September 2006 babies - smiles all round!

[clairemow]

New thread for us....

hello anna- welcome to mumsnet! YOu will get some really great advice/support on here so ask what you want! Wow, 14lb 3oz. that's fantastic esp with bf - well don Re: the refusal of bottle thing - maybe she is feeling a bit under the weather/coming down witha cold? lo's really seem to want lots of extra mummy contact when they are feeling under par (I can speak from recent experienc here as my ds 18 weeks started to wake frequently in the night just for a comfort suck ). Maybe you should revert to total bf for the moment if your supply is stlll good and then try the bottle again in a few days.... it might work hth

Welcome anna,
You could try the habermann feeder which is v like a nipple' my lo was on a mix of BF and FF from the start and was not confused at all - might be harder now your lo is older. maybe worth trying different formulas too. Now Ive just put my lo onto Comfortable digestion formula by Cow and Gate as he was so windy and in obvious pain... now after 24 hours on the new feed he is smiley having done the most incredible power poo which nearly seared my nasal passages and made my eyes water - heaven only knows how it felt to him....

hugs to all!

Not been on for a few days and what a busy board it's been.
Munki - in response, the symptoms of reflux were vomiting after every feed (weeks of HV saying "all babies posset") and v. v. low weight gain or some weeks slight loss, looking very skeletal as a consequence, constantly wanting feeding, squirming body and crying, shrieking as if in pain always resulting in a vomit (i.e. bringing up milk that would pour down me and end up in a pool on sofa/floor, etc - v. glad we didn't bother changing the laminate in the lounge when we moved in Dec 2005!). I got lots of info on reflux from the Baby Whisperer site to be honest and I didn't know that's what it was until it was diagnosed in hospital. However, tbh the hypoallergenic formula and me cutting commonly allergenic foods out of my diet (as i'm still combining bf and ff) have helped more than medicines did. So can't guarantee these symptoms are totally reflux related. Commonly reflux babies don't like lying flat on their backs either (we have cot and changing table propped up to a slant).
Cruise - well done you on continuing with bfing and if you don't want to stop, then keep going as long as you want. I think my supply is really on the wane and am really sad about it , but think that wouldn't have been the case if it weren't for hospital telling me to top up with formula or face another stay in hospital until they could identify problem and he put on weight (at 17 weeks, he was still 12lbs 4ozs despite using formula, so fingers crossed the consultant is happy with that tomorrow). I wish I could have kept breastfeeding solely as we both took to it well, despite reflux and if we have another one, really hope I would be able to continue bfing totally - although formula does allow a little more flexibility and my DH loves giving him bottle (I was useless at expressing).
Tassis - your HV sounds completely different to everything else I have heard on weaning and have read some strong threads about trying to not wean until 6 months so gut has time to mature, but hey, like everything else in parenthood I would say that you know your baby best and will know when they want weaning.
Cruise & Munki glad to hear LOs are sleeping better. DS is sleeping a bit better too, although as ever unpredictable (we'll see how tonight goes as I always seem to jinx it on here!) and is favouring 6am as a latest wake up time!
I'm still on hypoallergenic diet so I can continue some bfing (as much as DS will take), so holding out for tomorrow to see if consultant will agree to allergy testing. On the plus side, the bigger size skirt I bought so I had something to wear at Christmas is now hanging on my hips and my skin looks better (and of course big plus is DS is much happier), but was v. hard last night when DH was sitting next to me on sofa tucking into his Haagen Dazs, whilst we watched our taped episode of Desperate Housewives (is on definitely past my bedtime on Wednesdays) and today while he continued to munch through our Christmas chocolate (although he's a sports centre manager, he does always say that people working in the fitness industry can have the worst diets!)
Anyway, am waffling now, 'cos DH is giving LO a bottle so I'm having some me time - LO was not satisfied after bf.
Hope you're all having lovely Sundays - am off to look at the bad parent thread.
P.S. can't remember who referred to you know who, but I wasn't aware that Lord Voldemort had written a childcare book (a Harry Potter joke for those who read them) - yes, I have a very bad sense of humour, tee hee!

Jingle, funny, as Lord Voldermort came into my head when i read the post that said 'you know who'! hahaah. im happy that im not the only grown up into the harry potter books... took me a second to work out who they were talking about in the post. (mustve been a "slow" day for me.)

also, jingle, thanks for the symptons of the reflux. my ds was, for the first couple months, screaming and wriggling in pain when trying to pass wind or doodie or after he ate...but its subsided for the most part, was just curious.

Munki, thanks for supporting me on that one! Was obviously in the mood for that after watching bits of the third film on tv last night.
I think a lot of babies have discomfort with digestive things in first couple of months from what I hear and who is to say that DS recent upturn is not just to do with maturing gut, rather than medication, formula or anything I am eating differently, but glad to hear that your LO has got past that too!
Right, supposed to be putting washing away - DS has conked out 1/2 an hour early tonight, without finishing bottle top-up, so need to make the most of it. He will probably wake just when dinner is ready, wanting rest of bottle!

Evening everyone We haven't had dd weighed since her 6 week check so we attempted to on your scales last night as she is 4 months today. We think she is approx 16 lbs - she fits fine in 3-6 month clothes and looks perfectly healthy so I can't face taking her to hv to be weighed properly Although I am tempted to ask her advice re. weaning so I can quote the WHO guidelines at her if she gets it wrong
Welcome to Anna and Fairysnuff - looking forward to chatting

Jingle and Munki - I haven't read any Harry Potter (much to my DH's disgust)but "Lord Voldermort's" system is working a treat! DS is having a 2 hour sleep over lunchtime which was previously unheard of. Last night he fed at 9.30 and then woke at 2.30. Managed to settle him with 4oz of water and he went through until 7am. Lovely. And proof that he doesn't need to eat in the night. Fingers crossed it continues... And fingers crossed that I'll eventually be able to do it without referring to the book
Anna and Fairysnuff, welcome. I'm sure you'll find it really helpful here. I do! Anna, I think there's a good 'breast like' bottle by tommee tippee called 'close to nature' or something similar? A friend of mine has had success with that.

Better go. Off to dish up my sunday roast. With Apple and Blackberry pie for pud. My favourite. The healthy eating can start tomorrow...

Hi everyone,
Had a bad day today. I woke in the night with what I think is a blocked duct. Its a big hard lump in one part of breast that is really tender. It feels like engorgement but only in one bit so I've been massaging it all day and put hot towels on it. Its really sore now but not as tight as it was last night. I hope it goes away soon, its not pleasant
Hope everyone has a good night.

sorry to hear that Myrtle Have you taken any ibrupfrofen or simialr anti-inflammatory. I had similar about 3 weeks in and a day of anti-inf's calmed it right down

Compo,
I haven't taken any ibuprofen but took some arnica tablets earlier in the hope that they might help witht the swelling. How long did it take for your blockage/lump to go away when you had it?

myrtle - I had one before christmas - ouch. the advice was to feed loads on that side nad manipulate the sore spot. It will soon go...

myrtle - ouch! hope it's better now, if not, do take some pain relief.. I had it when DS was about 2 weeks and i ended up in bed with flu like symptons (i think it was the beginning of mastitis), but I took paracetomal AND ibuprofen (it was that painful) and kept feeding from that side, within 24 hours it was sorted.
Well DS2 is able to sit up all by himself!!!! I am amazed and gobsmacked!!! obviously he can't get himself into a sitting position, but if i sit him up, he can balance well for quite a while and is putting his hands out if he starts to keal over.
Had his third lot of injections on firday - he was so brave to say it was three injections - ouch!!!, no ill effects though and he is now 16lb 14oz. I spoke to the HV about weaning, she just said hang on as long as poss. He woke up at 4am this morning, but I left him as he wasn't crying, he then went back to sleep and I went to get him at 6.30am, he is still going three hours between feeds, so I really don't think I need to worry about weaning for a while yet.

just to add, Cruise, I am also the only BF in my family, my brother and I both being bottle fed (so no support from my mum) and my SIL bottle feeding her baby.
I also intend to keep going as long as poss, DS2 has 1 bottle of formula at the 10.30pm feed, but once he drops that feed when he's weaning, I may stop using formula at all.
I think that it's perfectly acceptable to feed in public while your babies under a year (I'm not saying it's NOT acceptable over a year - but you know what people can be like!), and by the time they are about 9 months to a year they will probably only be on a morning and evening feed anyway, which you can do at home, that's what I'm hoping to do anyway.

hi all,

Welcome Anna and Fairysnuff!

Anna, we had bottle refusal with DS1. Fought really hard and screamed a lot. I cried a lot... We decided to persevere, and he eventually gave up fighting and was happy. I would try different teats and bottles if you can to see if there's one he prefers. Also DS2 is really fussy about the temperature of his milk, likes it quite warm, and won't drink it at all if it's cool!

Bristols, good news on the longer sleep. F is well and truly into the Routine by She who must not be named. I know it doesn't suit everyone, but I really like knowing where I am, and find it easier to fit DS1's activities around F's sleeps etc. It also means I pretty much know I'll have a couple of hours to spend with DS1 every day, and we get to have a cuddle and a play on our own, which I love (he doesn't sleep in the day anymore, but really benefits from "quiet time" while F sleeps).

On breast feeding, I'd love to still be bf Fraser - but I didn't feel the length of time it took to feed him every time was fair on DS1, we were spending most of the day at home. Feeding in a cafe for an hour is great when you've only got a baby, but with a v. active 2.8 year old who only wants to sit and have a drink for 10 mins max, it's darn near impossible..., and Fraser just wasn't getting a full feed ever!

Hi All!

Thanx for the great advice re. bf / bottle formula. I've originally purchased Advent bottles and now on Mams bottles. I'm not sure if I can afford another new set of bottles and teats. I have also been recommended Tommee Tippee brand. I wish I had bought it initially.
Anyhow, I have changed the teats to a faster flow, maybe that will encourage my lo to drink up, plus trying feeds on a bouncy chair, away from my chest/arms.. Hopefully, that will work!
I also get confused with lo feed/sleep -either a proper drink or just a little suckle before drifting off for a nap.. so confusing! Its bad habit associating feeding with sleeping and vice-versa.

You ALL sound like you know what you're doing with your los. I'm so pleased to have joined this discussion thread!

Mabel1973 - I know what you mean by bf in public. To be honest, I really dont see many people do it in public, ie. shopping centres - So many young mums pushing their babies around - don't the little ones ever get hungry?

Chat soon!

hi again,

Anna, do you have any friends using different bottles? Perhaps you could borrow one to try out so you don't have all that outlay unnecessarily. Have to say though that with DS1, we just had to keep trying and he eventually drank when he was hungry enough... It's hard when they can smell you there though. Have you tried getting DH to do a feed with you out of the house? I know it sounds mad, but I think babies can smell Mummy from quite a distance...!

I was thinking about feeding in public - I've fed in some odd places - a cemetery, a bench in a churchyard, the car, walking along out of the park! By DS2, I was whopping them out anywhere, would have done it in the supermarket if necessary!!! I think the reason we don't see it often is because the number of people who bf is actually quite low in the UK, and some places make it uncomfortable. It would be far more common if more than 3% of people chose to/were able to bf.

PS - we don't all know what we're doing, don't worry!! It's just easier to give advice to other people than to know what to do yourself I sometimes think!!!

claire i am also far less reserved about feeding in public with ds2, i was told by a checkout woman in m&s that if someone complained that THEY would be asked to either leave or put up with it, as they are apparantly on some NCT bfreastfeeding friendly list of shops.

Anna - I often give Ds2 a little feed before a nap if he won't settle ( I am trying to stop it, as I know it's supposed to lead to bad habits), but I always feed him off to sleep at night, but I don't really see that as a problem, it our little quiet time (I will probably regret it when he's over a year old and I'm still having to do it!!!!)

Also John Lewis v. good for feeding - that's probably why you don't see people feeding Anna, they are all stuck in the feeding room in John Lewis!!

I didn't know ypu were not allowed to feed in public in England, or am I getting things confused?
I would be happy to feed anywhere and would be shocked if anyone said anything!
Though I have to say, DH was V worried about me doing it the first time until he left me to find a seat in the supermarket cafe whilst he queued. He came over to me twice to chat and didn't even notice himself! Nevermind being worried about others seeing!!
It just depends on how you do it I guess. Some woman really do "whop" them out there! I am sure thats not what you do clairemow
Life is just so much easier bf, no bottles to prepare or ask staff to heat and you really do have the freedom to just get on with it. Glad to be in scotland!

I use the Tommee Tippee, Close to Nature and have never had any probs with DD taking from a bottle. Even from me! but I hope the Mam works for you Anna.
V Mabel. DS sitting up!! I was chuft when DD picked up her teething hoop of her own accord and managed to get her toy into her mouth the other day!!

Fairy, you can feed in public in England, we just don't have the lovely law you have in feel you can feed anywhere. I haven't ever felt like I was being looked at disapprovingly when I've fed out and about, and haven't ever been asked to stop, but I know that has happened to some of my friends. I think it's ignorance.

I thought we'd got through today without a tantrum! up until 4.45 we had.... then to leave the park, took nearly 1/2 an hour, for 1/4 of an hour I just stood while DS1 threw himself about on the (muddy) ground refusing to get up. I can't carry him and push DS1's buggy, so I just waited til he stopped. Once he'd calmed down, he said he was sorry Mummy and I won't do it again. Until the next time.... Hahahah.

Myrtle, how's the blocked duct? I had one back in October - I got rid of it with lots of feeding from that side, expressing, hot baths and massaging, and ibuprofen. Be careful if you start feeling shivery and fluey, as it could become mastitis, if you start feeling dreadful, take yourself to the GP if it lasts more than a day without getting better. They can give you some antibiotics (but you can still feed with them). Hope you're feeling better today...

sorry, the "lovely law you have in Scotland, so you"

anna88 - my ds would not take a bottle at all until I tried the playtex nursing system. It is a really soft teat and the interior of the bottle is a disposable plastic bag kind of thing which is supposed to simulate a breast being emptied . Now, if I need to use a bottle I use tommy tippee ones which have a really wide neck and flexible teat. he takes these no problem. hth

have been wondering for a while, what is "hth"? Probably being very very thick here....!!!

clair - hope that helps (hth!!!)