MSE Pregnancy Club 26

bella2121

Morning all

I tried bf with Ds1 but it was horrendously painful plus my milk didn't come in until over a week after baby was born, baby lost so much weight during his first few days we had to move onto formula, with Ds2 I didn't even attempt to bf it's just not for me. I'm not ashamed to say I wouldn't be comfortable feeding in front of anyone plus the pain involved last time put me off. At the end of the day formula milk is designed for babies and contains everything they need so I don't think mothers should feel bad for using it. Just enjoy your new baby

Tired today DS was up just after 12 he went to sleep after a bottle but then it took me until after 4 to go back to sleep then Oh was up at 5 then DS again at 6 so I haven't really slept much at all, feeling pretty grumpy

36+4

Angelmommy

Dd1 slept 8hrs from birth on formula. Dd2 I tried to exclusive bf however, she would wake up every hour on the hour throughout the day and night. Dd1 was 7 so I still had to get up to take dd1 to school. My husband was away after paternity leave (royal marine) so I became exhausted very quickly. I broke down soon after and went and bought a tub of formula - dd2 then had 1 bottle of formula at night; she would sleep a good 8 hours and I breasted the rest of the time.

I used to run a mother and toddler group and the amount of pressure mums feel, to breast feed is quite overwhelming. We're told "breast is best" and if, for whatever reason, you cant do it, you feel like youve failed - which is not true. its not for everybody. I believe if there were studies done between bf and postnatal depression, the results would be astonishing. However, I'm all for bf and really want to be able to do it exclusively this time around as I have more help available now and dd2 is now 9 and can walk the 2mins to school. But, if I get to that point that I did last time, I would ask for help and consider night time formula.

I don't want to put anyone off bf - I really enjoyed doing it, just don't put too much pressure on yourself; not all of us are able to do it and that doesn't make you any less of a good mum, nor a failure.

BeNiceToMySelf

thanks for the advice. The time commitment with breast feeding also worries me. I guess baby could always have one formula feed per day to stop me going insane and OH could look after baby. I'm hoping that I can express. I do think that society looks down on formula feeding like society frowns upon a cesarean birth. A healthy happy baby is what everyone aims for not an unhappy depressed mum!

continualdiamond

My husband doesn't want me to breast feed and at 1st I thought that was because he didn't like the idea of people looking at me in public.

When I asked him his reply shocked me.....he said he wanted to help and didn't want to miss out on feeding the baby. Bless him....

We compromised and agreed I'll give breast feeding a go but as well bought a manual and electric breast pump so I can express (hopefully).

I'm prepared at least I think I am to not feel guilty if neither of those plans work. All I can do is what is right for me and baby at the end of the day and to me that's all that matters.

NoAngel

Congratulations Lao cat!

lobey wrote: »

NoAngel, would you mind telling me which TENS machine you go for? Almost ordered one from amazon last night but wimped out at the last minute!

Hi Lobey, I had such a hard time buying it! Went to Asda pharmacy where I was advised to buy a particular one. Got it home and thought I'd have a little google before opening it, only to find that its not suitable for labour as it doesn't have a boost function. So returned it the next day and headed to Mothercare. However they don't actually have them in the shop and they have to order them. But wouldn't be in store till 3 days before EDD which I felt may be leaving it late. Eventually I've ordered the Miracle TENSI maternity TENS from Boots as it was ready to collect the next day Obviously don't know how good it is yet, but it has good reviews. Happy to share whether or not its any good after the birth though.

Got my pram out of the box at my Mums house yesterday, took us ages to figure it out but feeling better now I've had a play!

Interesting reading everyone's breastfeeding comments. I'm really hoping it goes well for me when LO arrives but so many people seem to have problems that I'm preparing myself for formula.

Baby has really moved down a lot now, bump touches my thighs when I'm sitting down! I how this means she's getting ready to meet us

38+5

amus

Kayalana99 wrote: »

Sorry I totally totally agree that breast feeding is better for baby etc etc but it isn't crap at all.

Babies drink as much breast milk as they need, with forumla they drink so many oz's a feed and their tummy expands with it meaning they sleep longer - so yes its not good for them but they def do sleep better with formula then breast milk.

I think that depends on the baby and how much milk you produce to be honest, DS2 was breastfed and from birth slept from 10pm till 4am.


I totally agree re. the painfulness, if people gave a truthful answer re. BF i.e it is painful until your nipples toughen up a bit women would have a much better idea of what to expect. And the pressure they put on women to breastfeed is really unfair!


I've told midwives from the start I intend to breastfeed as long as it works for me and baby, yet I still get asked about it almost every time I go to the midwife and have had about 3 letters through the post promoting breastfeeding. What a waste of nhs resources! If they're going to waste money sending unnecessary things through the post I'd much rather them post me something useful, like say, bottles of gaviscon!

Finch7

Another bargain I've spotted - sorry I do read all your posts its just I don't have anything interesting to add about my pregnancy at the moment (hope it stays that way!!)
so instead appear only to post to encourage you to spend money!!!

Angel care monitor and sensor mat is £72.50 @ Babies r Us at the moment and there is 20% off with an online and in store voucher this weekend so it would end up being £58. They are sold out online but you can reserve one in store

Link

Some people aren't keen due to false alarms etc but as a FTM I would rather have a go with it and for that price I'm more convinced!

BeNiceToMySelf

I think I won't get a monitor but might change my mind. Baby is supposed to be in the same room as you for the first 6 months according to guidelines - whether or not I'll manage that I don't know!

What are people's thoughts on thermometors? I have a room thermometer but I think I would like a bath thermometer and some way to take baby's temperature. there are so many out there I have trouble deciding. the ones where you have to buy replacement covers seem like a lot of fuss.

KScarlet

BeNiceToMySelf wrote: »

I think I won't get a monitor but might change my mind. Baby is supposed to be in the same room as you for the first 6 months according to guidelines - whether or not I'll manage that I don't know!

What are people's thoughts on thermometors? I have a room thermometer but I think I would like a bath thermometer and some way to take baby's temperature. there are so many out there I have trouble deciding. the ones where you have to buy replacement covers seem like a lot of fuss.

I never got a bath thermometer, I just used to dip my elbow in the bath and as long as it felt warm/ not too hot it seemed fine. It's amazing how sensitive elbows are lol! I've only just got an in ear thermometer now my sons 3. Tbh you can roughly tell when a LO has a temp but if it reassures you get one. Mine was £10 from amazon, reviews seemed really good. It was replacement covers but I tend to just wash them rather than replace keeping the ones I use on my son seperate to ones that are used for others.

We had baby in our room but had the angelcare monitor listed above even when he was in our room. He was in bed before us so it was useful having a portable monitor if friends were over/ I was downstairs. The movement sensor was also very reassuring as my son had breathing problems. Do whatever suits you xx

I'm going to attempt BF but I'm not going to put myself through what I did last time so have bottles, TT perfect prep etc just incase. I'm sure pressure from feeding/ problems I had with latching on contributed towards my PND

neneromanova

I never bothered with thermometers. Your elbow is a good enough thermometer. Again, room temp, never really worried. If I'm cold, chances are baby is still warm. You just have to check their bodies regularly. Hopefully my monitor still works from the other 2. Its just a bog standard voice one. Never saw the fascination with video ones.