December 2007: It's all worth it for the smiles.

[claraquitetirednow]

I've never started a new thread before - has this worked?

buzzy, thanks for that

How many oz's roughly should mat be having per feed? she is 11 weeks and takes between 3-5oz every 3 hours - does this sound ok?

On the days she has more EBM she doesnt get constipated so i might try and raise that while she gets used to it.

Know what you mean about that drunk look - feeding has been such a battle, for such a while its nice to just sit down and feed her and enjoy watching her feeding instead of waling like a banshee LOL

Pecka, my LO sleeps for 12 hours at night so needs to get all her nutrition during the day so she probably drinks a little more (she's 12 weeks today BTW). Our routine is roughly 3 hourly and approximately as follows:

7.30am 7oz
11am 5 oz
2pm 6oz
5.30pm 6oz
7.30pm 3oz

When we were mixed feeding EBM I gave her the EBM in the middle of the day and formula for the big first feed and the last feed(s).

Goodness me, it is hard to catch up when you've been away a few days! Glad everyone is well. We decided to make the most of me being off in non-school holiday time for once and went away for a couple of days on a cheapo hotel break, v nice and not half as stressful as i thought it might be with dd!

becklespeckle that spinner thing looks fab! is it the lamaze one? Had an interesting chat re Bumbos (OMG did I really just say that, how sad my life has become!). Anyway one mum whose wee one is 12 weeks is using hers ? another mum who has a 5 mth old WON?T use it because she says they shouldn?t be sitting up until they can sit up themselves IYSWIM ? similar to what someone ? Buzzy? ? was saying re tummy time. Dunno what I think! Actually tis not a prob as I don?t have a Bumbo and am now MEGA-SKINT ? 1st month on SMP ? how crap is that!?! We are actually a bit terrified re mortgage etc, going to be a real struggle. Eek.

Beanstermummy how is your DD1 now? Thanks for your kind comments ? I am a paranoid wreck of a BF-er! DD has been feeding really weirdly today too, lots of short snacks instead of her usual long spaced out feeds, so I?m all worried again!

No period here yet either ? I?m hoping it stays away for as long as I Bf ? my friend didn?t get one till her LO was 9mths ? wouldn?t that be nice! Oh and re the bf-ing ? Pecka you have done remarkably well to get this far so don?t dare feel bad. Easier said than done though I know. I don?t know how long we?ll manage?I feel quite determined cos of all the probs we?ve had, but I have to say it still is not easy, and at 14wks I?m quite disappointed that I still don?t love it, and am not really experiencing the supposed benefits.

Bouncing I am with you on the expressing, I can?t seem to fit it in! I want to though, so that DD can start taking a bottle in prep for return to work .

Dundee a massage sounds FAB I am all aches and pains, was it good?

Aargh have just eaten an Easter egg while my tea is cooking?.

Routines?we don?t have one! Well on certain days when I do the same thing I suppose we do?but getting DD to nap when she is not in the pram/car/sling is an extremely rare event indeed. The emphasis has been on her weight and feeding her up for so long that sleep/routines have taken a back burner?at the last weigh in she?d done 7oz per week for 3 weeks ? a record for her. Next jags in a fortnight at 16wks ? if she?s kept up the weight gain then I think I will chill out a bit re feeding and start to look at routines etc.

Does anyone else's LO cluster feed? DD used to do 5pm-1am it was awful. However then she would sleep right through till 7am. Now the cluster feeding is wearing off she is waking more in the night ? eg last night it was:
Down at 8.30
Dreamfeed 11.30 (can never decide if this is a good idea or not?)
Woke 2.30 for a feed
Woke 6.00 for a feed
Woke 8.15 for a feed
She does settle well afterwards mind you, it is just a half hour feed then straight back down.

Oh help sorry monster post!

loucee ayr beach is nice! how is DS feeling now?

Ds is definitely back to feed ing every 1.5 - 3 hours on the night - I think it is down to 12 week growth spurt so hoping it'll sort itself out over the next day or so!

Caz - interesting what you say about different opinions of bumbo seats, don't think I'd buy one but don;t mind him trying it out occasionally. It's similar to people's views on walkers - some people that they are great, some people think they are death traps!

just really quick reply as DH pausing Lost for me whilst I advertise a couple of items for sale....

Caz - to put your mind at rest the Bumbo is ergonomically designed so support wee ones perfectly. DD used to get so frustrated (really screamed and screamed until she was upright!) ying down so it was either use her swing all the time or carry in a sling, she loved her bumbo and I found it great to take out with us when we were driving somewhere for lunch (as most places don't have highchairs suitable until they can sit up unaided), the bumbo fits on most chairs (we used to put on one with arms to ensure it was secure).

Have you tried your Rhubarb and Custard sling yet?

DS is much better thanks although still seems to have a bit of a cold. Touch wood, he's been feeding great and was a really good boy for DH yesterday whilst I was at the hairdressers for over 3 hours!

Ambi, I don't miss being pregnant but I would like another child in a couple of years. My Mum just couldn't stop having babies and had 8 over 25 years - I can understand how she felt but would never manage more than 4... well I don't think we will have 4 I do think 3 will be out limit

So did everyone have a nice Easter? We went to church and then ate Easter Eggs, had a lovely Sunday dinner of roast chicken followed by Jamie Oliver's hot cross bun pudding - yum!
Then we finished the rest of the Easter eggs!

I think ds's growth spurt is settling down, put him to bed at 7.30, he woke up at 9.30, 11.30, stirred at 1.30, then woke again at 2.30 and then 6am! So hopefully tonight he'll sleep a bit longer when we first put him down sand so won't have a feed again until around 2am! Well, one can only hope
There's some new pix on my profile including a smiley one!

morning all

gorgeous smiley photo bouncing! DS's growth spurt lasted three days and sort of tailed off as you are describing so hopefully your DS will be back to normal today. I think my DS actually feeds less frequently now than before his growth spurt (went from 8pm - 5am last night ) so crossed fingers your DS is the same

claraq - I think and REALLY REALLY hope my mum meant I would feed my own DS and not the woman in the cafe's but she has been known to say stranger things than that so who knows...

Thanks everyone for reporting back on expressed BM - now you mention it Suey I think I also have three levels and they are the same percentages as you have so i will stop worrying

pecka - you have given your DD BM for a significant part of her babyhood so you should feel very proud of that. I think you are also definitiely making the right decision now to go on to bottles - you have done everything you can and it is making you unhappy. Mathilda will thrive on formula and will have a relaxed and happy mum as well

ambi - no I definitely don't want to be pg again but I would like another baby so you can be a surrogate for me if you like!!! I told DH I wanted another one yesterday and he didn;t respond so I said it again and he said, I know you do but I'm pretending I can't hear you!' Might have my work cut out there...

Good news here is that DS has finally taken to the bottle so I can come into work and leave some expressed milk for him. It's so fantastic to have a few hours off everyday - I just feel so much happier and relaxed. Probably sounds terrible and I love my Dcs more than anything but all day everyday is just so exhausting (as you all know!)

Happy easter Monday everybody

Hi All. Had a very tired Easter, and haven't been out much, the snow is too depressing. Have concentrated on making cakes and got my sewing machine out to make some cushion covers to go on the benches DH made for our new shed.

DS had an extra wake up last night making it 4 wake ups, and morning at 5.30. I just can't seem to do anything about it. Anybody any ideas? He wants to feed every time. I feed him lots during the day, he seems to want food every 2 hours day and night. I don't know if by letting him feed that often during the day I'm encouraging him to get used to having food that often and not having longer gaps, but on the other hand I want him to get his calories in during hte day to make him sleep better at night. I do try to make sure his feeds are long ones and I do often give him formula once a day.

Anyone tried boiled water in the night to discourage waking for a feed?

wizz - don't know what to suggest I'm afraid but I think you are right in wanting to maximise feedings during the day so he will go longer at night (even though it's not working at the moment). How big is he now? If he's very big could it be that he's just getting hungrier? What's the longest he's ever gone at night? Is he feeding more now than he was? Have never tried water but if he's having a good feed every time he wakes I can't imagine he will settle for that. You poor thing, you must be so knackered. Just get as much sleep as you can while your DH is off work

Wizz - he may just be growing!

Thanks Skid and Cazzy. He hit the 1 stone mark today! He's not a particularly heavy baby for his age, 16 weeks - he's about 25th centile.

I can't wait for the clocks to change, it might make his wakings an hour later and make his morning at a reasonable hour - please Rory! Can't wait to be able to give him baby rice. Perhaps that will make a difference. I'm holding off now - he's only nearly 4 months. I was hoping to BF only for 6 but I may reconsider.

The most he usually goes at night is about 4 hours - and that is in evening time from 7.00pm, not in the small hours .

Thanks everyone for the support over the last few days, I know Ive been a bit of a broken record - DD is pretty constipated on formula and my supply is really plummeting so my production of EBM is nowhere near matching her needs so think Im going to hire a hospital grade pump and channel all of my energy into giving her as much breast milk as I can.

Im hoping that over time I will be able to be proud of the direct breastfeeding I did manage and not feel too guilty about it ending so soon - its beginning to drag me down thinking about it so much and I need to put a stop to that.

I suppose as long as she is getting as much of my milk as possible its not guilt that I feel but regret that I cant feed her myself, but that is my issue not hers - she is quite happily guzzling her bottles so so be it!

macdoodle - which hospital grade pump do you have?

Pecka - poor you. I'm a broken record about sleep, so don't worry about it. I've had sleep problems and I've had feeding problems, and I think the feeding worries are worse. You are right though, you must concentrate on the fact that she's happy having her formula and she's healthy. Breastfeeding is a deeply personal thing and it is natural to want to provide your baby's milk yourself but lots of women can't and at least there is an alternative. Also, a friend of mine hired a hospital grade pump and it was really good.

Helloa all, great to catch up with all your news at last. Hope you are all having a good easter time

Caz10, ds is doing exactly that sleep pattern! And its changed as he used to go for longer when cluster feeding exactly as you say..how strange. Its annoying as i thought he 'should' be going longer not shorter time at night.Dammit

BT-lovely pics of Daniel

Pecka- really pleased you're feeling better about things, you are doing so well and the ebm she's getting is fab! Well done you

Well its been a testing week with ds this week. He reacted reaqlly badly to his jabs, did anyone elses lo? He was not himself for 3 days after-bit warm and soooo miserable, really worried about the rest of them. He had calpol a lot (well twice a day for 3 days, but he's 3 months now so its ok to give that much) and it didn't do much to cheer him up. I comfort fed him so much that my left boob became so sore, bruised and felt awful-it was as much as every half an hour for hours at a time... I bought dummies for the 1st time (which he wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with!) I gave him 2 ff's in the end just to let my boob recover as i thought I might get mastitis again.. Subsequently I DIDN'T go on my first ever night out on thursday but tbh it was such horrid weather i'm quite relieved.. Hey ho, being a mum is great fun No, he's much better, smiling and happy little boy again now tf for that!!

Pecka - you've done a fantastic job so far and will continue to do so - now enjoy your dd

Lizzer - Daniel was a bit grouchy for a couple of days after his jabs. Glad your ds is happier now!

Wizz - could well be another growth spurt, hope it is over quickly.

Lizzer - ouch, your poor boob. Hope your ds is feeling better, I think they all react differently to the jabs - dd2 slept for a day after her first and seemed to have no reaction to the 2nd!

Skid - glad to hear your ds is taking a bottle now, it's such a relief when they finally do. It was such a stress the first time round that practically the only thing I did differently this time was introducing a bottle early.

Pecka - I don't know what to say to stop you worrying about not breastfeeding, you did so well, you should be really proud of what you achieved not worry about what you won't be doing from now on. I am probably going to stop breastfeeding in the next few weeks and that is purely for selfish reasons (I want to get into underwired bras again; I want to lose all the baby weight; I want to go away for a night; I would like her to sleep longer at night etc), so surely I should be feeling more guilty than you as it is my choice? And I guess sometimes I do feel a little guilty but then I tell myself I will be feeding her formula and not poison, she'll be absolutely fine and apparently they get 95% of the goodness from breastmilk in just the first few weeks.

Wizz - I think we are going to start weaning dd2 at 17 weeks, eg in just over a week (or is it two? I've lost track of how many weeks she is - she was born on 11 Dec). I hope this might help her sleep better at night as we are seeing no sign of her giving up the 2/3am feed. although she is very good and usually only takes 10 minutes to feed then straight back to sleep so not too much hassle....

Hello everyone.

DS had his 2nd jabs today and was as good as gold, only a few seconds of grumbling then smiles again. Please let him not have any bad after effects - Calpol at the ready!

Claraq - I may follow you in your weaning plan, 17 weeks is only next week for us. Might try a tiny bit of the baby rice and see how he likes it. I too want to lose the baby weight - although its not entirely baby weight as I've started putting it on again. I think its maternity leave weight as I'm meeting other mums in teh daytimes too much for cakes and coffees.

Wizzska - you are so right witrh the maternity leave weight issue. i myust stop baking and do more ercersise.

oh the blinking cat is on his 3rd mouse of the day.....

oh and i am holding out for the magical 6 months.

morning all! wizzska lol at maternity leave weight, you are so right...there are some trousers i fitted into when dd was a month or so old, that i don't fit now! . however being on SMP only will def change that...I've worked out I'm already £200 short for bills etc and thats before food/nappy shopping...

loucee thanks re the Bumbo, I had a look online and they do look fab! Good idea re the highchair thing too, dd is so nosey and won't tolerate lying down when she's awake when we're out and about. I looked on Ebay and they're going for practically the same price 2nd hand as they are new, so think i might treat her to one with our mothercare gift tokens and then flog it later!

who mentioned being pregnant again? nooooooooo!! have to say i really don't fancy that yet! esp not at the mo - dd very poorly with the cold, all snotty, yet she's feeding CONSTANTLY i thought colds were meant to put them off their food? She fed every 2hours last night from 8pm to 8am, I am sooo tired. She had a massive feed each time too and then straight back down. lizzer how was your night?

pecka a friend of mine fed her ds EBM from a bottle for 8mths, it can be done!! you are doing sooooo well! she said with a good pump she got a bottle with just 10mins pumping, a couple of sessions a day and she had stacks of milk stored. her supply wasn't great either she didn't think. good luck! are you still taking the More Milk? I am but can't feel any difference?

going to wait for 6mths here too, for weaning i mean.

wizzska how did your ds sleep?

I should add that we are only weaning at 4 months because she is obviously ready for it, not only for all my selfish reasons . We'll try her with a bit of baby rice and if she's not interested will leave it a while and try again later.

We are very much a foodie family though, so can't imagine she won't be interested!

the latest installment in my crazy world is that today i have thrown money at the problem

have hired a hospital grade medela symphony that is coming tomorrow.

also bought a pack of breastflow bottles and teats spending £25 and she isnt interested - Ive stuck them straight on ebay as she didnt even put her mouth to them just went to then cried - must be too breast like LOL Think they would be great for a reluctant bottle feeding breastfed baby though.

Also got some nipple shields thinking that if i make my boobs bottle like she might go for it!

The things you do eh!?

Im feeling ok about it all today, just take each day as it comes - trying hard is helping me not to worry Im not trying enough LOL

I have a bumbo up in the loft from DS, must get it down.

Wow it has been so long since I posted that it had dropped out of threads I'm on! Don't think that has ever happened before!

Nightmare week last week, me and dc's all had a virus, neither dc was sleeping for longer than an hour at a time and ds reverted to needing to be paced up and down all day-not ideal when I also had a temperature, aches and pains and throbbing head! We are all just left with a cough and cold thing now though thank goodness.

Caz he also fed constantly when poorly but I think it is normal -BM is both food and drink for them, as well as medicine and when they have a cold they probably need more drinks than usual!

Pecka sorry feeding hasn't been working out and at those stupid women in the pub! As if it was any of their business anyway.

Lizzer sorry you didn't make it out on Thurs. I can't imagine having the energy anytime soon! DS had his second jabs today and he was horrible after the last lot for nearly a week so I'm in for a fun time again I'm sure...

Suey dd wasn't a sicky baby at all but for some reason whenever dh was wearing a certain jumper you could guarentee she'd be sick on it!

Wizz don't worry you aren't alone in the bad nights! I remember I tried EVERYTHING (except CC until she was over a year-it didn't feel right to me before that)with dd as she was the same but this time I'm just going with it and have accepted I have bad sleepers. Doesn't help with the sleep deprivation though does it? We had quite a few nights with a 6/7 hour stretch then just 2 wakings but then ds had his growth spurt and fed literally all night, then we had one night with just one waking but now it's back to 3 or 4-and he resists a regular bedtime too

BT and other dummy users, ds has his to get to sleep for his naps and usually at bedtime but I then take it away once he is asleep at night-I find that way he is less likely to wake up having knocked it out of his mouth. During the night he rarely has it as will usually feed then settle himself back down. RE bad habits, well dd STILL has her dummy to sleep with (22 months) and I can't actually see her giving it up anytime soon! But then again she does only have it to sleep with so TBH I don't really care-loads of kids have props to get to sleep and hers just happens to be a dummy (or 3, one in the mouth and one in each hand!). If she was walking around with it shoved in her mouth or talking through it then I'd mind and try to wean her off it but as long as it is just for sleep then I'm ok with it.

Ambi, wow! I'm afraid I could never do surrogacy-I'd think of the baby as mine too much. I don't think I could even donate eggs tbh, I'd like to but just don't think I could... Maybe if I felt my family was complete I'd be able to but not when I want more kids and dh won't let me-I'd be so jealous that someone else was putting my eggs to use and I wasn't. God that sounds so selfish.

Clara ds was born on the 10th and is 15 weeks so your dd must be too! Wow I can't believe you will be weaning in 2 weeks-I am far too lazy! Time flies doesn't it, I'm still thinking of DS as a newborn but he isn't really...Make sure you put pics of her with goo all over her face on your profile for us to look at!

Skid glad you have DTD...dh's bday was yesterday and I'm afraid I didn't. Only because he was in a foul mood and barely spoke to me all day and just grunted at me when I gave him his present. He's going to have a bloody long wait if he keeps being such a miserable sod that's for sure.

Macdoodle are you sure Bristol isn't too far for you? Has been a couple of years since I ventured into the centre but I'll rack my brains and try to think of somewhere easy to find! Like you I usually go to Ikea or to Cribs Causeway when I go up, Cribs is probably a bit far south for you though I'd think.

OOps have eaten a whole easter egg while typing this!