30 Something & TTC - Onward to Mummyhood!!

[cupcakesarah]

Girls did any of you formula feed!? If you did can you offer me tips on making bottles for night feeds? I'm finding the timing thing a complete pain. Been trying to keep my expressed milk for night time but I'm sometimes caught out by Isaac's hunger. Wish I could have kept at the breast feeding but found it agony and was having panic attacks virtually when I even thought about it. Getting a few bottles of expressed milk for him a day which makes me a bit happier about not sticking to it.

 

[GettingBroody]

No formula feeding here so I haven't any advice I'm afraid. I can see how it would be tricky though. That is one of the huge advantages of bf-ing - no getting up to sort out bottles in the middle if the night! A few of my friends who formula feed just use room temperature water (pre-boiled obviously) so there's no waiting for the bottle to heat. You could try that if Isaac doesn't mind it?

Just as a matter of interest was he ever checked for lip/tongue tie? That can make bf-ing agonising but is very easily treated... My friends baby had it and she said she difference once it was fixed was unbelievable (they cut it with a laser) Before the treatment it was unbearably painful and as soon as it was cut it was absolutely fine! Might be worth looking into? Since you're still pumping you could go back to bf-ing if it turned out that was the problem...

 

[cupcakesarah]

Broody he does have a minor tongue tie but the hospital said it was fine to leave as he had no issue latching on. Maybe I should look at getting it cut which they did say they would refer him to have done. I think birth was less painful than breastfeeding and that's got to tell you something. I really wanted to breast feed too so was gutted.

 

[GettingBroody]

If you would prefer to bf then I don't think there would be any harm in following up on the tongue tie referral just to see... My experience was totally different because I was pumping for weeks before Fia was even allowed to try latching on so my milk was well established by then but I don't think it should be that bad. Sore at the start perhaps but not agonising... Is there a lactation consultant in your area you could get in contact with? At the same time though, don't beat yourself up about not bf-ing. What's most important is that you enjoy this precious time with your new tiny baby

 

[mk8]

Hi ladies! How have I missed this thread? Photos are amazing and cupcake- congratulations! Isaac is gorgeous!

No advice on the breastfeeding front unfortunately. Though my friends used the carton stuff and heated it up with hot water in a flask. I made a bottle with cooked boiled room temp water once but the health visitor told me to never do that and water should only be cooled for 30mins so it's hot enough to kill bacteria in powder. It's definitely tough tho. Sorry to hear you're having a tough time breastfeeding. If you can't, don't beat yourself up about it. If you do want some pointers though, may be try calling la leche for advice?

How are the rest of you yummy mummies?

 

[GettingBroody]

It's funny how the advice changes so quickly! When we were babies bottles were made up with warm boiled water, when my friends had their first babies 2 years ago they were all told to make the bottles with cooled (room temp) boiled water but now on their second babies they've been told to do it the other way again! I think they've all stuck with the cool water though since it didn't do their first babies any harm!

 

[mk8]

Breast feeding my little one and he just got a tooth! Feeling nervous... Lol

 

[GettingBroody]

Hope he's not a biter mk8, lol! No sign of any teeth here yet but plenty of chewing going on - she nearly demolished a board book this evening!

 

[aleja]

Hi ladies! I'm going to try come on here more often now we got a thread .

Cupcake I mix feed formula and BF so night feeds I just BF which is more convenient.
It would be tricky... We usually make formula bottles in advance ( can keep for 24hrs) we leave in the fridge and heat in microwave for 30-40 seconds. This could be an option if you know how many night feeds your DS is having .
However I agree with Broody-- if you want to BF please call a lactation consultant. I was in agony in the beginning almost giving up a few times but you can get through it.. It gets easier by about 6-8 weeks

Mk-- oh dear...I'm so scared of nipple bites!!

I'm so upset this week .. Marlon has eczema
He has a rash on his cheeks, chin neck and eyelids. I was in denial thinking it was dribble rash. I am trying to find the miracle cure for him as everyone has tree favourite treatments etc. I feel so sorry for him as his eyes are itchy.

 

[MrsPTTC]

Hi ladies! Cupcake Isaac is so gorgeous! Congrats again. I formula fed from 8 weeks but mixed fed & stopped bf at 11 weeks, it was around this time she started sleeping through.. However when I started her on colief for her colic it was a nightmare as the drops in the milk had to be left half hour to work & the milk wasn't allowed to be too hot or it would kill the enzymes so in the end I put the early morning bottle in the fridge & heated it up in a bottle warmer, during the day wasn't really a problem as I knew roughly when her bottles were so made them up in advance as they'd keep for 2 hours. I must admit though when I first started ff I did used to use cooled boiled water like in the good old days (I used to be a nursery nurse) then when I looked into it I realised why they say cooled for 30 mins & decided id rather make them up fresh. I don't know which is the lesser than the 2 evils - storing in fridge or making fresh with already cooled water?! How can you spot tongue tie?? I was in real pain for a while too! Oucy!
x

 

[MrsPTTC]

Poor Marlon Aleja! I have a suspicion penny has very mild eczema like her daddy too, at the minute I'm just using either E45 or oilatum x

 

[GettingBroody]

MrsP - you pretty much just lift up the tongue and see if it's connected towards the back of the mouth (normal) or the front (tongue tie) You can have lip tie too where the top lip is connected too close to the teeth. If your pain went away then it probably wasn't tongue tie I'd say - I don't think that ever stops being sore (but I'm no expert!!)

Aleja - poor Marlon I've no experience with eczema I'm afraid so can't offer any advice. Can it be diet related? Cows milk protein intolerance or something?

We just started baby led weaning with Fia this week now that she is 6 months corrected. She's not swallowing a whole yet but she's having great fun and it's hilarious to watch her trying to figure it out!!

https://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q571/derialc/8e09d3554a24cfde16ae8bb57513924e_zpsa8341568.jpg https://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q571/derialc/4e79bd8d4dbd11faed85e67f65878465_zpse02e4b1f.jpg

Edit: Wonder why the pictures appeared in different sizes?! We're off swimming now ladies, have a lovely day!!

 

[mk8]

Fia is too cute!!!!!!!

I'm starting max on baby rice tomorrow. So exciting! Any pointers broody?

Aleja- sorry to hear about marlon. A friend of mine recently had the same thing with her 6 month old. They took him to a&e to rule out allergic reaction. The docs said ur was eczema and prescribed a steroid cream that he could use on eyelids, face and body. But he was miserable. My friend ended up taking him to a private paediatric dermatologist with her insurance and she found it amazing. Is that an option for you? Doc told her that the cream prescribed by the Nhs is too strong and recommended three ointments of varying steroid strength for eyelids, face and body. Creams sting and ointments are easier on the baby. She was told it wasn't diet related but having had eczema myself (siblings too), I do think certain a foods can trigger it. Good luck and hope marlin gets better soon.

 

[GettingBroody]

Mk8 - buy lots of bibs, lol!!! What age is Max now? When we give spoon foods Fia prefers to hold the spoon and feed herself. I just load it up and hand it over. She gets most of it in her mouth but she also shakes the spoon every now and then so it could end up anywhere!

If any of you are thinking of going down the baby led weaning road it's well worth reading these two pages on www.babyledweaning.com. There's great advice on getting started with BLW - what foods to pick and how to cut/cook them to make it easiest for the baby. They advise that you don't do it when the baby is hungry because it can take a few weeks for them to actually get the hang of it so it can be really frustrating at the start if they're hungry but can't figure out how to get the food into their mouths and keep it there! We tried chips yesterday and omelette the day before - great success! They were much easier for her to hold then the fruit/veg which tends to be slippy. I saw a crinkle cutter recommended somewhere so that the food is easier for babies to grip - must go buy one!

https://www.babyledweaning.com/cate...finger-food-basicsfinger-food-basics-month-1/

https://www.babyledweaning.com/cate...finger-food-basicsfinger-food-basics-month-2/

 

[aleja]

Thanks Broody! I've started Marlon on rice cereal and will try puréed fruit next. I couldn't wait another 2 months till BLW but will give it a go then . Fia looks like she is having fun with her broccoli.

mK how did Max go with the baby rice ?

I'm trying to get a referral to the allergy clinic at the local children's hospital for Marlon but I figured out an eczema culprit.. His swaddle has a high neckline so every morning he wakes up with red skin under his chin and neck. His skin is soooo sensitive! I've also started taking a probiotic daily so I can pass on vitamins in breast milk.

 

[cupcakesarah]

Oh my goodness I have mastitis, it is agony! Did anyone have this? Any tips.

How exciting that your babies are starting solids. Their little faces must be a picture when they try new flavours.

 

[GettingBroody]

Oh Cupcake you poor thing! I had blocked ducts about once a week when I was pumping (while Fia was in hospital) but it never developed into mastitis. What worked for me was massaging the area while in a hot shower and then pump straight after the shower (and depending on where the blockage is try and massage while pumping too or take a break to massage the spot then pump again) It didn't always work the first time but it was usually cleared within 24 hours... It is agony! If you have full mastitis you should probably go get an antibiotic though because it can make you quite sick. Do you have a temperature? Do you feel sick apart from the pain?

There's good info on kellymom - https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/ The bit about using a nappy as a heat pad is interesting!

 

[cupcakesarah]

Yeah I have antibiotics. I feel like I have flu. It 's truly horrible.

 

[GettingBroody]

Sounds awful. Hopefully the antibioticsl work quickly and you start feeling better really soon....

 

[mk8]

Hope you feel better soon cupcake! You poor thing.

Aleja- hope marlon gets to see a specialist soon. Def giod to get on their books early.

Thanks for the baby led weaning advice broody.

Max loved the baby rice! Tried a little pear today and cooked up a storm of butternut squash, sweet pOtato, carrots and parsnip. Trying one food at a time before i mix stuff! I picked up some Brother Max pots Today for the food. Very exciting this weaning lark!