MSE Newborn to 1 year Baby Club 1

Carmilla

Lirin, I think people want to know about your punani as it had been reupholstered (I know you genuinely needed it) while the rest of us think we might need it too as I think many of us feel do different down there.

Jannie- Seb could ninja shuffle across the bed from day one, but rolled and rotated on the spot from 15 weeks. He isn't good at supporting himself on his arms though. He can sit up with pillow but slides over a lot. He does love to stand up, while holding on to my fingers. He doesn't talk much either but does laugh and giggle a lot while playing. All babies are different though, and it is natural to want to compare, but Poppy did have a very bumpy start and in 6 months her developmental differences will not be noticable.

Seb got to see his 6 week older cousin at the weekend and he wasn't too impressed. Alex had a lot better interaction skills and was much more vocal.

Hubbies are just glad to see boobies, I don't think they care if they are slightly different, the just want access.

*Nutella*

Turtlemoose - sadly I think this is one of those things that most men will never fully understand... My DH run out of patience with me too after trying his best to be supportive, and tbh I don't really blame him as I don't think I was ever able to really express how I felt about everything. I think the most important thing is for you to do what you feel is right for you and LO, whatever that is - and whatever the outcome, you will know that you have done your best (that's what I tell myself to try and feel better about it all!). I know people who struggled with BF'ing but then their LO suddenly 'got it', so I hope that happens to you too. Please feel free to vent/rant on here, we're all here to support each other x

sunshine_1988

Morning All

Hugs to those who are struggling with BF Hope it improves soon.

Hope everyone had a good night and got some sleep, one night feed here at 3:30, he used to be like clockwork at 4:00 but its been creeping back a bit lately, I'm wondering if its because he isnt taking as much milk.

Have a good day all xxx

Carmilla

Ro, Ive just seen the nigella burkini, I think it looks great, I always burn but love the water.

dizziblonde

turtlemoose wrote: »

Thanks guys. I'm determined to BF, even if that means expressing and bottle feeding him -

Word of caution if you go this route - it's what I switched to doing because she just wasn't getting latching on at all and the hospital were never going to let us go home if she wasn't secure feeding, and the place was so utterly hellish I would have killed myself if they'd kept me prisoner there much longer to be honest (yes there will be eternal guilt over me choosing to go home over her sucessfully breastfeeding - but even at full-term equivalent she couldn't latch).

Exclusively expressing is one HELL of an existence - by the time you've fed, changed, pumped, washed pump parts and put them in the steriliser - it's time to start again - either that or you end up with daddy doing all the feeds and baby care while you just become relegated to the status of a milk machine. Eventually the motor on our breast pump burnt out (don't buy Avent kids) and that was the point I took the hint and threw in the towel and switched to formula - and sobbed endlessly while doing it - but had no choice, by then my supply was rapidly going down the toilet and I wasn't actually being a mum to her at all - just a blooming dairy cow.

Bluebell1000

Morning all! Hope you had decent nights. Elliot is waking every 2-3 hours still, boo. I slept through the alarm today but at least it's a work from home day.

Got home yesterday to be handed Elliot by my Dad and hubby saying 'he's grumpy as he's tired'. Er, no. He was grumpy because he had a nappy full of poo and stunk. Apparently they hadn't noticed. Gah, men.

I'm going out for post-work drinks this evening, organised by the head of department to say thanks to everyone for their hard work, which will be nice. It's lovely to work somewhere that you feel appreciated. In other news, it's now been officially announced at work that I have taken on more responsibility. Doesn't come with any more pay yet, but hopefully I can apply for an upgrade next year.

Turtlemoose, good luck with the bf'ing. I started Elliot on bottles and expressing at about 7 weeks so I could go back to work. He's still mostly bf (apart from the weaning) but I express milk for my 'in work' days. He took to the bottle ok but wasn't keen at first, however I think the risk is if you start them on bottles too early they forget how to bf, so stick to your plans about expressing, especially if he's finding it hard at the moment. Unless you're worried about him not getting enough?

Crabapple

Morning all. I've just read tons to catch up, and have retained pretty much none of it, so sorry!

Turtlemoose, reading your post really saddens me, not what you are saying about things, but that you are being pressured by OH and his mother. It is not their decision so you need to stick to your guns, please. If you make the feeding decision for yourself (whatever it may be) then you will be able to be happy with it. I was told pre-birth that having a supportive OH is really key to bf successfully and I do agree with that, mine has been really good and none of the family either side has any issues with it thankfully. Mind you, I'm a stubborn cow so if anyone did have a go about what I do with my baby there'd be words!!

You are right about establishing feeding and he needs to back off a bit longer. It's not as easy as that anyway, it can be hard to get milk out by pump as it isn't as effective as the baby themselves. My DH does love to give dd her milk but he learned that it was a rare treat for him as it's just a faff compared to latching her on directly! I got him to do other stuff like bathtime and reading her stories so he had something to do with her that was just them.

If your baby still seems to be taking a long time at feeds then he probably is still working on getting your supply right and there are regular growth spurts at the beginning so they have to try and up it to keep up with what they will need. It really does get easier - I wish I could tell you exactly when but I don't remember, it must just have gradually got around to her feeding less often and for shorter times ie. more effectively so she fills up quick. Most of her feeds now are only about 10-15mins although she still occasionally has a really long one!

Anyhow, we are doing well. Munchkin did a 5+ hour sleep last night and is getting back to doing longer sleeps. She's enjoying different foods too. Six months old this Saturday, it's scary how big and grown up she has got :eek:

DH was offered the job he went for last week, spent ages agonising as the offer wasn't great, talked to them and got it upped a bit and has now accepted. Now he's getting worried about telling his work he's leaving and I'm trying to tell him to get it over with!

Lirin

Carmilla- I haven't read back, who is having punani problems? Will quite happily post, if anyone is having problems, do be seen. Quite happy to tell if people want/need to hear!

*Ro*

Morning all got to go out shortly and not at all ready :0 will post proper later xx

turtlemoose

Thanks everyone.

Dizzi - I spent the first 10 days attached to the pump (the memory of It terrifies me) so I know how grueling it is....but it'd still have to be my last ditch attempt before I gave up totally, I just don't think i could forgive myself otherwise.

Bluebell and crabapple - thanks for the reassurance that I'm right to wait - its so hard when everyone around you is saying something else. Especially when then couch it in terms of "helping" because then you cant really get annoyed at them can you...or if you do, you're that crazy hormonal lady who just had a baby I'm not worried about his quantities, usually, except for the last 24 hours. He seems to have forgotten how to do it. He cries, head butts me, slobbers all over my boob, licks my nipple....by this point the milk is pouring out of me!! He just won't latch! He was fine before and fairly efficient, in 5 min blocks broken up by nappy changes and burps. But the last 24 hrs he will suck for maybe a minute, sometimes two maximum, pull off and cry and fuss and repeat. That's why its taking so long to feed - not cuz he's sucking for so long but because he wont bloody suck any more :-/

Sorry for hijacking the thread this morning, I just don't have anyone else to talk to, I could ring my sister but she hasn't bf so won't really 'get it'.