Jan 2010 babies and mothers....come here to hibernate!

[mistletoekisses]

New thread for us Jan 2010 mums. Will hopefully get busier as more of our little ones arrive!

Arrivals List
1st Dec - Missmarjoribanks - boy Thomas William Francis (33+4)
10th Dec - ClaireDB - girl Mira - 5lb 11.5oz (36+5)
11th Dec - Alibobins - boy Jacob, 6lbs 1oz (37weeks)
14th Dec - londonlottie - twin girls Juliet 6lb 1 and Eve 5lb 6 (35+5)
15 Dec - Whensmydayoff - girl Olivia - 6lb (36+6)
22 Dec - Liskey - girl Ellie - 5.5lbs
24 Dec - timmette/shinybaubles - boy Oliver - 7lb
25 Dec - Fakeplastictrees - boy Luke Edward
29 Dec - CantThinkofFunnyName - girl Olivia Iris - 6lbs 2 1/2oz
30 Dec - Liny - Nottinghamsire - girl Elise
1 Jan - TheMinnieBauble - boy Freddie - Weight TBC
2 Jan - nomorebboze - girl Megan - 5lbs 12oz
5 Jan - Fraochsmum - girl, name TBC - 6LBS 2oz
5 Jan - FlightofFancy - boy Edward - 6lb 14oz (37+3)
6 Jan - salvadory - girl Imogen
7 Jan - MistletoeKisses - boy Nicolas - 6lb 8oz
10 Jan- crumpette- boy 'babycrumpette'- 8lb 15 oz

flyingma mw told me that sma readymade formula was better for preventing constipation if that's what you are using.

Pumps: mw also told me that you can hire from NCT if that's any use.

fraoch compeed patches are very good for coldsores and they cover them to stop infecting too.

Morning all

Lottie - Hope you got your supermarket shop done! How was last night? Are any of the tricks helping them feed?

Newbeginning - to you. Topping up with formula is not any sort of failure, at all. Your LO fussing/ feeding is also not necessarily an indicator of poor supply. They can fuss/ feed lots at any point. Have you tried to find a local bfeeding group/ cafe to pop along to? You may get some useful advice/support. But ultimately, if you turn to mixed/ formula feeding , your LO is going to have gotten the benefit of all your bmilk to date - so you have done a great job IMO!

Flyingma - You could also go see your GP and have a chat. Re. the pumps, I think I said it before, but the Medela electric swing works fantastically for me and as you have asked, it has a power setting that you can adjust when it is both on the initial setting (to stimulate let down) and also when it is on the expressing mode. So goes from fairly gentle to quite powerful. Although will not be anywhere near as powerful as the hospital grade pumps you can rent. HTH

Saz - I haven't got first hand knowledge of Infacol, but on all the threads I have read about wind, the people using have all said that for it to have maximum effect, they use it religiously before each feed.

Hello to everyone else.

CTFN - Hope that you are ok.

saz we use the infacol before a couple of feeds, until he seemed to have expelled all wind, then give it a rest. However the first time we used it we gave it to him b4 every feed for 20hrs which gave him the shits and a green poo. Personally I didn't like the idea of giving sommething like that all the time when it wasn't necessary.

LL hang in there, you are doing an amazing job...I've heard so many different time scales re when things get easier and have to say 6mo is by far the longest!

gotta go screaming bub, must be lunch time!

londonlottie
re Aptamil - here in Belgium and the Netherlands in called Nutricia - maybe it's the same in Switzerland.

Oliver has been having Infacol and since it makes all the little gas bubbles into one bigger one it can cause forceful poop coming out if you get what I mean.

Also re the weighing it is common here to rent baby weighing scales from the pharmacy - maybe an option for you.

Well I have just come back from the hospital with both boys.
Ds1 had double pneumonia in Dec caused by a RSV or RVS virus thing anyway it seems to have done some damage to his lungs. He has been under the weather on and off since then, so he had blood tests, xrays etc etc today. He was a very brave 3year old and didn't cry at all the needles just when they stuck something down his nose into his mouth - I was almost crying by this point.
Then Ds2 has had diarrhea for the last week, and other symtoms which I thought meant a tummy bug but they are pretty sure it is a cows milk allergy, so have been prescribed a formula called Nutriamgen which apparently smells like rotten eggs . The good news is that this formula apparently cures colic symptoms in 2 days.

Hi - Thanks Fraochsmum - 1.injection 1.filling and all is well again! give me labour anytime over a toothache!
1.BF - I dont think anyone should feel bad to not BF, or top up at all - trust me i think whatever works is the way, at the beginning it was hard i must admit and i really didnt produce good milk until day3 - then the boobs got painful and i really wanted to give up i cried at every fed so i expressed for 2 days to let my "breast rest" and slowly it got better and im now much happier, dont know how i will feel to do "public bf"may express and take it with me!
2.Wind- was using infacol but now use "colic drops" as and when i need to not everyday!he has wind all the time and at nite the most, he get hiccup everyday and it drives me mad!
LL - i really do hope you get help and support you and your DH needs.

nappy bombs go off not as much but up the back and all his clothes aint funny serious staining and handwashing to be done!

Well I've had a day off of MN visiting crematorium, aunts in hospital etc - and so many posts to catch up on!

Lottie - oh my love - you sound like you're doing the most fantastic job, quite frankly under difficult circumstances given your recent move to a foreign country! Don't fret about the tears - it has resulted in more help - excellent!!

Mama2b5 - so pleased to hear the toothache has been sorted! Agree that labour is better than toothache - and I would also add headache to that. I get humdinger of headaches and just cannot bear it.

MK - thanks for thinking of me.

Shiny - your poor DS1 and poor you. I can totally imagine how you felt watching him go through all of that. I remember when DD1 was 18 months old and she had something called cellulitis in her hand. The trouble we had to go through to get IV lines in her for antiobiotics was horrendous, blood literally dripping everywhere - they ended up putting the line in her foot after 4 hours of trying! I was beside myself. Sounds like you have been through MUCH worse and now DS2!

Re Infacol - I was giving Olivia Infacol before EVERY feed from about 4 days old as she had so much wind and I find it helps. I did that with both other DCs too until around 3 months when they can bring up their own wind. Now have switched to gripe water. She expels lots of wind, but still retains some. She doesn't, however, typically have explosive poos so can't say for sure that Infacol or equivalent would be reason for this.

Had my and Olivia's 6 week check yesterday so now driving - hoorah! And she weighs 8lb 9oz - little pork chop !

Lottie I'm glad you are getting a bit more help because like you say, on good days you think that you can manage fine but on bad days, just drives you up the wall.

I have a similarish issue with the supply... there is more now but I can't get Aidan to take it fast enough despite compressions and switch feeding. I start on my good side and the most recent advice was to massage the slow side to encourage a faster let down (with my second pair of hands obviously since I am using them for compressions and to hold baby in place... and if you try to put him down mid-feed, he rightly screams the house down). We did however manage a good textbook hour long feed this pm which resulted in a 2 hour window of peace to get some groceries. Small victories.

Don't worry about info overload etc... I really appreciate the support and advice you have given. I am aiming to get myself sorted with breast pumps this week so that I can have a machine to express with. All this formula malarchy left me with the conclusion that whatever pain I have to endure to make it so is better than him having colic/ wind.

Re the ready made stuff - Aptimel only do them (at least in the UK) in 200ml cartons. They aren't necess any quicker unless your 2 are happy to take the milk cold/ room temp. As I usually get at least 2 feed from each carton, the second feed needs to be warmed from fridge to body temp so takes longer than making up a bottle from powder. Also, I reckon if you found something that works for the girls and does not give wind/ constipation and which they take, stick to it.

Not really sure what are poo explosions... do you mean just massive ones that fill the whole nappy? If so, I found they happened before I introduced the infacol so IMO it isn't related to the action of the meds but perhaps more linked to the wind/ colic.

saz We've been on the Infacol every feed for just over 24 hours now. Not noticed any different types of poo. Lady who recommended that we go on it said that she used it constantly for 2 days and got peace... missed it for 2 feeds and had a rubbish 3rd night.

I presume you are exclusively BF so there isn't a natural end to the use of it. We're mix feeding and I reckon the wind came from our change in formula (watch this space) so have replaced the powdered stuff with ready-mix stuff which sat fine with DS previously and hoping to come off the Infacol in a few days in the hope that prob is resolved.

Oh god what morning ds2 woke at 5 and was in so much pain and pooped a diaper that was half poop and half blood, I guess the doctor was right about his cows milk allergy - his new milk is on order but won't be here until this afternoon and I have too feed him two more bottles before then. I hate seeing him like this.
I have 7 prescriptions to fill today between him and ds1.
And I feel so guilty about his cows milk allergy, I actully wasn't sure the doctor was right yesterday because I didn't want to label him with an allergy. I have run into so many people who claim to have an allergy and actually don't or just want to think they do - some people actually seem to think it's fashionable. But when you see my little baby in so much pain, with bloody diapers and full of wind - it's so real.

Dear Londonlottie I feel your pain re: hard lump; I had one the other night and was soooo worried I would end up getting mastitis too. Rest assured mine has gone. I'm sure you know all this (you are doing such an incredible job ) but you can encourage let-down by rotating your shoulders or by crossing your arms over and putting your right hand under your left armpit and left hand under your right armpit and then rotating clockwise both hands simultaneously.

Whilst feeding your girls on the hard lump side continue massaging the breast with your finger tips in circular movements on the hardened side. Finally hot shower/compress before and cold compress after feed should do the trick.

Don't panic, I'm sure you'll be fine.

ps Are you drinking enough fluids? I realised the other day (due to being constipated for the first time in MONTHS ) that I really needed to drink more. Gosh this breastfeeding lark is not plain sailing is it?

Popping on very quicklu.

Shiny - I do feel for you and your LO! Bless him. I guess though as soon as you get the new milk into him - he'll be much better almost immediately?? That is little consolation until then, to all of you!

Lottie - hope mastitis stays away

xx

Morning so much to catch up on.

I haven't been on lately as I was feeling so down and didn't want to bring this thread down

Jacob has been poorly yet again and has now been referred to the hospital his chest is so bad and his milk intake is rubbish he takes about 2oz per feed and he's 2 months old now he's still on gaviscon and is goingonto neocate or nutremigen once he's over this infection

Shiny really feel for your ds's hope things settle soon

Lottie hope things are okay x

alibobins please don't feel like that you can come on here however you feel.
Oliver is starting Nutrimigen today thankgod we can get it on prescription it is 40 euros a tin and neocate is 68 a tin.
I hope Jacob is better soon. hugs

Well we have just spoken to our lovely doctor again she will put Olivers milk on prescription.
And ds his ent xray is clear but they're not happy with his chest xray, he has low iron and raised white cell count, they're waiting for the rest of his blood tests. But I am so worried and made the stupid mistake of googling and came up with lot of horrible thing .

Hello, ali sorry you're still having such a tough time with little Jacob, hopefully the new milk will help when he starts it
shiny sorry you're having such a pants time too! poor DS1 and DS2 and mummy!!! I can't say anything useful but I hope some new milk will help Oliver too. You're right about allergies, so many people claim to have allergies to things and I suspect 90% of them are fabricated

lottie you sound like you are doing amazingly well, you have 2 babies at the same time [frazzled] most new mums, no, every new mum struggles in the first few months of having one baby but twins, I cannot imagine. Do accept all the help you can get, your red cross lady sounds lovely.
RE the aptamil, it is made by 'milupa' and I can't remember what it was called in Spain (wasn't aptamil there either) but anything made by milupa will be the same thing.
I haven't used infacol this time, have enough poo explosions without it but I used it before feeds for a while with DC1 and she had green poo ! It made her do some very impressive burps though.

sorry I haven't read through the past day or two yet, hope everyone else is OK

I'm alright, DP is stepping up his a*hole behaviour which is getting to me. Eg last night, desperate housewives was on TV and he threw something at me (?!) because he didn't approve of me watching a programme 'all about infedility'?? he is losing the plot and is being very nasty and it's really most unhelpful when I have a new baby and had such a crap year last year, I can't stand him! aaargh! I told him to leave and he said he will ring his wife and go back there (semi ex wife, when I met him he told me they had been separated for 7 years and that was 4 or 5 years ago) anyway he is just being as hurtful as possible and I am feeling like I want to run away !
Also I have my post-baby period and I am a bit of a hormonal mess anyway!

Baby seeming more settled at night at the moment but he hasn't been waking up for feeds between 1am and 8, is he too young to go without a feed? Should I be making the most of it? I woke him up last night at 5 and fed him anyway but he was really sleepy, he's quite a chubster I wonder if he can go longer now between feeds..

sorry shiny x-posted, sorry about DS's chest x-ray.. do not google!!! He will take a while to recover and I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that he wll be fighting fit very soon. Honestly though, googling is bad, very very bad as symptoms that may be very insignificant can fit many conditions and problems and you can easily terrify yourself without just cause. Does that make sense?! *hugs to you

morning all
thanks for all the Infacol tips - Sam has a bugger of a cold now - courtesy of older bro so we now have farting and burping and snorting all at the same time I am feeling a little bit down and sorry for myself - my c section wound is taking a while to heal and the M/W told me yesterday that as Sam is not back at his birthweight at 2 weeks he needs to be weighed again at the weekend. I have started writing down feeds and he has fed 18 times since yesterday lunchtime with all the resultant wet and dirty napppies so he is not dehydrated or not asking for food if you know what I mean. Some of those feeds are only 5 min feeds but as he is so snuffly I reckon he knows what he needs to make him feel better and is having a mix of snacks and proper feeds. I am very proud of my boobs for keeping up !
lottie hats off to you for keeping going through everything - you are doing an amazing job in what sound like ardous circumstances away from familar places and people
alibobins - sorry to hear Jacob not well again - you have really been through the mill with him haven't you
shiny you poor love - horrible news and hope it all turns out ok - and meant in the nicest possible way - stop googling
flyingma - hope things starting to fell better for you
mama2b5 happy tooth news [smile}
CTOFN happy driving

flyingma that would be feel rather than fell !

Alibobins I second what shiny says, we would much rather hear you on here feeling down than worrying that we haven't heard from you and what you must be going through.
Shiny you have really been through it and hope all is well soon with your boys x
London I think you are doing amazingly well to have gotten this far without screaming for help, just take all that is available to keep yourself sane
Quirky - thanks for the coldsore advice, I will look for some today.
Mama2b5 - I never had any reservations about feeding in public and most people don't even notice (even in our small town!). Can get a little imaptient when they start sqeualing tho Hope the tooth feels better btw
I just had my mum here for a couple of days which was lovely. I thanked her for all the help she was while staying with us before and after baby was born. She said she was just thankful I didn't give birth on the toilet Looking back, I must have been fully dilated for 20 mins right enough
She sent me up to bed at 9.30 last night and said she would give her my expressed milk if she was hungry. Bliss!
At 10pm I was brought a screaming child, who was apparently starving...after guzzling a 4oz bottle she went on my boob for a further 15 mins!! What a greedy wee tinker, tho she did sleep for 5 hours before the next one.
Happy day to you all x

crumpette x posted with my mahooosive post. Fee for you - last thing you need at the moment is him being an AH.

Lottie about the hard lump I had that recently and it hurt like mad and my whole breast was much more sensitive but it didn't turn into mastitis. Lots of massage, and massage while feeding/expressing, and also I found hand expressing in warm shower helped.