Martians 2014 (and the February early arrivals)

[LyraSilvertongue]

I expect it will be quiet in here for a while with only four Martians born so far and it not even being March yet

Those who have popped so far:
Coolhand
Dabarai
LyraSilvertongue
Wuxiapian

comms mine does that too!

comms mine also the same I shove very hard bloody men

Hello Martians hope everyone had a lovely bank holiday. I had my pregnant friend and her dh come to visit on friday, she us having a little boy in September and I can't wait!

Me and oh did nothing yesterday, we took everything upstairs and watched films in bed all day with Finlay and Pugsley the dog, I didn't even wash up, I was a slummy mummy!

Today Im catching up on the housework while Finlay is napping.

Hello all, sorry for the absence.

I've had a pretty traumatic last few days which have resulted in me taking the decision to stop breastfeeding. I'd reached the stage where I was dreading feeding DD as I knew that it would descend into tears from both of us. It's been a bit of a perfect storm for us, the mastitis was the final nail in the coffin as I was only able to feed from one breast for almost 3 weeks. It became evident that DD was not getting enough nutrition from me as she had lost weight at her most recent weigh in and was screaming in frustration at every feed. The decision to stop was incredibly hard, I had so wanted to EBF for 6 months, but a long talk with DH and buckets of tears later made me realise I should not be so unhappy at such a magical time. I had come to dread feeding DD and was beginning to not enjoy my time with her.

So yesterday was our first full day of formula, though I'm expressing while my supply dries up so she is getting some BM, and I have to say she's like a different baby. In the last 36 or so hours we've only had 1 screaming session (due to wind), whereas before she'd scream at least 4 or 5 times a day. She's also napping better in the day as she has a full tummy and just generally seems more happy and content with life.

It was an incredibly hard decision to stop BFing and I still get teary telling people now, but I know I've made the right decision for both my sanity and DD's well being.

On the FF front Imeg, my best friend has told me that she used to boil the kettle and keep the water in a flask through the day. That way it was still hot enough to make up formula, but not so hot that it took ages to cool.

Frank it sounds like you've made the best decision for you all as hard as it is. Just concentrate on enjoying your baby now :)

My biggest tip for FF is the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine, especially at 4am!

Puggy sounds like you've had a lovely weekend :)

ww Frank I'm sure you've made the right decision, I hope things continue to improve.

It was a lovely weekend thanks Comms I hope yours was good too.

well done Frank it sounds like you are doing the best for your baby rather than what you ideally want. a contented baby getting enough food is the most important thing.

Aww Frankel, sorry to hear you've found the decision so tough but it definitely sounds like the best thing for both of you. Glad you're seeing the benefits so quickly. And it sounds like you did your very best to breastfeed - I'm sure I wouldn't have persevered with the mastitis etc.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Health visitor has been out this morning and DD's weight is back on the up, she's gained a whole pound since last Monday I definitely feel ivecmade the right decision on feeding now.

Frankel, great news on the weight gain - hopefully that helps you feel the decision was right for you both. It's hard to allow yourself permission to make the decision, but a happy baby and mum is more important so it's fantastic to hear how much happier you all are

Frankel was your LO taking bottles before you switched to FF?

Breastfeeding is still causing me so much pain - if it's not his latch it's recurrent plugged ducts and sore nipples.

I'm wavering about introducing some formula because I can't seem to express enough milk for EBM bottles and I could really do with my DH being able to take some of the feeding strain. Also DS has only ever drunk 50mls from a bottle and has refused eversince. I just feel like breastfeeding is such a heavy weight all on me.

mrsm yes she'd been taking the odd bottle of expressed milk before I switched. The only time she's refused a bottle is if I've not heated the milk warm enough for her - she doesn't like it cold! I'm using the Tommee Tippee bottles which she gets on well with.

Only you can decide what direction you want to go with feeding, but one thing I will say (with the benefit of hindsight) is don't make yourself a martyr to it. If you are struggling do whatever it takes to make things easier on you.

How much easier is FF though really? With all the sterilising and making up bottles? How do you do it in the middle of the night?

I keep thinking if I push through the pain it can't last forever and surely whipping out a boob has it's benefits? I just wish I could take a nap at the weekend and leave him with DH without him being hungry alllllll the time.

Yes it can be a faff, but I think it's a question of being organised and planning ahead. I bought this set at the weekend as it was half price in my local Babies R Us and it's been fab.

For night feeds I took a friend's advice and fill a flask with hot water before I go to bed and put it, along with sterilised bottles and measured out formula in our en suite bathroom. It's then just a question of putting the water in the bottle, adding powder, giving it a shake then running it under the cold tap to cool it off. I'm lucky that DD only wakes once during the night, so I only take enough for 2 feeds to bed so I can do her first morning feed in bed.

If you wanted to you can always use ready made formula which saves waiting for bottles to cool. It is more expensive, but I know people who have done it that way.

Also, although the official advice doesn't recommend it, I know people who make up a day's worth of feeds in the morning, cool them off and store them in the fridge till they're needed. They can then be warmed in either an electric bottle warmer (the Tommee Tippee one works very quickly) or in a jug of hot water.

When out and about you can either use ready made, or take a small flask of hot water with you. If you are in a cafe/restaurant I'm sure they'd be happy to give you a bowl of cold water to cool a bottle, or even fill the bottle with boiled water for you.

Mrs it is a faff but it's something you do get used to and get more organised with as you go. Frank's advice is spot on. You just find a routine that works for you.

We have this which is the laziest thing ever but does make life easier!

DD has her first vaccinations tomorrow. Anyone have any tips to help DD and me through it?

Frankel my parents did exactly that my dad made a days worth of formula and mum heated it up through the day. It might not be advised but i was fine.

I think the key is that you make it with the hot water to start with, killing off any bugs in the powder. As long as you cool them quickly and get them in the fridge there's very little chance of a problem. It's when things are left at room temperature for too long that bacteria can grow.

Frank, there's not a lot you can do to prepare for jabs... I have Ben some Calpol before (although the nurses are really against that!), but didn't need it afterwards. He was very clingy all night, so DH & I took turns to sit upright on the sofa with Ben sleeping on our chests. He (Ben, not DH) was also really grumpy that night, woke up crying every half hour, but he could be soothed back to sleep.

I've known babies not have any reaction other than sleeping a lot! Some don't even cry - I hope yours is the latter xxx.

Mine had jabs yesterday: didn't give any Calpol before but got some in case we needed it afterwards. Maybe a bit grizzly (though hard to tell as grizzly in evenings anyway) but no signs of a fever so haven't given any Calpol so far.

Thanks both, she's taken them pretty well: she cried at the time but settled after a quick feed and has been mostly sleeping ever since.

Hey Martians hope everyone having jabs around now is doing well.

I just wanted to ask is anyone else still really emotional? I don't feel depressed but I just seem to cry all the time at the moment, even if I don't feel sad!

Hope all the babies with injections are doing well. C's aren't for a couple of weeks so any tips are very welcome!

Puggy I definitely cry quicker than I used to if that makes sense? Hormones are funny things!