October 2009 babies - Waving arms and gummy smiles make the sleepless nights worthwhile.

[HumphreysCorner]

Here we are on the other side-finally. Well done ladies!

On 2nd lot of AB's and they are suitable for BF so no expressing needed.

HC
x

hi hc I have come to join you.

thanks fidelma for your advice. I am trying to keep it all going but feel that all I am doing is working round Robert's feeding at the moment. Not been out of the house for days (since Sunday). DH is taking friday off so we can have time together and I can rest more. I feel really pathetic really and just don't know how all those of you who have other young dc cope. My hat goes off to you all.

love the name of the thread by the way - can't wait for proper smiles - ours are fleeting and probably still 'windy' smiles.

Thanks for new thread HC

sarah I know this is really, really hard but you are doing great. Make sure you get lots of fluids, I learnt today that I'm quite dehydrated and that can affect supply. One thing other lovely ladies on this thread made me realise-if you can get out and about do, but if you can't don't beat yourself about it.

ruby when you find this thread-thinking of you and hoping you had a better night.

BF counsellor was brilliant today. She had a cancellation so turned up 15 mins after I posted on MN. I'm pretty sure now that the way I was holding my breast during feeds caused the mastitis, my thumb was blocking the duct. I'd have never have learnt this from a book or forum, its really taught me the importance of asking for practical help when I need it. We also tweaked feeding positions on the left breast. Feeding cushion I was using was too high. Joe is often not opening his mouth wide enough and getting so frustrated that when I do put him on, the latch is shallow, its v painful for me and he's not drinking properly. Hence the blisters. So I need to wait until he opens his mouth widely like he's taking a bite out of a hamburger. Confirmed his constant (every 1.5 hrs)feeding is a growth spurt

She also couldn't understand why doctor had told me to express off the antibiotic or why it was ok not to feed from that side for a bit(I knew enough to ignore that.) It was good to get the reassurance that my soft left breast was not empty from Josephs constant feeding, it was just milk supply settling down. For everyone worrying about milk supply, she gave me a good analogy-your milk supply is like a factory not a warehouse-it will keep producing the goods as the orders come in and your breasts are never truly empty.

I forgot to ask her how long the hard patch on mastitis breast takes to go away, does anyone know?

Thanks for the new thread HC. Doesn't it feel great to have made it to the other side!!!

Got up early to do my first expressing of the day and have breakfast as I have so much to do this morning I couldn't work out how else to fit it all in AND get DD1 to school on time!

My almost-working routine has been shot to pieces because DD1 has conjunctivitis and I have to go to school to give her eye drops every 2 hours!! Also have HV appt with Phoenix today and my 6 week check with GP. It's going to be a busy one...

Not sure who it was, but towards end of last thread someone asked about baby not doing a pooh for 2 days. I was told not to worry about constipation for bf babies. Anything up to 4/5 days is OK. 2 weeks ago we were worried that Phoenix hadn't done one for 3 days, but has done at least one an hour since then so has well and truly made up for it now!! Going to mention that to HV today as all of our Christmas present money will be spent on nappies at this rate!

Anyway, off to get on with my ridiculously busy day. Hope you all have a good one and welcome to the other side!!

thanks for the new thread hc ht so glad to hear that the visit from the bf counsellor was such a help. It's really important to see someone in real life, it's very hard to properly sort out problems until you've actually seen a feed. I'm itching to come and visit all of you that are having problems however it's not that practical as you're all so far away !

sarah it sounds like you are on the right track with the feeding, just keep doing what you're doing and you will get there, things will start to get alot easier soon. Oh and the whole process of having a baby is sooo much easier second and third time round. There is absolutely nothing like the complete physical and mental shock to the system that comes with having your first child! We were probably all the same with our first.

lix hope you dd1's eye is better soon.

Have a good day everyone.

found you
when i had mastitus feeding on all fours with my boob dangling in her mouth cleared mine along with massage in the bath with a hot flannel and makng sure her chin was pressing on the area to drain it , this resulted in lying on a rug and baby upside down to me , but all symptons went after 4 day's

really hope those of you feeling ill are better soon, madison is due injections today but is full of a cold.......and after the fuss i kicked up too

Hello Post natal mummies

Congrats newbee!!!

It's Freddie's repeat hearing check this afternoon. I don't know where I'm going so I hope I find it ok!!

saraheb I am feeding F everytime he's awake. I do things like washing/dinners/tidying/showering etc when he's asleep. The dc's fit in somewhere around all this!
I am quite proud of the fact that I've managed the 3 school runs most days too
Didn't go to swimming last night though, I let dh do that and I stayed home. F was asleep..

I went to the bf cafe yesterday to ask about my lumps. The HV running it was the one from my surgery, I could of just gone there!! She didn't look at the lumps or feel them, just said that it was probably the milk ducts. And if they don't hurt then dont worry about them.
I hope they don't get infected though.
I didn't agree with all the advice she was giving out tbh. She was telling new mums that they didn't need to be sitting feeding for hours- 'feeds shouldn't take that long'. And she said that if they've been on for about half an hour they don't need to go on again for 2-3 hours. I was thinking 'um when F is awake, feeding is ALL I do!!!!' But then he does go for 2-3 hours...
but can go on and off the breast for the whole of his 'awake' time.

There were a few babies there who were the same age as F, and they were tiny compared to him!!!

theboob I'm not sure if F has a bit of a cold too as he's been sneezing quite a bit the last few days.

Have a good day everyone

Hi
great that all the babies are here now.
Sorry to hear that some of you are suffering from mastitis hope it gets better soon.

twinklegreen as you`re running a bf cafe do you know whether I should avoid eating anything.I had baked beans on sat and Nathaniel cried all day sun and seemed to have lots of wind so not sure whether it was beans or he just had bad day.

We also had no poo for 2 days but he made up for it on 3rd with filling 3 nappies.Its normal with bf babies so don`t worry.

HT glad the bf counsellor could help Nathaniel has a 6week growth spurt too and was feeding every 2hours yesterday.

Had him weighed yesterday and hes lost one oz in last two weeks so have to go back next week to make sure he puts it back on.hes probably lost weight after operation so in progress of putting back on anyway so not too worried.

saraheb its a bit easier with other dcs as you get to go out with school drop off and pick up so you get into sort of a routine.You just have to make sure you get ready in plenty of time.Hope you get some off time on weekend.
xxx

sarah i didn't know what hit me when I had DD1 we were all the sameI am now very good at juggling life and listening to 3 conversations at once while making spag bol, doing a project on the rain forest and listening to flute practice with a car driving through my legs as a tunnel !!!!! I love it and we laugh a lot.They all go to bed, school, nursery and I get time to myself or to be with DH

Connor was 11lb 4oz yesterday my little baby is changing into a smiley person.I must stop playing on mumsnet and go and tidy the kitchen.I hope you all have a good day and avoid the rain !!!

thanks for all your positive messages. I do feel like we are on the right track at last.

ht I have had a similar problem with robert not opening his mouth properly but only on the left side. If I tried to wait for him to open mouth properly he just wouldn't so I tend to let him latch for a few sucks and then take him off and try again - he is much calmer then. Am I doing right? - there is so much to learn. dd is 10 now so is just like doing it for the firsgt time - I have forgotten so much!

We had a better night and I am dressed and showered and just had breakfast. He woke up for a feed about 8 then at 9 he bathed, changed, 'chatted' and went down to sleep just before 10. I am hoping for another 1/2 hour before he wakes for a feed - fingers crossed.

love to all.

morning all

thanks for starting the thread hc

another bad night chez Ruby

she went down at 10 ish after a nap at 8.30 till 9.30 pm

she then woke every hour again for a feed

am so tired i don't know what to do with myself - poor DS is mainly entertaining himself

it is taking every ounce of my willpower to stick with the breastfeeding

seeing HV tomorrow so will see what she has to say

oh ruby have you tried a dummy as a one off thing to get some rest? charlie has had one occasionally when he has been on the boob all day. might help at night to keep her settled. now i don't use it at all with him but it's on standby just incase! i'm sure ruby is having a g spurt. keep going x
also, my ds 2.4yo is watching a lot of tv atm. it won't be forever, just think how independent it will make him!

sorry to all those with trush and infections. must be rea;lly hard x

charlie woke once between 11 and 7 last night. i almost got up and danced around the bedroom this morniing. fingers crossed it wasn't a one off.

Morning ladies

Have to share that Matthew managed to sleep 11-3am so 4 hours then he went 2 then 1. Hoping it wasn't a one off. Also, he when out yesterday he never cried in his pram round town or on his carseat in the cafe and only a quietish witter in the trolley eound Tescos. He is 7 weeks today so could this be the breakthrough I have been desperate for? Proper smiles now so all worth it.

DD2 used to poo once a week at this stage, usually on a Wednesday. It is normal.

I was told when BF DD2 that your breasts should be soft when the milk supply is established. I used to worry about not having enough milk too. M doesn't open his mouth very wide and grabs my nipple and feeds like that-have to pull him off.

Love hearing how the first time mums are getting on as it brings back so many memories. Didn't know about MN then but so wish I had as it might have helped me cope better. Everyone is doing so well.

Must fetch DD2 from nursery. Oh, and the lady who owns the salon I went to yesterday told me to go onto bottles and formula. When I FF DD1 everyone lectured me on not BF and now it is the other way round. You really can't win can you?

Big wave!

HC
x

ruby-how many weeks is she? I do think it will get better for you. Can DS sit next to you while you feed then you can read to him. Hope the HV can help. for you.

saraheb Get a bf counsellor to come and observe the latch, they can help with the mouth opening. I was doing the same as you-putting it in to give him a few comfort sucks when I knew mouth wasn't open wide enough then taking it out after a few sucks and latching on again. It was always those first few painful sucks that gave me the blisters. So we went through it loads of times yesterday and I've had it drummed into me-wait until mouth is wide enough.If Joseph cries, he cries-at least his mouth will be wide open at that point!

fidelma your house sounds like so much fun!

princessmel Good luck with the hearing check

ruby I'm sorry your night was bad again. These growth spurts are exhausting for us mums

All sorts of things happened at once this week, its hard to know whats normal and whats developmental Joseph used to poo after every feed but hasn't done one since Monday morning. Am wonderng to tske him to doctors tomorrow. He also started fighting his sleep this week-much harder to nap in the day and we've only slept from 3am to 7.30am. Am shattered.

Re the mastitis-that cooincided with my breasts softening. Pain is gone but there's still a hardish patch. I'm not sure what it was like pre-engorgement though, no memory.

Right off for a snooze while Joe is sleeping

X-post HC Very excited for you and your breakthrough, well done and long may it continue!

Just popping on to say hello - no real news here except that Louis was weighed on Monday (7 weeks) and is 13lb 8oz

Sorry to those suffering with mastitis, thrush, no sleep etc. Louis has done a few 4 hour sleeps at night but he generally feeds every 3 hours. He does seem to know the difference between day and night though and goes straight back to sleep after a 10 minute feed - am very grateful for this! He's not so great at sleeping during the day though, mostly in the sling which fine as I can then play with DD's (or tinker on mumsnet ).

I've used a dummy with Louis a little bit as well, does help - especially in the mornings as he would prefer to feed all morning but we have to get DD1 to pre-school so not practical.

Devils am very of all that sleep you had - I've not slept that long since before I got pregnant!

Have a good day everyone

well Masison had her injections today and her check and all is well, she has pretty much slept since them
she has been smiling so much at me today and has started making baby noises, i just kept looking at her thinking "god i love you so much i could cry" soppy moment of the day for me

i know. that is the longest 2 stretches of sleep since about a million years ago!

have a girls' night booked for 19th dec. can't wait!

devils-x-post. at your brilliant night, no wonder you danced with joy.

Must get tea on.

HC
x

Speaking of sleep, after refusing to nap at all yesterday, cluster feeding all night,Joseph dropped off to sleep at 3.15am and we woke up at 7.30am. He normally feeds then sleeps from 8.30 to 9.30am. Not today. He was awake and grumpy until 12pm then we both had a lovely sleep until 2pm. Fed pretty constantly this afternoon then went to sleep again at 5.30pm. Minimal crying this pm lots of wet nappies...and I'm worried he's off because he's NOT crying and we've not had a poo since Monday!

Someone tell me to chill out

Hard patch on breast still there, its been almost 5 days now. Is it an abscess now? I'm not sure how to tell.

Hi all.

Well done on the sleep front, Im very !

ht Im so glad you sorted out the bf issues, now get to those mum and baby groups.

I hope tonight is better for yo ruby.

Well Freddie went for his follow up hearing test today and all is well. They booked us in for the wrong day even though on my letter it said today, finally sorted it out only to get to the hospital to find out that she'd put the wrong hospital on my letter!!! So angry, we had to travel to another hospital and were told to get there in 15 minites if we wanted to keep the appointment, even though its a 20ish minute drive on a good day!
Anyway he's fine. princessmel how did your Freddies hearing test go today? I cant believe they wont do it unless baby is asleep, by the time we finally got to the right hospital Freddie was wide awake and starving! Thankfully she just re-did the test they do in hospital and he passed.

Off to scream ask my other 2 boys to stop[throwing things around the living room.

ht my friend had an abscess in her boob and when she fed the milk was pink, mixed with blood I should think.tmi

Evening.
Sounds like our babies are having some good nights i.e more sleep more often than not? Sadie was great last night (it's all relative isn't it?!) sleeping from 11 - 1, 2-5, then 6 - 8. It does take me an hour to settle her back down each time (and only with the help of the hairdryer but at least she is settling! I know not to get my hopes up, however she has gone down again at 9pm tonight so fingers crossed for another good one. I must say I'm getting lots of emailing done during the early hours!

HC you're right, as a first time mum Mumsnet has been great, i.e you lot! For all those questions you feel silly asking someone in person. I don't post too often but it's always nice to get replies when you need an answer to something. I feel like I sort of know some of you now, so big wave and thank you.

Have a good night everyone (fingers crossed).
KK

Hi everyone

bella officially you should be able to eat and drink as normal whilst bf. However what we eat and drink is passed into our breastmilk in small quantities so in theory things that make us 'windy' can have the same effect on the baby. Most babies will be fine but some are a bit more sensitive to what we eat and drink.

saraheb try not to let him latch on until his mouth is wide enough no matter how desperate he gets. It only takes a few bad sucks to make you really sore. He will get it eventually.

ruby do you think the problem she is falling asleep before she is properly full, if that's the case then you might find breast compression helpful, to fill her up a bit more and hopefully go for a bit longer.

devils yay for the sleep, long may it continue

HT if it is an abcess it would still be very painful I think.

boob glad madisons injections were ok, I've booked Amelie in for hers next week poor things they just seem so little to be injected with these things.

HT chill out!

peaches glad freddie passed his hearing test. My Freddie William pretends he can't hear me most of the time especially when I'm telling him to stop fighting with his big sister!

kowaikiwi hope you had another good night

Having a busy day as usual, done the supermarket shop this morning. Then going to spend the afternoon cleaning and tidying as we have someone viewing the house tomorrow. I'm sooo sick of cleaning everytime we have a viewing just want to sell the b*$%!y house!

Also just got a text from my best friend to say she's in hospital as she's had an ectopic pregnancy and lost a tube so I'm feeling a bit sad for her She's ok though and is coming home this afternoon, i'm going to ring later for a chat. It just reminded me how horrible ttc is and I'm soo relieved I don't have to do it all again... it's a year next week that I had my mc, fortunately I now have a beautiful seven week old girl to cuddle.

Anyway, sorry for the long post.