July 2007 - yet starting in June!

[Jamantha]

Well, I can't see a post natal July 2007 thread, so will start this, even though Charlotte, my DD was born 4.5 weeks early in June. I'm sure the other July ladies will be along soon enough.

Have had 2 nights at home now. Yesterday afternoon was fairly distressing as Charlotte wouldn't latch on, and if she did she wouldn't suck. But have got loan of electric pump from hospital, and support from midwives and now managing with comination of breast, expressed and formula milk, sometimes all three in the same feed. Finding it quite emotional, with all the issues associated with feeding one's baby, but trying to stay calm as found out yesterday that getting self into a state doesn't help anyone.

Dh has just gone out to get some things we're still missing, and I'm putting my feet up for a bit. Phil & Ted has just arrived so we might try a stroll down to the ante natal class tonight!

Any how, hope there are lots of lovely birth stories to come from July ladies, and that we can swap advice, give each other moral support etc over the coming weeks and months.

Hi again,
I have a question about expressed milk. So far I have expressed enough for one feed a couple of nights running.
If I express just prior to the feed being needed I tend to get 3oz from the full breast. Once that was enough, but once she needed a top up from me.
So I was thinking of expressing a little bit extra earlier in the day (for the night feed) as well. But I was wondering:

• Can I mix expressed milk from earlier/later together? Or should she only be fed milk from one express session?
• If the above is ok, how do you put the milk together - for example, should I keep the 'output' in separate containers until it's feeding time, when I would pour the various containers into her bottle; or can I keep topping up one container (kept in fridge) with the milk expressed from successive sessions?

Thanks as always!
Cyee

Cyee, you can mix expressed milk from different times. Generally it is best to store it seperately and then mix just before the feed. EBM can be kept refrigerated for up to 48 hrs, and can be kept frozen for up to 3 months.

Kyte- I just bought loads of nipple shields (I have 10!) and I sterilise these all once daily in a steam steriliser, after washing thoroughly in hot soapy water. If we're going out for the day I take as many as I need each in a seperate new freezer bag to keep them as sterile as possible as it's difficult to keep sterilising them when out. So glad they have worked for you!

Big Congrats Keiralou! & welcome Grace!

Mairi is quite unsettled today, feeding little & often so have slightly engorged boobs...hopefully she'll feed better later! Her big bro has given her a slight cold so she's rather snuffly and I may have to consider doing the snot sucking thing to help her!

Bilblio- have you tried tightly swaddling your DD? And also making sure her head isn't lying on to a cool sheet when you put her down?- I sometimes put down a muslin cloth I've warmed up on me first where her head rests so the change in temp doesn't wake her plus she has Mama's comforting scent.... Also may be worth trying her sleeping on her side with a rolled up towel to stop her rolling at her side? Some babies just never settle well on their backs... Good luck xx

Cyee - I have found that the Lansinoh breast milk storage bags are great for EBM. They are pre sterilised and you can write the quantity & date etc on them, ready to either refrigerate or freeze. We then just drop the bag into a jug of warm water and add to a bottle for LO. Talking of whom, an almightly yelling is coming from the next room. I'm never sure whehter to let her cry for a bit or rush in there to see what's wrong. She's been very unsettled in her sleep today - maybe it's the heat. Well tried to ignore her - am now going to see what the problem is!!!

Hi there all - so this is where you all lurk now (I have only just found the postnatal thread) I thought you were all too busy with newborns to post any more. Oscar was born on 16th Jul and wakes up about every hour or hour and a half at night and sleeps most of the day (he has turned day into night). I am a walking zombie.

Clare has been up and down all day, feeding and then waking to get rid of wind or poo - shes had loads today!! Keep thinking Im doing something wrong as I feel that I cant put her down. Its been one of those days when I lose my confidence in justgoing with the flow and worry worry worry. Maybe shes hungry today or just unsettled.

Bilblio, i second madmumNika, have you tried swaddling?

Harvey Karp is great, he says babies come out three months early, and they need calming down in the evening. Swaddling, shhing, swinging, sucking and I can never remember the last one. Anyway let me know if you want more info.

hi girls. Toby Marcus Benjamin was born on 29th July after 7 hours of pushing with gas and air. He was 9lb 10oz which nipped a bit!. (did the full gruesome details on the an thread). Doing really well just now and in the early days-sleeping-for-scotland routine which is great and is lulling me into a false sense of security. Must admit though he is so much easier than dd and ds were and the feeding is easier too. I think I'm more relaxed this time, not trying to force him into a routine. (keeping away from dictatorial monster books IYKWIM) I also have dd at home on leave which is like a regiment of manpower to do all the rest of the jobs. I'm letting Toby set the pace and he's feeding every three hours and only up once in the night. As i say, early days. All the wee vests i washed and sleepsuits are too small and he's straight into size 2 nappies! but i think he's tiny and obviously just adorable. If Carlsberg made babies.........

anyone seen twoplusone? was sure she'd be hovering

Hi everyone, good to hear people are doing well.

Re: co-sleeping, this is really the only time at night that Theo settles well quite quickly after a feed - when I try to put him in his moses basket he just grunts and groans for ages - rarely cries though...

Can i ask a breastfeeding question - I know its a tough one to answer but how long should a breast feed take? I really can't remember from when I was feeding DS1. Sometimes Theo takes 40mins and others only about 5mins. He is generally very settled and content sio I'm assuming its OK? I haven't had him weighed for 10days or so, so maybe I'm just a little anxious. Also, if he's just had a 5min snack would you start the next feed from the same side? Or switch?

HI chooster, if he's only had a snack, i'd def start on the same side next time. lo is only 1 week old but feeding roughly 10-15 mins each side. It's so hard to know how much they're getting with BF but he'll disengage when he's had enough. AS long as he's putting on weight you're ok.

I think I saw 2plus1 on a breastfeeding thread and I think she might be struggling a bit (if it was her!) and was hopinh to see her on here for a bit of support.]

isnt there a growth spurt at 3 weeks?

yeah whomping - just found that bf thread. Sounds like she's having a rough time. she hasn't posted for about a week though.

Thanks for the tips on swaddling and putting a cloth under her. I'd tried swaddling when Bryher was first born, but she hated it, she's a very wriggly baby. She's still not happy about being swaddled but it's working, she's settled in the carrycot twice now. Fingers crossed she keeps it up during the night.

I'll have to work on my swaddling techique though, when she woke the first time she'd pulled her arm out of her sleeve and her hand was up by her neck Maybe she's got a future as an escapologist.

hi guys, apologies for the bad typing but im craddling LO who was screaming the place down!

things are going okay with harley but emotionally i feel wrecked. is it normal to feel fearful? im dreading dh going back to work. when he suggests goin out i feel very panicky and dont want to go far and already im dreading going back to work in january..whats wrong with me?

what doesn't help is the huge family argument between my mum & dh which has resulted in them declaring war & im in the middle...he was only after some space for us but she took offence...feel very down when i should be excited.

My fairone There is nothing wrong with you. I think its normal about the going out thing Ive experienced it and so have a couple of others. Just try going for little walks close to house at first or somewhere near to home so you can shoot back if you need to. Its weird it feels like you're safer at home somehow. After a couple of times going out that feeling does fade.
You are definately normal about the dreading work thing!!!

My hormones I hink are starting to settle a bit now. LO is 4 weeks today, how old is yours??

OMG what a rough night. Made the mistake of reading the babywhisperer solves all your problems while feeding at 10.30 and at 2am I was STILL trying to put lo down. I was crying into my pillow and cursing. How the flip do you keep a newborn awake when he REALLY doesn't want to be. As some one said earlier, CHUCK AWAY THOSE BOOKS. (although bw isn't really dictatorial) We were fine until I'd read that!

fairone - totally normal to feel like that and very common. Your hormones arecstill up and down and you've the huge added pressure of the family argument. If you persistently feel overwhelmed and down I would talk to your HV for some support. Have you told your dh how you are feeling? I dont think men can relate to how a new mum feels unless we tell them.

lol Jennster - I can sympathise - I was given a copy of some Gina Ford nonsense when I was pregnant and (unfortunately) discovered it the other day. I was so tired and worked up I found myself actually reading some of it - fortunately when it got to the bit about me having some toast and cereal between 7.45am and 8am before offering baby a further 5 minutes at the breast I came to my senses and threw it away - does anyone know if that woman has actually had any children? I'm afraid if I've had a long night I will be sound asleep at 8am whether she likes it or not - as will my baby!

LO slept from around half 12 until 4.45am (and I managed to get him into his basket without enlisting OH's help) and then had a 15 minute feed before back to sleep again until nearly 8. Then he had a HUGE feed (emptied both boobs which was blissful relief as I was about to explode) and has been asleep since between bouts of overfed puking. I feel human!

Doubtless karma will result in another wild night tonight - 'go with the flow', I keep telling myself!

Chooster, I agree if he's only had a snack start on that same side next time. I tend to offer both boobs and always start on the second one at the next feed IYSWIM. It's what saved my breasts from falling off last week.

Thanks for the advice ladies..I have told dh how i feel & he has been great...suggesting we walk for a paper etc. i dont know what i expected and lo is only 11 days old! being too hard on myself i think.

i agree to throw the books away..i think they made me feel inadequate.

lo slept quite well last night but consequently is in fine form today!

am i wrong to use a dummy? he just seems so sucky!

another question if i may...how often do you change nappies? seems as soon as i put one on him he 'goes' and i change again...just cant leave him sitting in what could be a dirty one!

Myfairone - glad you had a good night - what a difference it makes!!!

Re dummies, DD is staring at me right now sucking away at hers! I really didn't like the idea of them, but it does the job when I don't know if she's genuinely hungry (feed not long ago) or just sucky. Oh dear, she just spat it out on the floor!!! She seems to prefer the orthodontic shape to the cherry ones. We have four now!!!

She's now trying to eat my shoulder so I think it must be hunger, so better go.

Hope you all manage to stay cool in this heat.

Catstar - Have resigned myself to the fact that he needs one. I have always hated them but after feeding him and changing him and trying to entertain him there isnt much left to do when hes still screaming the place down. As soon as I pop it in his mouth he looks so happy....

And if its any consolation I just saw that Jordan and Peter Andre's baby has one in her mouth in OK magazine....I mean it must be acceptable right?

Anyone else having real mood swings? One minute I'm sobbing and next minute I feel really okay. Damn hormones!

Oh I wish I'd persisted with swaddling earlier.
LO woke at midnight and fed on and off till 1, then settled. Woke at 4, she'd escaped the swaddling, so I fastened her up again. She fed for 15 minutes and was asleep again in the carrycot by 4;20, then she woke at 7.
It's so much easier to feed her when she can't keep wriggling away too.
We seem to be having another day of 2 hourly feeds though, but at least I'm awake enough to deal with it. I also have a shiney new 60GB mp3 player to play with as a birthday present

Myfairone - I went out on my own with LO yesterday for the first time. We were only walking 10 minutes away to my friends parents house and I almost turned around at the end of the road and came back. I'm glad I went though, I stuck a smile on my face and the smiles I got back from everyone made me glad to be out.

I haven't read any baby books and from everyones comments I'm glad. I'm letting DD set the pace, I have no expectations, I'm trying to be consistent with what I do each day, and I'm hoping she'll settle into a routine herself. If not then I might start looking at books in a few weeks time.

Late check in here, and I should technically be hanging out with the August crowd, but you know, I don't care

Agnes

Wow Bilbio! Just had a pretty good night, after it was starting to look like the night before when nothing would settle little one........all due to swaddling. I had initially avoided it because my mw said not to at night because of increased SIDS risk.

I take it a congratulations is in order Agnes?

How was it, Agnes? Congrats must be in order, surely!??!

We're still having pretty stressy nights - DD seems to scream from 6 until 10. We're trying to ride it out (I've just read that crying peaks at 6 weeks, which DD is today) but our nerves get really raw and we get snappy with each other.

And yes, I've been dreading DH going back to work, but he's gone today so I'll have to get used to it now. He also works two nights a week and then thought of getting my toddler bathed and in bed while DD screams the house down ain't nice at all...