Just Mumming Viroids 6 - some of us have time for JSing, some don't, but we're all grad grads!

[JuniDD]

Just shagging grad grads thread! Roll call below please...

I'm so glad you viroids are here!
Dulcet I could echo everything you've said! I think I'm 2 weeks ahead of you. I also have a hungry baby who wants to feed constantly, and he was 6lb 10 when born so think it's probably more to do with their personality than you having a big baby!
I've only just learnt the difference between his "I'm hungry" sucking and his comfort sucking. Now when he starts the comfort sucking I take him off my nipple and pop his dummy in. Then I can hand over to DH! I NEVER thought I would be a dummy person but they are amazing! Would definitely recommend. We use mam ones but that's only because I had one free with a promotional pack. They're supposed to be very nipple-like and J has taken it fine.

I really dislike breastfeeding and at about 2 weeks in had a melt down about having a small person permanently attached to my painful, bleeding, cracked nipples. I spent a whole afternoon in tears and was in so much pain (physically and emotionally (the guilt of not being able to feed your child properly)) that I couldn't bare to feed J so sent DH out to buy formula. Not looked back since!
We only do one formula bottle a day (usually the midnight or 4am one so DH can do it and I can sleep!). I have found that after the cluster feeding that happens 4pm-midnight my boobs need the a break, and refill better to satisfy J for a good sleep.
Formula is harder for babies to digest so it stays in their tummy longer and so I've found J sleeps longer before waking hungry.

I've had so much support with breastfeeding and everyone I saw said the latch was right and I was doing everything fine. Sometimes breastfeeding IS painful, even when you're doing it right, it just takes time (ie months) for it to get better. I'm persevering in the hope that it does get better. It's less painful now but I'm not enjoying it.

I love all you viroids! You reassure me that it's not just me who feels like this and that it WILL get better. You are all wonderful!

Sorry for the long post, I can read while I feed but J never lets me get a minutes peace to type a reply!

I haven't tried CO but a friend of mine has and swears her little one was like a different baby afterwards.

I bought an Ewan but she's never really taken to him although she loves other white noise like on YouTube or even just radio static. Maybe she finds him creepy - he is known as the creepy sheep at home...

We've been using dummies for a little while. Top tip - buy brightly coloured if you can. Ours are transparent and I've just spent 10 minutes trying to track the bugger down on the bed after feeding her to sleep the teat shape is meant to be good for breastfeed babies though so I've stuck with them (Avent) although I am tempted by the comedy big lips/moustache ones....

Ewan the sheep is a god! I got one when miniS was a few weeks old & use it every night. It doesn't get her to sleep but it use to help keep her asleep in the transfer from me to cot. I now play the heartbeat sound while she has her last milk & she nods off doesn't stop her waking up at 2am for a party every night

Hope you get some answers tomorrow pixie

Hope the root canal went ok Tee

MiniS has had a nap in her cot 2 days running! No idea how or why she's started doing it but im not complaining!

Yeah that's the trouble Popz. And I can go a day without looking in a mirror so God knows what it would end up like.

Nice to hear from you RM. I'm not a massive fan of bfing either - especially not with a bottle-refusing baby. But I also think I wouldn't be a fan of having to clean and make up bottles as I'm pretty lazy. Glad to hear things are getting slightly easier.

Blimey pixie your lo has been through the mill - I hope you get answers and some relief soon.

Thanks wil

rpopz I had my hair cut into a bob just before I gave birth as, in my head, I needed to cut it as I would lose loads post birth and if it was shorter it would be more manageable.

I do regret it as I can't now tie my hair back and I have to blow dry it properly every day this will clearly not happen once DH goes back to work

S has finally settled! Yey! He started screaming at 4pm, I did my "night" routine at 7pm and he has just stopped squawking and fallen asleep. Exhausted.

rm I am also very tempted by a dummy. The one I have is huge (given to me as a "present" ) and it won't stay in his mouth. Any idea where I might get a mam one from? I am worried about nipple confusion (although he will happily suck my little finger for hours).

I am so glad I came over to this thread. I feel so much better just knowing others are going through the same thing and I am not just a bad mother

Fleur I've seem mam products in Boots, Mothercare and Tesco. The dummys come in different sizes so should be able to get a small one. (And they also come with a special box that you can sterilize them in!)

I don't think there's any actual evidence for nipple confusion. For the few short weeks when micro agreed to take a dummy, I did notice if she had been sucking on it a lot and then I put her on to feed, she would fall off and it would take her a minute to do the right thing. Wasn't really a problem. Think the main issue with bf babies is that the dummy can mask signs of hunger so you have to be careful not to give it too often and make sure you're offerring frequent feeds. I long for the dummy days, it was good whilst it lasted.

Yeah I got Mam ones from Boots. I still feel a bit snobby about dummies and they are the nicest looking ones haha! I bought some cheap cherry teat ones the other day as apparently they are better for bf babies.... but miniP still won't take them...

I love bfing now and will be sad to stop. But I hate hate hated it in the beginning and it was months of lansinoh, gritted teeth and grumping to get to this stage.

Yeah I'm not sure nipple confusion is a legitimate thing... except a tool for HVs to scare women with! If it does affect bfing all you need to do is take the dummy away and concentrate on the latch again for a few days.

well nothing happened with the root canal. Dentist was lovely but he isn't sure he can save the tooth so he's whacked a temp filling in there and I've got to go back next week. If there isn't enough root to work with I've got to to have it pulled :(
pixie you poor things! At least you know what's causing the screaming and can get something to help...
fleur you aren't a bad mother! I just don't think anything prepares you for the wall of chaos that you hit with a baby.
We took TT swimming, and I think he liked it! Popped him in a little inflatable chair thing and a wetsuit and he didn't freak out, just liked floating round bobbing about. I might be really cack handed but I think it's a two person job which is a swizz as I was hoping to take him during the week when Mr tee is at work (he's on hols this week) but I'm not sure I can juggle him when he's all slippery plus all the kit, might be something i practice. So not quite the torturous afternoon I feared!

However when we got him home what I thought was just sleep-goo in his eye seems to have gone to green gungey stuff and is inner eyelid is bright red and really sore looking, on top of that he had a small blister on the inside of his arm, no idea where it came from, it looks just like the kind of thing you get on your feet, but bigger, about the size of a 50p and it's popped, but looks so angry and gross underneath. I don't think it's his clothes rubbing, (maybe he was passed around a bit too bloody much at the weekend ) sudocreme hasn't helped, so we are up early (waaaaaaah) tomorrow to get a walk in at the doctors. I really need him to sleep tonight, after the three good nights, we've had three dreadful ones and I would kill for a couple of consecutive hours kip right now!

Bad mothers don't worry about being bad mothers!

Glad TT enjoyed the swimming... have only taken miniP once and he did his best WTF face throughout. Def not a one person job either. Hope he gets on ok at the docs tomorrow. Boob milk in the eye is supposed to be good for conjunctivitis etc xx

I read that too!! I totally squirted him in the face, my aim isn't very good but I was amazed at how far I can squirt!! I might measure it next time. .

Hey rm! Glad to see you back. I'm pleased I came in and laid it out actually as I thought I was going mental. Still do a bit but at least going mental with everyone else!

Mixed reviews on the Ewan then but can try white noise. DH found a 24hr long video of Star Trek engine noise he wanted to use. So do you do that before you put them down or can you turn it on dummy ring the night when they wake up?

Where did you hire a pump from mini? That mandula one seems to get the best reviews. I have a crappy handpump I've been given to do a clinical trial. Will try tomorrow. I was worried it might be extra faff popz, will see how it goes and then maybe factor in if possible.

Good going on the swimming trip tee. Are there any baby lessons you can go to whereby grunion be support?

Lol Tee! Do we need to add that to baby Olympics? Tit squirtage!
Thanks all you lovely viroids sand I really hope we get answers and new milk tomorrow! We do have a dietitian and a paediatrician appointment in a couple of weeks but our lovely doctor said he won't let me wait that long and will prescribe the milk we want! Huzzah!
I'm up with the snot box-seriously I'm surprised he's not shot in the air with the force of his sneezes. He went ballistic and screamed the house down but he's nice and settled now and fast asleep wrapped all snugly in blankets let's hope he stays that way so I can get some kip!

Poor BabyPis usually has milk all over her face before it gets to her eyes. My aim is shocking. It does help though.

Not just me that enjoys bf is there? Once my nipples stopped hurting it's been great. I can imagine it's harder work with a toddler around. The teenager was a bit disgruntled about all the mum boob he was being exposed to but seems to have got used to it now. No nipple confusion here - if she wants boob then the dummy won't do. If she wants the dummy she gets very cross with boob for daring to give out milk.

Pixie my DP wondered if we played games like that in the bf support group

I'm not up with a baby - she's snoring merrily away - just not dropping off.

Im feeding after a 2hr sleep. I can des with that is a) we then had another 2hr sleep and b) he will let me put him down after the feed to go back to sleep. Instead I have to sit here while he pretends to feed until he hopefully falls asleep and the play the game of getting him into the cot. Failure is punishable by a boob swap and doing it all again.

I don't mind breastfeeding in itself pis., it's just the quantity that is upsetting me so much!

Not sure I have much boob squinty power but I'll join the game if there's medals!

Hoping for answers for you tomorrow pixie!

Viroids I've been shit, sorry! Been catching up now I'm testing the new talk app.

Dulcet, I hear ya, and that's why we're all here. I remember all too well with DS1 what a complete shocker it was, I'm calmer with Ds2 but still have days were I want to put him in the recycling and cry my heart out.

They do make liars of you, children, ds1 had a spectacular out of character tantrum and rude behaviour at my friends just after she'd asked how he was coping and id said he was an angel. And ds2 screams through Tuesday baby group but is a cooing comedy prop baby at home!

O is 12 weeks tomorrow, wtf did that happen? I gave him a MAM dummy from day 2 and never looked back. Has never affected BF, and is actually good for calming him down when he's gone too mental to latch on! I also use mam teats/bottles which are the same flat shape.

I'm like the naughty girl of breastfeeding group, I told a poor woman who looked destroyed to take one of my spares home and that I have apatimil at 11pm! Met her a week later and she nearly snogged me.

Are you able to feed lying down Dulcet, or not because of your scar? It would mean you can rest as the same time and then I find the transfer easier as baby isn't feeling all snug in your arms.

I don't mind bfing really but it's just the fact it means it's all down to me.

Pixie that must be hard when you have no option but to feed him something you know is hurting him. At least I could just stop eating the dairy. My doctors told me that wouldn't be the problem too and then I spoke to dietician and she agreed it was definitely the problem. GPs don't know much about it I don't think.

Re swimming, it is totally doable by yourself. Just takes a couple of goes to get used to it. It all seems a much bigger hassle than it actually is. I go with my costume already on and I don't take any stuff like inflatables. They are fine with you just holding them - easy to grip if in a wetsuit. If you carry them in in carseat you have somewhere to put them when getting yourself changed.

Will you get a bridge or implant or something then Tee? Think that's what I'll be heading for eventually.

Oh re white noise. I put it on during feed or just to help her fall asleep if not feeding. I advise you turn it off about ten minutes after he falls asleep. I have got into the situation that if I turn it off now she wakes up so she almost needs it to stay asleep. Which obviously I'm going to have to fix which will be painful no doubt.

I tried laying down once wil but couldnt get him on. He started stressing out so I gave up. Now I just do across body or rugby ball really.

Managed to give him a dummy briefly earlier but he won't keep it. When do you give it? I was aiming for when he fussed for me but I know I fed him recently.

Thanks kato. Today hasn't started well so may put him out with the bins. Whats the impact with giving aptimil at 11? Do they sleep longer? I have a breastfeeding consultant coming Tuesday, hoping for a miracle but probably unreasonable.

H currently sleeps in a sidecar cot and I love it! Said we'd move her when she was 6 months, but she's getting too big for it! She has always been one to spin around in it, but now she gets so squashed, even when she puts her legs up on my mattress. The thing is, I really don't think I can bear the idea of her not being there, I love love being able to look across at her. I said to mrZ about co sleeping but he's really not keen on the idea. I'm going to have to man up arent i?

On a different topic, he agreed to us having 4 kids last night! Mwahaha! (I'm far too old to do that though, meh)

Heh zyla, mrJ sleeps in another room so babyj and I co sleep. Although I would like her to stop hating her cot so much, it's just getting worse.

Pis - you know I love be too, gonna get filmed doing it! (That sounds rude...)

Hugs to those who need it, it gets better.

We've got mrj's siblings coming....one has asked to "borrow" more money...the same one that asked to borrow money when babyj was four days old and we were still in hospital and only gets in touch to make these requests. I guess I'll bite my tongue and possibly post on here. The brass neck!!

I put white noise on when I take him up to bed. I think it helps chill him out, so then he can drop off to sleep. I usually leave it on as long as I can now - it's on a 30 minute timer so have to go up to keep restarting it.

Trick with dummies I found is to wiggle it around/ try and pull it out of their mouth (reverse psychology almost) - then they're like OMG I need to suck this... and pull it back in their mouth. You might need to hold it in for him for a bit though.

2 hours straight is good going Dulce! Sorry if that doesn't help.... Feeding lying down gets easier as they get a bit bigger and have slightly more neck control. It's definitely a life saver once you've mastered it. Set your bed up nice and safe for cosleeping and it doesn't matter if you drop off while feeding.

Lol at tit squirtage.... I'm a grand master now miniP finds EVERYTHING in the world more exciting than boob. He waits til I'm in full flow and then PUSHES my boob out of his face to sit up... thereby squirting everyone in a 5 mile radius with boob milk.

I've been awake half the night with acid reflux - WTAF!? If I'm preg again already there's going to be hell to pay....

Disclaimer: I'm not pregnant. That requires sex to happen. I think my virginity's grown back.

• good to hear from you!

popz lol! You know you want to be pg again!

juni just say 'sorry we can't afford it now me have the little one' and repeat..and repeat..

I also love the bf, which is a good job cos she still snacks ALL the time. It's my time for snuggles :)