March 2017 babies

[purpleviolet1]

So my 9 day old baby boy was delivered by emcs at 37+5 gestation due to presenting breech (waters broke and contractions started). First baby so lots to learn!

Currently giving him expressed milk and formula topup. We tried breastfeeding but there was latch issues, he got very frustrated as he wasn't getting satisfied and my nipple was cracked and bleeding within a couple of days. I then got blocked ducts and the whole thing was a disaster really. I feel like a bit of a failure and did get help from bf clinic for the latch but it was little too late. With the c section recovery I just feel too exhausted to have him on the boob constantly and least with formula he is getting some decent sleep (although I'm usually expressing during this time so don't get a proper rest).

Oh and his fussy time is between 10pm -2am. He tends to feed and need winded on repeat between this time. It's exhausting but tonight I had a nap from 7-10pm in anticipation.

Come and join me for some chat...

Hi again all! Hugh I'm expressing small amounts just to get ds used to a bottle. I have a hand pump and get around 40mL in 5 minutes. It's quite hard work so I don't have the patience to do much more than that!

I wonder if electric pumps are much easier?

Daphne i find both the Haakaa pump and the electric pump very easy to use. No effort and can usually get a decent amount of milk.

I had an avent hand pump with dd1 many years ago, always found it really hard.

Only used electric one once but was very impressed. Mind you it wants to be good for the price!

I'm like you hugh - I don't mind watching my DH do the hard work! And having both hands free to drink a cup of tea is bliss. I do have a niggling worry about nipple confusion but all seems ok so far. Has anyone tried their LO with a dummy?

name the haakaa looks great. Can you use it when you're not feeding on the other side?

Yes daphne and yes helped loads. Introduced it at 3 weeks, he constantly wanted to suckle and we were mistaking it for hunger when he really didn't need milk. It helps soothe him when distressed too. Only pain is when he pops it out by accident and we have to get up to pop it back in! We weren't keen it hv recommended it and it'd really helped.

Daphne
No you can't use the Haakaa when you're not feeding from the other side. It works using suction and the natural let-down reflex, you literally just stick it on your boob and watch the milk come out - but the milk wouldn't flow if it wasn't for baby feeding.

We tried a dummy but DS didn't seem to like it. I think he's obsessed with milk and not just sucking!!

Happy Good Friday everyone ! I hope you all have a great weekend and get some sleep ! LO did very well last night , she fed at 12 then again and 4 or just after and 8 still won't take past 3oz though which worries me a bit but maybe she just knows her limit for now ?

When I breast fed DD1 the Medela pump was literally a life saver , they are expensive but it was amazing .

Hugh
Look up closed v open system pumps. I think the Medela Swing is an open system which means it's not advisable to share it or use second hand (although I might be wrong). FWIW I have an Ardo Calypso which is a closed system.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm nervous about using a dummy - we've had issues with weight gain so I want to encourage as much sucking on the breast as possible! But I left it late trying one with my first and he would never take one. Maybe it's time to give it a try.

I definitely need to get a better pump. I don't leak much on the side I'm not feeding from, so I wonder if a hakaa would work. They look really handy though and much cheaper than an electric pump.

name what position do you have baby in when using the haakaa?

Daphne
I don't leak from the other boob but the Haakaa still works for me
The position I mostly use is the classic cradle hold (I think that's what it's called) with DS lying across my tummy, his head resting in the crook of my elbow, and a cushion under my arm. His body lies diagonally across my tummy so it's under the other boob and I can put the Haakaa pump on.
You can also use the pump in the laid-back position (which I call the "face plant" because the baby is on his tummy with his face planted on the boob!) but I've given up that position because we don't really like it, DS fusses and I don't find it very comfy.

Hugh it's painful tbh , some days worse than others and usually only on the right where this hematoma is .
I know it's bad but I've been putting off booking my 6 week post natal because I don't want them to touch it or tell me anything bad about it .
Don't think wearing jeans helps if I'm honest .
Yes that sounds a good idea about the pump as they are so expensive aren't they .

LO has been bitting and bobbing on 2oz since last night so not as long sleeping in the night . A guy that works in our local had a daughter 3 days after ours and I always feel he's competing like "my DD weighs this much / drinks this much / sleeps this much / never cries " and mine does cry and does wake up so I just say wow brilliant hahaha.

Well mother not that I'm competitive but....

At just over 3 weeks old my DD sleeps through the night, never cries, has 3oz feeds every 4 hours and has just learnt how to tap dance in morse code to tell me exactly what she wants!!

X

Hahaha thanks Carol that made me giggle

Lol 😆 made me giggle!

Well I feel we have taken a step back. Didn't finish 4oz at any one feed last night so he was feeding 2.5-3oz every 2.5 hours. Takes approx 60 mins on average to feed burp settle so basically I hardly slept. And even when I could've done, I just couldnt relax and get into a deep sleep. I feel so exhausted today , so over tired that even when my mum has had him I can't switch off and sleep. My whole body is aching please tell me it gets better! Might have to resort to some 'night nurse' tonight when dh has him.

purple my LO had a couple of nights like that during the week, up every 2 hours, only having 2-3oz instead of 4oz. Then not settling at all between the 3-5am feeds. Then settled fine last night, fed 4oz at 1, 4 and 7 went straight to sleep after each feed.

she seems much more settled today so must have been having a couple of bad days

purple
That sounds exhausting, and I totally understand about not being able to switch off - I struggle with that too. Hang on in there, accept all the help you can get, and I hope things get easier soon

hugh I totally understand how you feel- I slightly envy my dh going off to work. Unfortunately I don't work from home so it's all or nothing, and I'm not scheduled to go back until DS is 7 months. Would you have childcare or would you be cramming the work into nap times?

Well clearly a settled day doesn't mean a settled evening

She woke at 4:15 and hasn't been to sleep since.

She just won't settle, was showing "I'm hungry" signs 45 minutes after having 4oz

So thought I would kill some time to try and get her closer to her next feeding time by giving her a bath. Well she decided to show me what torturing her sounded like with the loudest " someone is trying to kill me" screams. So feed her after bath, she nearly had the full 4oz and is now fighting going to sleep.

Feeling so crap at the minute. I know she's over tired. She gets her stubbornness from my OH