March Mamas 2012 Baby Group (Closed Group)

[kymied]

Waula and FT - chest to chest totally counts as tummy time. I let E try to climb me. He climbs pretty well but gets frustrated after a couple minutes.

Kel - So sorry about your issues. I hope it gets better from here. But congrats on your beautiful little girl, your photos are fantastic.

I tried the formula top up. He only took 10mL. And then he spit up for two hours after, far more than 10 mL. (I'd say more than an ounce.) So I'm saying no to the formula, it just doesn't agree with him. I have decided to try a top up with expressed milk. Maybe he's working too hard to get the end of the milk out. So 9am is my next feed, then I will pump out whatever he leaves behind. I figure this solution is best for all of us and hopefully will please the doctor. I have Mother's Milk lactation tea. Should I try it? I heard it tastes like licorice and I HATE licorice so I've been putting it off.

 

[emera35]

Tummy time on your chest counts! Although best if they are awake and wiggling, not sleeping. I find they hate being put on the floor for tummy time this young, so on us is perfect!

Lozza, not sure there is any way of making a baby go longer if they really want to feed. However, you can try to make sure they are feeding as efficiently as possible. So extending feeds by tickling their cheeks / under their chins to stimulate sucking and unlatching and re-latching if they are comfort sucking as when they go back on they'll start drinking again. Also, if they are demanding a feed within 1 hour of the last one, definitely spend up to 20-30 minutes trying to wind them. The discomfort of the wind sends them the same signals as the discomfort of being hungry, and over full for that matter, so they don't know they are windy and not hungry. After that though if there are stil hunger signs then feed. I'd say around 1.5 - 4 hour gaps are totally normal at about 3 weeks, given the size of their tummys, they need refilling pretty often. I find often if F is unsettled and showing some signs of hunger then a good winding, a bounce and a cuddle she'll often get sleepy instead and have a doze before the next feed. Sorry its not very helpful, but its the only thing i'd do. Other than a bit like what City is doing, expressing after each feed and topping them up with that, which could work, but its the sort of thing you'd be better discussing with a BF advisor

Mitch - I've always used plain oil for massaging babies. Either Olive oil or Grape seed oil is really good. They don't recommend nut based oils like sweet almond for babies in case of allergies. What i do do for helping relaxation though is i add one drop of lavender oil to the bath, and also a cup of chamomile tea. The tea is much more gentle than the oil, so its safe to use from birth, as is one drop of lavender in the bath as its so diluted, not applied directly to the skin. The other thing i do is i put a towel to heat to lay the babies on to massage them. Before heating i put a couple of drops of lavender on the towel, so as it heats it diffuses into the room, and also then whilst they are lying on it, the scent is wafting about and they stay nice and warm. Very soothing

FT - I doubt G will be gaining too much weight!

Missy - Maybe your OH needs a wake up call, literally!! Tonight, just wake him up each time you have to get up, and then shake him every 5 minutes you are awake and tell him you are still up! Jst keep doing that anytime he complains he's tired and see how much better he feels on your, clearly more restful schedule!
Men are rubbish at losing sleep in general though aren't they? I never ask OH to get up in the night, ever. I decided before Roh was born that i'd much rather take all the sleep deprivation myself and have OH well rested than share it and both be tired, and therefore have him being a total a-hole!! At least he appreciates it though, think i'd strangle him if he didn't!

Well, abandoned my poor girl to stay with hr Daddy for the morning again and took Roh to playgroup, he had alot of fun! She had 4oz from a bottle Pleased she took it, so i know she'll be ok to leave if i have to/want to! I called to say i was popping to the bank though and it was a bit of a mistake. All i could here was F screaming down the phone! I txt OH saying i'd hurry back. Of course i'd happened to call at the only time all morning she had wind and 2 minutes later she was happily snoozing! Bless OH, he's good with her, and soo soppy! When i got bback he was playing Soundgarden really loudly and F was fast asleep, she loves the 90s grunge rock! Just like her Mummy!!

 

[emera35]

Oh, Kymied, the Mothers milk tea i find slightly yucky myself. I don't like licorice either, maybe taste it though! I found formula made Roh really sick when he had to have some in the first couple of weeks too, it just seemed to upset his tummy. I think its because its pretty different to breastmilk, so it takes some getting used to, their guts have to adjust. I think your idea of using expressed milk is a good one, and it should have the same effect! Its definitely worrth trying anyway!

 

[firsttimer1]

kymied - let us know if expressing works for you hunni

im finding i lack patience with expressing.... feels like it takes ages! But then im impatient by nature

i just ate hal an easter egg and now feel sick. I need to eat my way through another 2 and a hal by monday.... as my healthy eating starts then!

 

[emera35]

FT - I've had my work cut out working my way through all of my and all of Roh's easter eggs! He had about 10 (small ones happily) and really he shouldn't have all that chocolate, so i'm saving him from it all by eating it myself! Still losing weight though, so i think F has likely had most of it by proxy!

 

[kymied]

Emera - I've given E to my hubby for a diaper change and winding at night a couple times after he's had a marathon feed and I need to get some sleep. But mostly I let him sleep and he can sleep pretty well through crying! The other night we were having a tough night and hubby tried to take over looking after Eliott so I could get some sleep. He said he jumped out of bed at every whimper and once because he didn't hear anything. Poor guy!

Mostly he is frustrated that E seems to cry nonstop around him. It's not really true, it's just that he has cranky evening time.

Well time to check the laundry and strip the baby to wake him up for a feed.

 

[firsttimer1]

we MUST save our children from the pitfalls of eating chocolate - totally agree, and shall join you on your chocolate eating mission for their sake even tho i dont have a toddler.

ladies - but of an odd Q (as usual from me) but are there any rashes associated with pregnancy? as in rashes on US? i seem to have a rash all up my legs... looks like stinging nettle rash... had it for 4 days prob an allergic reaction to something but thought ild ask before book doc's appt

 

[Skadi]

I do tummy time with Keira on my tummy usually but lately I put her on a blanket on the floor to play. That is only because she can hold her head up for long periods of time and can roll around and all that, otherwise I would just stick with my tummy. She also sleeps on her tummy by her own request from time to time but I have a SIDS monitor otherwise that wouldn't be happening.

 

[mitchnorm]

Think i may have missed nap time but got this reward during playtime

 

[citymouse]

FT, have you changed laundry detergent? I got a rash from my stomach rubbing the front of my bf'ing pillow, so I always keep a blanket draped there now.

Kymied, the diminishing returns for the effort of a long feed is why the ped has me limiting feelings, then pumping for ten minutes and feeding her that right away (up to three ounces, which I'm nowhere near). Have you tried fenugreek capsules instead of the tea? I bought the tea but haven't tried it... Hate licorice, yuck.

Feeling vaguely human today. DH and G are snuggling in bed and I got to drink coffee and watch tv for twenty minutes!

 

[Skadi]

Mitch - That is adorable, and great you got it on camera! i just love baby smiles!

 

[waula]

loving the (sideways!!! ) baby smiles Mitch!!! awwww.... x

 

[Glowstar]

Awww that is so cute Mitch!!!! even though it's sideways

FT - re the rash I know Widger mentioned yesterday about dry skin....I have dry skin/red rash on the tops of my thighs on both legs. It's not itchy just feels rough. I have suffered with dry skin all pregnancy but never on my legs. I have had itchy dry skin on my eyelids that went away towards end of pregnancy but is back again now

Lozza - not sure what to suggest with Z really except what Emera has said...just hope it get's better for you

 

[mitchnorm]

Less than an hour after grizzles have started early

 

[firsttimer1]

G is currently sleeping like an angel, but i know as soon as it hits 5:45 he will start grizzling.... just in time for DH to get home

ive expressed a bit of milk (90ml) into the avent bottle we hv to see if G takes to that (as the tommee tippee teats we hv are obv too fast flowing)... if he does im hoping to express later for the 3am feed which DH sd he will do

Got to take G's photo for his passport tonight....... should be interesting

 

[kymied]

Apparently it is just me. I tried pumping after Eliott feeds and I can't even get half an ounce. I defrosted the stuff I froze and he drank it all (about 1.5 ounce). I'll have to see if I can increase my milk. I mixed the Mother's Milk tea with peppermint and it's not too bad.

Well, off to my grandmother's house. Eliott's first time meeting Great Grandma!

 

[firsttimer1]

aww enjoy seeing great grandma! hope the tea works for you hun xxx

 

[citymouse]

Kymied , two days ago I was getting .3 and .6 ounces... Now I'm up to 1.3ish (with fenugreek). Do you have a manual pump or an electric one?

Can't believe it's pouring today! Completely unseasonal... Of course we had the dog bathed yesterday!

 

[lauraclili]

Kymied, don't forget that babies are much more efficient at stopping te milk from ou than pumps so pleas ont feel down heartened!

X

 

[mitchnorm]

I have expressed 250ml....about 9oz of milk into bottles for tonights feeds...i am hoping its enough for when i am out and the 3am feed so hubby can get up for a change. I have a feeling i may be needed for a top up...greed little M ....mmmm need to work out how much red wine that allows me....probably more than enough to.get me tipsy i am soooo not used to it!!!

Just waiting for hubby to get in so i can go shower and get ready to go out....how weird is this going to be??! An evening without M ...shes only been here 3 1/2 weeks but it seems like forever...in a good way (most of the time)