💙🩷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 😊

@Cheetocat I'd definitely try a different size teat. Not sure how they compare to MAM teats but their size 0 is really for prem/very newborn, we quickly had to move up to size 1. She is 9 weeks now and is on size 2 and has been since about 7 weeks.

I'm fully bottle feeding and advice is if the bottle is being emptied to offer more, we are now on 180ml bottles which is way over the formula "guidelines" for her age, but what she wants/needs. She rarely finishes all of the 180mls but can have 150+ most feeds so we know it's the right amount, when she finishes the 180ml 3 times in a row we will increase again.

I can't comment on offering more formula with breastfeeding.

But I would say if they are appearing to try and drink it fast, and tensing clenching fists etc it is likely frustration and the milk isn't coming out because of the small teat size x

@Havanalily1806 Thanks so much!

Only every now & then little man finishes a bottle before it needs to be thrown out after 2 hours.

He's still a very snacky feeder.

He sometimes has 1/2oz sometimes 3/4 it varies every bottle

@cheetocat have you had your baby assessed for a tongue tie? Frequent feeds, falling asleep on boob, and poor weight gain or especially a slow down is a feature when supply regulates once past 6-8 weeks. I had oversupply to start so was fine but at 8 week check had tailed slightly, I think as my oversupply had settled. My baby had his cut on day 3 but had reattached. Now feeding better and heavier wet nappies since had redone (albeit after some initial feeding aversion post procedure).
And when I say checked I mean not by a midwife or paediatrician, I mean a lactation consultant who will actually put their hands in your baby's mouth and feel and look under their tongue for a posterior tongue tie. If someone tells you no tongue tie just by looking then they haven't been properly trained to assess for them btw. Don't necessarily have to have painful feeding but ties can affect milk transfer so lead to slower weight gain.

I would have thought a 4ish kg baby would be okay on a size 0 teat, though will be harder work and may take on more air. Does the teat compress/collapse when feeding? That is a sign the teat is too small. I'm guessing you're wanting to use a smaller teat so doesn't get used to the faster flow and prefer bottle over breast? I'm assuming you know about paced feeding, etc to try avoid this? The sucking reflex means they may take the 3oz and you might be none the wiser as to if he needed it.

Are you going to have more frequent weigh ins? And wasn't your baby poorly to start? Probably has some catching up to do. Obviously take guidance from your paediatrician but maybe also request a referral to the local Infant Feeding team if not already had one?

Thanks so much for the informative response. I never thought there could be a tongue tie because I assumed it would be visible, the frenulum under his tongue looks normal to me but obviously I'm uninformed if you've got to feel for it.

He wets his nappy pretty much every time he feeds so I haven't been worried about that but I have no idea if the amount is little or a lot.

Our post natal classes are run by a specialist nurse who's also a lactation consultant and my GP nurse has signed me up to have some sessions with her or her colleague, I'm sure they'd be informed on tongue ties. I have a class tomorrow so I'll mention it. She weighs baby for me every week because she has an analogue scale and everyone else who weighs him uses digital. The GP nurse and pediatrician also weigh him. Nobody has suggested anything that could be causing the issues apart from my milk just not being "enough".

The teet doesn't collapse because we use anticolic teets that have a little valve on them but he does get extremely gassy every day anyway. You're right about why I prefer the slower flow and we already do paced feeding with him. His sucking reflex is really strong but I don't really know how else to tell how much he actually needs other than offering more.

He had jaundice and lost loads of weight at birth, he has a dilated kidney that needs constant monitoring and he takes a low dose antibiotic to prevent UTI's, he has sepsis and only maintained his weight while on antibiotics in hospital for two weeks, he lost weight during the following week at home. So yeah, he's been through a lot.

I'm incredibly sleep deprived and baby is very colicky, I'm really struggling in a lot of ways, I barely look after myself, I've continued to wake him for feeds at night because of his weight but I think I won't tonight because I need to sleep, hopefully his weight is good tomorrow.

@Ihatewinding sorry to jump in, my LO had his tongue tie cut a week ago. I just wondered if your LO has a dummy and if so do they find it hard to keep the dummy in even after having the tie cut?

@Cheetocat you've had a really tough time I bet you also wish for some smooth sailing - this has become my aspiration and I've not had it anywhere near as bad as you. We had a lovelyish 2 weeks then bronchiolitis lasting 3+ weeks then nipple/breast thrush then another cold then fast let down worsened then became apparent tongue tie had reattached but had blamed latch issues on all the aforementioned, then got feeding aversion as were overzealous with stretching exercises post revision after previous reattachment, then was really unsettled and gassy after vaccines. Had a fair few times with both of us in tears ngl!

Things have just started getting easier for us recently so hope the same happens for you 🙏

I'm assuming the antibiotics in hospital were IV, and he potentially had fluids too? That might have falsely inflated his weight so seemed like lost more weight than he truly did after. Would defo ask about tongue tie tomorrow, that's good timing!

I found this helpful as discusses how heavy a "heavy" nappy is and expected volume of wee and weight gain: https://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/enoughmilk-older/#:~:text=If%20your%20baby%20is%20gaining,diapers%20should%20be%20really%20wet. Obvs if having more nappies they will each weigh less. Though have they said if he would wee more or less with the kidney problem or does it not affect urine output? He's on small side so might be more on lower end/pre 6 week target, maybe bring it up with your paediatrician?

I wouldn't recommend this but I actually weigh my baby's nappies so can see what strategies work and what don't in terms of tweaking things but it's a slippery slope and I blame my PNA. It's hard as if bottle feeding you can tell how much, and this helps me see roughly how much he's taking. I want to stop and hoping now things going a bit smoother that I will.

You're doing so well but sleep deprivation makes it hard to see. I recommend having a bouncer permanently in the bathroom, for me this means I shower everyday. With my first I couldn't face dragging it up and down the stairs so would go days without and feel grim. After first morning feed I put my baby in bouncer and shower and then can start the day afresh and this defo helps me mentally, plus wakes me up! Hope you get a bit more sleep as that helps so much too. Is your partner being any more supportive now?

@anony1111 he didn't like having much in his mouth but seemed more to do with developing an oral aversion post overzealous post op exercises. He went a week not wanting the dummy as much for sleep but seems to want it again after a week and half.

I do think we need to size up his dummy though as it's a 0-2 month one so probs needs a 0-6 month now to hold in better.
To encourage sucking of the dummy, you can aim it towards the roof of the mouth so not making them gag and then tap the base with a fingernail repetitively, this usually helps acceptance. If they are really not keen then I find jiggling my baby distracts them and with the tapping they will start sucking it.

If I want to spend a long time in bathroom I’ll use the bouncer like suggested. But if just a very quick shower and I’ll be 5 minutes…if baby is calm and asleep in crib it’s okay to leave them!! Yes they might wake, yes sometimes he would cry, but given that would be part way through a shower - it will be a few minutes maximum. This is okay! Just wanted to share another perspective.

Definitely size up a dummy if you’re still using the tiny newborn ones. I tried a 0-6 month dummy this morning and it’s not falling out half as much.

Also, I leave baby to get a shower etc. He is fine. You aren’t neglecting baby if they cry for 5/10 minutes. He still smiles loads and stares at me adoringly, even though I leave him to cry sometimes for my own sanity 🙈

I have DD in her chair whilst I'm in the shower also!
I do try and time it for after a feed so she's content but isn't always.

@redxlondon and @RachLeeds I leave baby in her crib to shower or wash hair also. I think for me it's safer than bouncer on hard tiles that might get slippery, and she's alright in her crib. She loves the hairdryer so lays on the bed watching while I dry my hair.

@Cheetocat and @Ihatewinding so sorry you've had a rough time of it

Re tongue ties, we got our little ones snipped by a private midwife. It was £190. Midwives and health visitor could all clearly see she had a tongue tie as it was a tight one, but as she's 100th centile and breastfeeding is going alright, they weren't interested in doing anything about it. Apparently it can affect speech and solids later on so we just got it done ourselves

Trying to get my postnatal check is mere impossible 🙈
Baby had his given through the post but when I try I'm told they're not prebooking appointments and to call on the day, just tried that and too late for today to have mine with little one.

Who has time with a baby to be on hold from 8am til god knows when.

Surely mum is just as important as baby so why wasn't I given one in the post too.

Rant over!! 🤣

@Ihatewinding @rachleeds ahh I hadn't even thought about sizing up the dummy! Gonna give that a try today!
My LO wants the dummy to settle but just finds it tricky to keep it in so hopefully the bigger ones will help.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 it makes me so angry that if feeding is ok they won't do anything about it! As I was bottle feeding and LO was gaining weight they weren't interested either. So I went private too! Like you say it can affect speech and weaning! We was told it can affect teeth too once they start to come through. It affects so much and the NHS don't seem to care!

That's shocking.

My GP is also call on the day for apps but they do still book in mum/baby checks and injections etc.

I'd be tempted to go in and speak to receptionist and say you need an app booked it's not feesible to sit on hold for half an hour at 8 on the hope you get an app when you have a little baby

Ladies those of you who have had a period… bit of an odd question but did it feel like a period?
I have randomly started bleeding today after absolutely no sign/pain & has been a complete shock as I’m back on the contraceptive pill and shouldn’t be having any periods? So I’m wondering if rather than a period it’s because I’ve started doing too much exercise? I’m 10weeks post section today and have been absolutely fine with no problems so it’s a bit out of the blue?

@CharXo I'm 10 weeks pp also and my period started this week, and yes out of the blue. Not an incline at all.

I’ve had a similar experience had to chase my check and little ones + his vaccinations.

little ones check and vaccinations are happening 2 weeks late despite me chasing lack of letter at 6 weeks.

For my check I was only offered a telephone call (no specified time for appointment just have to wait till they call you) - got told they don’t offer a post natal check routinely and I don’t really need one. I pointed out that one I have stitches and was told by the hospital and midwife that they would be checked at my 6-8 week appointment to make sure they had healed correctly and two the NHS website says all women should be offered one. I’ve been begrudgingly given a face to face appointment but I now feel like because they didn’t want to give one they won’t check properly because they’ve already decided I don’t need one.

im going to change GP practice because I feel I have to fight for every routine appointment. But arrragh.

@Ihatewinding turns our mam 0+ and 2-6 month dummies have the same size teat so made no difference 😩 although I just realised we are day 9 after having his tongue tie procedure and they did say he would get a fatigued tongue so hopefully it may improve soon 🙏🏼

Anyone else signs of teething? Nearly 10 weeks and the last 2 days started drooling and eating fists, slightly irritable also but had vaccines a few days ago so don’t know if it’s related to that either. Feels quite warm too but temp coming up 37

My little one gained a nice amount of weight since his last appointment, thank goodness. He also grew 2.5cm in I days!!

Sadly the situation with his kidneys has worsened and he needs to have an emergency procedure. His right kidney was dilated but now the left is too and his bladder has thickened muscle so they are going to try figure out what's causing the obstruction.

The pediatrician said they don't look at or treat tongue ties in babies this young. She also said the reason he feeds so often and for so long is because my milk just isn't sufficient. 🥴 We're now back to giving him a supplement bottle of 90ml after most feeds. He chugs it but spits up so much. I try to burp him loads and keep him upright but he's still constantly spewing.

He's such a cuddly little boy and has gotten so smiley, I wish he could just have it easy for a while.

@Cheetocat I’m so glad to hear your LO has gained weight and is getting bigger but sorry he’s having problems with his little kidneys again.
i think your paediatrician was really wrong to tell you you had insufficient milk supply. The research suggests this only occurs in less than five percent of women and if he’s gaining weight now it’s highly unlikely he’s not getting enough milk. Babies feed for so many reasons, many of which have nothing to do with hunger. My LO is eight weeks and has gone from 8 to 12.5 lbs but he is still feeding every couple of hours, sometimes more if he’s tired or after his jabs etc. My first LO lost a huge about of weight and was not having wet nappies and actually had urine crystals on his nappy because he was so dehydrated, these are signs of a baby not getting enough milk and even then I didn’t have low supply, just a poor latch which I eventually managed to correct after three months of triple feeding but was told many times by family and medical professionals in this time that I must just not have enough milk. Most doctors are general practitioners and are not very knowledgeable about breastfeeding.
Obviously there is absolutely nothing wrong with supplementing but I hate the thought of you thinking what you are giving your LO isn’t enough when the evidence - his weight gain suggests you are xxx

@Cheetocat thats amazing that he’s gaining weight, well done u❤️ and I second the pp on that comment being so out of order. Its so highly unlikely that ur supply isn’t enough, our bodies are so in tune with our LOs that it knows exactly what it needs to produce, please ignore that comment and know ur doing an amazing job x
im sorry hes having a tough time with his kidneys, its so hard seeing them upset or having to go through things when they are so little. Im saying a wee prayer and lighting a candle that all is wee with his procedure and he’s right back on track asap. Do u know when he has to have the procedure?

@DmcinT The doctor already managed to schedule it for Tuesday, they're going to fill his bladder with dye and monitor it and do scans and probably bloods too. Then they'll likely have to schedule an actual surgery to remove the excess tissue causing the obstruction. My heart is broken thinking about him probably having surgery.

I know for a fact that I have loads of milk, I am sure there's something going on with baby that's making him hungrier, whether he's not absorbing it right, his latch might be wrong or he does have a lip or tongue tie.