April 2013 - We've all had our babies now. Let the (hard work) fun commence!

[HadALittleFaithBaby]

Thought I'd take the liberty of starting a new thread since the last one filled. So mark your places, get comfy and prepare for a few sleepless nights!

In particular we think of Empress and little Sam - hoping and praying he's coming home! :)

[SneezySnatcher]

Does anyone else who is BF find that one boob produces loads more milk than the other. I've just expressed after the morning feed and got 9oz from right boob and 1oz from the left. H had fed from the left boob but I've found that I can get lots from the right even if he's just fed.

I do find it easier to get him in a comfy position on the right, so maybe I'm favouring it when I feed him, but I do alternate for each feed.

Any tips for increasing supply on the left? Don't remember it being that noticable with DD.

On the plus side - 10oz will probably do for two bottles. I can make an escape for a while!!!

[birdbrain17]

We've had giggling in sleep also, it's so gorgeous I love it! But we also have the opposite, sleep crying she can be fast asleep and just start crying and can't get her to stop because she's asleep...anyone else had this?

[Trishstar]

Sneezy not ebf but mix feeding via expressing and some boob time and my right boob Deffo produces twice the amount of the left even on domperidone!

Mama Alex is coming on so well xx

[HadALittleFaithBaby]

That's funny, Faithlet is only about 7lb but wears 0-3 baby grows because her legs are long! I did try her in her 'tiny baby' clothes this morning and she's outgrown them! I guess that's a good thing - she's in a cute 0-3 outfit that was too big before!

No giggling here yet but she's trying to smile! She's 6 weeks tomorrow so I guess it's about the right time.

Poor baby is suffering - she's been very sicky after most feeds and seems quite distressed by it at times just trying to keep her comfy until we take her to the dockers.

Yes sneezy I find that I get loads more off the right! This morning I got 1oz off the left and 3 off the right! I don't really worry because I have enough for a bottle and figure she gets off whatever she needs.

[BonaDea]

Sneezy - pretty sure what you describe is very common. There isn't a huge amount you can do to increase supply in the non- favoured breast except ensure each time you start with the breast you finished on last time, so don't always start on the same side.

Bird - yes we get sleep everything including crying, giggling and chit chat!! No tips for the crying other than to try to comfort him out of it while he sleeps!

We has a much better night last night 7.30 til dream feed at 10, then through til nearly 3! Only thing is he then woke again at just after 5. Need to work on that part now. If he woke at 3 then went through til say 6.30 that would be awesome!!

[Trishstar]

So last few nights we've been putting H in his crib in our room after his 8pm Feed (with his baby monitor on - shout out to hadalittlefaithbaby for the instructions!) and he's usually asleep by 9 and then me and hubs can spend time together (or sometimes I sleep too). Then after his midnight feed he's going til 5-5.30, then after that feed he's going til 10am so we are feeling a lot less tired! I only used to average 6 hours sleep pre preg anyway! I think I actually have better quality sleep now! x

[wishfulthinking1]

Well, after going 2 weeks overdue, having 3rd degree tear, made slightly incontinent and viral infection.... Now mastitis!! Have got antibiotics and am spending the day in bed. Plan was DH would bring me the baby for feeding and then take him away but he was struggling to settle him- p gets awful, painful trapped wind, so the baby and I are in bed for a snooze- hopefully we'll both feel better when we wake up xxx

[wishfulthinking1]

P.s. how long do you all spend winding after a feed. We generally get a burp pretty promptly, but I wonder if we're not being thorough enough as his trapped wind really causes him pain.

[LikeCandy]

bird we have sleep crying here too - usually just one long, suoer sad wail - was so creepy the first time!

sneezy my left is far more productive than my right, and consequently looks bigger too! I've tried favouring the right for a week or so, and it seems to be paying off slowly!

BabyCandy only woke once last night. We went to bed at 11 (after she napped on me downstairs) and fed and changed, she woke at 3 for a feed and change then not again until 6. This is unknown for her - and I felt dreadful this morning. Headache, nauseated, with really painful boobs! I wonder if this is coincidence or I'm just not used to sleeping anymore!!

[Trishstar]

Wishful we get burps quite quickly but keep H upright (on my shoulder for 15-20 mins after feed) and that seems to help xx he only wakes occasionally cos he's been a bit sick or is windy xx

[LikeCandy]

BabyCandy has spent the whole day throwing up everything she's eating. She usually vomits a bit after every 'meal' but it's been in huge volumes today. She has gone through 5 outfits and I'm on my 4th t shirt and I don't know how many muslins we've used.
She has gone much longer between feeds - I wonder if she's just eating too much when she does eat?!
:(

[BonaDea]

Candy - just she seem well enough in herself? Some days are just more sickie than others, unless you think she might actually be ill? If she's bf the perceived wisdom is that you can't overfeed...

I'm up feeding DS. I swear he woke himself poo straining rather than through hunger! The noises coming from next to me in his cot were quite something!! Feeding him now anyway as he's realised he's hungry and I swear that he sometimes poos better when he relaxes during feeds. Tmi?!

[enjay0811]

Sneezy - my right usually produces more than my left and the let down is quicker too. Latch isn't as good as left tho so F coughs and sputters sometimes!

Wishful - sounds ugh, hope you're feeling better soon. it usually takes us 10 mins to feed (very efficient feeder with a mighty suck!) and can take half an hour to burp occasionally! Usually get more than 1 burp and have to keep her upright on knee. If she goes on my shoulder or lies down too soon, she's sick. Candy - when F is sick it looks like she brings her entire feed back up sometimes in waves! She does make a very cute wail prior to doing it so know the signs and can grab a muslin in time!

Very good night here! baby F had a dream feed at 12 and has only just woke for another feed at 5am! Will prob sleep thru to 8 now. Just enjoyin sleepy cuddles before I put her back down

[JoRich77]

Hi all, Baby Bella is now 5 weeks and amazingly she managed to go down for a whole 5 hours sleep last night from 10 - 3am. Feel very refreshed for it. Now just need to get her to sleep better during the day as some days she hardly sleeps at all and gets overtired/grouchy. Much better if we go out as she sleeps in pushchair or car. Does seem to like her bouncy chair much for sleeping in.

Am thinking of getting a swing for her to sleep in during the day, reading the reviews some people swear by them. Does anyone have one? Am thinking of Fisher Price Rainforest one. Just more baby clutter thats all!

What are all your babies now sleeping in? Bella doesnt seem to like being swaddled anymore so am just lying cellular blanket on her. I have a sleeping bag 0-6 months- can i start using that? Not sure if it will fit in basket though!

I'm not sure how you all are getting the time to express- I tried yesterday with electric pump- didnt get time to actually do this until mid- afternoon (I know morning is best re milk supply). Only got about 60mls so will have to try again today. Need to get bottle sorted so I can go out for the odd hour and regain my sanity..

Have appointment with Consultant this week to inspect my episiotomy cut- last time they looked it hadnt healed properly. Really hoping everything back in order, not even considering DTD until i know thats sorted. OH being very patient but need to get some intimacy back into our relationship IYKWIM..

Wishful I dont think i spend nearly enough time winding as I need more patience. We have been using Infacol and that seems to be helping with the burping..

[JoRich77]

Forgot to say, I dont have Ewan the sheep but i have been using an iphone app and playing Bella 'Ocean Waves' white noise. This works wonders getting her the sleep. Might be worth a try Emmie

[LoobyLou33]

jo I'm v envious of your 10-3 sleep! Dd is also 5 weeks but never really goes more than 3 hours, tho yesterday morning she lasted 4 hrs between feeds cos she was sleeping on dh all warm and snuggly on the sofa, I got my longest spell of sleep since birth!

We had The rainforest swing for ds1 ( loaned) he never slept in it but then he hated being put down. It was the only place we could put him down in actually.. For all of 5 minutes! It is quite bulky too.

Re grobags is it a branded grobag? You can start using from 8 lb 8 I think, I can't wait to use ours tho swaddling is helping her stay asleep atm just not so good for when she comes into our bed at 5 ish.

[usernamegoeshere]

5 weeks today and feeding seems to have regressed, every feed is like a war for 4 days now, she goes on boob, feeds for a bit then unlatches and thrashes, screams and cries to go back on but won't stay for more than a minute, so I stop, wind then repeat on other side, then swap back. Usually after 3rd she is consolable and no longer rooting but hardly content.

Daytime sleeps have gone downhill and 1 night in 3 she won't sleep either, doesn't cause trouble/cry but needs constant attention to stay happy.

That being said she is still going 7-8 hrs overnight without a feed, even when awake seems used to not eating at night.

Contacting breast feeding support this week and attending a group, also going to take to doctors to try a reflux cure. But pretty much resolved that I will switch to formula from next weekend if we can't make breast feeds nicer. I think I stuck this out for long enough, seems like new problem each day and formula feeding must be better than feed times this stressful.

Sorry for the me,me,me just it feels never ending. OH said today I feel like his co worker rather than partner at minute, and the slow building resentment of each other is awful! I love baby and wouldn't change things for a second just wish I had been better prepared for this!

jo baby user goes in a fisher price bouncer chair in day, same one as trish had pic of on Facebook! I'm going to a baby sale Saturday and planning to get a playmat if I see one too.

If anyone is looking for toys I got a lamaaze firebug type one the other day as present and it was awesome she is really interested in it at 5 weeks.

[num3onway]

We have a few lamaze toys you can usually find them on amazon for about £7 or so. We also have a swing where she will sleep but not a proper sleep as she wakes when it stops after 30 min. It helps me get stuff done though.
Dd sleeps in a grobag I got two for about £24 which I thought was good. She is about 11lb and does fit in moses basket in it! I just leave the bottom bit hanging over end of basket.
Slept 12-3.30, 4-7.30 last night. Older dcs slept through from 10/12 weeks but don't think she will as she Doesn't take any where near enough milk before bed!
Having a child can put a lot of strain on s relationship but it is worth it when you see those smiles!

[tattooedapril87]

i think we have day/night confusion here... eating every 3/4 hrs at night and have to be woken after 5 in the day... then falling straight back to sleep
any tips to resolve? very hard to keep two babies awake in day on my own!!!

[num3onway]

Bless you tattooed! Dance for them?
Seriously I don't know lol. Can you set a day with oh or someone else to help and really persevere with keeping them up?

[HadALittleFaithBaby]

Hello all!

We've had a lovely weekend with DH's cousin and his wife visiting. They were very hands on with Faithlet and the type of visitors who don't expect to be waited on but made cups of tea while I was feeding so it was great having them around.

user we have had similar issues and conversations - co-parents but not a couple. Realised its made worse by not sharing a bed even though DH sleeps better. I would get advice on the feeding but it does sound massively challenging for you.

Jo my oppportunity to express varies. Much, much easier when someone else can hold the baby! Sometimes I have her on me while I express! I've been using my electric pump since Thursday and the amount I get has massively improved. I think it's about technique. I find it best to express about an hour after she's fed. I get most off in the morning (at best about 3oz) and then usually get 1-2oz more if I get chance to express in the afternoon. It does vary and depends on what happens in the day. My next goal is to get a stock in the freezer so I can leave her for a bit longer and get more kip at times!

[Kittenmummy]

Hello all, just caught up on all the posts. user I recently spoke to a friend who switched to ff and she is much happier for it - if it makes feeding time more pleasant then it is a good thing, you have done really well to bf for this long. And yes I also wish i had been better prepared, I spent the first few weeks feeling like I'd been smacked in the face and knocked over backwards I didn't know what had happened but really nothing could have prepared me for it. Re. Relationship don't worry everyone (almost everyone) experiences the same thing. I recently found myself agreeing to go to the train station at 10pm (instead of precious precious time sleeping) just so I could share a car ride (and hence some time) with dh. It must get better. After all people do have more children

On another note I am really irritated about the issue of contraception(rant coming up). Pregnancy - hormones all over the place, labour - the above plus bloody hard work, post natal - all of that plus sleep deprivation and then to think about contraception which is essentially messing my body around again with a load of hormones . It is SO easy to be a man! Does anyone else share my feeling that it is Just. Not. Fair.

But being positive I love my little kitten so cute

[Kittenmummy]

Oh and jo I try to express after a feed when she is sleeping. Also maybe try expressing when the bottle feed is given? Ie if you would normally feed at eg 10pm but instead of bf someone is giving the feed via a bottle then it is a good time to express as your boobs would have filled up in the expectation of having to feed baby

[Kittenmummy]

Oh and one more thing can't remember who was asking about winding - I sit baby kitten on my lap supporting her head and back and gently vibrate my legs, so mini bounces - often this sort of movement gets some lovely burps out.

Sorry for multiple posts! I'm done now (I think)

[itsaruddygame]

User - it sounds tough going! I have a bit of a love hate relationship with breast feeding. When it goes well (today a good day) I enjoy it but I also find it incredibly draining at times. At 11 weeks today we r not getting more than a coupe of hours sleep at a time (green eyed monster emerges when I hear of these sleeping babes that are half Little H's age!). I am not going to lie it is taking its toll on me and I am fecking knackered!!! I consider formula at least twice per week just so I could hand over to dad for a nights sleep here and there. The thing that stops me is that the family has a lot of asthma and allergies (including me - mild and my mum - severe) so I really want to make it to 6months for that reason. Having said that if it doesn't get better soon I don't know if I will able to.

Mama - I seriously don't know how you have kept going
with so little sleep - especially after what your body had been through. I have a sidecar crib and now often co-sleep for part of the night as I feed lying down and snooze. I read up on safe co-sleeping and have removed my topper and use blankets. He starts off in his cot and I do sleep better when he is there but it is the only way I am surviving at present!!

G