Weekly Flylady Thread 2nd December 2013

skint_breeder_5

optimistic-mummy wrote: »

hi everyone. im back in next week please. Thankyou to everyone for there congratulations.
been feeling really rubbish today. MW came this morning to weigh LO again. hes below his birth weight by quiet alot. they are coming back to weigh him again weds. they weighed him on day 3 and he had only lost 1.9% of his birth weight ... i really want to carry on breastfeeding he has had the odd couple of ounces of formula to top him up after a decent feed if he is still unsettled but im not sure what to do ... (i didnt BF ds1 so its all new too me) ... im producing enough milk ... and he went through a feeding frenzy for 48 hrs a few days ago. i felt like giving up earlier today but something is spurring me to want to carry on ... any advice would be much appreciated i feel at such a loss and im only at day 11 (he was born 6lb 9oz ... hes currently 6lb 3oz at 11 days old) im really worried about him ...

on the flylady front its not to bad here... need to get some stuff done off my own list tomorrow ....

hope everyone is well ... hugs and vibes of all kinds to those that need/want them xx

Your body has nurtured and grown little Opto-baby for 9 months inside, and is designed to carrying on nourishing on the outside. But you need to care for yourself....and that means enough fluid for yourself to make the milk, plus snacks as well as normal meal. Eat and drink as you go to feed, even if that means bubba cries for 2 minutes while you neck down a glass of water and inhale a rich tea biscuit.

Opto-baby might go great guns, and then start getting tired as he is working harder to get the milk out. Try changing sides so less effort is needed on the fuller b00by so more milk goes in.

b/feeding is a supply and demand arrangement - the more Opto-baby demands the more supply you will get. Try rousing Opto-baby a bit sooner for a fed, if you only get an extra feed or two in a day more calories will be going in.

I found new mama teas helpful, but getting them delivered this time of year maybe tricky. But one teabag of liquorice and one of fennel has some key ingredients in. No more than 6 cups a day, if nothing else it will force you keep your fluid intake up and tastes quite pleasant.

Lastly, if you are able to get some b/f "shells" to tuck in your boulder holders while you are feeding, you can then decant the collected milk into a bottle to top up Opto-baby to finish off (or give to OH so you can have time to re-charge/shower/eat.....whatever)

I never b/f my first, but the other 4 young Skints were. It is a challenge, but so worthwhile. So persevere, it does get easier for both of you as time goes on. You are doing great HTH

cyclingyorkie

I was advised to drink nettle tea and take calcium tablets when I struggled to feed DD2 (other 2 were easy).


But the key is rest, and you have an older child, which is hard. DD1 was totally b/f, but DS was a very hungry baby (and a rubbish sleeper) so he had a bottle at 7pm so I could choose to put DD1 to bed. At that point in the day I was worn out, and my milk was probably not as good.


Rest is the key - as I eating and drinking enough to keep you going.

pigpen

optimistic-mummy wrote: »

hi everyone. im back in next week please. Thankyou to everyone for there congratulations.
been feeling really rubbish today. MW came this morning to weigh LO again. hes below his birth weight by quiet alot. they are coming back to weigh him again weds. they weighed him on day 3 and he had only lost 1.9% of his birth weight ... i really want to carry on breastfeeding he has had the odd couple of ounces of formula to top him up after a decent feed if he is still unsettled but im not sure what to do ... (i didnt BF ds1 so its all new too me) ... im producing enough milk ... and he went through a feeding frenzy for 48 hrs a few days ago. i felt like giving up earlier today but something is spurring me to want to carry on ... any advice would be much appreciated i feel at such a loss and im only at day 11 (he was born 6lb 9oz ... hes currently 6lb 3oz at 11 days old) im really worried about him ...

on the flylady front its not to bad here... need to get some stuff done off my own list tomorrow ....

hope everyone is well ... hugs and vibes of all kinds to those that need/want them xx

up to 10% weight loss on birth weight is normal.. don't let the MWs bully or scare you or lie to you!!!! They will if you let them!!


MWs do not like breastfeeding.. they cant chart numbers so don't like it. Their first advice is formula which interferes with milk production.


Do not let him go more than 3 hours between feeds day or night.
Make sure you are eating (carbs are best) and drinking lots.. you need an extra 500 calories a day while feeding.. If you are normally a slinky malinky which I recall you are you may need more as you don't have the fat stores to keep drawing on.

My favourite advice.. Take your baby and yourself to bed or the sofa for a couple of days and do nothing.. absolutely nothing but feed him. The housework will be there forever, dust never goes away.. sit.. rest.. spend time doing what is really important.. feeding your baby boy.


48 hour feeding frenzies are growth spurts and boosting milk supply.. most commonly 3-5 days as milk comes in, 2 and 6 weeks, 3-4 months, 6 months.


It may be worth seeing if you can get a referral for a lactation consultant to make sure his latch is optimal and also because they know what they are talking about. Also get him checked for a tongue tie, even a small tie can affect the amount of milk they can drink.


Last of the things that spring to mind.. feed solely from one side then burp and change him then offer the second.


Nappies should be squishy and yellow.. babies who are not getting enough have dark green poo. Lactose intolerance gives frothy mucusy poo, too much of the first milk makes it bright green.. if it is like this pump the first bit and feed after the letdown.


With DS3 I would pump in the morning when I was very full and feed him that milk later in the evening when supply was less to fill him up.


I hope something here helps and feel free to give me a shout if I can help further.. fb shouting is best xx