Beach Bump Graduates!

[Jenni4]

They said it would hurt my supply...I can't just sit and feed as I have another child! I'm getting really depressed by all of this. I just want to give him a bottle and hand him over to someone else!

 

[Jenni4]

This Is really hard for me and I feel like " is it really worth it? I should be enjoying my baby and I'm not enjoying any of this!"

 

[Aaisrie]

Jenni they are saying it will hurt your supply from the aspect that you won't know when he's having a growth spurt - when they have a growth spurt [which it sounds like A is doing with Hann right now suddenly feeding every hr or half hr] they "comfort suck" to build/grow your supply so if you are only feeding every 2 hrs then your breasts won't do that. However he also shouldn't be sitting on the breast that much. How long are his feeds? Does he just sit on the nipple? Does he fall asleep as soon as he latches? How many wet/dirtys is he having? Is it both day and night that it's happening? I know it seems totally overwhelming right now and BFing is one of the hardest things EVER but it will get easier! I promise it will!!

 

[Hann12]

I'm leaving it to eve to give you advice as i don't have a clue! I just had a 30 minutes break while she slept but she has just woken up which means mire food I think! Hopefully she will chill out a bit by tonight as she will have been doing this for 36 hours by then!
It's hard when they are like that but thankfuy she only does it every 5 days or so. If max is doing it every day I can completely see how you would be finding it terribly hard, especially with another one too!

 

[curlew]

Hi all

Caz - If the help is being offered by all means take it, after all its not like you are going round to your family dumping Ajay and going off clubbing, drinking, swanning around the shops etc all day everyday. You are going round for support and company something we all need no matter how experienced we are at this.

Hann - Sounds like annabelle is on a growth spurt. Hope Greg is okay and the insurance pays up. Some people just shouldn't be on the road!!

Jenni - I would trust the midwife. If Max was just doing this for a couple of days I would say its a growth spurt but if its all the time sounds like comfort. Logan feeds for about 20-30 minutes at a time and this can be 2 or three times in an hour then he has a rest for a couple of hours playing or resting then we start again. each baby is different and it could just be the way Max likes to feed.

Hd Logan weighed yesterday and he is now 11lb 10oz. Another 11oz put on he is such a guzzler. Had my 6 week check today but not really sure why as It was just a quick chat as GP only asked about contraception and how I was feeling no examination. Got referred for my hip operation so hopefully will get an appt soon as I would like it done before the bad weather comes at xmas.

Had a lazy few days as I can't be arsed to do anything. Feeling tired but otherwise okay. Have an absolute mountain of ironing but just cant be motivated to do it! Have done odd bits round the house and met my mum and a friend for lunch yesterday then am meeting a friend tomorrow for lunch. DS is home on Friday so better get myself sorted for him going back to school on Tuesday.

 

[Aaisrie]

<< Moira lol

Hann Atti is on about 3-4hrly feeds atm but I'm sure there's a growth spurt on the way as they have become longer!

I'm sitting watching hoarders while pumping 2oz down probably 2-3oz to go!

 

[Jenni4]

Hey Eve....thanks for your help....last night for example he latched on sucked for a few minutes, slept fell off then relatch him and wake him up...after about 20 minutes figure he's done as he's not sucking well.... So i take him off, then about 5minutes later he wants boob again.... We did this for two hours!! This is a nightly occurrence...day times are not as bad...but it's the evenings knowing I'm going to be up all night feeding along with two hour feeds that are killing me. He has loads of wet and poopy diapers a day....I don't keep track...there are a lot and he's putting weight on well. Did I mention the midwife said to use a dummy after feeding to allow him to comfort suck instead of comfort sucking on me!! What do you think?

 

[Hann12]

Jenni that is what annabelle is doing today and quite often she does it at night too - she sucks and eats for about 10 minutes then falls asleep so I keep trying to wake her, everytime I do she sucks again and feeds then a few minutes later she falls asleep etc. If I try and take her off she crys. She won't take a dummy either so can't even do a substitute comfort suck for her! Very frustrating isn't?!

 

[mummySS]

What're they sore from Simmy? Like cracked or thrush? I am just feeding through the pain because I KNOW it will end I'm also pumping from my right [SORE!] side occasionally just to give me a break. Nighttimes are definitely the most important times, even though they're the hardest!

Yeah just cracked... I dont think i ever gave them a chance to 'harden up' as all the MWs keep saying they will over time... Every time they hurt i just give him some formula. Such a copout!!

Jen - I also posted a thread on the BF forum and got attacked because I mentioned the word 'formula'. Think i'm gonna avoid it from now on and just stick here... Btw we are giving Leo a dummy because he likes to suck, and he's absolutely fine. It upset me when he was getting upset, so we're happier all round now. He is getting formula, boob and dummy and is fine with all three - he's a very sucky little boy! lol. So basically i'm doing everything you're not supposed to do and do you know what? I'm fine with it - as long as my boy's happy and gaining weight, and I am sane, then whatever we're doing works just fine.

Caz - oh goodness what a cow! Definite case of the green eyed monster. Consider yourself lucky and make the most of the fabulous help you have. My mum comes round here to look after Leo so I can straighten my hair! Tell your NCT friend that! lol.

Good news on all the weight gain - we have a right bunch of guzzlers here don't we!

 

[Jenni4]

Simmy you are great! I think I am going to get some formula just so hubby can help out when he is home and those uncomfortable public moments in Dubai...plus my dad is coming for a visit...boobs make him uncomfortable!!

For you ladies using formula... In the US when i had DD we just used room temp filtered water and mixed the formula...but reading here there are all sorts of boiling and cooling etc...how are you gals preparing your formula? I sterilized the bottles once or twice but that's about it!

 

[mummySS]

Jen could you express maybe instead of giving him formula? The only reason I say that is that once you start giving formula a few times for convenience it becomes very tempting to do it more and more. This is how I began my slippery slope... And now I'm having supply issues. I still put him to the boob a few times a day and he likes it, but currently BF alone does not satisfy him.

That said, I have only just been harping on about how I need to combi-feed for my own sanity, and it sounds like you're close to stopping the exclusive BF anyway. I just wanted to warn you that giving a combination is harder than it sounds and doesn't always work perfectly. If you do still want to keep BF I would say be really strict with how many FFs you give him per day and always keep it to the same time of day feed.

Just my 2 cents worth, but I'm no expert!

Oh and on the sterilising: apparently in the US the water is more sterile. I've no idea about the UAE but here in the Uk we have to sterilise like mad! I have a steam steriliser and the stuff in it only stays sterile for 2 hours and then you have to run it again. Having said that I know people who sterilise everything and make up their bottles of formula and put them in the fridge for a day, and their babies are fine...

 

[Clareabell]

Jenni, in my opinion the most important thing for Max is that you are happy and healthy, because if you are then he will thrive. Whether you BF, FF or a combination of the both. Dont feel quilty for doing what is best for you and your family.

I FF Niamh and gave up BF at 3 weeks, she is a healthy and happy little girl and im a happy mummy and we have a fantastic mother and daughter bond. I was not coping with the BF and the expressing she was getting so upset and I was so upset and I was not able to enjoy my little girl. I hate it when people jump down your neck and for many weeks I felt ashamed to say that I FF feed her.

Now I could not care less I gave her a great start with the BF and now we are both happy.

As for making up bottles here in the UK we sterilise bottles after every use!! As for how to make up a bottle the people on here in the FF section are just as opinionated as the people in the BF section and there are so many different ways. I personally feed N Aptimal and sterilise the bottles, boil tap water and put it in to the bottles, when it comes to a feed I heat the bottle in the microwave add the milk test the temp and feed. If we go out take the water in the bottle and just add the powder and she will take it at room temp. This is how my HV told me to it but others make fresh each time others store in the fridge, lots of controversey unfortunately

 

[DragonMummy]

hear bloody hear. far too much pressure to bf. I felt like crap when I gave up after H, it was all everyone banged on about! Just do your best and whatever is right for your family. There is so much pressure to be a certain kind of mother but my baby is fed, she sleeps safely, she is transported from a to b safely and she is kept clean, dry and hygenic. Who can say better than that?

 

[Doodlepants]

Jenni- having 2 children also I can completely understand where you're coming from. If you want to carry on bf then that's great and hopefully you'll have some support but if you do decide to ff then I think that's a great idea too- I actually feel like I'm bonding LESS bf N than when I ff H- it's extremely stressful with 2 and I feel so guilty that poor H has to put up with mummy bf on the sofa all day long!(-we're having problems too). I have spent so many days feeling upset over N's slow weight gain that, to be honest, the stress of bf this time has completely sucked any enjoyment out of having a baby for me. I am seeing a LC on Friday and setting a goal of getting to 2 months- if it's going better by then, I'll carry on. If not, I'm switching and I'll be bloody proud to have a child with a full tummy who cares how it got full?!

xxx

 

[Sherri81]

Caz, I think that woman said it out of jealousy. I don't think there is a woman on here who wouldn't take a helper every day so that we can get some rest. So don't listen to her and just keep doing what you're doing.

I think its unfortunate that people get attacked for going to ask for help on the breastfeeding forum. That's one of the reasons I don't go on there. I don't understand how some people can be so anal about it and will tear a strip off someone just for asking questions. I don't know if you guys have heard of the model Giselle over in England before, but she did the same kind of thing, where she had one baby, and then she started doing all of these interviews about how everyone should breastfeed no matter what because they are doing a dis-service to their children if they don't. And she went on about how people should exercise every day while they are pregnant, and that they shouldn't eat anything that is processed or anything...

Anyways, she got a lot of flack because people said to her that not everyone can breastfeed for certain reasons. So she had to retract her statements.

Anyways, I just don't get why some people are like that...

I'm kind of in the same position with the breastfeeding issues.

Feeding again. So I'll check back later.

 

[mummySS]

Yes couldn't agree more, I just reread my post and it sounds like I'm suggesting you dont FF, which is not at all what I meant. Do whatever works best - Leo has about 6 FFs a day and 2-3 BFs which works fine for us, so my point was that it's possible to do both but I didn't want you to fall into the same trap as I did as I feel a little gutted that BF no longer satisfies him. Please do whatever you feel is best and unlike me don't beat yourself up about it

 

[DragonMummy]

I have to say I think it is either really hard or really easy for people. When I had Harry it was really hard and I am sooooo glad I put him on formula when I did or I would have gone fucking crazy. This time I was lucky and it has been easy. but thats all it has been - luck. If it has gone the same way as with H then I would have just been flogging a dead horse and bloody miserable. I hate the way it is perceived that you can ONLY be a good mother if you BF or you child can ONLY be healthy if you BF. It's bollocks. Harry had eczema. I assumed that was my fault for giving up BF. But what a surprise! Sophie has eczema!! Yes we all know in an ideal world breast IS best, but in the real world, happy relaxed Mummy is best.

 

[Tor81]

Hi girls, firstly I have to give you all my huge apologies for not coming onto BnB for weeks, after my last post I did fully intend to become more active again but it has been a mixture of things keeping me away.. partly being busy & tired, but also because I've struggled coming to terms with not breastfeeding, and being incredibly jealous of all you lucky girls who are, so it was difficult to read anything about BF. I think I'm beginning to accept it now so will test myself & read back a few pages, but I'm sorry that there's no way I'll be able to catch up on everything I've missed.

I also need to thank all of you on FB who have sent me lovely b'day messages, I've had a lovely day & don't mind at all that I've hit the big "three oh"!

Hope I'll be able to start joining in with you all again.

Are everyone & their babies doing well?

xx

 

[mummySS]

Good to hear from you Tor! Happy big 3-0!

 

[Aaisrie]

Jenni I agree with what everyone else has said - happy healthy mummy is what's best! That's why I asked if you were still interested in BF [I hope you don't feel pressured by me?!]. I would agree with Simmy that if you start combi feeding [BF & FF] then you'll find that baby will probably go off the breast as I said before, combi feeding is nearly impossible to maintain. Expressing and allowing others to give him the bottle is better if you WANT to continue BFing but if you're happy FF then combi feeding is a good way to let your supply dwindle naturally rather than getting engorged and sore [and other yucky problems related to engorgment!].

Simmy you definitely need to work through the pain for your nipples to harden, my left one is totally fine [and has been for a good week now] and my right one is sore because of the suspected thrush! It is a case of grit your teeth and bare it!

To anyone who had thrush - did anyone use clotrimazole cream and did you find increased senstitivity with it? I've been using it 2 days and my pain is getting worse like it's really over sensitive