I always worry that Dd is overheating under a scarf but the ones I use are pretty thin and delicate so I think she's fine.

Hope those of you with insomnia are asleep...

Pud thanks for sharing that bf top link. I love it. Clever design. Not to porn star peep hole. And flattering over a not flat yet tummy. An all rounder. I'm going to get one we'll become clones on this thread!
2.5 hour schedule overnight tonight here. Rubbish.

Too not to. I may have baby brain but am not totally illiterate

Yep Eco, 2hrs since last feed here which is just shit & she seems very awake plus I've got a really sore throat. Not impressed.

I'm also going to get one of those BF tops, much nicer than most, thanks for the link Pud, I'm also thinking about one of their bras as I'm craving some underwiring and a nice shape.

Wow! Glad link was helpful, promise I don't work for them!

Pretty good night here overall, up just before 7 again. Hope he can keep it up.

And Eco you're so right about the peephole thing feeling quite porn star which just seems SO wrong to me right now...

SoYo, I felt much better for a nice bra - silly isn't it, but helped me start trying to look nice again. Though yes, things to hide a saggy belly are still appreciated.

Oh, I like the website. Can I be a clone too? My current look is t shirt hauled up exposing attractive midriff, and milk stained stretchy bra effort from Boots. Actually bra is too flattering a word for it. Jug holder is probably more accurate. If her littlest-ship is going to keep up the bottle rejection lark I probably ought to smarten my look up before I forget how to, and sink into a self pitying mire of hairy legs and throw up stains.

Speaking of bottles, a teeny tiny window of hope may have opened up. 20 mls were taken... without any real upset... but the effort was obviously too much for her as then she fell asleep . I think I may have discovered one of the problems. DH. No really. Tempting though it is to blame the man for everything from my greying hair to hammer toes, in this case I may be justified. Having previously tried ever so hard not to be a hovercraft mum and criticise his every move, I've kept well back during bottle fails. This time I interfered.... and what do I find... a rather heavy handed approach resulting in the teat half gagging her. No wonder she's developed an aversion. So I half fed her myself before cunningly sliding her from me onto the bottle and managed to trick her into downing over a tablespoon. Wayhey... a whole tablespoon!! Anything is better than nothing though... and for those in a similarly boob-focussed dead-end, the successful bottle type was good old Dr Brown.

PS I had never ever heard of the baby whisperer before and I am restraining myself from googling, as I suspect I will just end up feeling inadequate. DD it would appear has a life plan all of her own. This unfortunately involves a random routine, but good growth, an active interest in her surroundings, lots of looking around, grabbing at things, playing and a big smile with lots of laughs. I'm kind of happy with that. I think one of the advantages of being a geriatric mum is you just don't care what other people say, or do, or say you should do, and have had many many years of perfecting the art of outward smiling and thanking people, and inwardly saying 'oh do fuck off' and ignoring them.

That said a perfect baby that napped sensibly would be nice

worsester v funny!

So we have had no poo here since Tuesday. Lots for straining and poo faces, lots of farting but no actual poo.... The good news is the doctor says the thrush is nearly gone, the bad news is no poo. So having felt her bowel and listened to her tummy the view was no blockage so he suggested changing formula and bf more. Well give she takes 4 to 7 ounces max of formula a day and has done since week 7 I don't think it's that as aptimal is one of the mildest anyway. Have been trying to bf more but as I cut it down a bit I then have to work on getting my supply up with is exhausting, although dd is more than up to the task! Pray there is a poo here today, we have benin cycling legs, bum massaging, chest deep warm baths but nothing ....

The bad news for dd is if no poo by Monday morning then "intervention" whatever that may be will occur!

Fingers crossed for a poonami, Eig!

We're debating going back to the doctor's. Gaviscon has just about eliminated the fussiness, but nowadays at the point at which fussiness used to occur, she just gives up and doesn't want any more. So we're wondering if the issue is a slow emptying stomach. Only wanting two ounces for breakfast, when the last feed was four hours ago, doesn't sound quite right, does it?

Pud that's the exact one I was looking at and I have 40% off because my last order took 2 months to arrive! I did wonder how the peephole ones work, surely nipples aren't all in exactly the same place...

Fussy time here. DS had an early ish sleep but wanted a feed at 1am, over an hour earlier than normal. Back to the pounding fists and kicking on the boob again so taking ages to fill him up. On the plus side my milk is back to a decent supply and he's had no formula for almost two days! I'm taking fenugreek to ramp up production, no idea if it's working but worth a try I guess. Hoping to start building up frozen supplies soon, at the moment it takes me several expression sessions to get a full 5oz feed because the pump just doesn't suck like a baby does.

Stupid question - what are those discs that come with bottles for?

leni they fit in the ring, instead of the teat, when you're shaking the bottle to mix the formula. Presumably helps stop getting grains of formula stuck in the teat before you even get started? (It took me seven weeks to figure that out though, so don't feel too stupid!)

Ah ok, makes sense. Took me about a month to realise the Dr Browns air minimiser bit inside dismantled... I'd been sterilising it as one piece the whole time

Eig I think we have your poo. Three great big ones in an hour...

stormy babies are secretly communicating with each other! Ok look away now if you are eating! In a desperate attempt to have a poo, and being advised not to add sugar to bottle or glyercin suppodiatores as sugar will add to thrush problem, it being 5 days now I followed dr sears advice. Big hot bath, push on legs or if that doesn't work get in bath with them ( can you see where this is going) and hold them back to you legs in toilet position .... And hey presto, full scale tidal wave poonami over self and mummy, required mummy and baby shower while dh sorted bath!! She is now so relaxed she fell asleep post poo! Omg the things we are prepared to do.

Eig well done. I bet you were very proud .

I just braved town on a Saturday completely on my own and it was bliss! Nothing like a good bit of shopping without mister or the young un getting in my way.

On the other hand we're starting to get a bit of bottle fussiness. No idea what's causing it. Switched to faster teats, tried various feeding positions, heating up bottles when they've cooled down... And halfway through he'll start pulling away and grizzling. He gets burped halfway through regardless, but often refuses to go back to the bottle.

I'm completely in awe that DS is 9 weeks and 10 minutes old now and already want another

Wow plonko - you'd better start The Sex then if you want another one already!

Had a lovely day at a friend's house with her DH and two children whose DS and DD are a year older than our two. She's also a MNer It was good to chat through a few things with her eg routines when ebf etc.

Too much to type here though with one thumb! DD was as good as gold though :)

Eig I'm impressed with the poonami!

Gives a new meaning to the phrase baby shower!

Ooh lord no Wing, we're aiming for a gap of at least 3 years, time to enjoy the first baby before (intentionally) making more. I never imagined my own baby could make me broody, but he's just so bloody gorgeous.

Must be lovely having friends who also have kids. So far only one if my friends does. On the other hand when everyone else decides to settle down ill be an old hand at this family lark!

Poos in the bath, everyone ends up with a story eventually!

DS is driving me nuts today, screaming at the boob and punching/kicking me more than ever - winding hasn't worked, but i heard this can happen at 6 weeks feeding schedule has all but disintegrated so hoping tomorrow's planned trip to the park including first tube ride will be somehow calming?!

Btw has anyone else had a period 5 weeks after giving birth even though BFing?

Yes, me Leni