August 2016. Anyone got the hang of their babies yet?!!

[plimsolls]

Thought I'd start a new thread. Unimaginative title but E has spent the whole day grizzling/feeding/sleeping on me so I'm running on limited capacity!

Alas I doubt two days would suffice for getting whatever is making her farty out of your system Pear. And it may be that she is just farty! Do you have quite a fast let down of milk? I know DD struggles more when my boobs are extra spurty...

We are considering the most occasional of formula feeds. I have mixed feelings about it but, I think, willing to try. I'm not finding the time to express at the moment but DD feeds so frequently by day (and unpredictably) that I can't leave her for long. Which would be okay except it means it is really hard to get 1-1 time with DS. It all messes with my head though!

To be clear, I'm not saying 'breast is best'... it's just that bf-ing is emotive!

Have a look and see if there are any NCT nearly new sales or jack and Jill markets near you pear I got all of my sleeping bags from there for a couple of pound each. I wasn't willing to pay the grobag prices. It definitely makes it much easier to transfer DD from me to her cot at night because she is already warm.

Biscuits we give DD the odd bit of formula. I was adamant I wanted to continue doing bedtime for DS once she arrived and I'm rubbish at expressing. She probably has about 3oz a week if that! It's nice to know she'll take a bottle if there's ever an emergency or anything. It's really irregular whether she has any or not but it hasn't messed with my supply.

You can always have a go and if you find you don't like it just go back to ebf.

Bella thanks. That is helpful. Do you just buy the pre made milk if you're doing it so infrequently? I believe the pre made single portion bottles have a teat too so there's no prep whatsoever...?

Biscuits this may be the dumbest question but how would one know if they have a fast let down? I severely doubt I do as it always takes a few sucks before I hear her swallow. I hardly ever feel full because she's always grazing too At some point I was tracking how regularly she feeds but I've gone way past that now thanks to tiredness and lack of memory v time!

RE formula. I am tempted myself to try formula however I tried giving water in a bottle this week and she has no idea how to suck from a bottle. Syringe is the only way! I had this problem with DS too so I kind of already know it's not worth pursuing.

I've really messed up tonight. Only just got DS asleep and that's if he is asleep and it's nearly 10pm DS is just playing up so much. It takes an hour to convince him we're starting the bed routine, an hour to get him into bed and an hour to get him to sleep. I seriously need to improve on that tomorrow! Dd has had to stay awake for the majority of it so I will be interested to see if this has any effect on her sleep tonight!

Pear that is an epic bedtime with your ds. Very hard going!

I would describe a symptom of fast letdown as when the milk starts flowing initially it would be very spurty - so flowing into baby's mouth whether or not they are sucking, though they still may need to suck to get things going in the first place. Basically forcing them to drink at a faster rate than is comfortable. By now (in my experience at least) that gushy phase passes quickly and doesn't occur often. But DD used to get terrible hiccups after nearly every feed, due I suspect to gobbling milk.

DS was a bottle refusing baby too so I am realistic about the possibility of it not working again.

DD is wonky tonight. She has been grunting away, I picked her up and she was spectacularly sick, and now I think she is finally going to sleep. Poor little baby. I hope she manages a decent sleep.

Biscuits I hope you managed to miss the sick yourself! Good luck for a good nights rest ahh then I don't have a fast let down but Dd is certainly a quick guzzler. Could that be something to do with it? I'm seeing the lactation consultant tomorrow morning to ask her to check Dd mouth.

Oh dear, that reminds me that I've got to get the slow cooker going before I leave the house tomorrow morning. Always a challenge

Dishwasher is on. Both children asleep. DH still out in London working. Time for bed

No such luck on puke dodging but I hadn't got into pjs yet so my top was going in the wash anyway. She did okay in the end - woke 4ish. She is asleep again. I am not...the news is too distracting :(

Biscuits we were using the premade bottles but she actually only takes about 1/2 an oz at a time so we've switched to powder so we can make up small amounts. The tubs are Ok for 6 weeks after opening. The premade bottles are quite pricey, and the ones with teats are even more again. We do still keep a couple in just in case, as they're easier if I'm dropping DD off with my dad for an hour or so.

Pear that is an absolutely epic bedtime. Poor you, and poor DS! I wish I could suggest something but I'm still having awful trouble with my DS so really not I'm a place to advise.

DD is 13 weeks old today and last night she slept 8-5. . My bed is covered with milk. I feel extra mean about taking her for her jabs now, after she gave me such a treat. No doubt we'll be back to normal service tonight so I shall make the most of having some energy today!

Just back from 4m jabs. Was anyone else told to give two post-immunisation doses of calpol regardless of temp for the menB jab? Apparently I should have done this at the 2m jabs too

Biscuits yes I was told to do so & given an info leaflet for any jabs involving men b as fever is so likely. The nurse even gave DD her first dose of calpol herself

Yes we were told to give calpol too. We're just back from 2nd lot and have been told to give one dose of calpol as a precaution as she was so unwell after the last lot. That's not standard though.

So knowing how poorly DD was after her last lot of jabs, I arranged for Mt dad to have DS this afternoon (he was in nursery this morning) so I could give DD all the cuddles she needed. DS had a massive tantrum about going so I've ended up bringing him home. I was really looking forward to focusing on DD fora bit without worrying about entertaining DS. DD is asleep on me, DS wants me to play lego. Argh! I can only please one of them. I feel like I should prioritise DD this afternoon but poor DS.

Bella Lego would be a perfect sling activity I have to do all our morning activities with Dd in a sling. Yesterday I didn't put her in quick enough which was a disaster as she ruined the mood with her screams and then DS was no longer interested in painting after getting everything out

Biscuits yes, my nurse gave Dd a dose of calpol the first time. I think I'll do it second time round as she made such a mess of it. It was frustrating to watch it all dribble out It was my HV who told me to go armed with calpol. Perhaps this is the source of info that you missed out on?

Pear we often do lego at the table with DD asleep on my lap, unfortunately DS had originally wanted to be on the sofa, so I'd settled her on my chest and then he changed his mind. Fortunately my dad came over for a couple of hours and saved the day!

Ah well. We knew to do a pre immunisation dose of calpol, it was the two doses afterwards that wasn't well communicated last time. Anyway have dutifully done it this time. V glad to have got the jabs done now until she is 1.

Pre immunisation calpol? Not aware of that one How is your Dd feeling after the last set of jabs biscuits?

Pre immunisation calpol is routinely just for 2m & 4m jabs due to the menB.

DD has coped mostly okay. Mainly because she just spent the rest of the day in the sling. Bedtime took a while but fair emough.

She got weighed and is now 13lbs! She now weighs more than DS did at the same age - which makes me realise how awful his reflux was. His weight gain was painfully slow.

Pear are you still on a sleeping bag hunt? Just spotted that Vertbaudet sell sleeping bags with detachable sleeves in 0-6m size. They aren't cheap but there's often discount codes knocking about

Biscuits yes and no. Want to get one but also don't want to spend more money this month. Think I'll leave it for now but thanks for sharing. This week I seem to be making do with swaddling and blankets.

Oh and woohoo for 13lbs. I still need to work out how much Dd weighed last week at the hospital! Might do that now.

Is anyone planning on going to any Christmas parties without your baby? I normally attend a meal with girlfriends but this year I'm wondering whether it's achievable I've just fed Dd now and it's 8pm. She will want feeding again at 11 and that's if she doesn't wake up again before. Basically I'm thinking if I got to restaurant for 9pm and left at 10:30pm then I would be OK. 1.5hrs to see friends is better then nothing right?

Obviously I wouldn't be able to eat but definitely could have a pudding.

A dairy free pudding