March 2016: the one where Indomitable gives birth...

[vroc81]

I hope I haven't duplicated a new March thread in my sleep deprived state.. Went to reply and found thread was full!..

Congrats indom! Wow that was a quick labour in the end! And what a good size. DD was v mucousy and feeding was hard work but we got there in the end. Hope you're enjoying snuggles.

I'll catch up properly later... But cracked nipples - any recommendations other than lansinoh? Am scared of the night shift with them... Also I'm not sure why they are cracked, as the latch seems good to me?

When did you all start expressing? I'd like to do so this time so DH can do some night feeds!

crispy I started about 2 days ago - so when Rory was 10 days old, probably only express enough for 1 feeds worth a day at the minute but that's because I worry that I'm going to drain myself dry and not have enough left for him when he wants to feed next. Dp is using it for an evening feed - about 7pmish so I can have a bath and hide away for half an hour. Feels like some normality in this crazy upside down world we are in at the moment.

Thanks for the snoozy-baby tips and app recommendations. Since he's been a bit... laid back, I just want to be sure he's feeding often enough at the moment.

Wowsers for those of you expressing and managing to save some how did you get ahead of feeding.. We're expressing for feeds still as she's still struggling with feeding (I regret the excitement of proclaiming success the other day since those two feeds we've not repeated it..) but even if I get a feed ahead she catches up? I'm managing to pump 3 - 4 ozs per pump? Do I need to pump in between the every 3 hours I currently am?

When I want to express to save some I used to do it about an hour after a feed as I thought there would then be enough by the time they wanted more. I've always been very lucky with my supply though so never really worried that much. Trying to plan that and parent ds is tricky though and the fact that I have been lazy with it I know I will be annoyed if we need some and I haven't done it though although supermarkets are open 24hrs selling formula

vroc I am currently expressing exclusively as breastfeeding didn't work well for us, and can only go off my experiences but I tend to express 4-5 times a day at the mo (or whenever my boobs start going rock hard! If I'm around when Eleanor is crying, they soon fill up again due to hormones and emotional reaction). I tend to get around 3-4oz from each breast and as Eleanor is only taking around 3oz for each feed I can quite easily get ahead. I am usually around 3-4 feeds ahead of her, just to be on the safe side, and so have managed to freeze quite a bit as well.
I am aware, however, that once she really ups her amount, I will struggle to keep up, so am freezing what I can now so she can have the breast milk for as long as possible before we have to start topping up with formula.

Thanks charley, and good work I thought I was doing well getting 4oz clearly need to up my pumping!

Well, what can I say? It's a perculiar talent, ones norks were just made for expressing
Actually, if I was breastfeeding, I doubt I'd be able to get so much through expressing, but as Eleanor has decided it isn't for her, I'm having to do it this way

DD1 is currently playing up, shouting for either me or DH from her bedroom. She doesn't want anything as she goes all quiet when we go in, and at this time of night as I'm trying to settle Eleanor before I embark on expressing, my patience is wearing very thin

crispy I started expressing on about day 10, initially just to have a bottle for DH to do night feed though yesterday I expressed 2 bottle (2-3oz) and could have done more. It takes about 10-15 mins to hand express 2-3oz though my sis has lent me a pump I just have to replace on (closed) part of so I will use pump at some point. The only thing that is stopping me expressing more is the fact more milk will come in so the boob relief will only be temporary. One nippke gets a much better latch than the other so 70% of feeds are from that nipple and most of the expressing is from the 'dodgy' nipple.

If anyone wants some of the Lansinoh expressing bags I've got 3 unopened boxes. You're very welcome to them - just PM me and I'll stick them in the post.

My Dsis gave them to me and I forgot I had them but we're using the Tommy Tippee express pouches.

Wow Indom fast labour! Nice weight too, not a huge baby after all!

Really don't envy those of you having to express every/most feeds. I remember how tough it is. You're all doing an amazing job though .

Dh has to work today so I'm on my own with both dcs for the first time. Slightly dreading dinner/bedtime because these are the main cluster feeding hours and I haven't quite worked out the logistics of it. I've only just figured out how I can safely shower and its 10am already! Any tips anyone has would be every much appreciated!

How do you know how much to express for each feed charley? Rory is 2 weeks old today and I think we are going to try to transition over to bottles of expressed for every feed, he's been ill with a really bad cold this last few days and it's killed me, constant feeding for comfort night and day am drained and exhausted and at my end, broke down last night as dp is back at work Monday and don't know if I can do this without him here kudos to all of you who have managed this more than once, it's so tough.

Oh Q you poor thing, it sounds like you're having a tough time of it I hope Rory feels better soon, it's awful when they are ill when they are still so small. Lots of and for you.
Wrt expressing- it's been a bit of trial and error. I don't really know how much to express, it's been a combination of how much time I have, how much I can get off each boob before supply slows up and how much I can fit into the bottles as I can only fit in about a maximum of 150ml if I wanted to anyway. I then just tried different amounts with Eleanor. If she finished a bottle I'd add another 10mls or so to make sure she was getting enough. Actually, I think I'm going to have to up the amount again- I was offering around 90mls and she wasn't quite finishing it, but the past few feeds she has been draining the bottle and I've had to top it up, so will probably start offering 100/110mls and see how she gets on.
I would say that expressing for every feed is harder than just breastfeeding as you're having to faff around with bottles and making time to express rather than just being able to pop them on the breast when they need feeding. But the plus side is that your partner can help out then, which does give you a bit of a break sometimes. You can always give it a go and see how it works out for you- maybe even just expressing enough for a couple of feeds a day will give you chance of a bit of a break when your DP is home and can take over.

Just popped on to wish indom well and see she's had her baby - congratulations!!

Thanks for the support and kind words the other day everyone I don't use a sling as I'm so shit at anything practical I'm hopeless at putting them on :(

Indom congratulations on your April Fools baby!! Can't wait for pics.

I failed epically at parenting the other day. I was sorting my hair ready to walk to the shop and then my 3yo appeared with a wide awake Nancy in her arms having CARRIED HER UP THE STAIRS I was shaking for about 20 minutes!!

Nancy also had a red strawberry mark on her eyelid. We were told that it might fade a little but is pretty permanent.

Has*

Beaut they were both fine so don't beat yourself up, my sis did exactly the same to me at 3 days old... She was 3 as well but carried me down, my mum was restrained by my Gran at the bottom so she didn't rush at her and panic!

Currently pumping in the car! Such a classy look but wanted to see if I could increase my milk, one of my boobs seems to have even less than 24hrs ago?!!

Well done to everyone who has managed to express - I haven't even managed to get the pump out of its box this time around. After feeds is the best time for me to play with the big two, so I can't see when I'll fit it in. Desperate to get Ted to take a bottle soon, though. DD was a bottle refuser, so DS started on a couple of bottles of BM every week from around a month old - must do the same this time.

Beaut there was no harm done so why not see it as teaching your dd how to successfully climb the stairs with a wriggling baby, not something you would necessarily want her to repeat but not a parenting fail.

Beaut , I was concerned about navigating a sling having seen my sis use just a length of material but I use the Close Caboo and find it easy. It has a sewn back panel so you put on like a tshirt with that at the back and it is hard to go wrong. Eloise finds it very relaxing judging from the sleeping she does in it and there is zero back strain for me. Maybe worth seeing if you can borrow from a local sling library. Tbh pressure was on to make it work for us as we bought a second hand maxi-cosy pram and only realised once home how crazily big it is, totally unsuited for us really.

MrsBen I had to reread your post several times, talking about expressing, breastfeeding and the playing with the two big ones I rather for the wrong end of the stick
vroc81 that is the problem with expressing it's somehow far more awkward to do in public than breastfeeding.. I used to express in the car a lot when travelling to and from grandparents!

Hahaha bump I thought exactly the same re mrs '2 big ones'!!

Q please don't beat yourself up, just do what you need to to feel better. There is no 'right &wrong' when it comes to feeding, purely what suits someone better. If you think bottles with ease things for you and make your baby more contended they maybe 'right' for you.

I'm slightly in limbo too, bfing seemingly going well here but this last week Bertie has been so much more unsettled...I have no idea where my placid boy has gone?! He was 4 weeks old yesterday, thought things were supposed to get easier. DS is gaining weight nicely, but it's niggling me as to whether to introduce formula to 'fill up' some more. He's taking the expressed milk once a day really well so far, usually across bed/bathtime for Dd do I can get some 1-2-1 in with her. But I can tell for the other unsettled times my DP is feeling slightly useless as he cannot calm DS down?! I'm struggling to express more than 1 bottle a day time wise?! Gah...or do I persevere and hope DS is just having a niggly week and will chill out without being topped up with formula?! (Now where is my crystal ball?!)

Oh and beaut I was talking about slings yesterday as feel one would be handy when walking my dog, but had the same reservations re being able to find the right one for me and being able to do them. My friend pointed out that there's a number of sling libraries where you can hire them but more importantly can 'try before you buy'. Not sure if that would help?! I did a google search and quite a few came up....apart from in my area it's closed until May!! Grrr

We had our day 5 weigh in today and R has lost just 30gs! Go boobs Such a different experience to that with DD when weigh ins were just awful and stressful. I do so feel for those of you going through that at the mo.

Ha Bump

Beaut if you decide to try a sling, the Close Caboo is very easy to use - it only takes a minute to put on. I've been waking up, feeding, getting dressed and popping it straight on to get DD and DS1 ready/play/make myself a huge coffee!!!