Feb 08 "Sore nips & no naps"

[omy]

Sorry guys- it is better with the date non?

Aherm, Ginger I am hoping you mean AF (period) and not BFP (big fat positive AKA you are pregnant...) .

I had my first one a couple of weeks ago. My last one was 28 April 07 so almost the same as you.

Been on exercise bike and am now going to sit down and watch a bit of Loose Women. Hoping DTs stay asleep a bit longer.

atI haven't disappeared, just having a tough time, and feeling my mood slipping rapidly. The lactation consultant/bf counsellor is lovely and clearly very knowledgeable, but I have seen her twice now - tuesday and this morning - and so far feeding is still very painful. The pain is almost bearable, and is mainly 1 side, but it's wearing me down. DH, mum, friends etc all say I should stop beating myself up, enough's enough and I should give DD formula, but I want to keep trying a bit longer. After this morning's session I have a couple more things to try. Anyway, a couple of you asked how I got on, and that's where I'm at . Sorry for such a selfish post.

Hiya pobletsmum you poor love. It sounds like so many of you are going through a similar thing with the bf. There was me thinking last time that everyone found it so easy. I am so glad I decided early on that, as it wasn't working easily, formula was the way forward. I guess the decision is easier to make when you have twins as less people "expect" you to bf anyway.

Poblet I would see how it goes with the new things you are going to try, but honestly there is no point beating yourself up and making yourself ill with the pain and stress. Fingers crossed for you though. Have a read down and see all the other girls in similar situations which might make you feel better anyway .

Off to feed DS2 who has been waiting so patiently while DD had hers, and he has been SMILING all day. DD has been mainly sleeping and yelling.

Sherida - £35 it is then! Shall I CAT you? Or, if you prefer, my e-mail address is sproutingbean at hotmail dot com and we can "get a room" as it were...!

Pobletsmum - sounds like you are doing brilliantly. I completely admire your commitment and the fact that you are trying so darn hard to get this to work for both of you. Please don't give yourself a hard time though. Please!

Ginger - titch doesn't really have a pattern but things have settled down a bit. I think it took about 3 days.

Egg - completely sympathise with your twin/tantruming toddler logistics. Must be very difficult. I know how stressed I can get about this sort of stuff.

Thanks for your comments on dh's article. I didn't realise but apparently children's lifestyles and tendency to play/exercise are pretty much established by the time they are five, so if they are used to sedentary lifestyles, they will carry on that way. This has a massive bearing on the obesity epidemic we are facing so it's pretty important stuff. Blimey, no pressure on us parents then!!!

So the fact that my 2 never sit down is a good thing then beany? Currently running round using plates as steering wheels

Ginger - lol at your bfp - I know you said you were enjoying having a baby but that would be a bit quick, no?

Poblets - you are doing so well carrying on - how old is your dd now? I always find 6 weeks to be a big turning point with sore nips but I think you're already past that stage. If it gets too bad could you mix feed for a while only feeding from your good side - maybe expressing from the other if thats better? Probably terrible terrible advice but I know nothing really - just hate anyone to go through all that pain and it sounds likes its beginning to get to you. Do what feels right for you. Keep coming on here even if its just to vent.

On the weaning issue I gave ds1 solids at 4 months as that was the advice at the time. With ds2 the advice had changed but tbh I didn't wait until 6 months. The hv was a bit vague about it. This time I plan to wait as long as possible - partly out of pure laziness - pureeing is such a faff!

Egg/Beany -
i'm probably being thick but what's blw?

OMG Rozzy, only read first line of your post but had to reply, my DS1 is also running round using his Toy Story place as a steering wheel too!

BLW is Baby Led Weaning, ie, let the baby lead you. You let them just pick food from your plate and shove it in! Much easier than pureeing. Obv needs to be suitable mind you, no chicken legs at 6 months old I don't imagine. My DS1 used to like eating whole broccoli florets from a young age but wouldn't touch it when mushed up, but i only discovered that by accident. I just really HATE pureeing. It is such a pain. Am wondering if the fact I am pureeing for two will make it better as it is more worthwhile??????

Ds1's steering wheel is an old frizbee!

mmmm have just run to the shop with ds in my arms and sick on my jumper and in my painting trousers for a can of diet coke and bar of dark galaxy. BRILLIANT. you can tell that weight loss is on my mind as it tastes so much better than normal! Having a slovenly day, well actually i think ds will cry if he gets put down so that's my excuse for sitting here with aforementioned goodies catching up on mn and watching totp2.

DS seems t be constipated again; i've lost track of the days but he seems to be suffering today. HV suggested giving him water which i've been doing.

Lodon meet-up thread has gone a bit quiet - if anyone's interested I was up at kenwood this morning and had a really tasty lunch in the cafe there (and saw a tiny new baby which made me realise how big ds is now!)- not sure how easy it is for others but it's got parking.

Sherida - your post was so sad - glad to see that you seem a bit more positive now. BFing should be natural but so many people struggle with it I really think that the support available needs to be more joined up. When people lived in extended families there would have been so much expertise on hand to help new mums. Sorry a bit of a tangent! I get less smiles from DS than other people do and he seems equally happy with breast and bottle.

Beany - how's the head?

Ginger - v impressed with your BFP. There's dedication to the human race. Really did make me LOL

Sorry to hear you're having such trouble feeding, Poblet. It must be very frustrating. I get letdown pain which is annoying, but bearable, and I know it will go within a few more weeks. It was partic bad with ds3, I remember laughing at myself how b*dy minded i must be about breastfeeding to stick with it.

Sometimes allowing yourself to do some formula is the only way to continue with some breastfeeding, it doesn't have to be all or nothing .

DS4 is smiling inanely at his baby gym (hooray!, I don't have to always hold him.). He's started sleeping in bouncy chair, too, thank goodness. I just can't believe how well he's slotted into the family (as Baby No. 4).

Leesmum - sounds like a nice way to remember your dad. Hope it was a good day!

Right I've bought some scales but it's all been a bit traumatic as I didn't realise you had to reset them whenever they're moved. Resulting discrepancy of up to a stone which caused not a little upset. Have updated below. What day is weigh-in? Monday?

Leesmum 10st 4lbs target 9st 4lbs
Egg 8st 7lbs target 8st 3lbs
Beautiful 12st 9lbs, target 10st 4lbs
Sally 11st 8lb (75kg) target 10st 7lbs (68kg)
Alkar 10st 10 target 9st 7
Gill 9st 9lb 8st 7lb

pobletsmum - keep going love! one feed at a time. vibes your way

Hi all, just found you all again!
It's all been quite stressful these last few weeks because Sophie has been gaining weight so slowly - she finally got to her birthweight earlier this week at 5 weeks and we've finally been discharged by the m/w! At last! I was so relieved because this has been going on so long... (history - had terrible problems with b/f at the beginning - bleeding nipples, drop in supply etc)
We got referred to the paeds this week because of the slow weight gain (I gave in to in-law family pressure there even though I knew all was well - also had to resist pressure (and may well still have to as well) to just top her up with a bottle to get her weight up Thankfully the paed we saw was very supportive of b/f, watched me feed and said that Sophie is well and happy. We have to go back again tomorrow am just for a follow-up so just hope that Sophie has been piling on the pounds since then

wow how did that happen? managed to create a link by mistake!

well if i'm going to post random links may as well bring a smile to your faces useful link for new mums

Good to hear from you violeta - glad things going in the right direction and you have a supportive paed.

Good to hear mine aren't the only ones who race about with plates! I now have visions of lots of little boys all around the country tearing around with an assortment of plastic plates making racing car noises

lljkk - this is number 3 for us and I feel like you that he's slotted in really well to the family.

Gill - when ds2 started to fill his nappy only once in every 4 days (before we realised this was normal for him) the health visitor asked if there was anything that made me go to the loo - like grapes. If your bf I guess you could try eating a lot of fruit or something and see if that helps?

Thanks for the info. on the baby led weaning egg - you'd think with no. 3 I'd be a bit more clued up. I'm guessing chilli and curries aren't suitable foods - although I ate so much of these whilst pregnant that he's probably used to them. I have tried spicy food whilst bf and it doesn't seem to bother him at all which is good because I LOVE spicy food.

I've decided I'm going to start my healthy eating when my treadmill arrives on Tuesday - right got 4 days to pack as much junk in as possible.

DH comes off on holiday for 3 weeks tomorrow. I'd completely forgotten until he mentioned it today - I've lost track of time since I came off on mat leave.

ok ok, so i'm a bit mad but I have just had a baby you know!!! LOL!! you know what i meant, it was i because i was responding to egg's post!

pobletsmum- don't beat yourself up so much, if it doesn't happen don't fret, you've done the most important bit (the first few days). I couldn't bf dd1 as she was in SCBU for months, i expressed for a few weeks and gave up 'cos she couldn't latch on to me when i tried to feed her myself. She is fine and so are the millions of kids that never get near a boobie! Please, it's hard enough being a new mum with out stressing so much.

violeta- glad sophie picking up now

Is there a weight loss club? Are you following a plan/diet specifically? Would love to get started on losing some of my flabby bits!

weight loss is just on this thread Ginger - copying and pasting a list just as for hatchings. Just add yourself on the bottom from list above....

Poblet - can you express on the painful side? Poor you!

egg & beany - what is BLW??? - Oh I see - baby led weaning - sounds like perfect sense to me. Those of you who hate pureeing - do you have a hand held whizzer? I love mine - I use it for soup making and there is lots of other attachments - you can whisk eggs, chop herbs etc - god i sound like an ad!

Good on you violeta. Sounds like you are out of the woods!

Ginger - what is SCBU???

Gill - I love kenwood - go there quite often with SIL as she has to walk her dog! Cant meet up tho for a couple for weeks as am off to spain (gloat) on monday!

thanks rozzy - all bran it is then

beany - just read article - your dh is very clever! i used to roam around the welsh fields and woods all day (how idyllic) and then in urban sydney we played in the street or walked down to the beach. we were ALWAYS out. what has gone wrong? I think it is the rise in population and cars.

Talk about growth spurt ginger - LO has been feeding every hour or so since 3pm - is this cluster feeding or greedy pig? I am setting a bad example to her tho as I have also been eating since then! - it's all this talk of weight loss - i told you it makes me eat more!!!

All this extra feeding has coast me a sore (cracked?) nipple, so am hanging out at the moment - thank god I am visitorless!

Gingermumi - ds2 is having a growth spurt at the mo. They get them at about 3/6/9 and 12wk or thereabouts I think. He's gone from having feeds 2-3 hrs and starting to regulate through the night to getting up for about 2-3 hrs in the night and spending half the day chewing his fist off. Penny only dropped yesterday when I was trying to give him his dummy then gave him my finger and he almost had it off!!! Talk about a piranah!!!! It is a pain cause it takes a little while for your suppluy to catch up hence the constant feeding, once you're boobs meet their demands they calm down again!!!!

Violeta - hope you're ok and here's hoping the weight gain happens. Well done to standing strong on what you've wanted to do and keep it up.

Poblets - think someones already said it but the 6 week marker is such a turning point with bf so hopefully you will see some change

Beautiful - I had to laugh at your 'pic' of expressed nipples - that's just what mine look like sometimes when I'm struggling to get anything out

Oh btw not sure if it's a new one but Tesco have got offers running on both huggies & pampers - the pampers I got today were as cheap as Tesco own which is always a bonus!!

Re the weaning, ds1 was born just as they changed the guidelines. We started weaning him at 16 wks on the advice of the health visitor as he'd started waking for feeds he's dropped and was trying to have a ridiculous amount of milk - he was having 40oz a day at that point and could have easily had more!!! We just did small baby rice feeds over a period of a month making them really liquidy at first and building it up until we started adding purees at approx 20 wks I think and went from there. I think that every child is different and whilst 6mths is the guideline that's all it is, a guideline, essentially it is about what the child needs. I have always felt that it is less about what the body of a baby can handle and more about trying to get people to breast feed for longer which I think should be two different issues. Personally I think that 6mths is too late to start weaning as their iron stores drop out round about that point and they need to get that from their food so you don't get much time to build it up. By starting early we were able to build ds1 up really gradually allowing us to experiment to his tastes as well allow his digestive system to become accustomed before introducing the next round etc. I have to say I loved weaning and am looking forward to it this time round!!!