MSE Newborn to 1 year (& beyond!) baby club 2

Saffagal

We had issues with latch when my milk came in and getting to a breastfeeding group really helped as we got our latch issue sorted. I also got thrush which hurts! But I'm very stubborn and my husband was supportive of my decision to breastfeed enabling me to keep at it.
Re feeding in public, I've a few breastfeeding tops or wear a vest under a loose top. Try it in front of a mirror - very little is visible. In fact, whilst I've been feeding A out and about, I've had people come up to me and comment on how good she is sleeping like that. Uh, not sleeping, feeding!

My mom arrived yesterday and so A and her granny are getting to know each other. My sister was so excited to become an aunt, as soon as she knew I was pregnant she started shopping for the baby so A has quite a few bits from her Aunty. I don't know where to send the thank you card. I don't think the post office delivers to heaven I'm glad though that I'll be able to share with A about her aunty when she's older and hope she'll treasure these gifts.

We've thunder rumbling in the distance this morning... I'm still waiting for A to wake up. If she doesn't wake soon I'm going to have to express as my boobs are Full! Ouch!

Have a good day ladies

dippydooda

Thanks lazy and saffa. Had a much better night, a 3hr 20 sleep, a 2hr 20 sleep then 2x 1hr 20 sleeps so a lot better than the night before and he seemed to settle quicker into his crib.
To be fair I have had nothing but support and help from NHS re BF-ing. We were in hospital for a week together so we had loads of help getting started and we fed really well for weeks til we got thrush. Now I'm using an NHS pump to build up a stock and he's feeding well again, the only reason I'd consider stopping is to see if he'd sleep
Longer!! Off to clinic this morning to get him weighed, he was 8lb 8.5 2 wks ago so I'm thinking over 10lb for sure the way he's been eating!!
Bamama- what is it you can't actually afford?your mortgage or living expenses? Surely child benefit covers his bits and bobs?there must be a way around it, try not to panic.
Saffa it must be so hard when you use the things your sister bought. Nice for her to be on involved in a way though. I lost my big sister a few years ago and it kills me when I think just how crazy excited I know she would have been to be an Aunty and how much she would have adored my
Little boy. All I can do is show him her picture and talk about her as he gets older so he knows she was once here and a huge part of my life.

Mrshaworth2b

Gillyx wrote: »

He may have no issues there but I'd be inclined to get it checked out. My friends little one was only diagnosed with a milk intolerance at 12 months old and she too had constipation issues/explosive poops etc. I just find it weird how the milks have such adverse affects on him What is he like on normal milk? The reflux bad?

Yeah off normal milk he's really really bad, off staydown he's fantastic but it's the poo problem. I'm bored of it now, the poor lo, I can't wait till he's just eating food and we can put this milk situation behind us!

Anyway everyone enjoy the weekend, whatever the weather brings! We're off to town to pick up lo's christening romper!

lazywife

Aw Bamama, difficult times. I know you can post an incoming/outgoing list somewhere in the forum and you'll get lots of feedback to cut costs.
Can you live on very little for 2 yrs and then when 15hrs free kicks in you'll maybe then start being able to afford xmas pressies and nicer food again?
Do you have any family that can help with ccare. My parents are agreeing to every 4th Sat so I can go back (even tho going back only 3/4 days, must do some Sat and no nursery open on Sat).
How accommodating are work with flexitime? Nursery's are much cheaper if you only have one session per day (don't have to pay for a dinner slot).

Saf, hope Granny's having a good time with A. Lovely that your sis had got some bits in for her, a shame she can't be there to meet her.

BF in public I got on with from the start. I normally have double layer of tops (one up, one down, like Saf said), I tend to pull the pram round so I can prop one foot up on that to take most of his weight on my leg. I do have a nursing cover from TKMaxx, looks a bit like a pinny. Wasn't fussed about one from the start, but if we go somewhere "classy" eg Prezzo, I'll pop it over to feed (he wriggles too much to have a muslin draped over him).

Much cooler today. Off to play at the church, Vicar was nice about Christening, but she suggested we maybe show our face a little more at church, and today is a bit of a fun day there.

L.xxx

katiechoc_2

Think I've just been given a black eye/potential broken cheek bone by a one year old . Little swine didnt want to be picked up to go upstairs (and wouldn't walk) so thrashed about and head butted me. In his defence he didn't mean to actually clatter me but still, was a bit of a shock!

Bamama I think the debt free wannabe section may be helpful, you can post a SOA and they'll help spot places you can save. Lazywife has covered most things I think, but what about things not baby related - sky, mobile bills, utilities that could potentially be switched to save a bit, and get quidco too?

katiechoc_2

Re breast feeding in public, I second the two tops option, I lived in two layers for the 11 months I was bfing. If you have your mum or close friend nearby I'd suggest meeting up in a nice cafe and just doing it, then you've got someone to talk to rather than just thinking everyone is staring and honestly, they won't be! You'll be surprised how easy it is once you've done it a couple of times, promise.

DayDreamBeliever_2

Bamama wrote: »

I haven't read back, sorry. I'm really freaking out. Dewi is 7 months and I've just realised that we can't afford him

I don't think I can afford to stay off.
But I can't afford to go back either.
!!!!!! do I do?

Oh bamama, I feel your pain as i had the exact same panic a few weeks back but I found once I sat down and looked at the figures in more depth things seemed a lot easier.

I've cut our outgoings as much as possible - asked on fb and found a friend who worked for sky so our package is now in my oh's name and as a new customer with the code the sky employee gave us it's half price, I didn't upgrade my mobile and am on payg - my phone works just fine and that's saved me £30 a month, I checked with all providers re utilities and changed using quidco to a cheaper tariff for our needs, I've transferred our credit card to 0% and I'm selling stuff we don't need like a crazy thing.

I also found childminders were cheaper for our needs as they charge hourly rather then per session with more flexibility so I'll just be paying for what we need which will 1 week be 5 hours on mon/tues/wed and the next week will be 4 hours on the same days - I'm lucky that round here the childminding market really is huge so the prices are very low - £4.50 an hour including food/wipes/trips and I just provide nappies.

I've also cut our food budget, my oh doesn't need a cooked breakfast every day no matter how much he likes it and we're having vegetarian meals twice a week. After my little whinge on here and katie and gilly opening my crazy eyes to 'cheaper' produce my freezer is full of frozen veg and that's saved us a fortune. We also buy fruit in season and only pick up extras when on offer so pineapple/strawberries/mango/pommegranate are a treat and we are happily munching more apples/oranges/pears/bananas etc. I've gotten over my ellas kitchen addiction and make Shay her snacks which again have saved us a fortune - I've halved our weekly shop just by making a few changes.

My oh has also bought a young persons rail card as he's under 25 and is now saving 1/3rd on his daily commute and takes a lunch with him each day, something i'll also be doing when I start back to save some money.

Sorry to have gone on and sorry again if I've mentioned things you've already done or are no use to you but I really do empathise as I felt total panic too x

Bamama

Dippy... sorry for completely glossing over your issues. I'm still breastfeeding my 7mo. You honestly do get to a point where it becomes easy. You might have days where you want to pack it in because you're just attached to each other but it's deffo worth it. I don't think giving formula will help with sleep tbh. They're little individuals who will do as they want and the easiest thing to do is accept it. My boy won't nap but I no longer let it stress me. So long as he's happy. I think you've been given some great advice already

I wasn't fussed on the breastfeeding support group either. They were quite well knit and I felt like a complete outsider. But if you can find out when the professionals are there and pop along. Good to get everything checked over and get some much needed praise for coming as far as you have!

Try feeding while laying in bed. You can quite easily doze off while baby sucks away and sleeps too! I spent my mornings like this until he got to nearly 5 months XD


Well... I still dunno what to do but have stopped flapping. We'll just have to sit down and work it all out. I've got family and friends who are willing to have him or come to the house and sit with him. I really don't want to go back but I'm not in a position to choose and have to do what's best for us, which is go back as much as I can.

My hours have to be between 8.30-4.30 with a possibility of working outside that in the future. We're trying to cut down on shopping as much as possible and I'll make meals for us all when I can. My OH is veggie but I NEED meat so I'll just have to fit that in for my lunch.



Who brought up feeding in public? Dippy? WHAP THEM OUT!!!!! I've sat there with my boob out cause Dewi has decided to have a look around. Noone notices. If they do they don't say anything. And if someone, one day, does say something then they will be politely told to get stuffed I doubt you'll get much complain if you have nice booblas XD

Gillyx

Mrshaworth2b wrote: »

Yeah off normal milk he's really really bad, off staydown he's fantastic but it's the poo problem. I'm bored of it now, the poor lo, I can't wait till he's just eating food and we can put this milk situation behind us!

Anyway everyone enjoy the weekend, whatever the weather brings! We're off to town to pick up lo's christening romper!

The thing is he's still gonna be on formula for another 6 months, I feel like I'm being pushy but I'd really push to get him tested. It's handy to know for weaning too, we were dairy free until around 13 months old. It's quite easy once you know the ins and outs.

Have you tried a milk thickener? We used a natural thickener and never had any issues with constipation and it really helped his reflux too

Mrshaworth2b

Gillyx wrote: »

The thing is he's still gonna be on formula for another 6 months, I feel like I'm being pushy but I'd really push to get him tested. It's handy to know for weaning too, we were dairy free until around 13 months old. It's quite easy once you know the ins and outs.

Have you tried a milk thickener? We used a natural thickener and never had any issues with constipation and it really helped his reflux too

What are the thickeners called? The dr didn't entertain other thickeners.