February 2019 babies - thread 1

[Celebelly]

Let's go ladies! Share your tales of cluster feeding, cracked nipples, poo explosions and sleep deprivation!

Its everytime shes around more than one person. In a group. She hates it and wont let me put her down. Anytime goes to a new person will cry for me. We do still try to go to a group or class or meet friends daily though. In theory. Practice sometimes a little differant.

Sounds silly as obviously cant help someones temperment but I really hope she is not shy. But she does seem really scensory sensitive.

Oh the joys of being a new mother and overthinking EVERYTHING 🙄

My milk supply is dwindling 🙁

How do people fit in expressing with life?? I expressed at 3 o’clock this afternoon, then had to leave the house at four to go to a parents evening. Got back just after six when I had s meeting to discuss lift conversion plans. That went on till half seven.. then I had to feed and sort the baby, eat something myself, put my elder two sons to bed, wash up and sterilise the breast pump and I am now just sat expressing again. There’s not enough for a full feed and I only have an ounce in the fridge.

How do people fit it in?? I’m sensing a move to formula soon 😩

I think it's easier when you don't have other kids to look after! I have plenty of time during day to find 15 mins to pump every few hours but it's just me and baby I have to look after and our schedule is totally flexible.

If you were really wanting to continue, my Evie pumps that fit in your bra are amazing for pumping while being up and about and they're almost silent (wore them at lunch with some friends the other day and no one noticed) but they're bloody expensive.

I looked into the Elvie pump when you mentioned them before... I can’t manage that cost unfortunately.

It also takes me longer than 15 mins! It’s at least half hour, usually closer to 45.. plus the cleaning and sterilising for next time. I was told to express every two hours to establish supply.. which I could do if that was all I was doing, but I can’t see how to fit everything else in as well.

Is it just down to the equipment?

Thanks everyone for the nice words about breastfeeding. Yes I’m trying to feel proud for making it to six weeks rather than sad it hasn’t lasted longer. And, confusingly, my boob refuser is currently feeding well from the breast. Strange creatures these babies. I’d be happy BF for th night feed like this as it means I won’t have to express at night hopefully! But I’m sure tomorrow will be a different story.

@notasgreenasacabbagelooking it’s really hard to fit in around normal life. I managed four months of expressing with my first. But it was never exclusive as my supply was compromised. This time around I have more supply but I am also going to struggle to find time, especially as this baby insists on being cuddled the whole time.

Some things I have done to save time: 1) definitely make sure you’re using a double pump. The Elvie is too expensive for me too but I have hired a hospital grade pump from Medela. It’s £47 a month. 2) you don’t need to sterilise the equipment each time - I usually empty the milk into a container and then pop them in the fridge in a freezer bag for the next session. I will then wash and sterilise every second or third time. My lactation consultant said no need to sterilise at all, just wash with warm soapy water. I guess this is because nothing is coming into contact with baby’s mouth and the milk is sterile. 3) this time around I’ve managed to pump with baby in the sling, which means I can do it when he is napping. It’s a bit of a faff - I basically have to make sure there is easy boob access when I put the stretchy wrap on, pull down the front panel and pull my boobs out on either side of baby. I have 32GG boobs though so not sure it would work if they were smaller. Plus as baby grows it will get harder.

I wouldn’t beat yourself up if you can’t manage enough for exclusive pumping. My now 3yo was given whatever I could manage, which was sometimes only 150-200ml a day. I figured that any BM was worth having as long as I could manage. And he thrived when we switched to formula exclusively (which was when he started sleeping through).

@NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking it's so hard to fit in expressing. I tried with dd but it was keeping us chained to the house which was no good for us. Eventually my milk dried up. I'm trying to fit it in for top ups this time but can't do it often enough. Try not to let it rule your life. Things I've found helpful this time are using a double pump (I bought the medela freestyle and a bra so can do the washing up/laundry while pumping) and only washing/sterilising once a day (the rest of the time the pump parts go in the fridge).

NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking don't beat yourself up. I don't have time to express either. I only manage a 3oz bottle max for every morning and that's because I'm using the Naturebond suction pump on the opposite boob for pretty much every daytime feed (while we're in the house, wouldn't use it out!). I only get half an ounce to an ounce at a time but it adds up and is worth it to have the option of a bottle of BM early doors (like 5:30am this morning!) as DS2 never seems satisfied enough to go back to sleep at that time with just a breastfeed, so he has the bottle then a short breastfeed!

Are you feeding at all or exclusively pumping? If you're feeding I'd definitely recommend the Naturebond pump for £14. Every little helps and that milk just goes to waste otherwise!

Which baby wipes are people using? I was using pampers but the ones I liked I can't seem to find anywhere? I wonder if they've stopped making those?

I've tried loads of different ones and I don't like the ones I'm using at the moment.

Any recommendations? X

@Yakadee we are using water wipes. They're pricey but you can buy them in bulk from amazon. They contain 99.9 % water and !little fruit extract and that's it! V kind to babies bum

Another vote for waterwipes. DD doesn’t have as sensitive skin as DD1 but we’ll use waterwipes probably until about 3 months and then move to sensitive baby wipes - supermarket brand - as I don’t find there’s much difference although I’d never use any wipe on a young baby’s face.

I recommend the aldi sensitive wipes. I've used them with both of my boys since birth with no issues. They are strong and properly wet. My mum picked up some Morrison's ones for her house and they are awful, thin and dry.

Thanks everyone. I was using the pampers sensitive ones (as have always used them on my son and he does have quite sensitive skin) but just can't find them. Been using sainsburys and they're horrible, so wet and almost soapy!

I'll give some of these a try, thanks x

I really think the water wipes are overrated.. they are really thin and slippery, and far too wet. I have to pat my babies bum dry after using them.

I’ve used loads as I got various packs from my baby shower. Top in my opinion are Baby Dove wipes, followed by Huggies extra care and Aveeno.

I use Asda's own wipes! Can get a box of 12 packets for £5.50. I've never had a problem with DD or DS 😊

I use WW as the next best thing to cotton wool for v sensitive skin (DD was awful so playing it safe) but we moved on to ASDA and Aldi when she was about 6 months and will do the same but earlier as no skin issues as far as I can see. Tbh wipes are pretty shocking for the environment so I tend to use them sparingly anyway and face cloths the rest of the time. Also DONT PUT THEM DOWN THE LOO!

Do people really put them down the loo?

I use face clothes for wiping faces and hands etc and do try use wipes sparingly where I can.

I'll look at getting some different wipes tomorrow and see how I go x

I use reusable wipes (Cheeky Wipes). They're like little face cloths. They're really soft and I just wet them with water. One wipe deals with even the messiest of poos! I also use cloth nappies so just wash them with nappies, but I know plenty of people who wash them with towels or underwear.

Hmm i just about finished my bulk purchase of Huggies wipes (which have been great) and bought a big box of Morrisons own ones! Let's hope I don't regret this.... they were less than half the price, I couldn't resist!

Have been quite shocked at the increase on my grocery bills with nappies and formula etc!

@detachablehoof - we've just changed our nappy brand and they are a third of the price! I'm buying for 2 people so it's a serious saving!

I actually shop at morrisons so you'll have to let me know if you like them and I might give them a try x

Anyone else experiencing the "witching hour" with their little one? Between the hours of 7:30- 9:30 Willow is very unsettled - so strange as never had this with DS. She just randomly cries for no reason on and off for those 2 hours, she's not hungry she's not wet or dirty she's in my arms being cuddled, she has a dummy, it's a pain in the bum!!

@HugoBearsMummy - yes actually. From around 5-7 for us though. Like now, she's fast asleep and has been no bother for hours? 🤷‍♀️

I don't get it? Lol xx

@Yakadee it's frustrating isn't it. Especially during the evening, try to have some down time but her fussing every 20 mins till bedtime at 10 (her final bottle) doesn't make for a very relaxing evening 😑. Little pickles. Least it's not in the night got to be thankful for that I suppose!

@HugoBearsMummy - that's just it! I can put up with it because of that. She did amazing last night, 7:20pm, 1am and then 6:40am! Don't know how I got so lucky but man I'm so glad x

@HugoBearsMummy my first DS had a bad case of the witching hour(s) in the evening so I feel your pain! Thankfully this DS doesn't seem to do the same although is a nightmare to settle during the night! Can't seem to get it right all ways it seems!

Hugobearsmummy Yes! The witching hour is the same time here too. Just as I'm trying to get DS1 relaxed for bed and his brother kicks off for no reason. I resorted to using a dummy today which worked but I don't want to make a habit of using it to settle him.

Yakadee I actually like the soapy wetness of the sainsburys wipes. Aldi's wipes are good and they've started doing their own version of waterwipes too.