Mid-August Testers

[InHisHands]

YAY KELLAN! He's absolutely breath taking snow. It's so hard to believe he's here already. How is sleeping at nights going for you? How much did he weigh?

I'm afraid I can't give you much advice on the Breastfeeding thing. I breastfed solely for the first 4 1/2 weeks but Dexter's latch was awful. He was tearing me up and he was getting too much air causing him to throw everything up; sometimes on me in a middle of a feed. I went to a lactation consultant twice and she tried different things but none of them work. Finally I decided at 4 1/2 weeks I would pump... but I couldn't seem to do it often enough to keep my flow and thus by 10 weeks we were on formula. At first I felt like a failure. Then the realization of how much formula costs hit. But then, when I realized that I felt so much better and Dexter was doing so much better, that I had nothing to be ashamed of. He's still strong and healthy and he still loves his momma.

I say keep on breastfeeding if that's what you want... but just know if breastfeeding doesn't work out that it will be okay.

 

[Srbjbex]

Awww he is gorgeous honey!! And another emergency section for us mid August ladies, your labour sounds similar to mine really so I know how you are feeling!

B/F is really really hard in the early days, both you and baby are learning what to do.

Nic has given fabulous advice. Definitely get some nipple shields, and get a few different brands to see which works best, as I didn't get on with the Medela ones but loved the cheap tesco ones. The nipple shields just gave my nipples the chance to recover while I worked on getting the latch right. And absolutely use the nipple cream,....just keep lathering it on before and after feeds! It was my best friend for weeks!

Rugby ball hold worked best for me, both because of the section and as I have larger boobs, get loads of cushions around you.

I know you did a class so make sure you are obeying the golden rules....tummy to mummy, wide open mouth and ALWAYS bring baby to boob, not your boob to baby (that's what I was doing wrong for a bit) I hope you have someone who can check you technique for you, the health visitor did an assessment for me which really helped. I can write out the list of questions if you think that would help.

Bf is hard, and it's completely fine if you decide to stop, but I would say if you really feel like stopping then give it 24 hours and then see how you feel, and drop me a message so that you stop in a positive frame of mine rather than a negative one, because once its cracked, it is the most wonderful thing!!

Good luck and stay positive, and enjoy your beautiful little baby!

 

[snowflakes120]

Thanks so much ladies for the wonderful advice and all the support.

I had my MIL take me to the store to get a nipple shield. It was great. I used it yesterday! Thank you so much for the suggestion!! I felt he got a ton of milk and was a little piggy!! And I felt good - most importantly. Still trying to work up the confidence to try BF again from me - I've only been trying once a day or so so that I don't get all mangled up again. I have been using that same Lanolin and I like it alot. I also have the Medela brand but don't like it as much at all. The hospital gave me a RX for bactroban to try to heal my nipples and I am supposed to use that 3x a day as well. So I switch between the 2 of them.

I saw a Lactation Consultant everyday that I was in the hospital for the 4 days. I met with a LC at the pediatricians office. And I saw another LC last Friday - and I have a follow up with her tomorrow AM. I am def getting the help I need. I am hoping that once people (my MIL!!) leave my house that I can really settle into a routine and really work hard on the BF as we will be alone and can spend the time we need on getting it right. It's so hard with having company. I really do enjoy the closeness of BF and really hope that Kellan and I can get this thing cracked.

Sleep is going OK Hands. I wake every 3 hours to pump and feed him so it's really very broken sleep. Hubby is awesome and takes all the nighttime diaper duties. He was 7lbs 8oz at birth. I am excited to hear what he weights tomorrow. He did lose and most babies do so I am hoping for him to be back to birth weight.

Thanks so much for all the help girls. I really do appreciate it!! Well, I'm off to go change a poopy diaper!

xo

 

[Srbjbex]

Aw snow you are doing absolutely brilliantly!! You sound so positive in your post, I know you're going to do just great girl!!

The big news in our house is that my period finally came back!! Woop woop!! Thought you ladies would like to know! Haha!

 

[InHisHands]

Dexter is making leaps and bounds with his gross and fine motor but his verbal is still lacking. He was saying nawnaw and dada ..... but since dad left last week he has stopped saying those. No real words yet. *sighs*

 

[InHisHands]

2 more weeks till my lil man turns 1. Im getting so excited!

 

[NotNic]

Ah Hands. Do you have any special plans for the two of you? I forgot to ask is OH away for long this time? Is he doing something similar to his last trip?

Don't worry on the speech thing or other milestones for that matter. Finlay isn't walking yet and no more new words either. Sometimes it feels like they're stalling and other times the stuff they know surprises you. I taught Finlay how to come back downstairs this week and he got it almost straight away. He can also throw a ball now which OH loves. He play pretend 'catch' with him. There's probably tons of things e can do without you realising jut how clever they are. We went to dinner with my mum on Sunday and he was doing 'cheers' with his beaker and feeding himself with loaded spoons. My mum couldn't believe it!

Great news that the shields are working. Keep with it Snow you're doing great xx

 

[InHisHands]

I'm just going to open a few presents with him on his birthday and perhaps take him out to eat at a nice restaurant and order him his own meal! haha.

Hubby is only away for two months this time. He's in Georgia doing training. I still miss him though and the time difference keeps us from being able to talk for too long.

Dexter is just now starting to use a spoon too, though he needs a little guidance still. He plays chase, but he doesn't understand the whole concept of throwing or even rolling a ball back and forth yet.

He's actually getting real independent and defiant as he tries to assert his own wants already. He's constantly trying to get into his diaper pale, bang on glass, and run out into the street on our walks. He even laughs as he does it, knowing nawnaw is upset.

I think we are going to get the terrible 2's early and im sure they won't let up till he's 3 or 4 haha. He's so head strong... but he was that way from birth. I just have to stay with it and in the long run I will be relieved.

As far as his birthday party... we are waiting till hubby gets back and then doing a Toy Story theme pool party in the back yard and buy happymeals from mcdonalds for him and 2 of his lil friends and let them go at it. They are 9 months older than him, but they all get along very well.

How are things working out Snow?

How's adjusting going back to work Nic?

Lisette, Bex, Bea... any updates? Bea when will you be able to find out the gender?

 

[snowflakes120]

Our computer is broken so I'm gonna be short but just wanted to check in quick.

Sounds like Dex is quite the handful these days! Can't believe he's gonna be 1.

Bex hooray for AF!!!

Mic any birthday pics of Finlay?? Do you guys do a smash cake there?

Alls I have to say is that you girls have saved me with the nipple shields. I took your advice bex and bought another brand as well. I've got the medela ones and the tommy tippee ones too. I am now feeding him 4x a day which for me is great!! I am pumping the other 4x. I feed during the day and pump at night. He takes forever to eat so it is just quicker and easier to pump at night. Any suggestions to making him feed faster??!! I am getting a good supply going already and have already frozen some bags of milk for later use. Well I'm off to pump now xoxo ��

 

[NotNic]

That's amazing Snow!! So glad they worked for you. I could have kissed the girl in my NCT group who suggested them to me! Im so impressed that you are managing to freeze milk too. Finlay was a greedy chops and I never had a huge amount of milk left over at the end of the day so I only ever got a max of 10ozs ahead. Optimistically I thought I would freeze enough so that we could keep him on BM before he could have protein but he had other plans.

I'm afraid I don't have any tips on making them feed faster except don't rush them or take them off too soon! My mw was quite strict with me and told me off for letting him feed for 90mins and said he should take no longer than 30mins. She bullied me into cutting short his feeds and then funnily enough that's when colic started. As soon as I gave up on her regime feeding improved again. As long as he's feeding productively (proper sucks that make the skin by his ear move) then let him nurse as long as he can. They cant overeat on BM and the suckling helps your flow and milk supply. This will make things quicker eventually and by 6-8 weeks your supply's established and they will become more productive. It's just a real pain if you do get a slow feeder. I was so envious of women who would finish feeding in 20mins. Also has anyone mentioned cluster feeding to you? That's something to bear in mind.

I will post some photos too soon. We had great weather so we were very lucky. The weathers been so poo here this spring Its the middle of June and I am wearing a jumper dress, tights, boots and a coat!! That's just wrong. What's a smash cake??

Hands - great news that Mr Hands isn't overseas and it won't be too long this time. Have you bought Dex anything nice? I love the idea of Dex's party. You're not alone with a strong willed baby. Finlay is mostly a negotiator or a charmer. He tries to make us laugh when we are telling him off. Since turning one though he has a real defiant streak and we can see a flash of temper and stroppiness every now and then. Also since learning to throw the ball he now tosses anything he doesn't want.

Work is going great thanks though I can't help feeling I need more time at work AND more time at home. I need a 10day week!

 

[InHisHands]

We bought Dexter the classic wooden hammer and peg toy, wooden blocks, nesting blocks, mega blocks with wheel barrel, a dino rocker, a push car, a pull along frog, a play mat, some bath toys, balls to go into his poo( making it a ball pit as well), 2 wooden puzzles, and toddler forks and spoons.

We love Melissa and Doug toys and a lot of those items are Melissa and Doug. We tend to buy items on sale, at yard sales, thrift shops, or craigslist... so it sounds like a lot but didn't cost very much.

Thus far from our experience, the more "quality" the item is, the more he will play with it, so we try not to buy the cheaper toys. It's either house hold items or the higher in stuff. He has expensive taste like his momma ... hahaha.

What did Finlay get? We are always wondering what we should and should not get dex.

 

[NotNic]

We got Finlay a wooden sandpit, a paddling pool, stacking cups, books, a baby maracas and a poncho towel for swimming. We didnt go mad because we knew our family's would spoil him. He got some cars, books, traditional wooden toys (he got one of the peg toys too!) and toys for the garden. He got a little tikes slide and a coupe car. He was a lucky boy!

Finlay has a few bits of Melissa and Doug. It's not a hugely common brand here but they sell the stuff in tk maxx (great for a bargain!) Hobbycraft and the department store in our town. I like traditional toys. I'm a bit of a toy snob - no plastic play sets and no cartoon branding!! I think a lot of toys now don't encourage imagination and they get bored of quick. I want him to be stimulated and challenged. I rarely buy gimmicky toys for my nephews and nieces. I'd rather get them clothes if need be. I think it sounds like he's done rather well xx

 

[Srbjbex]

Snow, that's great news on the shields!! They (literally) saved my skin!! It's funny, I was chatting with OH yesterday that I miss the times when Elliot used to feed for 30+ mins!! Haha! Now it's 10 mins max. I miss the time I used to sit down and be able to watch a film or something when Elliot was feeding! Funny what you miss. The main thing you need to watch for is that he is actually feeding all that time (like nic said it is impossible to overfeed a breasted baby), so if you think he is drifting off the try and wake him, strip him off, tickle heis ears, or just take him off completely and let him enjoy his snooze. The tip my mum (who is a hv) gave me was to make sure he is properly hungry before feeding him, he will be a lot more efficient then and less lie,ly to just suck for comfort. I aimed for feeding every 3 hours....sometimes he didn't last that long but I think it did help to push it a bit beyond the first grizzle!

Hands , sounds like dexter is a very lucky little boy! I've not heard of Melissa and doug, I will have to have a look out for that. We are doing good here! Elliot is now standing unaided for about a minute at a time, and he has also started a bit of cruising in his cot. I think we are going to have an early walker on our hands here! Haha his eating is also going really well. I ADORE doing baby led weaning with him, he eats everything and loves joining in with family meals.

Nic- I am a bit of a toy snob too, my MIL turns up with a new toy whenever they pop round (nearly!) and they are always noisy flashy plastic things which I hate! I don't have a problem with plastic, but I hate noisy flashy rubbish, and Elliot is not really that interested either. His favourite toys are his stacking cups and his instruments, not the all singing all dancing ones!!

 

[InHisHands]

yay for Elliot Bex. Nothing wrong with an early walker! In fact Dexter and I walk every day a block down the street to check mail and he walks there and back. I can even set him down at a restaurant while ordering and taking the food to the table and etc. Sometimes he'll run off, but that's just part of teaching him... it's so much easier overall!!!!

Finlay and Elliot sound a lot like dexter. The cheap plastic toys just don't hold his attention for very long. He wants the good stuff. He rarely plays with any of his old toys now and I just fill his toy bins with things around the house. Im hoping that after his birthday he'll find some stuff to play with. I know he's interested in blocks... I just hope they keep his interest. After Christmas... I think Im going to go through his toys and do a major dumping of those that he has lost interest in and has continued to lose interest.

 

[InHisHands]

Happy Birthday Dexter! My baby is now a toddler *sniffs*

 

[Srbjbex]

Happy Birthday Dexter from me and Elliot!!



Time flies......!

 

[InHisHands]

Happy 1 Month Kellan!!!!!

 

[NotNic]

Happy Birthday Dexter!! Hope you had a great day!!

Snow how is Kellan a month already?! Soo quick.

Bea - how are you doing? Hope you are okay and keeping well.

Finlay has chicken pox and more teeth fighting their way through. The three of us are exhausted! On happier news my middle sister is engaged. , I'm to be a bridesmaid and Finlay a page boy. Exciting times!

 

[InHisHands]

oh no! Not chicken pox. I thought they get vaccinated for those now?

 

[NotNic]

Not in the UK they don't. It's considered a mild disease so they only give the vaccine to healthcare workers, teachers who haven't had it or women who want to conceive and haven't yet had it either. He has a fairly mild dose but has a couple of nasty blisters in his mouth.