Nov 2007..... Once we pop, we will not stop!!!

[sparklygothkat]

I can finally start this, as someone else has had her baby.. woohooo!

SparklyGothKat - 25 Sep (8 Nov) BOY - Callum Eden
KaylaBMummy ? South Wales - 18 Oct (8 Nov) GIRL - Katie

I lost the thread for a while.
DD2 had her tongue tie cut last Thursday adn we're using the supplementer now twice a day. She put on 3 oz from Monday to Thursday last week. Taking her to be weighed on Thursday.

She'd sleep through the night if I let her- I can't though because of the weight issue.
She still hasn't regained her birth weight- another 4 oz to go till she reaches that.
Mind you she's a strong little thing. I've put piccies of her on my profile if you fancy a look-

Morning all

We had another fractious night last night. Poor Ellie was seemingly in pain again with colic or reflux or whatever it is that causes her to go rigid with pain! I spent the whole night from 8pm til about 2am constantly feeding her while DP was up the pub. He came home a bit tipsy and then when we went to bed he suggested i "give her a bloody good feed" I had to politely tell him that that's what i'd been doing for the past 6 hours!!!!!!! Eventually Ellie settled around 2ish and i was finally able to put her down for more than 5 minutes. She woke at about 5ish, had a quick feed, woke for a cuddle at 8ish, then i gave her a poke at about 10.30 to wake her for breakfast.

She was obviously just wanting to suck on something for comfort last night and i'm seriously wondering about using a dummy, although i so dont want to make a rod for my own back by creating nipple confusion or having her wake up every time it falls out of her mouth or summat. I just dont know what to do!

DJarm - glad you had a semi-quiet night. Hope you get a bit more rest tonight.

Pixie - the tongue tie sounds painful! Poor little mite!! She is adorable tho, her picture is lovely!! You must be so proud.

Right, off to start tidying the house in preparation for the nightmare that is Christmas tomorrow.

Have a nice day!

Hi all
Probably won't get on for a few days now so wishing you all a happy xmas. I usually love xmas but feeling v.bah humbug about it this year - looking forward to January so I can have Adam all to myself and spend time sniffing and cuddling him. Grumpy old cow ! Hope you are all a bit more into the xmas spirit than me.

LOM - Adam loves to be held too, I tried co-sleeping but it wasn't enough to be next to us, he had to be on us! Have you tried the hot-water bottle trick (warm his basket)? That works for us sometimes. He is better now during the night but during the day he just wants to be cudddled. Fine by me but not always practical.

Sparkly - I love having Adam on my chest too - so cute when they snuggle up to you! Hope Callum feeling better soon.

RG - sorry you had another crap night. Its exhausting when they feed constantly like that isn't it? I had a similar day/night on Saturday and felt completely drained. Yesterday he slept loads and was far more contented (probably knackered!). I hope you and Ellie have a well-deserved rest today. I have been tempted by dummies too. Have you tried letting her suck your finger? That works for Adam sometimes.

Ara, LOM and Pixie - gorgeous photos of your gorgeous babes! I have added another one of Adam for your consideration!

Afternoon all,

RG - I tend to get one night like that a week at the moment, they're awful aren't they? Last night was pretty good, and Dh was only disturbed once, yet he's the one fast asleep on the armchair right now - he claims the freash air from our walk has worn him out!

I've found Johnsons and the Tommee Tippee breast pads good, I also tried the Boots washable ones but the absorbancy is rubbish - don't bother with them! And I was trying to be good the environment too

We've had a few days at the in-laws which was pretty chilled, and took William to meet my grandad, who was bowled over by him. William is doing proper smiles now, and knows how to win people over!

Right, have housework to do and DH's pressie to wrap - not that I know why I'm bothering as DD very cutely told him what he's getting . I'm looking forward to tomorrow more for DD than anything else, and I want my house to look like a normal house for at least one day, rather than the bombsite it has become in the past 5 weeks.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Have a lovely day xx

i haven't had to use breast pads this time as my milk only trickled in and i don't get any of the fullness i di last time. thnk the lord for breastfeeding experts and domperidone is what i say.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

gonna post this here and hope none of the BF lot see it....

Daniel has had formula today

He was refusing to feed properly all day, wouldnt latch, or if he did was off again after 1 suck. Couldnt face any more tears and stress, went to sainsburys, heh as sunk 3oz of formula

I will express like a deamon to get him back on to EBM hopefully for the majority of his feeds, and I will keep offering the breast, but his soft spot was sunken and he was really not happy, he is like a different baby now.

I feel totally shit, well and truly crap, but his well being has to come first. I wont give up completely, i refuse to - have come too far, but if mixed feeding for the time being is going to keep him well and happy, then its what i need to do.

Think it has just ruined my christmas....

JARM- i HAVE to give my dd some formula as sh wasn't putting on weight. i console myself that in the same way as i take domperidone to increase my milk production i have to give her formula to give her strength to suckle and also grow.

I really don't see why you are hiding from the bfing 'lot'
a) it's got sod all to do with anybody else
b) there are worse things you can do to a baby than give it formula

thanks Pixie.

I know there is worst I could do, but i was so set on BFing this one when i failed with the girls.

I feel like im failing him and the "BFing lot" on here because they have helped me through so much, but I know they would shoot me down in flames for this. But what could I do? He was hungry, he wouldnt feed from me, I didnt have a supply of EBM, my pump is at home and Im at my dads til late tonight. I couldnt starve him.

Since having the FF though, he has been so settled, so chilled and nothing like Ive seen him be before.... honestly, he lay on the floor for 10 mins gurgling away, never happened before, he cuddled with DH for half an hour - never happened before.

Oh christ, im in a bad place right now.

Sarah - Have you got a sling for Adam? If it's not always possible to sit and cuddle him then maybe you could get a sling that allows him chest to chest contact with you so you can get on with stuff? The new picture of Adam is gorgeous!!!

I hadn't thought about letting her suck my finger. Might try that tonight if she's up all night again. She's peaceful at the mo, but then Arsenic Hour(s) doesn't normally start until around 6pm!

Jetgirl - yeah those nights are thankfully not too frequent, but it's still very frustrating when it happens and makes you worry unnecessarily too i find! Typical of anyone's DH to be worn out by a little walk, when we've been up all night being screamed at!!

Glad you had a nice few days with the in-laws

Pixie - I dont need breastpads either! It's nothing to do with my milk supply tho, but moer to do with luck as i dont leak unless I'm bra-less and in bed at night. Of course by then i'm just so grateful to be in my bed that i dont give a flying fig if i leak milk everywhere on the sheet!

DJarm - awwww dont beat yourself up about giving Daniel formula hunni. What does it mean if his soft spot has sunk? I dont think you should hide from the BF lot either. If anything you should tell them what's happened and they may be able to point you in the right direction and help you to continue BF, if that's what you want to do (and remember, it's YOUR decision). Just remember, that whatever happens you have given Daniel the best possible start in life and have BF him so far, and that's something to be very proud of!!

To those who wont be on til after Christmas, have a very happy Christmas and make sure you enjoy your first Christmas with your new bundles of joy! xxx

Thanks RGP - have posted on my OH FUCK thread but probably will wish I hadnt.

Im so bloody crap

I really wouldn't beat yourself up Jarm- I can't beat myself up as it's something I HAVE to deal with. I'm ill and not making enough milk so after 5 weeks of trying lots of different things I have had to give her formula via a feeding supplementer. I had an abundance of milk with dd1 and I was also set on bfeeding this one totally. Really ddin't want to give her formula but it had got to the point where I had no choice.

If I were you i would try to see a bfeeding counsellor after Christmas though for help. perhaps you should give him formula via asupplementer or something

DJarm - you are NOT crap!! You obviously care very much for Daniel and his wellbeing, which is why you have given him formula, because you could see he wasn't thriving today!

Honestly, dont be so hard on yourself. xx

Hi all

Brief message but wanted to say to JARM - I am bf Rebecca and have been since she was born, but on day three when my milk came in she couldnt latch. About 10 hours went by and she wouldnt eat - she wasnt crying, mind you - but I was worried, and I rang all sorts of national helplines and couldnt get anyone, and read stuff on the net, and cried, and panicked, and gave her formula. It was a one-off - a midwife came later and suggested I try nipple shields to help the baby latch (this suggestion is apparently not what the BF police would approve of, but I tried it anyway) and it worked fabulously! Rebecca latched fine with them for a few days then remembered how to eat. Maybe try them? And dont beat yourself up about formula sweetie - it isn't devil's food - and you're giving your lo 100% of your love.

Sarahlou, I know what you mean- Rebecca's a bit grumpy with all the extra noise, people and excitement - it is a different sort of Christmas!
Everyone else, sorry about lack of sleep etc and happy Christmas to you all!

oh jarm, i know how you feel about letting the 'bfing girls' down. I felt the\same when we decided to give in and give the formula to callum. but I am still breastfeeding, with 2 bottles of formula a day, so not a failure, a compromise.

like Choccie says it's not the devil's food and i wish people would stop thinking it is. it was formulated to help mother's who couldn't/had problems feeding. it waS to give babies a helping hand

Thanks girls, feeling a lot better about it this morning.

Daniel had a great night, fed at 7pm, 11pm, 3am and 7.15am. Has slept better than he has in days.

The 7.15am feed was breast, but he was very unsettled afterwards, and then had 3.5oz formula topup so there definately seems to be an issue with my milk, despite there being loads of it. Ive expressed 8oz since last night so thats in the fridge for later.

Hope you all have a lovely christmas with your new babies.

Take care xxx

The thing is Jarm that a bottle is easier to feed from as it flows quicker. There's probably nothing wrong with your milk Jarm. If I were you I'd ring a bfing counsellor asap after christmas if you want to continue breastfeeding

Merry Christmas everyone

JARM - the most important thing is that your LO is happy. You're running around after two others which, in theory, should limit your supply, so you're doing brilliantly! Formula/bF it makes no difference. DS1 wouldn't take EBM no matter what teat - I'm very grateful that Elliot takes EBM ( specially today as I've already neckedvirtually a whole a bottle of bubbbly and some red wine (choice, he has none ) you're doing what is right for you and that's the main thing. Crack on )

hope everyone's having a fab day. Big hugs to you all xxxx

Merry Christmas yummy mummies!

Just a quick post to catch up.

RG - I don't change night nappies unless it's a pooey one. What do you mean by clicking by the way?

LOM - Thomas looks scrumptious Can't wait for a cuddle. About co-sleeping - let us know what advice you get. We used to have DS in our bed when he was a baby, but he'd be on his moses basket mattress and wrapped up in his own blanket. So not 'in bed' with us, but still lying very close next to me.

JARM - Please don't feel bad about FF. I felt exactly the same when I had to FF DS when he was a newborn. But in the end I had to have a word with myself and give myself some credit. I had tried my very best but it just wasn't happening and was making me stressed. When you look at a classroom of young children, who can tell the FF ones from the BF ones? I know BF is ideal, but life isn't always ideal so you have to do what is best in your particular situation.

Got back from our family visiting yesterday. Was very lovely actually - even staying at the in-laws was fun . Sara was half a little angel and half a bit demanding. She's had a bit of a sniffle I think which meant she woke up a bit more last night, but nothing we can't cope with.

I can't stop smelling her he he.

Got given loads of clothes for Sara and for DS

Off to watch some Christmas TV now. Can't wait for Stenders! How sad

HI all. Well Christmas day was hard, iwth Callum being very unsettled all day, I even had to feed him while eating christmas dinner. I had 3 hours sleep last night and felt it all day Santa brought Callum a mobile for his crib, an arch for his bouncy chair, a little rocking horse (to small atm but he will like it when he is bigger and it was a bargain!!) and a woosit (sp?) Anyway am off to bed now, sooooo tired...

Happy Christmas one and all.

Will catch up properly tomorrow.

Jarm - Soz so you are feeling pants re the FF. Try not to give the feelings of guilt power, easier said than done I know but that way madness lies. Cut yer self some slack woman hugs

Swaddling T and putting some rolled up sheets either side of him in the basket seems to have worked. he'll settle more easily now. He's still awake for an hour - hour and ahalf every 2 - 3 hours. I have to keep reminding myself he's only 2 weeks old.

Hope you've all had a good day.

Evening everyone!

Hope you've all had a great Christmas with your new babies!

Choudru - what did i say about clicking? I cant remember now, my brain has gone to mush. Couldn't have been that important or i'd have remembered what trauma i was fretting about on that particular day lol.

So here's today's Christmas Day "saga". Ellie has been restless all evening (nothing new there then!) but i had to keep going upstairs to feed her as i'm too shy to do it in front of PIL. Anyway, at the last feed i was changing her nappy and noticed that she has a couple of suspect looking possible blistery little spots on her legs. I'm hoping she hasn't caught chicken pox from DP but that could account for why she's been a bit fretful the last few days. I'll keep you posted!

Other than that, Xmas day has gone swimmingly. We cooked xmas dinner for PIL, which i was doing great with right up until the last 15 minutes, when her ladyship needed feeding and i had to leave DP to it. He did a fabulous job of getting the dinner to the table all at once and more importantly HOT!

I didn't get to watch Stenders today ( ) coz of PIL being here and me not wanting to inflict it on them, so i'll be watching it on Virgin Catch Up instead. That means you CANNOT say anything about what happens!!!!!!

Oh one more thing about nappy changing. I'm just using warm water and cotton wool to clean DD's bum, but want to know if you are drying your LOs little bums too with something like talc or whatever. It occurred to me earlier today that i'm just putting cream straight back on to her damp skin and am therefore wondering if i should be drying her skin off first. It's not always convenient to let her have a nappy-less kick about so i'd be interested to know what you are doing!

Sparkly - I feel your pain re feeding at dinner table. I managed to hold Ellie off from that one but still had her in my arms for most of my dinner. Hope you get a better night's sleep tonight.

Right, going to drink me coffee then go to bed i think. Hopefully Ellie will stay asleep for a bit longer tonight as she's not really slept since she had a feed at 6pm. Here's hoping!!!

N'night all you lovely ladies!

you need to dry her. i just use a muslin or a towel or a flannel or any dry material i hve to hand.
they don't recommend talc these days. several reasons i can't remember

Morning all.

Hope you all had a lovely day yesterday.

Im going to be honest, I think Im comin down with PND, so between that and everything else, I dont think its a suprise Im now FFing.

Ive been expressing, but he wont take the EBM either, or if he does he SCREAMS afterwards and there is no settling him.

We had another great night, feed at 11pm, and slept til 4.45am! Feed again, asleep by 5.15am and that was us til 7.30am!

Honestly, he is such a different baby on the formula, so chilled out and relaxed. He is even sleeping in the carrycot again and happily!

Right, best go help DH tidy the kitchen - we havent washed up from yesterday yet and we are off to my dads later for Boxing Day lunch!

Hmmmm i've used talc for the last couple of nappy changes but maybe i'll use muslin instead. I cant see what the problem is with talc tho - i used it all the time with DS! I know there's some sort of choking hazard (!!) but i assume that's from if you use tons of it and it goes down their lungs or summat. But all i'm doing is just gently putting the smallest amount on her very carefully. I'll look into it tho.

Jarm - Sorry to hear that you think you're suffering from PND. Can you see the doc about it and try to get some treatment ASAP? Sounds like Daniel had a great night! I'm very of your 5 hours sleep on the trot!! Sounds like Daniel is thriving on the FF, which must be such a relief to know that he's doing well on it

Ellie's getting easier and easier to settle in the night when she wakes up for feeds now. She takes about 20 mins for a feed and then we have to keep her upright for 15-20 minutes coz of her reflux, but then she's usually zonked out by then anyway and will go straight back into her basket after the 15 minute shoulder/chest session, so that's some blessing. I think it has alot to do with the fact that i'm feeding her in our bedroom, where it's dark and quiet, rather than taking her into her room, putting the light on, changing her bum etc etc. She also seems to be alot less colicky in the middle of the night now too, although is still suffering in the evenings.

I am having a lovely slob day today (so what's new!!) and am looking forward to having more fizzy vino a bit later and i dont have to do my hair either!! Yay!!

Have a good day all!