January 09 - 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4......and we're off

[fourlittlestockingedfeet]

Here's a brand new thread for the early party poppers!

FLF- I think I have DD free mornings on Thursday and friday if you fancy a coffee somewhere Ohh I am sooo happy to be able to drink coffee again without wanting to throw up!

Haven't had a chance to read thorugh the thread... but good luck dog....hope things happen for you tonight and you can join the world of sore nips and sleep deprivation

hkz - I have a DD free morning this thurs as my mum is taking her overnight, so it could be a goer? Do you want to email me at fourlittlefeet at hotmail dot com?

Hi All, Just catching up with the thread.
Really interesting about the fast let down and then the DC's being miserable.
Bang on 7pm and DS becomes the child from hell (I know slightly harsh, but has been tough tonight, plus seriously interfering with mnetting)and then at 11pm he settles and goes to sleep. V WEIRD. Do you think this sounds like colic ? I didnt think breast fed babies got colic, or is that wishful thinking ?
Also spoke to the HV re the nightmare evenings and she suggested that the quality of my milk could be quite low by the evening as I have been on the go all day, hence DS having the ump as not getting satisfied on my milk. This sounds visable as my boobs do feel quite empty in the evening.
We decided to introduce a bottle on Friday night of EBM and DP has been giving it to DS. He looks lovely and full once he has had that, plus I get to relax/express !!

Great thread and so reassuring that what I am experiencing is totally normal.

Thought DC2 would be a breeze, but he is so different to DD and some days I feel like I have no idea what I am doing !!

heron i was told not to express before 6 weeks in order to make sure a good supply was coming first for baby to express on own. but some ladies have incredible milk supply so too each his own i think. i tried by the third week but hardly any milk would come. poppit was on a growth spurt as well and was, what i call, 'grazing', eating bits here and there till she sucked me dry and then would sleep for hours. i also have a small glass of wine with dinner occasionally but the debate continues from the no alcohol while pregnant advice as to whether it is ok while BF. so you need to make the decision for yourself.

Evening ladies

Congrats MissJackson, sounds like an ordeal so well done you!

I was wondering about expressing too. I had heard the '6 week rule' too, but he wouldn't latch on at first so I had to give him some formula and was advised to express as much as possible as soon as my milk came in, now he doesn't have much of a problem latching but my left nipple is so cracked that I couldn't face giving him a feed off it today/yesterday, so I have been feeding off the right and expressing from the left. He has still been getting a bottle of formula about 1am and last night didn't want feeding again until 7 which seems a long time to me, but then he does feed almost constantly from 6pm until midnight so maybe gets enough then?

Sorry waffling on, feeding all just a bit confused at the mo but getting better. Does anyone know if you have a crack if it is better to just keep feeding off it and it will heal, or leave a bit if you can?

Loving the birth stories, all so different.

what is the consensus on formula and breast feeding baby together; i BF while DH can bottle feed formula at night/morning routine. i feel bf at night is relaxing for DD but i could use the break. DH leaves for work at 11am which gives me time to exercise, shower and a couple of chores. however, it is not relaxing and is rushed because DD needs a little feeding. she is a light, mid morning feeder which is then followed by a light sleep which i must hold her, (i put her in a sling to keep my sanity.) but if DH could bottle feed her, the morning will be relaxing as well. the problem is, is that i can't seem to express enough milk and am thinking that substituting one formula feeding a day would be fine.

MissH- I had a crack last week, feeding off it was agony and so I expressed for 36 hours and used lanisoh and it healed..

FLF- Will email you!

FLF- tried emailing you but it bounced back, try me : hongkongzoe at gmail dot com, will try yours again

hkz, just emailed you. always wondered what that stood for!

miss H - only feed from it if you can bear it - would use lansinoh on it. it will heal really quickly.

re milk supply... there are three things that I've found make a difference.

1. liquids - its a really good idea to keep your fluids up in the afternoon, and a cup or two of fennel tea should help with both colic and increasing your milk supply, failing that a pint or two of water as they take so much out of you!

2. Eating - there is debate on this one, but many people have told me, and I've always acted on this, that snacking throughout the day, just like the babies, every two hours or so will also keep your energy and milk up. Failing that, do have something around 3 in preparation for the evening feeds.

3. Frequency of feeding - if the baby is snacking, your breasts won't get that really full feeling, and the baby won't get a big feed. I've found in the past that they tend to snack if they need to suck to sleep, or if they have wind, as the sucking motion can help relieve it. Obviously, if they have wind, having lots of little snacks on top of it creates more wind, exacerbates the problem, and bingo you get that lovely evening crying! If they are really unsettled, I'd try a walk in the sling or some baby gym antics (you cycle their feet up and down, grab both heels together and push up towards their tummy or circle them. All of this can alleviate the wind). Just keep your head well clear! Tiger in the tree is also a good position to give them some gentle pressure on their tummy whilst they try and get to sleep.

Sorry, bit of a mammouth post, but I've always found that the winding postures don't work very well with my newborns, so they've been quite farty for the first month, then the wind comes up properly a bit later on. Don't know if anyone else can second this!

good luck dog.. you aren't banished at all!

books - the fennel tea will help with the wind. also try doing lying down feeds in the evening as they are calmer, and try and feed before she is too hungry to avoid the gulping. An upright sling or bear in the tree is good once they have wind.

Definitely not banished Dog!! Just saw on other thread that EPPM has had her DS in case anyone isn't checking over there anymore.

MissHairspray - if you can bear the pain of the latching on part the actual feed shouldn't be all that bad. I had a crack on both sides early on that hung around for about 5 days. I know it sounds crazy but it really forced me to improve attachment and positioning cos it was unbearable to feed if I hadn't got it just right, so in some ways it has helped me out long term iyswim. Once I'd done the first 30secs of a feed the rest was just mildly uncomfortable rather than painful. I found the blood a bit upsetting though. I would just count up in my head to try and get over the first few seconds and try and do some deep breaths. Once I got the hang of using the lansinoh right it healed really quickly.

I found this leaflet on cracked/sore nipples really helpful. I think someone told me about this a while ago... thank you

Dog - maybe for the best with all this snow around though?

Hello to all, and congratulations to everyone on their new arrivals. Have just read through this thread and after lurking around the pregnancy/childbirth ones for a while have finally decided to pluck up the courage to post.
Already have a 2.5 year old DD and had a 7lb 10oz DS on the 7th Jan, my second water-birth. So, I am very interested in those of you that already have toddlers to look after whilst constantly breast-feeding! Worried I may be frying my DD's brain with hours of Playhouse Disney, she doesn't seem to mind at the moment.
Also quite interested in where you get this Fennel Tea from, can you order it online? My DS has a really windy bum and every sigle poo seems to explode out with considerable force, after causing him some considerable grief. Any other advice gratefully accepted since although DD was quite windy this is new territory for me.
Oh, he does have a little tongue-tie, which the HV has arranged for us to get cut on friday Which, although distressing for us is meant to be virtually painless for them. So I'm hoping that swallowing lots of wind may be a symptom of the tie affecting his feeding and this may calm down after the snip as it were. Anyone heard anything about this?
BTW, Great birth stories on here and massive congrats again to all of you, some of really deserve a medal by the sounds of it

Hello ladies. my appologies for my recent Abscence!

Thanks so much for all your support about the group strep b. I spoke to midwife on phone the other day who put my mind at rest, as DD really wasnt showing ANY of the late-onset signs, i was just freaking myself out. 10 day ([shock, OMG, 10 days ALREADY!!!) visit today, and Mw very very happy with DD. so even more reassured now. DD was 6lb 6 at birth, 6lb 7 at day 5, and 7lb 2 today! So definately some good stuff coming out of those boobies!

DD still a LOUD snuffly sleeper, but think getting used to it now. Was feeding hourly overnight, but had a feeling it was bodyclock on wrong way round. decided to try swaddle blanket last night, and don't know if was a fluke/ one off.. but totally did the trick!!! slept 10.20- 1.30am-5.15am-10am!!! Lovely Break to actually get some sleep!!!

snowed in today, so lovely to have OH home for the day. we havent had much time as a little family as the club doesnt give him paternity leave, and they have had 2 matches a week!!! So lovely to just chill the 3 of us.

Right, think going to wake little one for a feed, as left boob about to EXPLODE!!!!!

Hope everything going well for everyone!! xx

Latest Info - (eachpeachpearmum today and details for Mel2005)

Still waiting:

elkiedee 26 Jan (DC2, DS born May 2007)
FYM - 28th Jan (DC2, DS Dec 05)
Givethedogabone 30th january will be DC3, DD 4 in feb and DS 2

Babies!

Jokat - DD, 2lbs 15oz
Looweeza - DS 4th Dec, Kit, 7lbs 13oz
Chefswife - DD 9th Dec, Violet May, 6lbs 7oz
HeathersMummy - DS 17th Dec, Fraser, 7lbs 2oz
Qumps - DS 19th Dec, Stanley, 7lbs 12oz
Kittenpaws - DD 22nd Dec, Susanna, 7lbs
NatalieJane - DS 27th Dec, Mikey
Ginni - DD 26th Dec, No name yet, 6lbs 15oz
Scared - 29th Dec
Mel2005 - TWINS 29th December. Alice 6lb3oz, Oscar 5lb 5oz.
TallulahBelle - TWINS 31st Dec
mppaw - DS, 3rd Jan
spink - DD, 7th Jan 11:37am
lennied - DS 7th Jan, Dylan Jacob, 7lbs 14oz
newmomma - DS 7th Jan, Harry John
periwink - DD 10th Jan, Ariella, 6:49, 8lbs 10oz
buickmackane - DS 13th Jan, William Ben, 7lb 7oz
Nellybell - DD 13th Jan, Polly, 7lbs 3oz
witchandchips - DD 14th Jan baby girl, 8lb 6oz
moosemama - DD 15th Jan, Elizabeth Jane
MsSparkle - DS 15th Jan, Finley Stephen, 9lb 8oz
Shanster - DD 15th Jan, Mairi, 7lb 9oz
Largeginandtonic - DD 16th Jan, India Rose, 9lb 5oz
Blue Sapphire - DS 16th Jan, David Alexander
FourLittleFeet - DS 17th Jan, Hugo, 8lb 6oz
Stripeywoollenhat - DD 18th Jan, Catherine Eleanor, 7lb 13oz
Tink - DD 19th Jan, Bracken Hope Willow, 8lb 7oz
Ooggs - DS 20th Jan, Luke Daniel, 8lb 6oz
Hkz- DS 21st Jan, Jude Peter, 7lb 5oz
Treedelivery - DD 22nd Jan
MissHairspray - DS 22nd Jan, Oliver James 9lb 12oz
RRay - DD 23rd Jan, Esme Mae, 6lb 6oz
Booksgalore - DD 27th Jan
LooseyC - DS 27th Jan, Toby, 7lb 8oz
MissJackson - 29th Jan 8lb7
Eachpeachpearmum - 2nd Feb 8lb 10

Also had their babies but not sure of details:

Poorbuthappy - 14th Jan (1 dd born Sept 04)
Happyathome - 18th Jan (DC2. DD born June 02)

welcome pat. glad you are getting the tie sorted, should really help. fennel tea from anywhere; supermarkets, health food shops, holland & barratt etc!

Dog - if you message me on fb I will send you mine from my Helios kit. Won't be using it again I don't think anyway My initials are CG - I'm on the group.

And welcome Pat! Same birth date as my DS, he was a waterbirth too