MSE Parents Club Part 16

redmel1621

Lilian, please be aware that you need to add the powder to very hot water, not just warm water or it won't have sterilised it. I made all my bottles up with boiling water...therby killing the milk bacteria and producing sterile milk, then cool as quick as possible in a sink full of cold water, hence not letting milk sit lukewarm as the milk bacteria grows quickly at tempretures of around 50 degrees, and straight into fridge when cool. re-heating to barely warm as and when needed.

This is the way I have done it with all 4 of my kids and with the last baby even the midwife said it is fine, as long as I have made the bottles up with very hot water (ie not left longer than 30mins) and cooled quickly!!!

Metranil_Vavin

gill_81uk wrote: »

I can't remember who it is having the BFing problems (MV?) - my life saver when I was first feeding Thomas was recording loads of Supernanny's on the freeview box and watching an episode every feed. Once I got better at it I was able to surf the net while feeding and I did loads of paid for surveys! In some ways I miss it coz I just don't have time to catch up/keep up now that a feed only takes 10 mins!

I remember finding it really tough (and I was fortunate enough to have no problems with it) but it does suddenly get a lot easier at 6 weeks imo and if you can persevere to that point then you won't look back.

If you do decide not to then don't beat yourself up about it and don;t let anyone bully you into something you don't want to do. There'll be loads if support and advice on here for you whichever way you go. All I would say is think it through carefully before you decide either way so that you don't make a snap decision that you later regret. (I know someone who really regrets not carrying on with bfing and equally someone who wishes she'd gone onto bottles sooner!) Only you and OH can decide what is best for your family.

I'm sorry if I haven't made much sense but I was up from 3.30 with a poorly baby and didn't get much sleep after that! Still waiting for him to decide he's tired enough for a nap as well! He's normally had a good hour by now!

Thanks gill..that all makes sense

I just feel like he wants to feed constantly, and I'm worried that I'll end up completely confined to the sofa, never able to move!!

I fed him for over an hour earlier, and when he came off he just started screaming again. I was so sore by then, we gave him a bottle of formula which has now seemed to calm him a bit.

My MW came this morning, she's really nice and very chilled about the whole BF thing. She obviously advocates it but also said that if you have to top him up with a bit of formula, then so be it. As long as I am keeping my flow coming, it's fine. She reckons my latch on is good, which made me feel a bit better. It looks like I just have a VERY hungry baby!!

Thanks for the advice. It really helps to hear from people who have been there before and come through the other end successfully

esio_trot

Hey, been reading, just not gotten around to posting.

Formula - WHO guidelines Page 14/32 (yup, they do actually advise on FF as well as BF, they just hide it well!) say that you can pre-prepare feeds for advance use and store them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You need to make feeds up with water no cooler than 70 degrees celcius (a full kettle left for half an hour should be about right to make sure all the nasties are killed off. Cool the bottles quickly (I do it in a sink of cold water) and fling them in the fridge towards the back where it's coldest. I've been doing this for 6 months and no problems with the littlie.

PS - I'm a bad mummy and use the microwave to heat bottles 30 seconds for 4 oz, a minute for 8oz - no problems there either!

(x-posted with mel)

Stitches - not an epistomy but a second degree that needed stitches which came undone. Mine were still pretty uncomfy, though not stingy after a couple of weeks and not noticable after a month.

Metranil_Vavin

How old is your little one CL? I have heard about the putting something in the cot that smells of you thing..sounds like it worked a treat for you

Last night wasn't a good one. Josh woke up at about 2.50 am, I fed him for what seemed like ages, but he just would not settle. I tried to express some milk for him, but didnt have much. We gave him what I'd expressed, but he was still crying for food, so in the end we gave me a bottle of formula. He eventually went to sleep at about 5.10am, and then slept until 8.30am, so at least we got a few hours.

The MW was quite reassuring though when she came earlier. He has gained 100g in weight, so almost back to his birth weight now which was good to hear. He had his heel !!!!! tests too, and was so brave!

She said that if my nipples need a break, then it should be fine to just express and feed him from a bottle for a day or two without it harming my supply.

lilian - my stitches were feeling a bit scratchy too so MW had a look at them for me earlier. She said they are healing well, and was really impressed at what a neat job they had done!

I'm still a bit bumped and bruised down below, especially at the base of my spine which feels like I have fallen and bumped it.

sir_monster

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

Last night wasn't a good one. Josh woke up at about 2.50 am, I fed him for what seemed like ages, but he just would not settle. I tried to express some milk for him, but didnt have much. We gave him what I'd expressed, but he was still crying for food, so in the end we gave me a bottle of formula. He eventually went to sleep at about 5.10am, and then slept until 8.30am, so at least we got a few hours.

i have been through nights like that you know the time they woke and settle just feel like saying to them 'go to sleep' - maybe if the same thing happens again can u do the bf then get dh to a top up so u can rest?

smartie12

Just saying hi to new babies.... and mummies!:)

I have microwave steriliser. Do 4 bottles... grab 1 out when needed and put lid back on. Never had a prob with dodgy tum or anything;)
I've found it easy to boil the kettle, make up the milk and cool it down in jug of water. Doesn't take long! When going out I'll either make up the bottle if I know it's going to be used soon or just take bottle of water and keep it hot in a thermal bag and have the powder in a dispenser.

Metranil_Vavin

hiya smartie..long time no 'see'!

We have a microwave steriliser too, and it's so annoying that apparently as soon as you take the lid off, everything needs sterilising again!

Is it the Tommee Tippee one you have? Do you think it's ok then to just pop the lid back on again? It seems so daft otherwise!

Becles

Have been to see the ENT consultant. She's sending me for a CT scan at Durham but there's an 8 week wait for that. Then she's going to do turbinate reduction surgery and possible drill my sinuses depending on what the scan results say.

Sounds like a minging operation, but it'll be worth it if it makes me well again as I fed up with feeling ill all the time.

In other news, my appeal is back and they are not altering the results of my uni exam, so I've gradated with a 2.2 BA Honours in Business Studies. Disappointed overall but I did write my uni story with all the challenges in that I overcame which made it seem a bit better. Regional support worker told me to do that and it has helped.

smartie12

Metranil_Vavin wrote: »

hiya smartie..long time no 'see'!

We have a microwave steriliser too, and it's so annoying that apparently as soon as you take the lid off, everything needs sterilising again!

Is it the Tommee Tippee one you have? Do you think it's ok then to just pop the lid back on again? It seems so daft otherwise!

I have the avent one. I personally think as long as you don't leave the lid off for a stupid amount of time its fine BUT thats just my view and you must do what you think is right;)

And it's great to see you here!!:D

Oh Becles that does sound like a yuck op:eek: But if it makes you feel better...:j

SusanC_2

redmel1621 wrote: »

Awww, I can't imagine what it must be like, it would drive me crazy as i'm not one for sitting around much anyway!

I'm glad you said that as most people who comment seem to think it must be quite nice to sit around doing nothing all the time.

redmel1621 wrote: »

Right the reason I asked about the stamps is that I bought some books off eBay ages ago and inside one of them a stamp fell out that had been cut off an envelope....Not sure if it is of any interest to you, but thought I would ask.

It is a New Zealand stamp dated 29 Jul 1996 and has a lovely picture of a bottlenose dolphin on it with $1.80 in the corner....let me know if you want it, if not I will shove it back in the book haha x

Yes please. I'll let you know my address.