July 2017#7 - The One Where We Have Sleepless Nights and Master the Art of Eating Food One-Handed

[Notyetthere]

Link to the last thread;

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2962422-july-2017-6-labour-here-we-come

@Algebraic no experience of projectile vomiting but I would assume choke risk is low because it's getting projected out and away from the mouth? Poor baby getting covered in milky sick though.

On nipple shields - People just seem to be judgy about them when you google or ask seasoned breastfeeding pros (aka mums who have babies over a year old and probably can't remember). I don't care if he needs to feed for longer because of flow issues as long as the pain isn't there.

@nat2311 that's good to hear - I'll make a trip to Boots first thing and give them a go.

@Lallypopstick Don't be silly! There's nothing wrong with you using nipple shields if it helps. When I was going through my major BF despair I too read all the judgey comments online about nipple shields (I really don't get why people have a problem with them...?!) but a dear friend of mine insisted that I try them as they had absolutely salvaged her BF experience. Unfortunately I didn't find that they helped in my case but they may well do in yours. Try anything that might help make things better, and don't give a second thought to anyone else's opinions. Do what is right for you and baby ❤️

My friend is a nurse and a natural term breastfeeder and she has used nipple shields from day dot. Don't feel bad @Lallypopstick they make them for a reason and that is the reason!

I've got an avent shell set that has some with air holes in to help with sore nipples as well. Might be worth a look as well?

Lally I am glad I didn't Google any of those comments when I used the shields. I believe that if it wasn't for the shields I would have given up breastfeeding within days. SIL bought them for me on day 3 and I used them till week 3 or 4. I can't even remember when I stopped using them but I remember using them for a few days, then back on the nipple till it was sore then shields back on. I did this till nipples stopped getting sore. I believe some people use them for a lot longer than I did; as long as babies are getting their feeds, who cares how these feeds are administered? Surely people have better things to do?

Butterfly Yes baby Fran is mixed raced. You are right, her cuticles are a darker brown compared to rest of her. Her ears appear darker but I think it's the lanugo hairs. Her back also appears darker but I also think that's the lanugo that has created a dark shadow over her.

Bawbles how old is your DD if you don't mind me asking? I wouldn't be surprised if baby Fran is also skinny. Dh is tall and skinny; so is MIL, great grandad is also tall and skinny so I think it runs in the family. But yes, my DD is an expert at projectile vommies. She is currently sleeping on my chest having projectile vomited her last feed. The last time she slept for 5hrs after a massive projectile vomit. Here is to hoping.

not
She's ten and pretty much the same shape since birth Very long, skinny, broadish back and big feet. Always 25th centile weight and 97th length.

Ds I expect will change shape as he was growth restricted before birth so although he was tiny/really skinny I don't think he's meant to be that way. He was/is 2nd centile for weight but hopefully will jump up now his tongue has been released and he can feed effectively

That's interesting @Notyetthere that the theory about the darker skin tone first showing around the cuticles appears to ring true with Baby Fran too. Baby Z also has lanugo on his ears and back at the moment so I can't tell if the skin is actually darker there or not.

I sent the picture of Baby Z's hands to my DH and he replied with this photo of his hand, also showing darker skin around the cuticles (which to be honest I hadn't specifically noticed before), so whilst I'm quite sure Baby Z will get darker over time, perhaps the 'cuticle colour = final overall skin tone' equation is not strictly accurate. I find genetics so fascinating anyway so it will be interesting to see how everything develops. Already seeing changes to his hair and eye colour too.

DD and DS are also mixed race. At the moment, he seems darker-skinned than her, but who knows whether that will persist.

He's got a Mongolian blue spot birthmark, and we live in such an overwhelmingly white area that the paediatrician who did the day 1 checks has documented it in his red book, in case it ever gets mistaken for a bruise!

Oh no way @Spindelina ! I guess it was wise of the paediatrician to do that just to avoid any potentially distressing confusion, but surely any HCP (in a white-dominated area or not) should know about the prevalence of Mongolian blue spots in darker skinned babies?!

It will be interesting to see if your DD and DS end up a similar tone or not. My DH is one of 6 and is by far the darkest of all his siblings. In fact there's such a variety between the 6 of them (all from same mother & father) that they often joke they could make a Dulux chart out of a family photo 😂

Ok, so, Baby Z has finally cracked sleeping somewhere other than on my person for the past few nights (thanks to the marvellous invention that is the GroSnug) but nobody forewarned me about how flipping NOISY newborns are when they sleep on their backs!!! It's like trying to settle down for some shut-eye next to an overexcited warthog!!!

butterfly
My dd was never this noisy. This baby grunts and makes the strangest noises all night. He can impersonate a strimmer, machine gun fire, a creaky gate and a deflating ball. The grunts and snores are cute by day but at night he needs a volume button

Off to drs today to get c section scar checked as worrying it's infected

Dd1 was silent compared to dd2. Soooo grunty 😂

😂😂😂 they need a 'mute' option 🔇 Honestly I was sooo happy when he finally started sleeping elsewhere than my chest, but I STILL can't get any rest myself because of the absolute cacophony coming from his crib!

Good luck at the doctors @Bawbles hope your scar isn't infected 🤞🏻

I'm so glad all your babies are noisy too (sorry! ). I was freaking out that Baby Luna was having issues due to all the grunting, wheezing, snorting and barking! She's very quiet in the day for me but loud at night for DH!

I am currently coaxing my supply back as it dwindled to about 120ml a day which is only one feed. I've pumped for 30mins this morning and I'm up to 100ml so that's good. However the right boob doesn't ever have as much

My left boob has always been a lesser supply with both kids.

Try eating some flapjacks and maybe try some fennel tea as well. :)

Thanks for the shield advice / permission ladies. My partner went to Boots first thing, and bought some to try. Used one on my sorest boob and while it still hurt, it was nowhere near as bad. Though we had to go out to register his birth after the feed and I ended up not using the shield there as I couldn't get him to latch on. I think I'll use them on a night time when the pain is worse because of constant cluster feeding. Hopefully he'll adjust to both.

Sounds like a few of the babies are turning a corner - good news on the sleep @ButterflyFree and on the increased supply @Algabraic

@Bawbles I've not even looked at my scar, I'm so squeamish! Hope all is ok with yours.

Partner is back at work today so I'm planning a low key day. Will I manage to sleep when the baby sleeps? Fingers crossed!

algebraic I find having a hot bath first and massaging boob helps plus compressions when the flow slows. Are you using an electric pump? If so try using it on the lowest speed that you can get milk from rather than the highest you can bear.

My scar is infected as I thought, they've dressed it with something to dry it out and have antibiotics. DD is on a summer camp this afternoon at the Apple Store, my neighbour has offered to take her so I can rest (I can't drive still so it's a bus then a train journey)

Ps lally I hadn't looked until the pain/hot feeling started and DH checked it for me and said it was weeping

I then looked and was grossed out and wish I hadn't.

@Bawbles yes the medela swing. Oh really? I have been cranking it up! I will try it on low when I pump next. Thanks for the tip.

Have been having a hot bath right before the bedtime pump but I'll try the massage too.

Thanks all

@algebraic that's the pump I use too. If you google 'Dr Jack Newman pumping' there's loads of information online, I never knew about the lower setting, I assumed faster is better but it hasn't decreased the milk flow and my nips are extremely grateful

Excellent thanks @Bawbles am pumping right now and seem to get be getting a steady flow. Breasts feel fuller as well and have fed DD all morning so I think supply is on the up. Wahoo!

That's brilliant news algebraic well done.

Have you tried a silicon pump (haakaa or cheaper version is naturebond)

It's just a single piece of sillicon that you stick on your boob, I find if I put it on the other boob while feeding or pumping the gentle suction catches a couple of oz.

I keep mine next to me when feeding as sometimes baby pops off 'mid flow' and I put it on to catch the milk that would be wasted otherwise.

I'm going out for a meal tonight for my friends 40th, DH is far too excited at having a night in sole parenting. I've left two bottles in the fridge and there's a freezer full of milk so I reckon I can pull an all nighter (bet we are home by ten)

I reckon I must have strange boobs - I haven't leaked a drop of milk!!? Is that normal?? If baby comes off while feeding I don't leak anything either. I can even sleep on my front no issues!!

I haven't pumped yet as DD only three weeks old but now I'm concerned that when I do pump I won't get naff all out!

I must be making plenty of milk though as DD has put on 480g in the last 11 days! #fatty

cat I don't think that's strange, they are all different and you clearly have a good supply. Some people can't express much, others get loads and that's not an indicator of how much milk you have. I find if I express daily it boosts my supply and I get more each time.

My SIL uses a silicon pump to express all the time instead of electric but I find my letdown doesn't happen with that unless I'm already feeding/pumping on the other side.

I'm jealous of the not leaking, I smell like a milky sock most days

@CatRash Not weird at all! I also don't leak and am able to sleep on my front. I guess we just got lucky in that respect ☺️ I can still express plenty, so don't worry about thinking it means you wouldn't be able to.

I only leak when I feed in the night. Usually when my breast pad has migrated 

@Bawbles I'm jealous of your night out. I've just had a mini meltdown after discussing with dh about evenings out etc.

Disclaimer - please don't go LTB. Blah blah blah it's not him being controlling, it's him being petrified of breaking the baby and everybody refusing point blank to look after a young/breastfed baby and/or two children. All the people who offer to help out always bloody vanish or do things that mean you can't trust them.

Plus my hormones seem to be raging at the moment as well. I think I may have got my period too

He's basically said if I want to meet up with my mate for a drink round the corner (in a "couple of months time") I'd need to a) put toddler to bed first as he can't do both (granted I can't put toddler to bed with the baby as it can take two hours if she's being awkward) and b) go for max 1.5 hours.
Maybe, if it goes well,building it up 30 minutes at a time. I actively encourage him to go out (he doesn't really though) so we can do quid pro quo but it never works like that.

I've just missed a hen do, missing my nieces hen do, can't get anybody to let us go for dinner on my birthday, missing a wedding because it's child free and this has destroyed our entire friendship group (sadly to my detriment). My entire social life and friends circle has tanked.

It's such a non-problem and I feel like such a selfish cow for even thinking about moaning about it, let alone actually moaning, but I really feel like I've got to do EVERYTHING even though he does loads. Even when he does the nights when the toddler wakes, or cooks dinner or whatever it just makes me feel crap and guilty. Like I can't relax.

I'm just rambling now but I've got a toddler trying to kick my kidneys and just feeling fed up. 😓