Weekly Chat March 13th - March 19th - Page 3

[Vegan Princess]

I just got home from a breastfeeding support group. My midwife loves the LC that leads is and wanted me to go. I didn't get a ton out of it however I did learn that there are local pharmacies that can create domperidone and my midwife can write me a scrip for it...it will just cost more than if we could buy the actual drug...so hopefully I will have it by tomorrow and hopefully I will notice an increase in my supply!!

Starling: I take DD in the bath too. And it's a good excuse for me to get to stay in and relax. :-) So much easier and more fun than hauling out her little bath tub that I have to use on the floor bc our apartment has no good place to put it.

LTB: It took me a week to get around to finding and calling a cleaner...but once they came and overhauled the place I felt so much better. I agree with PP...I only have 1 baby and I can't manage to get anything done. Be kind to yourself! You will get everything figured out in time...no rush.

Cindy

[BathrobeGoddess]

I'm sorry to all the mamas who are feeling so tired. Linus is very mellow...compared to the last two...both of whom do not yet sleep through the night at 5 and 2...Linus would sleep through if I didn't wake him to nurse becasue I am so full and hurting.

I had an overactive letdown with dd and it was not fun for her or me! She was the only baby I have had who had any spit up issues at all...also not fun! She is also my largest child...almost as big as her small 5 year old brother a age 2...

I went right back to coffee the day Linus was born...I loves my coffee...it is my real treat!

[monkaha]

nak

hugs LTB. i hope you're able to get some help and support.

re:new fussiness, a friend of mine told me that this is about the time the baby's gut gets colonised- the new flora/fauna in there cause gas, making them uncomfy while they get used to the whole thing.

[Mal85]

I think nursing is getting better for her. I still feel like she is struggling when that side lets down, but she isn't getting as pissed off about it. She seems to just be handling it better, if that makes sense. That night was the last time she got so upset trying to nurse. Ever since then she is putting up with it nicely.

I seem to have a baby that's just not bothered by much. It really freaks me out when she really cries, because she just doesn't do it very often. We've had two actual meltdowns. One in the car and one at the boob. Other than that, she will just give one good shout at me to tell me she wants something and lots of grunting to go along with it, but no actual crying. She isn't bothered by gas. Yesterday she was so gassy, she was farting like her daddy all day long, but it didn't bother her. She wasn't fussy. She gets the hiccups constantly... seriously everytime she's awake she gets the hiccups. And she gets them really bad, they're so loud and last forever. But she doesn't get upset about them.

I've started pumping and building up a freezer stash for when I go back to school. I am going to give a presentation in one of my classes on Monday. That'll be the first time I leave her. I'll officially go back to school the next week... I'm really dreading it. Anyway, I've just been pumping once a day, about midday... this is the only time I'll be able to pump at school, my only break between classes. Should I pump more than once a day, maybe add a session in the evening?? I have a couple of questions (they probably belong in the breastfeeding forum, but I'm here so I'll ask)

1. Right now she is feeding on both sides per feeding. So, when I give her a bottle of breastmilk, do I give her the packages from both sides? Or do I give her just one?? Can you mix two?

2. When is it okay for her to just feed on one side per feeding? She is 2 1/2 weeks old. A lot of the time, I think she could definitely be done after one side. She latches onto the other side, but doesn't really feed... just suckles for a few minutes and falls asleep. When she actually feeds on both sides, she ends up spitting up a good portion of what she ate. So, it seems like she is getting too much from feeding on both sides. And if we start feeding on one side per feeding, we would just alternate sides per feeding right?

Sorry for so many questions. Breastfeeding is so confusing to me! I have a new list of questions everyday! I'll probably go post these in the breastfeeding forum as well, now. TIA for the advice.

[JesiLynne]

Originally Posted by dooney

Coen is doing well. I weigh him occasionally with our Wii Fit. Last time he was 11 pounds already! I went out with my cousins and aunts last night and had a Malibu and pineapple juice. I'm not a big drinker, but oh how I missed alcohol during pregnancy probably only because I couldn't have it. We put my 11-pound 6-week-old next to my cousin's 6-pound 3-week-old and he looks like a moose! But he's still so tiny to me!

Don't tell DH, he would then try to convince me we need a Wii.

[JesiLynne]

For me, letdown hurt a TON!!!!!!!

[LionTigerBear]

DH really straightened the apartment for me this morning, and got the boys dressed before he left for work--while letting me sleep in a little. It made SUCH a huge difference! I was very appreciative! I am also taking my supplements again, which helps. I have prioritized getting everyone breakfast and washing dishes over getting dressed in the morning, so still in my pajamas, (bouncing DD on the medicine ball for the last few hours-- I think she may be another high needs baby like my first one!) but I feel better having the kitchen look fairly neat and clean. Neat and clean is a big deal for me.

My back is starting to hurt-- but oh my goodness is this kid cute or what!

[AKislandgirl]

Hi all. I've been meaning to ask what does "nak" mean?

Well, I'm dealing with a plugged duct that just doesn't want to unplug! So frustrating. I had mastitis last week and am still dealing with this. I'm so worried I'll just get sick again. I've tried all the usual tricks... heat, massage, nursing with her chin at the spot, even nursing on my hands and knees (DH thought I was crazy). I don't know what to do.

other then that we are doing well. Fiona is cooing and smiling more and more. I love it! She is a good sleeper too. She does wake up to nurse 2-3 times but never cries and just falls back to sleep. We do get the evening fussy period but sometimes that only lasts about 5 minutes or so. DH swaddles her and does his laps around the house to put her to sleep.

My house is a wreck and I only have one baby. Some friends are stopping by this afternoon so I"m gong to attempt to clean up at least a little today. Wish me luck!

[Larissa]

"nak" - nursing at keyboard

Also - for the plugged ducts - I get those at least once per baby.

I eat lots of raw garlic - I swallow the cloves whole. I also put cold cabbage leaves directly on the breast, and keep changing them often throughout the day. It works for me everytime.

[justKate]

Originally Posted by Mal85

1. Right now she is feeding on both sides per feeding. So, when I give her a bottle of breastmilk, do I give her the packages from both sides? Or do I give her just one?? Can you mix two?

2. When is it okay for her to just feed on one side per feeding? She is 2 1/2 weeks old. A lot of the time, I think she could definitely be done after one side. She latches onto the other side, but doesn't really feed... just suckles for a few minutes and falls asleep. When she actually feeds on both sides, she ends up spitting up a good portion of what she ate. So, it seems like she is getting too much from feeding on both sides. And if we start feeding on one side per feeding, we would just alternate sides per feeding right?

1. Yeah, you can totally mix sides. I would store in smallish quantities until you know what she will take so that you don't waste any.

2. Aubrey overeats if I let her just keep going, then vomits it all up, so I try to gauge how long to give her to keep her just short of overeating. It doesn't always work. I would alternate sides each feed and then pump the other side to boost your stash.

I know what you mean about dreading getting back to school. I visited my office today and had no desire to be back there working. Good luck with your presentation.

[Nillarilla]

AKislandgirl, have you tried quark cheese. You spread it on a wet cloth after a feeding and wrap the cloth around the affected breast for 15 minutes. You find it in the grocery store near the ricotta cheese. You do this after every feed until the duct unplugs. It works like a hot damn. You can freeze the cheese too so you just pull it out when needed. It draws out the infection. This is what my mw told me to do and we got through a raging case of mastitis with an angry red line on a swollen breast with a fever, the aches and chills with just the cheese and nursing and pumping after nursing on the affected side. No antibiotics.

[Nillarilla]

Mal my ds was a one boob feeder his entire nursing life. He could never stomach 2 boobs. I could get 8 oz out of one breast when pumping so I knew he was getting more than that. You probably just have a lot of milk. I usually don't offer the 2nd breast unless dd fusses again after the 1st. Then I know she isn't quite full.

[mama-aya]

In-laws just left after a week, and the boys and I spent the day airing out the house and washing linens (DH's parents are heavy smokers, and even though they doon't smoke in our house everything smells like an ashtray, including my children). It's sunny and not too cold and I just felt light and happy and breezy all day, like a "Father Knows Best" kind of mom or something. Ha!
Ansel seems to have a good latch, as far as I can tell. He nurses a lot and is gaining weight now. At 4 weeks he was 8 lbs even (7 lbs at birth). But he does this weird little clucking or smacking noise while he nurses, and I can't figure out how to get him to stop. It shouldn't bother me maybe, but this is a pretty conservative community, and all the smacking seems so... immodest.
He's also, at 5 weeks, still jaundiced. Not horribly, but his eyes are still tinted yellow and his skin is. When I take him out people still comment on his "great tan" or else ask why he's yellow. It's much longer than either the other boys were yellow. I still feel on the edge of worry about it, even though he's not really jaundiced, it's so long now....

[Vegan Princess]

DD was soooo fussy today! Definitely the most she's ever been. Cried soo much since 5 am. Still crying now. Only really stops while she's eating or napping...but refuses to let us put her down today. I spent most of the day on the exercise ball. She did have 2 smiley times though. I actually got a shower in with her in the bouncy chair and she smiled at me a lot when I got out.

I just got my IUD put in (I'm 7 weeks pp tomorrow). No babies for us for a couple years. I'm surprised how much I'm bleeding. Hopefully it doesn't last long. I don't think I had one pelvic exam with my midwife except for her checking me while I was in labor...I forgot how much it sucks to have someone messing around up there!

Cindy

[Thursday Girl]

Juno hardly ate yesterday and fussed and fussed. She just screamed at the breats in the evening but I know she wanted to it. Finally she settled down and ate, then fell asleep. I was so grateful for that. Today she is doing better. still not eating as much as I would like.

I liek the one boob a nurse feedings as well. I only offer the other if they still seem hungry after they finish the first side.

So we fnally got our mini van, and it's wonderful. None of the kids can touch each other. Ah the beauty! They are still close enough to talk and play but they can't poke each other or do that "I'm not touching you" thing as they waver their hand an inch from the others face.

[mama-aya]

Thursday, I'm so jealous! We're hoping to get a minivan, but we have to sell one of our cars and get the tax return first.... I can't wait to have everyone a little more spread out!

[Everrgreen]

nak

Royce is 2 months old now! He was weighed today and is 12lbs. He is smiling a lot more and sometimes it seems like he is about to laugh - I can't wait for that! Nursing is going well. He has been having the odd green poop and I'm not sure why. He also has his fussy moments but nothing too bad. We bought him a swing and I'm hoping it will help him to nap on his own.

I've always just given Royce one breast per feeding. And if he doesn't nurse for too long or wants to nurse again soon after I'll give him the same one again.

[Vegan Princess]

Makenna screamed most of the day yesterday and wouldn't let us put her down...but it paid off...she slept through the night!! From 11:30 to 5..then ate and went back down until 8. She's been an absolute angel today and we had a nice time walking on the beach with her in the sling and then going out to lunch. She's even taken a couple hour nap in the swing this afternoon. Hooray! When I was at lunch she was just sitting on my lap looking around...so alert and into her surroundings...such a change from a couple weeks ago. When I put her back in her stroller she totally smiled at me. Love it! The smiles are still rare but so rewarding. :-)

I walked with 3 mommas from my birth class at the birth center...very nice to be around other natural minded mommas in real life!

Cindy

[Queen of my Castle]

Sounds like a lot of fussy babies lately! Add Ramsey into that group, he's on and off.

Originally Posted by Mal85

I2. When is it okay for her to just feed on one side per feeding? She is 2 1/2 weeks old. .

It's fine! I agree with justKate though, try pumping the other side if you want to build up your stash and keep up your supply.

Originally Posted by mama-aya

Ansel seems to have a good latch, as far as I can tell. He nurses a lot and is gaining weight now. At 4 weeks he was 8 lbs even (7 lbs at birth). But he does this weird little clucking or smacking noise while he nurses, and I can't figure out how to get him to stop. It shouldn't bother me maybe, but this is a pretty conservative community, and all the smacking seems so... immodest.
...

I'd check his latch again. There shouldn't really be a smacking or clucking, that means he's losing his seal. If there's a 'clicking' that's ok, some babies make that noise.

[Thursday Girl]

Originally Posted by mama-aya

Thursday, I'm so jealous! We're hoping to get a minivan, but we have to sell one of our cars and get the tax return first.... I can't wait to have everyone a little more spread out!

that's what we did. I filed taxes as soon as they came in. I was so anxious to get that mini van