💙🩷From Bumps 2 Babies & Beyond!🤰👶🍼🤱🤱

[MummyTo4BoysXXXX]

following on from the Due February 2024 thread 7.. now this shall be thread 8! For us all to continue our pregnancy&postpartum journey together 😊

@msp2023 I used to do one boob for 30-40 mins and she’d fall asleep and similar cycle to ur would happen.
i then started feeding 15-20 mins on one boob and if she falls asleep I’ll change nappy between and let her feed on other side (usually only lasts 5-10 mins) but sleeps 3-3.5 hrs now doing this ( well mostly, she’s still do an odd 2 hr nap and feed again)

@DmcinT have you tried infacol? Can be given from birth and has simethicone (sp) for wind relief

@Cheetocat I think it's happened to all of us at one time or another. It is v scary. Your partner will def get used to settling in his own way, and will perfect the transfer with practice. Sounds like you need a bit of a break and a rest

I'll try this! Thank you so much 😊

Changing to pampers and only using metanium once has helped little man's leg so much already today.
Thank you so much @Ihatewinding & @EastCoastExile for the advice yesterday

PS; & been wiping him with warm water & cotton pads 😀 I find he doesn't fuss too much doing that compared to wipes either

You're welcome. So glad metanium worked its magic for you!

I finally just managed to catch up on the thread! How fast does time seem to go with a new born? My boy is a week today already and I can't quite believe it! We have had a tough first week and the exhaustion is real! I haven't been well so have been back and forth to the hospital, they suspected I had a blood clot on my lung but thankfully the scan was all clear. Just fighting a nasty chest infection off on top of super low iron, so had an iron transfusion and back again next week for another.
Not quite the baby bubble I had hoped for and feeling a bit sad about it if I'm honest but hopefully this week will be better for us 🙏🏼

@CheeseAndCrackersx glad it's already improving ☺️
I know what you mean, so much calmer when spoilt with warm water! We use white noise for changes as well and fine that keeps him settled a lot more too.
Another thing that can help if using pads instead of wipes is to put an extra cotton pad down at the top of the buttcrack at start of the change as this can absorb excess water so doesn't run down and get on their clothes or the fresh nappy underneath (if you do this anyway).

@DmcinT also been tempted to try gripe water early as struggling to get wind up lately and very uncomfy with it, I think inhaling lots of air due to his cold. But 2 more days and magically will be allowed! But might try tomorrow if really bothered as only one day early.
Don't want to to use infacol as can aggravate reflux due to the orange flavouring.

My baby is in the ICU with an infection, we weren't allowed to stay with him, won't be able to see him until 9am. I am full of milk and one of the pump parts is broken. I tried the haakaa and some hand expressing just now, I really don't want to lose my milk. I'm lying here with the little white long sleeved vest that he was wearing today, my heart is broken, every fibre of my being is screaming for my baby.

@Cheetocat I'm so sorry to read this, my heart breaks for you. I hope you're getting some sleep but expect you're just counting the hours until 9am. Might the hospital lend you a pump if you don't have a working one?
Hope your baby gets better really soon

@anony1111 sorry you've had such a rough start, sounds scary and you're doing so well. You'll probably need time to process everything that's happened. Hope the worst is over and you can start to just enjoy your baby and adjust to newborn life now

Hi all,

Question about baby poo as well as combi feeding. 🙈

So for the last two days baby girl has produced a couple of loose stools a day, these are yellow in colour. It’s not frequent but it has made me worry that it might be diarrhoea. As much as I wanted to exclusively breastfeed my supply has been really low and causing me so much stress that I’ve been combi feeding and in the past week it feels like it’s been more formula than breastmilk because I’m struggling to get much out with pumping too.

I’m told formula fed babies have firmer stools and breastfed have softer so I’m not sure what to look out for with my baby’s poo at the moment. She has been a bit windy but I’ve been giving her infocol and she’s been much better.

So the first question is about poo being loose and whether or not this is normal?

The second is, is it possible to increase milk supply after 3 weeks or is it too late? I’m really anxious that my supply is getting less and I know what what to do or if I’ve missed too much time to intervene now that it’s been almost 3 weeks.

Any advice would be hugely appreciated, I’m getting myself worked up with stress !

@anony1111 sorry to hear you have had such a tough week, I found it bad enough with just the standard appointments never mind being unwell and having to trek back and forth to the hospital. Hope this week goes smoother for you 🤞🏻time goes fast I agree, the first few weeks can be such a rollercoaster.

@Cheetocat I can't believe they won't let you stay with your baby when he's so poorly! Have you spoken to postnatal ward or maybe paediatric ward about borrowing a hospital pump? And Amazon prime a new one/replacement parts? Otherwise keep hand expressing regularly for now as the stimulation will help. Sounds like he's in the best place if he's in ICU so that's one thing at least. Have they said what they think is wrong? Wishing you all the best for his speedy recovery

@Cheetocat my heart goes out to you. Sending all positive thoughts for little one ❤️

@anony1111 hope you feel better soon and can enjoy the bubble ❤️

@Ebonythoughts sounds more like breast milk poos, are you putting your baby on the boob? Could be getting more than you think but probably worth getting some specialist breastfeeding support if you want to EBF. Have you seen a lactation consultant at all, or had involvement with the infant feeding team? I think it's harder but supply doesn't regulate until 6-8 weeks' time and there are women who relactate months down the line so is possible if can work at it, but again specialist support can be really helpful with this.
Hopefully those who are combi feeding can give you better insight but my breastfed baby poos are generally quite loose.

@CheeseAndCrackersx I just read your post, I’m so sorry to hear your baby is poorly. Sending you positive energy and praying that your baby recovers well. You’re in my thoughts x

@Cheetocat I am so so sorry. Hope your baby makes a quick recovery soon xx Your hospital might have a spare room for parents, it might be worth asking. You might still not be able to stay on the ICU ward overnight (we weren't) but you would have access to the pumping room /sterilising room etc and hopefully the hospital lactation consultant. Sending love, it's horrible. But the nurses for ICU babies are honestly so amazing.

@anony1111 I'm so sorry you've been so poorly, hope you get better very soon. So unfair to have such a rough start x

@Cheetocat sending you so much love, hope baby makes a quick recovery and is back with you as soon as possible xxx

@Ebonythoughts I went through the same things with combo feeding. Still am plodding on and baby is taking around 400mL formula throughout the day and the rest breast milk.
I'm hoping this will move towards more breast milk.

Here's a good website for detailed info

laleche.org.uk/how-to-increase-your-milk-supply/

It involves a lot of regular expressing - which I have actually stopped because I found it too much to pump 10 times a day, feed at the breasts 10 times a day and give formula too up as needed. Didn't work with our schedule and poor sleeping at night, it drained me mentally.
I'm just putting baby on breast as much as possible.

@Cheetocat oh I’m so sorry to see this, I hope LO is improving and healing well. Have they said what is wrong? Did u return to hospital or were ye in there anyways?

@Cheetocat sending lots of love to you and your baby, I'm so sorry to hear that you couldn't stay with him in hospital and I hope he is back home soon.

My little one is mostly formula fed with a bit of breastmilk when he will latch or when I manage to express some @Ebonythoughts - his poops are yellow and soft. He goes once or twice a day and is almost 5 weeks old.

I hope you feel better anon, sorry my tags aren't working properly!

Thank you everyone for your kind words ❤️ it's been a tough start for sure but hopefully I should start seeing an improvement soon in how I feel and things will get a little easier.
Main thing is baby boy is doing great and didn't lose much oh his birth weight my little chunk 💙

@Cheetocat im so sorry to hear your little one isn't well, sending you both love and strength. Remember to look after yourself too in this rough time ❤️

He was doing a lot better earlier, thanks so much for the well wishes, I was able to pump for him in the hospital and we've ordered a new part for the pump though things are looking like he'll graduate from ICU soon and I can stay with him. Thanks everyone.

He's four weeks old today, I can't believe it! He's the biggest baby in the unit like I was when I was born. 🥺

If you notice anything off about your baby PLEASE contact someone for help or advice or just go to A&E. It's not worth guessing or waiting it out. If they're lethargic, their cry is different, they've got cold/flu symptoms etc.

@Cheetocat that's fab news, hopefully you can escape the hospital asap 🙏

If it's a bad cold/flu/bronchiolitis he's got then I recommend these for onward recovery and helping with the snuffliness that can impact on feeding/sleeping:
Sterimar Baby Nasal Hygiene Spray, 50ml https://amzn.eu/d/fi0IV8A
It's blunt ended so don't have to worry about shoving it in too far if he's thrashing about.
Baby Nasal Aspirator NoseFrida the SnotSucker with 20 Extra Hygiene Filters by Frida Baby https://amzn.eu/d/48Jep01

My little boy also has a cold and now day 12 but he's well in himself, just makes him struggle at the breast and too unsettled/snuffly to be put down in day for most part. Weight check today shows he still managing okay thankfully.
I use the spray at start of feed (is max 6 times a day though) and then use the snot sucker a few times during the feed when he's more sniffly/struggling. Taking him off the breast to get his breath when he starts gasping/gulping then relatching also helps, even if means having to do so every minute at times when the flow is faster - thankfully got a good pillow to support this! Even though they say you don't need to I also press in around his nose so easier for him to breathe too.

And agree any concerns then do seek help/advice. I'm a HCP so can make my own assessment of when to escalate but if issues with feeding, etc. then please do get checked out. They are so small and no doctor is going to say no to seeing a newborn! I do recommend getting the above kit in though as was super helpful with my first's nursery illnesses. Obvs starting early with this one as got his sister bringing those nursery bugs home😪
This is also helpful: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Ldjjqvgjdsh63W6k/

I have a slightly odd question for those breastfeeding...

When you squeeze your boob/nipple, do you get a squirt of milk or some drops?
I'm trying to ascertain what may be 'normal' and whether my milk supply is sufficient.

I know this isn't the right way to do this but I'm just interested to see what this looks like for other BF mamas.
I only got a tiny squirt yesterday, normally it's just drops.