**** November 2012 Mummies **** (everyone welcome)

[Robyn_mcl]

Well T had a great night last night, napped well yesterday too. We fed him. At 11.30 pm tried to dream feed but he needed a nappy change and than peed all over himself so needed changed, we got him down around 12.40 he woke at 4.30am but I just shooshed himto sleep and be slept till 6.30 where he only took 4oz... Then he woke again at 8.30 wanting.more.
I'm going to try getting him into a better feeding routine now and going to try stretching out his feeds 4 hourly during the day. He seems to be going 4 hours between 7.30pm then I dream feed at 11.30 pm and then goes to about 4.3am or 6am.
He's taking around 34oz from his 6.30/7.3 am until 11.30pm over 6 feeds but still sometimes looks for a 7th feed around 4.30am.
So I think I might try get him taking more milk and drop a feed so 5 feeds 4 hourly. problem is t is always sleepy on the bottle.
When is best to feed? Straight after a nap or wake him a bit first then feed? Xx

 

[sallybee]

Have you tried changing teat sizes Robyn if he's sleepy on the bottle, we've just moved to variflow instead of slow flow and after a few days of sputtering, coughing and spitting milk back at us C is draining the bottle much more efficiently and not falling asleep during I normally wake C up then change her which wakes her right up before a feed xx

 

[kerrie89]

Oh sally i do feel for u. I cant imagine my hands being that bad all the time. I find mine are bad when its cold and once they get sore they are so hard get better - especially with being so hands on with a lo x

 

[sallybee]

I've started putting bepanthen on my hands now and it's getting better - tried sudocrem for a few days but it was too harsh I think it's all the washing up I do now lol! xx

 

[Robyn_mcl]

Have you tried changing teat sizes Robyn if he's sleepy on the bottle, we've just moved to variflow instead of slow flow and after a few days of sputtering, coughing and spitting milk back at us C is draining the bottle much more efficiently and not falling asleep during I normally wake C up then change her which wakes her right up before a feed xx

You won't believe this but I already have him on a 6m+ teat! We use Tommee tippie and he fussed on the 0-3 teats when we moved to ff as I had a very fast let down whilst bf. Then we moved to 6m+ around a week ago and noticed a slight difference but he's still taking long to feed and not taking enough. Could it be the brand of bottle? I normally change t before a feed too which does wake him but he can't seem to stay awake on the bottle. I've tried changing him halfnway through a feed but he is so fussy about the temp of his milk if it gets slightly too cool he'll refuse it lol...fussy lil monkey xx

 

[sallybee]

Omg lol! We're on the TT bottles too... No idea what to suggest apart from feeding him stripped off as that may keep him awake, massage his hands, stroke his cheek, wiggle the bottle... all the usual, sorry lol it might be worth getting one or two bottles from a different brand and trying those to see if that makes a difference? xx

 

[Wilson28]

oh ladies what a mess i am

finally caved tonight, after not eating all day and just nit picking on rubbish food and little intake on fluids, i started to feel jittery and anxious, then panicy it felt like my panic attacks was back and started with symptoms of anxiety again all the worrys of my heart again!! just ended up sobbing and admitting to my fella that i cant cope like this, breast feeding, no sleep and arthur grizzles with trapoed wind all night i feel useless and a drained wreck. i cant sleep in the day so im only going on 3hrs of sleep a night. im going to get the breast support nurse in tomorrow to help me set a routine in play as i dont want to be struck with PND or anxiety attacks through exhaustion xxxx

 

[sallybee]

Oh Wilson I really feel for you hun, I had a panic attack too last night for the first time in years so I can really relate I don't know what to say except to hang in there and get OH to help as much as he can, I had OH take over feeding C while I went and had a huge cry in the bedroom. You're not useless and you are doing so well bf Arthur, please don't feel sad about yourself. It might be worth stocking up on frozen expressed milk so someone else can take Arthur for a night if you have anyone nearby (or just ask OH), you'll probably have to get up to express but it might help you to get some sleep, that's if you feel comfortable with someone else looking after him xxxx

 

[Wilson28]

thsnks sally how come you had one? hope yr ok? somethimes its a release of stress when they occur.

i think the big thing is exhaustion with me and thats why they come
touch wood not had a panic attack since july/aug and first time today i felt the up coming of one, however i steered off a full blown one, just sat and cried in bed tonight to my OH and said i cant do this anymore, no sleep, no routine for expressing, not eating or drinking properly, my mental/physical mind is breaking because im burning the candle at both ends. trying to bloody hard to be a good bf mummy and then carry a normal life. My oh would jump at the chance to feed him, i just feel guilty putting a teat in his mouth, i know its going to mske life easier, sooner the better. xx

 

[mrswoody]

Nat..sorry to hear about James. Him waking up for feeds could be a leap maybe? I hope he settles again soon for you

Wilson..you are doing amazingly looking after Arthur so try not to beat yourself up. Like Sally said can't you get someone to take him for the night so you can have a good rest? X

Robyn..I find blowing on Madison's face works if she falls asleep feeding, she soon wakes and wants more food!

We finally got back home after 8 hours travellng! Madison is a good wee traveller which Im thankful for. She slept in her new grow bag last night and seems to love it which is good. She is still sleeping 7+ hours which I'm happy about.
Thinking of going abroad just after Easter, anyone know if the little lady needs an actual passport?

 

[sallybee]

Wilson - just a combination of no sleep, then being woken up after ten mins when it took 2 hours to get her down, being on my own and frustration, I felt like such a bad mummy I felt guilty starting to bottle feed Cathy EBM as well but you have to remember its still the good stuff, but it is hard losing that bond xx

Mrswoody I think she will need a passport, my sis was saying how hard it is to take a good passport photo for my 17w nephew (guidelines like if their head is supported by a hand the hand must not be visible etc) xx

Cathy has been a total nightmare the last few days - we went to a friends yesterday and it was just horrendous - struggled getting the car seat in the back of her Ford Ka, Cathy went through 5 nappies in an hour and screamed every time I put her down, then got herself overtired and only slept an hour from 9am to 5pm had to get OH to come for us as I couldn't cope and of course she was an angel the moment we got her in the car! Hope today is a wee bit better xx

 

[CARNAT22]

Wilson hun, try not to worry too much!

I've had plenty of times when I have broken down, sobbing, telling OH I can't comfort James as well as he can etc...

Even without any underlying health or anxiety problems being a Mummy is hard bloody work some days.

Welcome home mrswoody - yep M will need a passport. You're brave getting on a plane LOL!

On a happier note James finally had a pooh - not a massive one so I think there is more to come but at least he's managed to get some out of his system.

I feel so bloody guilty as if I was still breastfeeding he'd have been fine??

xxxxxxxxx

 

[sallybee]

Don't feel that way Nat - I remember you bfing for a few days then expressing if I'm right - you have nothing to feel guilty about as you did your very best to carry on giving James breast milk - and bf is a minefield as well as my milk was garlicy Cathy hated it and screamed all night - so either way there are issues iykwim? I think motherhood is just a whole load of feeling guilty and worrying to be honest! Xx

 

[CARNAT22]

I do feel guilty a lot these days Sally, I guess it's an occupational hazard hey?

These little people depend on us totally and I know we all feel the same if our babies are not happy or poorly.

On a more positive note I forgot to say that James [and Mummy!] slept last night from 9pm - 4am. When he woke up he gurgled away for an hour and we got up for a feed and went back down from 6am - 8am. He is currently having another nap with Daddy!

xxxxxx

 

[mrswoody]

Nat..don't feel guilty, you gave James a great start by expressing and it's hard work keeping up with it. mummy hood is tough work but we are always so tough on ourselves. At least he has had some progress so this may well get things moving for him.

Madison is giving it big noises this morning, almost like she's laughing! It's super cute. She is blowing loads of bubbles lately too..is this nit a sign of teething?

 

[CARNAT22]

Dribbling is def a sign of teething but not sure about blowing bubbles?

xxxxxx

 

[sallybee]

I've always been a worrier and am 10x worse now... I had to get the bus with the pram for the first time the other day, I was so stressed I nearly burst a blood vessel!

Well she had been up since 6 and went down at 9 so I suspected she would be down a while, so to give OH a break I took her into bed with me and had a 3 hour nap on top of 5 hours last night lol xx

 

[ruthiex]

Your all amazing mummies

I really really wanted to breast feed i had my heart set on it but my milk just wouldnt come, i expressed so much that my nipples were just pouring with blood, i didnt want to stop trying but eventually it was upsetting me so much i just gave in and went to formula. I know it might sound selfish but for me it was the best decision i made, it gaves me a little extra time to do my jobs and have some me time etc. I realise it sounds selfish but it has made life easier!

Ella is amazing, we have good days and bad days but no matter what when i look at her she makes me smile!

Wilson - I hope you start to feel better soon! It is so hard not getting any sleep and then trying to do your jobs etc but you are doing a great job! Definiatly speak to your HV and they will be able to give you some advice.

I havnt had ella weighed for a while but i bet shes caught up now lol. She is out of her tiny baby clothes and into the 0-3 month things now, although the sizes seem to differ, some fit nice others are too big.
Shes still feeding every 3 hours. She has her night feed at 11/11.30ish usually goes down at any were between 1-3 then she will be up in four hours feed go back then up in 3, then it will be 3 for the rest of the day! I try playing with her and keeping her occupied but she just cries until she is fed.

Still no smile for her yet.. im waiting lol

 

[sallybee]

Oh bless you Ruthie... Whether you bf or ff your baby you are a fantastic mum and for some people ff is the thing that works for them - one thing i love about bottle feeding is I can sod off to bed and leave OH to deal with Cathy lol. I think there is so much pressure on us nowadays to be supermum! Wait until we get to weaning, there are all sorts of people who think you're awful for giving your baby jars... Sigh!

Cathy still feeds every 3ish hours sometimes longer, she took 5oz in one go after a long nap earlier but she has started being awake much longer periods too xx

 

[sallybee]

And I haven't had a smile either xx