MSE Newborn to 1 year Baby Club 1

fluffnutter

**Bex** wrote: »

I have tried, but for some reason I struggle to hold him as well like that. I will keep trying it though. Thanks for the reassurance - I keep thinking if I can just get to 6 weeks it may improve. I really would prefer to stick with the breastfeeding, but when I have a few bad feeds it's difficult. You start dreading the next feed which is no fun at all.

Oh God, yeah. I've been in tears on many an occasion. It really does get better, honestly. That's not a myth or something that's said just to keep women breastfeeding. Personally I think you're never really told how hard it is at first (in case it puts you off!). But there's one thing that people aren't being disingenuous about... it really DOES get easier.

Turtlemoose's suggestion about keeping him in the same position and just shifting to the other boob is a good one. Do you think you could try that? It normally is about position, particularly if you're suffering more on one side than the other. We're not symmetrical and it's inevitable that one side's easier than the other. I've always had far fewer problems on the left, even now. I like the idea of holding the baby exactly the same and just shuttling him to the other boob.

It's worth trying stuff so that you don't get too sore or disheartened. But, if I'm honest, the main thing is time. It's not so much what you do, it's just important to keep doing it. IMO, the main reason that things improve is actually because your baby (i.e. not you) gets better at it. And for that to happen you need nothing more than time and practice.

choccielover

**Bex** wrote: »

moneypenny - i'd love to express instead of feeding for a bit. Unfortunately I just never seem to have the time! I think I need to develop the ability to use my pump one-handed

I do this all the time, you soon grab the knack of it after a while Hun. My only problem as baby has gotten older is keeping her fingers out of the way of the pump so I don't squash them!

I struggled for the first couple of weeks but got a BF peer supporter out who saved my life! Our latch was terrible, they don't show you in those videos etc how quickly they open and close their mouths!! She described it to me as trying to hook the babies mouth over my nipple. I am sure you will get there honey, persevere with Lansinoh and get more help if you need to. What also really worked for us in the initial stages was stripped baby right down to nappy. Skin to skin really helped for some reason. She fed lots better.

Good luck, it definitely gets better and you won't regret it I promise

Oh and I know what you mean about dreading feeds, my little devil was a chewer, before we got the latch sorted anyway. Thankfully she dropped the habit, especially as she now has teeth

**Bex**

Big thanks for all the encouragement ladies I really appreciate it. I know it does get better, but it's hard to keep remembering that when you're in tears with the pain! I keep pondering switching to formula and then reminding myself how much extra hassle that would be for me.

The suggestion about keeping him in the same position and shifting him is worth trying, it just might take a bit of practice and some well positioned pillows...

Choccielover - I tried my local BF support specialist and she was adamant that his latch was good, despite my discomfort. I may try a second opinion - will try and find someone else to approach. I will also try more skin to skin as i'm sure that will help.

PurpleFairy26

Well it seems tobe jab day on this thread today my LOhasher first, touchwood so far so good. Although I did givehera dose of calpol an hour before hand. Did this with my first and it worked every time.

She slept for4 hours straight after including getting out of the car 3 times without waking which is unheard of. Hope everyone elses LO with jabs are ok too

Bex - would def get a 2nd opinion, I switched to formula at 4 weeks as I couldn't get anyone to give me help unfortunately, I got her back on after I had healed a week later once I'd found some support. 5 weeks on we've built backup to about 50/50 feeding but it's been very hard to keep supply up and I wish I'd been able to find help in the first place rAther than introducing formula and having to try to do what I doing now. On a plus note she's down to less than 4 x 5ozfeeds now and it's definitely a downward trend :j

Gillyx

We have our MMR tomorrow

He's been poorly all day nose running like a train, and very irritable. Not looking forward to tomorrow.

moneypenny21

Gilly - I heat them up in a hug of hot water no wonder they leak! Last night I heated the milk up in a medela bottle & tipped it into the mam bottle & we had no troubles. Good luck with MMR.!

Marta & gilly - thanks for info about length of time a bottle can be used for. She woke about 10 mins after I posted so I gave her another 2.5 ounces. She slept 12-4 again which isn't a huge improvement on the boobie! So back to boob tonight & see how she fares. Bottle tomorrow in the day as that's when she is least settled I think.!

Bex- I agree with fluff It gets better around 6 weeks. Since a breast feeding person helped me master the cross cradle ive been fine at feeding out (previously could only do rugby ball). I still dread feeding her on the side that has a milk blister, particularly at night when I'm snoozy!!

Marta- how did the jabs go? We were ok luckily (so far) she !cried more getting dressed at the baby weighing clinic than at the jabs!

Tonight the little one held her head clear off the ground for the first time when we had her on her tummy! She also rolled to the side, quite the gymnastics today!! !

Gillyx

Maybe try what Dizzi said and take the lid off? Although I'm sure I've tried that and they still leaked with me I heat mine up in the micro.... (bad mum alert!) but just let it settle to make sure any heat spots have cooled.

sunshine_1988

Gillyx wrote: »

We have our MMR tomorrow

He's been poorly all day nose running like a train, and very irritable. Not looking forward to tomorrow.

You can postpone it if hes poorly. Think they reccomend you postpone if they have a fever with it, but go if its just a minor cold.

x

martafdz

She had the jabs and the check up today too. I had her in the carrier whilst they did it, apparently it helped them to do it better because I could hold her still very easily. She also settled better afterwards. She screamed and went red during them, plus she had one of those silent cries that scare the hell out of me because I think she's not breathing? She then slept for a couple of hours, I gave her calpol at 5pm and she was clingy but ok until 7pm. She started to scream again high pitch and falling asleep for seconds with exhaustion, then screaming again. She finally seemed to go off ten minutes ago and now she's deep asleep on top of me. I cannot give her more calpol until 9pm so I hope she stays like this. I feel so helpless!!! I wish I could do something to take the pain away! Her thighs are slightly swollen around the jab puncture. Is there anything I can do other than giving her calpol?

She was given a cream and something for the bath because she's got very dry skin . every time I bath her gets worse and olive oil or e45 were not helping. She has circles or patches with dry skin borders, as if the centre had fallen off. Weird.

She's 5.05 kg and 58cm, 9 weeks +5

Gillyx

sunshine_1988 wrote: »

You can postpone it if hes poorly. Think they reccomend you postpone if they have a fever with it, but go if its just a minor cold.

x

I did consider it but they'l take his temp etc before doing it anyway and it's taken 3 weeks to get this appointment so I think it would be best getting it over and done with Plus my OH has managed to wangle some time off from work, so I'd prefer us both to be there as I get quite upset and can't hold him. Will see how he is in the morning


What did they give you Marta? We use Oilatum Bath Additive and the Cream for afterwards and it really helps. I know some have had issues with slippy bath and the Oilatum but we've always found it fine and I use 3/4 capfuls per bath, he sits up fine with it xx