October 2014 // thread 3 // Maybe we'll get some sleep soon.

[MundayCakes85]

Last thread is full so here's a shiny new one

Lillebaby is your carrier then Goats

Goats I would also check out Connecta. Apparently they are very comfortable and I've heard a few people rave about them.

If Bumboo likes being worn I will definitely upgrade to one.

We just got a manduca on ebay for £50. Anyone want a boba 4g? Worn 4 times from new, have original box.

Connecta great it you're not tall as there's a petite version. Not forward facing though but can be worn on back when they're bigger. Reasonably priced as well compared to some others.

Cross posts - hope you enjoy Manduca Goats

For money, not for free!!

I've got an ergo 360. Not tried the forward facing but yet but love it otherwise. And R seems to love it too. Yes was expensive but have forgotten about that expenditure already!!
I do a mix of buggy and carrier depending on what I'm doing. I often do carrier on the nursery run or general walk but buggy if it's shops (for bag space and also if trying sometjjng on - wearing baby doesn't help!)

Woo you're buggers. I thought oh given Lil's name oh lets look at that Lillebaby carrier, then thought what do Manducas and Connectas look like? Damn Mr Google! I absolutely love my Ergo, did a 3 hour walk with tot and dog this afternoon in the local woods with Lil in it and I genuinely don't feel her but OMG how lush are Connectas! I just bought the bog standard black and natural Ergo for Jonas as I had no clue how pretty some carriers are. The peony and lacework Connectas are gorgeous. But I can't justify another carrier on aesthetics alone unless you guys can persuade me of the benefits.... I like the fact the Connecta is a lot less bulky so could be popped in a bag when not in use. But my only pressing need is for a carrier I can BF in, as that's something I'm struggling to do in the Ergo now Lillemor is bigger. Is it possible in a Connecta? Also the lack of padded waistband how is that for lumbar support? Would it hurt a section wound?

You're buggers I tell you!

Now you all know that I'm not a fan of breastfeeding, but tonight I especially fucking hate it. Scuse the language. Apart from a 15/20 minute break, this gannet has been attached to a boob since 5.30. In that time boyfriend has also given her a bottle with the 100ml or so that I expressed last night. Bored, sore, arse is numb... stupid evolution has SO got it wrong with this cluster feeding crap. If it doesn't stop soon I'll just pack bf in completely. Raaah. She's still going strong too.

Ooh, one eye has just closed...

Nope. Open again. Suck suck suuuuuck.

yellow I had a section and the waistband doesn't hurt at all - basically you wear it right up high so it's nowhere near scar. I guess as baby gets bigger it would go lower down.

I haven't tried feeding it it. I imagine it could be possible if you lowered waistband right down but probably not easy. It is really useful though for popping in the changing bag - I take it with me if I use pram so there's the option of popping him in it if he starts shouting. The aesthetics are great though - I'll pop a photo of mine on FB page.

Have you seen SleepNicos? Also gorgeous designs and possibly more lightweight even than Connecta. Used from 3 months ish though.

sleepynico.com

Goats have you considered combination feeding? We've been giving LO one bottle of formula a day (in evening or at night) so I can have a rest. Doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Possibly not advisable until you're sure your supply is sorted but we've been doing it a while and it hasn't affected my supply at all.

Not to stir the pot Yellow but I was in the Connecta shop buying baby clothes over the summer... The women buying we're all referred and all raved about how comfy they were in comparison to other slings... Some had several in different fabrics!!

And I too love the Peony fabric

Captain - 3 months - that's when I'm probably going to start mixed feeding. I feel bad about it because I feel pretty lucky I've been able to breastfeed relatively easily - I just don't like anything about it other than the ease at night, and the fact that it's the 'right' thing to do.

Captain you're a sling pimp! They're lovely - the Edith fabric is actually identical to my childhood bedding, child of the 70s that I am. There are so many lovely ones! Pusher.... Are there lots of Connecta fakes or am I safe to bid on one on eBay?

Realistically I'm think I'm going to wear Lil until Jonas is done with the buggy as I can't see me getting a double buggy, two kids and a border terrier on the bus or train. Doubles are just so big. I think it'll only get used in very bad weather. As a non driver and with two of them I can't do with just baby wearing alone - you can't get a decent sized supermarket shop and toddler home safe without a buggy - he needs to hold my hand or would end up on the road, or walking at a snail's pace, or wanting carried - which doesn't work too well whilst front carrying Lil - I've managed to pick them both up but eeek wouldn't want to do it for long. Also the buggy / sling combo is great for getting them both to go the feck to sleep nap simultaneously.

Goats the 6 week growth spurt gave me the rage too first time. Is she knocked out by warmth? With J the only respite I got was putting him on his Dad's chest under a really fluffy blanket, once full, and he'd nod off long enough to give me an hour or two's respite. The temptation to run screaming down our farm track to the pub was palpable. Sadly for us I had only a couple of days break after the 6 week growth spurt before the CMPI comfort feeding started (breast milk is an antacid so they feed to soothe reflux, but milk with dairy in it caused more reflux so it was a vicious cycle!). It went on and on for 5 weeks until we quit dairy and got omeprazole - I was demented at times as if he wasn't comfort feeding he was screaming.

With Lil we seem to have come through the 6 week growth spurt relatively unscathed. She's feeding every 3 hours now in the day and feeds much more quickly so I feel like the newborn velcroed to my nipple stage is fading. As Captain says it doesn't have to be either or, given you don't want to do extended BF if you introduced some bottles now it probably wouldn't impact your supply in the timescale you planned to BF for, and would likely make the experience more enjoyable for you?

Missus another sling pusher!

I just got her to sleep by lying her on my chest and ignoring the rooting and squeaking. She's not bloody hungry! Anyway, must sleep too.

yellow- how can you tell if a baby is comfort feeding or is actually hungry? (Still trying to pinpoint what's causing DS's pain/ discomfort) Would a baby find comfort from sucking with pain from wind?

goats- hope you have a good stretch of sleep after that mammoth feeding session

Hate to encourage shopping but the Connecta really is worth a try. I have the beautiful grey Harris Tweed version, tell my husband how much it cost & you die! I totally adore it & the small size is such a plus for wrapping up & stowing in a bag.
Missus you live near the Connecta shop, that would send me demented, I would be in lusting every day. I obviously will need a summer version!
Yellow if you email Connecta customer service about breast feeding feasibility I am sure they will send a prompt reply. I asked a Q the other day & they were back to me that day.
Sorehead the boob is the biggest comfort a baby can get other than skin to skin so they will want to hang out there no matter what the 'pain'. That could be hunger, reflux, scary new world, development or trying to work wind through. That is why lots of babies will still fuss and have cranky evenings if bottle fed as they require the comfort a boob brings! As you say Goats evolution has it mixed up but I guess that's the survival thing kicking in, when there was no other option & baby wanted Mum close by!

goats I second what captain said about mixed feeding. I breastfed my DS who was 2 months premature until he was 9 months but he always had one bottle a day (maybe more on growth spurt days) mainly because he was prescribed daily vits/iron supplements because of his prematurity. But it meant we got into the habit and it saved my sanity at times. So it is perfectly possible to mix feed without affecting your supply!!! I am doing the same this time with dd (full term baby this time) but probably only because I have confidence that it can be done IYSWIM. Oh and there are a lot of advantages to having a baby who's used to bottle and boob when it comes to weaning further down the line.

What do we do when baby is wide awake - seemingly not hungry and wanting to play? It's 2.30 am I would rather sleep.
He's been making all sorts of weird noises including gagging and choking but not crying. What's going on??!!!

excited- thank you. He's FF but I might try extra skin to skin around evening time. Even if the issue is wind/ reflux/ any of the other things you suggested, skin to skin will still be of some comfort to him (and nice for me too- got to love baby snuggles! At the moment, I'm begrudging most people having snuggles with him because I want him all to myself. My parents and DH are the exceptions)

He was displaying his hunger cues earlier so I gave him some extra milk. As I was winding him, he burped and brought a load (most of it) back up all over my second jumper of the day He's not normally a sicky baby so it just got me thinking. I suppose I'm trying to find a reason for everything, rather than it being 'just one of those things'

When he's been crying, he generally stops and seems to get relief from passing wind either as a burp or from his bottom (the latter being smellier than usual over the last couple of days)....until the next wave of pain. Poor little man! I'd do anything to swap places and have me with the pain, whatever the cause especially because there are more medicine options available to me!!

This forum is amazing- there are so many knowledgable people around. Seems like whatever the question, someone is able to help :) I've found this particular thread more useful than my HV, so thank you to everyone who's been answering my questions. I've also learnt a lot from questions asked and issues faced by other posters.

fedup- does your baby have reflux? (Seems to be the word of this thread, with it affecting/ potentially affecting a lot of us) Aren't choking noises one of the symptoms of silent reflux?
Apologies if I'm barking up the wrong tree- I still don't really know what I'm doing but didn't want to read your post and not answer, particularly as not much traffic at this time.

Do the noises reduce if he's upright?