September 08 - Just ladies with babies

[pacita]

I thought I'd start a new thread before we run out of space...

lollipop if it makes you feel any better I've decided to delay T's jabs a bit. I can't find any reason why I ought to have them now as opposed to in a month's time (and some possible reasons why it might be better to wait), and he's having a mini feeding strike (losing interest very quickly, then crying for food 3 mins later), so I don't want to do anything to throw things off track until he's feeding properly again.

pacita I would imagine antibiotics would be fine at this stage, but it's probably worth doing some research. I'm convinced that me having antibiotics after t's birth affected his gut and were to blame for his pooing problems in the early days.

OK, I've found an NCT mum and baby/toddler group near me (DP joined me as a present). I'm now absolutely terrified to go! how do I work up the confidence to walk into a room of mothers and babies? and why am I so scared!?!

star, good point. Will do when I stop feeding and can type with more than one finger.

Hopefully, you'll be just fine and really enjoy getting out, the company and no doubt the rants and comparisons. Chances are all the lsdies there are as tired and confused as the rest of us!

Happy birthday foxy!

Its also my chum's birthday today (the one who was my birth partner) and I wanted to spoil her a bit coz she's done so much for us over the last 7 weeks, so I invited her round for a playdate this afternoon and baked a huge chocolate cake, put up balloons, and invited a couple of her other friends as a surprise. It was a really nice time and worth sacrificing my lunchtime nap to get it ready!

My parents have been visiting since Sunday (hence why I've not been on here for ages, but I've read every post while feeding in the evenings, just haven't worked out typing on laptop while sitting on the bed feeding!!) My mum cleaned the inside of my kitchen cupboards, what a legend! They've also taken dd out a few times so ds and I haven't had to leave the house. This means his daytime routine has been really consistent and he's had great feeds, playtimes and naps without being shunted from pillar to post with carseats and buggies and the like while we go out. He's taken to having massive feeds in the evenings after his bath, but now that I've had the idea of bringing the laptop up to bed, I really don't mind! Tonight I fed him in just his nappy for the first half of his feed and I just loved the feeling of his soft chubby little body. I love the snuggles of breastfeeding as much as I loved the eye contact of bottle feeding my dd. He's still waking twice in the night (usually 3 and 5am) but going back to sleep really quickly now that he's having better awake times in the day, so the crippling exhaustion of weeks of sleep deprivation is starting to wear off.

I've just realised that all the playdates I've made over the next two days are at my house so we might not leave the house again til Saturday...fine for me and ds but I think dd might go a bit stir-crazy!

Sorry this post is all about me. I've read all the other discussions but then the chat has moved on before I've had the chance to post!

ps, there's a slice of the chocolate cake for you too foxy

hopefully there are two things you can remember to help you walk into the baby group with confidence:

1. you're not the only one feeling nervous, everyone's trying to make friends and doesn't know where to begin, you are no different.
2. whoever you end up talking to, ask them about their child and take an interest in their answers and you'll be away and chatting in no time at all! I'm sure other people will have advice and ideas too. Good luck, really hope they're a friendly and supportive bunch Oh yes, and its been said before, but I wouldn't worry too much about weight. My bfc said to only weigh monthly, as there are too many variations day to day and week to week. If you weigh the baby when they haven't fed for a few hours, and have just filled their nappy, then it could make a difference of several ounces, which could move them from one centile to another. So really really don't go worrying just yet!!

hopefully I've been going to a local mother and baby group and sometimes I'm quite happy to just sit there and feed DS while I watch the other mums with their babies...I find it fascinating looking at all the babies who are a few months older than DS and think that before too long DS will also be rolling over, grabbing toys and sitting up on his own. Most conversations tend to be about sleep deprivation and all the 'bad parenting' we're doing (letting them watch tv!).

Cant wait for today to be over...I am offically going to call today "black wednesday"

I have a question re: relactation for you bf experts!!!

I still have drops of milk coming from my breasts when I squeeze them...bearing in mind that I have not bf properly for 5 weeks is it feasible/possible for me to relactate?

I dont get on with electric pumps (they make me sore) but have a manual one which I once got the princely amount of 1oz from my left breast with!!!

Toby also seems to find sucking at my breasts comforting as he will not use a dummy.

My issues are as follows;

1. How do I find the time to pump, how mnay times in 24 hours would I need to do it and how long for each time?

1. Toby sometimes sucks and then gags and retches at the breast - I assume this is when the drpos of milk come out...does this mean bf cant/wont work for us?

1. Do I offer the breast before each ff and then pump after?

Have rung the LLL and looked at the kellymom website but they are a bit vague as to the answers to my questions....

I will not get much support from family members so need to be sure I/we can do it.

Also, Toby doing well on his ff so dont want to screw things up.....

Sorry for the ramble...been a hard day.

Happy birthday foxy

Love to all x

hopefully i've been to 2 baby sensory classes and they are great. I was dead nervous going in but all the women are very friendly and no one cares if your baby cries/poos/possets etc. the first time you walk in is the worst but nothing is ever as bad as you think it will be.

One of the ladies there had her DS a day before me and happily told me how she settles him at 7.30pm and he sleeps until his last feed at 11pm. Grrrr. What am i doing wrong? C settles but in about 10 mins will wake up crying until 11pm. Even hv said i should try different milk (didn't work) or maybe see a cranial oestoepath. Any thoughts?

How does anyone ever get anything done, and atually eat dinner in the evening? In awe at carrieon managing to get the time to bake a cake!!
Off to grab some food before she wakes again.......

I baked the cake while both my parents were here - three adults to two children. I'm faaaaaar from being superwoman!!

Hopefully - I have had theopposite as both my DDs have moved from the 25th to the 75th percentile within a few weeks HOWEVER DD1 then put on NO weight between 6 and 9 months (in fact LOST weight between 8 and 9 months and moved back to the 25th again!

I think what I'm trying to say is that they don't all follow a nice curve, that's an average. If you're worried ask to be compared to the breastfeeding curve as it goes up slower at the beginning.

I went to a mum and baby showing at the cinema - I can recommend it, Maebh slept through the whole film! (In fact she went longer between feeds than she normally does at night!)

Why are 2 days never the same - except for the routineys amongst you yesterday M was SO unsettled - today she's just slept!

imoscarsmum it was at Rochdale Odeon - they also do them at the Trafford Centre. Do you want to join me at one? it was great!

Also imoscarsmum where's the sensory class that you go to?

oh becaroo I really feel for you, I remember feeling like this with DS1- having gone onto ff for the sake of babys health (kept losing weight) but then feeling rapt with both guilt and jealousy at not bf. At about 6 weeks I almost put him back to the breast 'just to see' but then DH came home and I felt guilty about that for some reason! I was still getting milk for about 3 months and kept wondering if it would be possible.

This time things are different and DS2 feeds well, thank goodness. You need to do what you feel is right but please dont beat yourself up about it- the most important thing is that you and baby are well xxxxx

Potxola, I didn't know they had a sale, thank you! I've ordered the gypsymama Orion gauze wrap that I've been hankering after since it was on half price. I think it will be nice to have a sturdier sling as well soon when we go for longer trips.

Foxy, happy birthday!!

Thanks for the encouragement! I have 6 days to work up to going, but I think I'll definitely brave it. Definitely need to start getting on and doing things (and meeting people) or I'm going to go stir crazy in a month or two.

Starlight....Toby has 7 feeds per 24 hours at the moment - if I put him to the breast before each feed and pumped after - do you know how long would it take to get my supply back up and running as I am only getting drops at the moment?

Plusonemore - thanks so much for your kind words ...I guess I feel so strongly this time because I actually have/had milk whereas with ds1 I didnt so it was a bit of a non starter.

My main concern must be Tobys welfare and if that means he stays on formula then so be it.

Imoscarsmum, how old is your little one now? I think when they're little it's really common that they don't want to sleep in their cots on their own. Katie is 13 weeks today and only started sleeping on her own last week but she is doing really well with it now. I honestly believe that she wasn't ready before.

Lollipop, we forgot Katie's jabs, she was meant to have the second lot last friday and we forgot =( Must admit it happened several times with dd1 and she's the healthiest kid I know, she never ever gets ill.

Sorry starlight...I realise you cant give me an exact time scale but you are so knowledgeable about bf I always assume you know the answer!!!!

Sassafrass that is brilliant! I am glad I told you. The Orion is lovely. I like the emerald green one, but I don't really need another Gypsymama. Today I bought on ebay a Babasling for Lorea to have her naps at home. She is too big to do that in the Gypsymama. If you are looking for something thicker, I recommend the Kari-me. Look at the reviews in Mumsnet.

I have a quite thick woven sling as well, can't remember the name, it's an obscure brand, but it's really nice. It's a bit short for me to a double cross carry though but perfect for short trips and hip carries. The orion should be great for when I'm travelling I hope since it wont take up much place. My mum is buying me and the girls tickets to go home to sweden for a visit after the new year, I'm really excited. Shame it's such a huge faff to sort out Katie's passport though. Involves three trips to London to the embassy.

hopefully, its a bit of a thought going to one of the groups but once you get to know one or two people you will enjoy it. I find it best to just walk in have a look around choose 1 person or a small group that look friendly and go over a simply say that you are new and introduce yourslf - a bit nerve-wracking but it gets things going in the right direction.

People were talking about breastfeeding in public earlier. I happily BF DD1 pretty much anywhere, Italian resturants were great as Italian waiters love babies never had any negative comments - just remember you have a right to BF in public places etc. (just thinking - I read an article recently which i think said that in England you could leaglly be requested to stop BF in public once the baby in 6 months old, and in Scotland its 2 years of age before you can be asked to stop BF in a public place! - anyone come across this?)

Horrible moment yesterday (5 weeks since giving birth) my stitches have torn , felt a stinging in the bath and then uncomfortable after. got DH to have a look and about 2 stitches have torn. Really don't want to have to get anymore stitches put in but looks as if i may have to if still not healing.

Morning Ladies,

Imoscarsmum - just in case you didn't see the earlier post, I also live in the North West. There are Mums and Babies cinema showings in Rochdale and Trafford Centre (and possibly others) - let me know if you'd like to meet up and go and see one some time.