Nightfeeds Chat Thread

[Gemsy]

I'm creeping in here girls...and I realise I am lucky to only be coming in now. 6 week growth spurt seems to have done for my baby's excellent night/day recognition and routine

Finished dreamfeed at midnight, couldn't drop off until 1am, he was then up on and off from 4am. He also has developed reflux which is not helping. I fell asleep twice with him in bed last night, then when he wouldn't go down at 7am realised he had a dirty nappy. Feeling like a terrible mother this morning

 

[BeeSmall]

First time I've had 8 hours sleep overnight in 10 weeks!! Henry did 10:30-3 then 4-8 wahoo!! He's never slept that well before. Tonight we will be retracing our steps to see if we can do it again haha

 

[LD1978]

You're doing so well to hold out here. Don't worry about the odd formula, its not going to mean its all over. J was like that yesterday, so hungry she was furious with me! Better night last night with 2 hr stretches of sleep x3. Going to land her on dh soon once she's fed so I can try get a few more hrs...
He won't be here next week so I might as well enjoy it
And yay, its bath day j and I have a nice bath every othrr day. She loves it, gurgles at me when you let her float in the water!

Hope you managed some more sleep, 3 lots of 2 hours is fab!! Bad news for us today as Emily lost weight, luckily we didn't need to be re admitted but we now have to do 60ml top ups every 3 hours and they are back tom. If no weight gain then we will defo be re admitted

The midwife said we will likely always have to do the top ups - I'm not sure I can face doing breast and top up - it's like double the work I knew breast feeding wasn't going well. I need to pump more so I can try and do top ups with ebm. X

 

[flisstebbs]

Ah gemsy, why do these bundles of joy make us feel so guilty?? I'm sure there are far worse things going on out there!!!
Laura, sorry E has lost weight, it is truly heartbrwaking when you're trying so hard. Take a peek in tri3 at pippas post about advice for new mommas, in the formula section . Bf support worker today encouraged me to consider top ups, with expressed milk if possible, but formula if needed to stop the awful nights happening.

I'm finding it so much easier to be rational when I've slept!!

 

[LD1978]

I know it's so frustrating when I'm trying everything. Sat on pump and nothing coming out (a few drips) so I'm sure e isn't getting enough. Looks like her 1.30 top up will have to be formula as I can't get enough breast from expressing the formula will then dwindle my supply!!

I'll have a look at the post!!

Yes sleep definitely helps, I feel so much better in the day

 

[flisstebbs]

Well, I have one unsettled baby here..
How do you tell what 7s windk what is colic ahd what do you do? ??

 

[SpinSugar]

LD, don't be disheartened with such a small pump, your body is still getting used to producing milk and it's early days for pumping. Has your LO been checked for TT?
And don't fret about giving a formula top up. I know loads of ppl who had to do that for the first few weeks but still went on to BF exclusively your doing so well!
Fliss, colic tends to be consistent screaming for several hours, usually in the evening.
I don't know if these will help but they did me!
Look on you tube for water wheel massage. Helps hugely with wind and colic but it does take a few dats for the full effect (i found!) And Dr karps 5s technique. Good luck! Xxx

 

[flisstebbs]

Thanks Spin, I'll have a look. Laura, I'm needing to top up again last 24hrs as J is too hungry for me to keep up again, I'm slowly getting more from the manual pump, but now waiting for my medela to arrive.

I think ot was hunger and wind earlier, as when she settled after a 2oz top up lying across my tummy. We've had 3.5 hrs, our longest stretch too

Hope everyone has had a good night.

 

[Dotty_woman]

Crumbs! Is it 6:15 already? Don't know where these nights go! Stalking Pippa's post in Tri 3 is passing a bit of the time. Sounds like Greyson might be ready to put in an appearance soon! xxx

 

[umbongo]

Try and get help from a lactation consultant/bf specialist if you can. The mws and hvs aren't always the best (some are great, some not) Id not have managed without my bf support lady. We had a tongue tie so used nipple shields until it was snipped as h could barely latch before that and it killed!

We ended up cosleeping but had a reasonable night.
X

 

[LD1978]

Thanks ladies, I'm feeling more positive today as the breast feeding support lady made a surprise visit with more tips!! I'm off to get fenugreek which builds supply and will keep pumping. I've just ordered a lanisoh double pump as the lady said she's heard good things and I can pump more quickly (struggle to pump in the night) they were both confident the top ups won't stop me bf but I need to keep supply up!! I've been doing as many of her top ups with expressed (and some formula)

She also put on 70g overnight which they have said is good!! I know some of that will be down to formula. I do feel like I'll never leave the house again as constantly pumping and feeding. I do sometimes think it would be easier to give in to the formula.

Which medela did you get fliss? I've been using the swing from a friend but got new parts. 3.5 hours is a fab stretch too! I snatched a few hours last night and hubby did a 7am formula feed as was soooo tired and no time to pump!! Maybe you should get the fenugreek too if you feel you don't have enough to satisfy her. Do you pump after every feed - that's what I've been told to do

 

[flisstebbs]

Thanks ladies, I'm feeling more positive today as the breast feeding support lady made a surprise visit with more tips!! I'm off to get fenugreek which builds supply and will keep pumping. I've just ordered a lanisoh double pump as the lady said she's heard good things and I can pump more quickly (struggle to pump in the night) they were both confident the top ups won't stop me bf but I need to keep supply up!! I've been doing as many of her top ups with expressed (and some formula)

She also put on 70g overnight which they have said is good!! I know some of that will be down to formula. I do feel like I'll never leave the house again as constantly pumping and feeding. I do sometimes think it would be easier to give in to the formula.

Which medela did you get fliss? I've been using the swing from a friend but got new parts. 3.5 hours is a fab stretch too! I snatched a few hours last night and hubby did a 7am formula feed as was soooo tired and no time to pump!! Maybe you should get the fenugreek too if you feel you don't have enough to satisfy her. Do you pump after every feed - that's what I've been told to do

Glad you're feeling better. 70g is amazing gain in 24hrs!! Jess put on 40g in 2 days which I was quite pleased with.

I've ordered a medela swing. Was hoping it would come today but nope! It should come Monday. I'm only pumping once or twice as it does deplete whats in my boob, and Jess is a little lazy if I let her, preferring a bottle given the choice!

Tempted by fenugreek...

 

[LD1978]

I was told to pump after every feed to remove what Emily hadn't had and boost supply. Not sure I can maintain feeding and pumping every 3 hours!! Plus the top up too!! X

 

[flisstebbs]

Crikey I'm not sure I could do that Laura? I'm happy to pump a few times a day but I already feel like a slave to this. Any more and I'll crack!!!

Not off to a good start, opinions needed here:
J woke up at 12.30, had had a good feed at 10 to 10.45, burped and gone down nicely. She was in a towering fury and nearly ripped off my left nipple. Tried her on right with more care to her head movements and again she was getting cross loads. I then gave her 40mls of expressed milk and she has settled a bit but still wanting to go on boob and sucking her hands etc and seems agitated again. She's puked a couplevof times, posseting really, small amounts. What is going on??? Arg, I wish they could talk from birth!!!

 

[flisstebbs]

Still trying to settle her... frazzled now.

 

[ChloeSmith]

Fliss that sounds just like my night so far, she's now sucking way but think I'm being used Asa dummy! Dying to go back to sleep zzzzzz

 

[SpinSugar]

Been up two hours now. But LO only fed for half hour, she's been asleep since 2.45. Can't sleep as neighbours having sex loudly in room above me lol. Awkward!

 

[LD1978]

Yep same night for me too!! Emily been awake since 1 constant on and off the boob!! Did a formula top up of which she only took 10ml and she just won't settle!! I think nights can be worse due to the hormones we make! I think I may need to do another top up as the midwives wanted me doing it every few hours, she's not taking them well though so not sure what to do!!

Fliss - I've decided there's no way I can pump at every feed. It's killing me as I'm feeding then bottle then meant to express to build supply. I just can't do all that. I'm going to top up, express where I can and if my supply dwindles for it I'll formula feed. I've tried my best but I can't maintain all of the above!!

Hope we all get some sleep tonight

 

[umbongo]

If LOs are unsettled at a feed there may be more going on? Hannah squirms if she has trapped wind.
You could try a dummy if you don't want to nurse to sleep (I don't mind nursing to sleep but i realise that's not for everyone! )
The perseverance shown by some of you on here to bf is impressive, whatever happens well done! At least you'll know you've given it your all. But hang in there as much as you can. Mix feeding can work, it's just not much talked about. Bf is hardest thing I've ever done and I did door to door sales, Hahahahaaaaa

Hannah just slept 5 hours straight, maybe the old routine is back! X

 

[Dotty_woman]

Poor you SpinSugar! Nothing worse than sex noise. You have my sympathy. I'm feeling very lucky (and a bit guilty) tonight. I fed Violet at 20 and I've only just been woken at 6:30 by her for another feed. We had a go at feeding some expressed milk for the first time last night. OH gave Violet about 2 ounces at about 00:45 using this new Medela bottle that the midwife recommended and that seemed to work very well. I fed her at 2am as I was going to bed. This could be a one off as we had an awful night a couple of nights ago but I've got my fingers crossed. Hang in there to all breastfeeding ladies. I'm sure all will be back to normal for me tomorrow!!! xxx