The March-ers 2019 - Baby Talk #2

[Angelmiracle]

Thread 2 for all our newborns ❤🤗👣

@BadBadBeans Sorry, bit of a long time lurker here, but how do you plan on weaning off the breast? My DD is just over 4 months and EBF. We are really struggling to get her to take a bottle. TIA!

@citybumpkin Welcome! And oh dear, I don't know! I am actually feeling really worried about it as I haven't even attempted to give him a bottle yet. To be perfectly honest I have been putting off thinking too hard about it, but I'm meeting my surgeon this month and so I need to get my act together. I think I will drop a daytime feed to begin with as that will be easiest to replace with a bottle, then drop another daytime feed, then start dropping night feeds too until I'm left with feeds 12 hours apart - prob morning and bedtime feeds. Then I'll drop one of those. It's making me feel sad just writing it! I want to do it reasonably gradually as I don't want mastitis, so maybe over a 6 week period. With my eldest son I did it over several months and it was really led by him as he was 17 months when I finished feeding, so this is new territory for me! Have you got a bottle with a teat that is breastfeeding friendly? I think medela or mam are supposed to be good?

@citybumpkin welcome. My little boy is 22 weeks and ebf so we'll be starting to wean in a couple of weeks. We had the same issue with the bottle until a couple of weeks ago when we finally found a bottle he would take- the NUK bottle with the latex teet. Took it first try after not even entertaining any others.

@BadBadBeans I haven't even thought about dropping feeds/a schedule as need DD to take a bottle first. So far we have tried MAM, Nuk, Nuby and Minbie but she isn't liking any of them. We have tried different milks, warming the bottle, warming the teat, etc but nope, she isn't having any of it. Screams the place down.

@Brobot Thanks for the welcome! As per my other post, Nuk is a no go for us.

@citybumpkin oh that sounds hard. My eldest had expressed milk in bottles from v young so he was used to it. I hadn't really considered that J might not accept a bottle. Argh! Do you have to bottle feed? I'd far prefer to keep breast feeding and not have to bother with bottles!

@citybumpkin oh that sounds hard. My eldest had expressed milk in bottles from v young so he was used to it. I hadn't really considered that J might not accept a bottle. Argh! Do you have to bottle feed? I'd far prefer to keep breast feeding and not have to bother with bottles!

@BadBadBeans I will probably get flamed by the pro BFers but I now hate doing it and am beginning to resent my DD. Plus she can't seem to latch properly to one boob which means its back to the newborn phase of cracked/bleeding nipple. I'm tired of doing it and want my body back.

@BadBadBeans I will probably get flamed by the pro BFers but I now hate doing it and am beginning to resent my DD. Plus she can't seem to latch properly to one boob which means its back to the newborn phase of cracked/bleeding nipple. I'm tired of doing it and want my body back.

@BadBadBeans I will probably get flamed by the pro BFers but I now hate doing it and am beginning to resent my DD. Plus she can't seem to latch properly to one boob which means its back to the newborn phase of cracked/bleeding nipple. I'm tired of doing it and want my body back.

@BadBadBeans I will probably get flamed by the pro BFers but I now hate doing it and am beginning to resent my DD. Plus she can't seem to latch properly to one boob which means its back to the newborn phase of cracked/bleeding nipple. I'm tired of doing it and want my body back.

Sorry that appeared so many times. Receiving an "unable to post" error message via the app!

@Brobot I hope you're doing ok with so much going on. xxx

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever so sorry your MIL is still unbearable. I don't know what you can do really. I see mine a lot as she's over the road and helps out loads with my eldest especially but it's all in our terms so I'm very lucky. If at least she will accept that she free to pop in anytime but you may be out and won't especially schedule a week. Around her visits as it's too restrictive then that might help?

@citybumpkin @BadBadBeans with my first I dropped daytime feedsfirst then nighttime feeds later. Only took a couple of weeks and no complications so just do it at your own speed. No judgement for finishing either @citybumpkin - you've done brilliantly getting to this stage.

@badbadbeans it's really not silly to want to put off surgery, I really want to delay my stuff at times too but I think we both know that it'd be inadvisable longer term. I've also been wondering how to phase him onto bottles/formula for every feed. We've been doing one bottle of formula a day at night since week 3 and one bottle per day since week 2 just so we are sure he takes both bottles and formula as there have been times when I've not been able to feed him from my breasts since he was a few weeks old. We've also got a perfect prep - def worth the investment (we've got the original, not overly sure what the day/night does differently - anyone?!) despite the fact it's only used once a day atm. We've got MAM and Tommy Tippee bottles but I'd go for MAM if I were introducing them at this stage as they're much more "breast" like and my husband said he prefers them for feeding too... fortunately our child will just eat anything, from anything, at any temperature so we do still use the TT ones too.

We've been advised to drop feeds gradually too - we sometimes give a bottle of expressed in the late afternoon, so will likely start doing that on a perm basis from next month then maybe do either a mid morning or post lunch feed next... tbh I'm also dreading the thought of not just being able to put him on me whenever I want as I think you're only supposed to give X amount of formula per day? Can I ask what others who are formula feeding do instead of just giving them more food?

@badbadbeans it's really not silly to want to put off surgery, I really want to delay my stuff at times too but I think we both know that it'd be inadvisable longer term. I've also been wondering how to phase him onto bottles/formula for every feed. We've been doing one bottle of formula a day at night since week 3 and one bottle per day since week 2 just so we are sure he takes both bottles and formula as there have been times when I've not been able to feed him from my breasts since he was a few weeks old. We've also got a perfect prep - def worth the investment (we've got the original, not overly sure what the day/night does differently - anyone?!) despite the fact it's only used once a day atm. We've got MAM and Tommy Tippee bottles but I'd go for MAM if I were introducing them at this stage as they're much more "breast" like and my husband said he prefers them for feeding too... fortunately our child will just eat anything, from anything, at any temperature so we do still use the TT ones too.

We've been advised to drop feeds gradually too - we sometimes give a bottle of expressed in the late afternoon, so will likely start doing that on a perm basis from next month then maybe do either a mid morning or post lunch feed next... tbh I'm also dreading the thought of not just being able to put him on me whenever I want as I think you're only supposed to give X amount of formula per day? Can I ask what others who are formula feeding do instead of just giving them more food?

@HidCat Thanks! I wanted to BF to 3 months and its now 4 months. Its convenient and feeding to sleep/comforting is great but unfortunately my physical and mental health can't take it any more. DD managed 45ml this morning from a MAM bottle. The most she has ever managed in one feed is 50ml of formula and that takes nearly an hour to give. I just think its never going to happen

Welcome @Sianlouise432 and @citybumpkin

Have been busy again we had cousins visiting for 10 days.

Really glad that the back arching rigidness and red in the face crying is 'normal' bad temper! Initially I thought DD was in pain with cramps or something but shes exhausted from not napping so it seems to be due to that.

DD had a 38.5° temperature yesterday and in really hysterical form she scared me. Luckily the boob settled her but I had to walk out of a restaurant yesterday and sit in the passenger seat of car to feed/settle her. No temp today but zero napping couldn't feed her to nap either so had to power on through to bedtime. Down before 9.30pm earliest we've managed yet so will be interesting to see if she still does a 10 hour stretch.

Haha @Wineandchoccy DD also doing the reverse crawl - think she realized she could move like that after having a tantrum on the play mat.

She rolled from back to front on Friday with no nappy on HV said they're more inclined to move more when naked as their skin can feel all the sensations as they move!

I have about 300oz frozen breastmilk- when do I start using it?? Do I drop a BF during the day and just give her expressed in a bottle? I've finally settled into feeding her - good latch/gaining weight nicely so I don't feel like I want to drop breastfeeds yet.

@AssumeItWasSomethingClever hope your MIL backs off she is plain rude!! I refer all my issues with mil to DH to deal with, it's his mother so he gets off easier telling her to back down.

Thinking of you @Brobot you're doing amazing to be there for your mum and brother with a little baby to manage.

Yeah my DH also gets exasperated doing laps around the kitchen with DD when I go to shower or to the shop. I came back today and he had delegated by putting her in the pram for DS to push around the house to give him a break

@cardboard33 I will try the MAM teats - thank you. I have also been wondering about how you go from on demand feeding to set amounts of formula!

I've just posted elsewhere on MN because I have cocked up. I've been adding freshly expressed warm milk to already frozen milk under the mistaken impression that as long as the amount I was adding was smaller than the amount already frozen (e.g. 30ml fresh to 100ml frozen) this is okay. I totally forgot that you are supposed to chill it first. ALL the milk I have expressed and frozen in the last four months has been added to incorrectly like this. At the moment I feel like I want to use it anyway - but would that be bad?

Sorry, I have been reading but don't seem to get around to replying!

Just wanted to quickly say thank you @Angelmiracle - gave DS some nudey time this morning and he immediately rolled from front to back! I'd barely moved my hands away from putting him down. He's shown no interest at all in moving when on his front up until now. He hasn't rolled since his one but still, now I know that he can!

@citybumpkin welcome! As others have said you've done amazing to get to the 4/5 month stage. I don't think we do have any "breast is best regardless of the impact on mum/family" people here and if they are here then they can off as we all make the decision that are right for our families. The only reason I'm breast feeding (I was v ambivalent in pregnancy as I knew I'd have to stop so didn't see the point) is because I (somehow) didn't have any issues so it's more convenient and I'm too lazy for bottles full time until I need to do it! In a few weeks when you start weaning you can try sippy cups, maybe your baby would take to that better? Or can you potentially start using them earlier, does anyone know?

@angelmiracle you could use the expressed in bottles when you're out and about? Or start putting it in food when you're weaning, so then you don't have to drop feeds if you don't want to? It lasts for 6 months in the freezer.

@badbadbeans no!!! That's the kind of thing I'd do but husband is in charge of bottles, sterilising and freezing milk, I just do the breast bit... Maybe try a small amount and see what the impact is on baby? As I think it's to do with the bacteria ... And it'd be a shame to waste it all but I guess it depends how comfortable you are with not playing exactly by the book, as maybe the "rules" have changed?! (Someone will probs come along with actual advice here...)

@melissa112 loving your descriptions of George! He sounds so cute with his feet! We've not used a sleeping bag for about a month now, I'm worried my baby won't like it anymore when he has to go back in one.

@angelmiracle thanks for the tip reg nakedness... Will try it out later as keep intending to let him have some naked time, although since he's found his penis he basically spends all of his time playing with it when his nappy is off so he might be a little preoccupied. Others with boys, have you noticed this too?? And you've now gotta be really quick cleaning up poo from around there as otherwise his hands are all caked in it too...!!

@assumeitwassomethingclever no advice but I'm sorry you've got to deal with that, sounds annoying. One thing though is don't let her play the cancer card with you as that isn't an excuse for being inconsiderate!

@brobot I'm sorry, that sounds mentally exhausting for you...hope it's as good as it can be right now

@cardboard33 Thanks for the welcome! I've ordered a starter cup so we're going to try that.

When is everyone attempting weaning? DD is already fascinated by food/us eating. I've let her lick/hold various foods for the past few weeks. Confused by the NHS advice re 6 months weaning.

@BadBadBeans how are you getting on with the nights? We're going from bad to worse. Extremely difficult to put down in the day. Fights bedtime very badly and is now waking every 5 mins in the night when he drops his feet. I'm going to sleep downstairs with him tonight so he can have his sleeping bag and hopefully not be able to hold his feet. He's sleeping pretty much all day (on me) so cant get anything done as he's so exhausted from the evening. Nice cuddles but I'm so tired that I keep feeling myself dropping off so have to put him down but then he cries as he's so tired. Argh.

The prep really is a godsend. From 30-40 min to make a bottle, cooling boiled kettle and then running under a cold tap or in a tub with water to 2 mins with the prep. Never had any trouble with it. @cardboard33 we have the original prep too. I think the night and day just has a low light display for at night and is quieter?

@cardboard33 in terms of what we do if George is hungrier as we bottle feed. We already give him more than the recommended oz for his weight. Its weird because the HV at the baby clinic said approx 2.5oz per lbs of weight. Hes had 5x8oz a day for well over a month now so 40oz if he finishes them all but when he started that he was only 14lb so should have had 35oz. Hes 80ish percentile for height and 20percentile for weight and follows the curve. But he's always had more oz than what the guidelines say. I guess you would just feed more often or give more milk as long as they werent jumping percentiles too quickly. The HV came for a weaning chat and said to try to keep from weaning til 6m but as he was on quite a lot of formula it might be tricky. Hes not draining every bottle yet so I think we'll be good to wait. One less thing for me to worry about!

@Angelmiracle sorry to hear your DD has been under the weather. How is she today? How did you get on with her sleep last night? After LO not rolling much despite being able to, now we have DSS staying with us for 2 weeks he's been showing off and starting to roll when he's playing with him. I'm tempted to let him be naked and free but wondering how many wee fountains I'll be trying to contain haha.

Is anyone thinking about weaning yet? We're waiting til 6m but that doesn't seem too far away anymore! We've got his high chair already. I did want to do BLW but as it comes closer I'm starting to get paranoid about choking...

@citybumpkin hi and welcome, we are waiting til 6 months to wean but like your DD, he is already interested in what we are eating and his gaze follows the food into our mouths haha. I'm confused by it all, unsure on what we need. How much water to offer with meals, in what cup , how to get them used to it. Baby led or traditional. I'm finding it all a bit overwhelming!

@melissa112 We're going for baby led weaning. I bought a book on it but keep falling asleep reading it. I might adopt the "make it up as you go along" approach my brain can't cope with the confusion

@citybumpkin what bits are you confused about reg the 6 month thing? We went to a session at the children's centres (there's too many babies for them to do personal home visits) which was by peads dentists, dieticians and then health visitors and they said that the NHS has upped it to 6 months as they found that babies internal systems (kidneys, liver etc) weren't ready until then even if they showed all of the outward signs like being interested in food etc. We aren't in any rush, particularly given he was 3 weeks early, so will just wait it out a few more weeks. What kind of foods have you been giving your baby? Does she eat them or just look at them? Mine would shove it straight in his mouth!

@melissa112 thank you for the advice/what you do! He currently has 6oz formula at bedtime but often doesn't finish it but think that could be because he's used to grazing more during the day and I have no idea what be takes each time from me. We keep our PP in the kitchen so don't overly see how/why the flashing lights would be an issue at night but I guess they had to come up with a new money spinner!! What high chair do you have? I've been eying up the ones on which again (like with anything!) but can't decide. What happened with your mattress btw, in the end? I think like with everything else you've just got to do trial and error so will probs end up doing a mix of traditional and baby led weaning depending on the context. I just figure it can't be that hard (famous last words) given most people end up being able to eat! At the talk I went to they said to get a cup that doesn't have a bottle like teat so they get used to sipping rather than gulping. Apparently they leak a lot more whilst they're practicing which is why people opt for the more teat like ones but they're not as good for their mouths in the long run.