September 09 Babes & Mamas - Page 3

[2boyzmama]

Originally Posted by BrittneyMarie

I'm new so I wasn't part of the ddc, but I'd love to join everyone here! Bella was 13 lb 6 oz at her 4 month checkup. Shes a babydoll!
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos..._2238010_n.jpg

I keep coming back to this picture...she's so beautiful!!! I'm always drawn to eyes, and hers are so expressive! So big, so bright... LOVE THEM!!!!

Oh, and welcome to our Post-DDC Club!

[kittyhead]

[boobs4milk]

aww cute pic cristeen! wooohoooo for leaking!

amelia is sick AND teething. yesterday she barfed up an entire feeding and then barfed up slime. ugh. poor thing and i feel so helpless! she gets her next weight check and synagis shot next friday!

[cristeen]

I took a sewing class today so I can make A's clothes. He's so long and skinny that I can't buy off the rack for him even now. I had to resize a pattern - scanned in a NB pattern and resized it to 75% to get the right width through the chest. Then I had to add 1.5 inches in torso length and 3 inches in sleeve length to get it to the right length for my little beanpole. But I came home with a tiny little t-shirt almost finished. I'll try to remember to post a picture when I get it done. But it'll be nice to have a shirt that actually fits him properly, instead of being a crop top, or so wide you could fit 2 of him in it.

Oh, and my local fabric store carries some really nice wool fabrics - and they were having a 25% off sale today, so now I have 4 wool fabrics to make him pants from!

[newmomroxi]

That's so cool that you are making clothes for your LO. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Lake has been sleeping a little better lately but I'm not. DH really likes to co-sleep and I do as well but our bed is not big enough. I always end up teetering on the edge of the bed while DH and Lake are sprawled out. I ended up sleeping on the couch last night and will continue to do so until Lake starts sleeping a little better on his own. I'd love to get a bigger bed but we can't afford it so that's out of the question.

Also, Lake has discovered quite a few tricks and enjoys doing them over and over. He's learned how to pull the bottle out of his mouth with his hands so he does that repeatedly while eating. He also loves to shriek. It's cute but very loud.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9...D550/ry%3D400/

[tzs]

Originally Posted by saffrongirl

I also need to get an Ergo or something like that because the Maya isn't really cutting it as well. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good carrier similar to the Ergo that maybe isn't as expensive?

i was bummed to give up the moby but the stretch was getting to be too much. if you could deal with a mei tai, the maya wrap mei tai has wide fabric straps that make it feel moby-style. i've seen them on sale for $50 or so. i'm loving it.

[StrongFeather]

Hi Mommas!
Wow, I miss all of you!

Hmm, let's see, Sam had his 4 month Well Child Jan 4th, and then he weighed in at 15lb, 5.5 oz, and 25 inches long. After a I felt like my milk supply was dropping back in Dec., I started on a suppliment, Special Blend, by Motherlove, let me just say this stuff worked overnight for me. Sam has doubled his birth weight and no more fussy feedings pulling and moaning at my breast. So I am confident that it helps. Plus, my peace of mind is worth the $20 for the tincture ;-) (just ask my DH, haha)

Sam is rolling from tummy to back, when he wants to, and ALMOST can go from back to belly. He is starting to want to crawl, moving his legs and hands, pulling at the floor to try and move. I feel bad b/c he seems SO frustrated! I know it will probably be quite a while before he can, but I know he's starting the process of figuring it all out.

Sam can sit for a little while unassisted, just how do they figure out how to sit on their own? I have been wondering that for some time. Just one day do they pull up? He has been doing the crunches for awhile now, he's gotta have some super abs!

We are no doubt teething, and each day it's getting progressively worse. I have tried so much to help him. I wonder about giving him tylenol. do you Momma's do that? Is it safe? the teething tablets help, but I want to pick up the Camillia alone to see if that is better.

Hmm.. I'll have to search for a recent picture for you all.

[rockdoctor]

I've mostly been reading MDC since the birth of DD Ahvy. I often want to write but my brain still feels unorganized and distracted. I am back at work now so I can spend a few minutes updating my DDC (probably not what they want to pay me for)!

Ahvy will be 4 mths on Feb 2. She ended up being born in Oct, but so what, I am still Sept at heart. She seems to be doing well. I don't know what she weighs now, but at her 2mth check she was 50% everything, right in the average. I am cool with average. She has always had a really strong neck. In fact she could hold her own head at 3days. Now it is consistently steady. She also can stand strong for about 30 seconds without crumbling, however she has no interest in using her arms to push up when she is on her stomach. She just pushes her butt up and digs her face into the ground; two seconds later she is screaming for help. She sits well and does crunches. She has found her loud voice. I often find myself wondering if she is complianing when she uses it, or is just taking her new vocal chords out for a test drive.

I EBFed her for the first three and a half months, but now that I am back at work I can't seem to pump enough to keep her in breastmilk all day, so we had to start supplementing with formula. I just don't understand how, before I could produce enough for her and now I can't. This was my first weekend home and I couldn't even keep her happy in milk BFing, we had to give her a bottle once. It's a little discouraging. I pump four times a day, and go home with anywhere from 6-10 oz. I have warm compresses, pictures, I breathe deeply and visualize, I just don't get it. I hope it gets better this week.

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but she's a cutie.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by coldandsleepy

Grey's officially cutting teeth. His first two (two!) are visible now, they're poking above the gumline. And they are SHARP.

oh wow! I can't belive our little ones will be eating food soon. I just got the hang of breastfeeding!

Here's our fussy baby when he's not so fussy!

[texmati]

Originally Posted by rockdoctor

I EBFed her for the first three and a half months, but now that I am back at work I can't seem to pump enough to keep her in breastmilk all day, so we had to start supplementing with formula. I just don't understand how, before I could produce enough for her and now I can't. This was my first weekend home and I couldn't even keep her happy in milk BFing, we had to give her a bottle once. It's a little discouraging. I pump four times a day, and go home with anywhere from 6-10 oz. I have warm compresses, pictures, I breathe deeply and visualize, I just don't get it. I hope it gets better this week.

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but she's a cutie.

s: I'm so sorry. I'm at the same place-- just started working last week. I also only make 6-10 ounces, but my little one only gets 5-6 ounces a day. How long are you gone for work? Is it possible she's being over fed? Let me know if you want any tips-- slowly, I'm seeing the amount that I pump increasing.

[4myfinn]

Hi everyone! I am so enjoying looking at all the sweet pics of your little ones. I'll see if I can get one up too.

My DS turned 4 months on the 10th. At his appt on the 20th he was 17 pounds 7 ounces and 27 inches. He's a big boy! We've been dealing with major issues: dairy (and possibly soy) allergy and SEVERE silent reflux. We just started a new medication for the reflux- Prevacid. We're already seeing some changes; I really hope this is the solution we have so desperately been searching for. I was so reluctant to turn to medication, but when you're watching your LO in constant pain it is so difficult. Dietary changes and other modifications like feeding/sleeping at an incline have helped a bit, but his back-arching was getting worse and worse, especially during feedings and at night. He's been sleeping on his left side at night, and I think that's helped.

Developmentally, he is doing well in everything that doesn't involve tummy time. The reflux makes tummy time really uncomfortable for him, so we haven't pushed it at all with him. He is getting better at it, but still hates it. He lifts his head and chest but still hasn't pushed up with his arms much. He almost accidentally rolled over once. He laughs, coos, and smiles all the time. He has started talking and screaming just to hear the sound of his voice, and that includes coughing all the time! I think he's realized that coughing gets a reaction from us and he likes that. He is so strong and trying to stand all the time. My favorite thing that he's doing now, though, is giving kisses. He gives us wet, slobbery kisses that are oh so sweet!

I'm so glad to finally have found this September thread!

[dosergirl]

hey mamas...can i say how much i miss you all and our daily talks!

Cora is doing great. At her 4month appt. last week she was 14lbs 4oz and 27.5 inches long...she is super tall and skinny, which means she is in 9 month clothes and up for length, but they fall off her waist.

we are doing great. taking a mom and baby class o get out of the house once a week, which helps during these dreary months.

we actually just tried cereal for the first time last night and it was hilarious to say the least. she had been grabbing at our food so we got the go ahead from her doc to try. she was totally into it, even though i'm pretty sure she swallowed nothing, haha. of course that is one more thing i thought i would do differently when i was pregnant, ebf for the first 6 months! but she was ready and i have to do what she wants ..it's amazing how that happens.

love hearing about you ladies.

Here are some pictures of Cora, i need to get more up.
http://www.thegirlisamom.com/pictures/coraline-mae/

[2boyzmama]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...3&id=634508169

I put up some new pictures of the boys today

Nothing really new to share...I finally counted up my frozen stash of breastmilk...I have 242 oz in my freezer, and when I left home this morning there were 16 oz in the fridge. I've pumped another 16 here at work (only two pumpings, I sometimes try to squeeze in a third, but I've been busy today). And I've already given away close to 100oz locally.

MOOOOOOOOO!!! (funny...I actually have a great dane that looks like a cow, here's a picture of her http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...9&l=a670c006ae)

So I'll be making a shipment soon...need to make room in my freezer for food!

Things are going well...I can't believe that in just over a week Gavin will be 4 months old!!! He's the youngest in this DDC I believe (maybe there was one other born after he was?)

[rockdoctor]

Originally Posted by texmati

s: I'm so sorry. I'm at the same place-- just started working last week. I also only make 6-10 ounces, but my little one only gets 5-6 ounces a day. How long are you gone for work? Is it possible she's being over fed? Let me know if you want any tips-- slowly, I'm seeing the amount that I pump increasing.

Thanks texmati! I could use tips I guess. I am gone from 6:30 am to 4:30pm. I thought at first she was being overfed, but then I witnessed this weekend how unsatisfied she was until given a bottle with 4 oz of milk after feeding on me on and off for the first three hours of the day. However, on Sunday she was just fine with EBF all day.
In short, she seems to be eating 12-14 oz while I am gone for the day (~10 hours). I BF her twice before I leave and she doesn't eat for two hours before I get home so she is hungry when I get back. I spend about 1.5 to 2 hours pumping at work, I can't get away with pumping more than that without really pissing off some people (I can understand that.). My freezer stash lasted one week on top of what I was pumping everyday. There just seems to be a discrepancy between what I can pump and what she wants to eat.

[newmomroxi]

2boyzmama, I love that picture of Gavin! He's so cute!

rockdoctor, I wish I had suggestions for you. I also couldn't keep up with my son once I started work. If I pumped twice a day I'd produce enough for 10ish hours (12-16 oz milk) BUT I was so exhausted trying to do it all, that it just wasn't worth it for me anymore. He's on 1/2 formula, 1/2 milk during the day. I hope that you can get some good suggestions here but please don't feel bad that you can't keep up. Pumping is just not as effective as a nursing baby sometimes.

4myfinn, you do have a big boy! :-) I'm so glad that the Prevacid is helping him. My son Lake has some reflux issues and it was heartbreaking to see him in pain.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by rockdoctor

There just seems to be a discrepancy between what I can pump and what she wants to eat.

I'm just going to throw some thoughts out there for you:
While it's not particularly easy - have you tried pumping one side while nursing the other? Have you tried any galactagogues? Have you tried different pumps (the Symphony is not great for me, the Lactina is good, but the PIS doesn't get but a couple drops)? Do you cosleep? How about dream-feeding (to encourage reverse cycling)? Do you pump while at home at all? How many times does babe get fed in a day while you're gone? How many times does babe nurse in a workday? How many times a day are you pumping and for how long?

I may not be able to produce enough BM for my little guy, but I've learned a LOT about pumping from our various donors and my IBCLC.

[Auroara Bobcat]

Hey there ladies.

Gena is doing great, we just weighed her yesterday and she is a little over 16lbs. She does tummy time for about 5mins a day, she holds her head up well and rolls from tummy to back.
She loves to watch us eat and she will sit at the table with us and grab our plates, so yesterday we gave her just a tiny taste of banana and she really enjoyed it, but we will just stick with tastes for now.
Some of my own personal brag points are on the fact that she has been EBF since birth (I only breastfed my son for 2 and 1/2 months, so it's a big deal for me) and has had nothing but cloth diapers and cloth wipes touch her bum.

It's so nice to here from everyone and to know that the babes are doing well.

Here are a couple of pics of her, I have to add the one with her new hat.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44380612@N07/4304994251/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4438061...7622852529221/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4438061...7622852529221/

[rockdoctor]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I'm just going to throw some thoughts out there for you:
While it's not particularly easy - have you tried pumping one side while nursing the other? Have you tried any galactagogues? Have you tried different pumps (the Symphony is not great for me, the Lactina is good, but the PIS doesn't get but a couple drops)? Do you cosleep? How about dream-feeding (to encourage reverse cycling)? Do you pump while at home at all? How many times does babe get fed in a day while you're gone? How many times does babe nurse in a workday? How many times a day are you pumping and for how long?

I may not be able to produce enough BM for my little guy, but I've learned a LOT about pumping from our various donors and my IBCLC.

Let me see if I can answer these questions. I just don't see how it is possible to pump and nurse her at the same time. She moves so much and is so heavy for me it takes both of my arms to nurse her even with a nursing pillow. I have never been able to use a football hold with here and I don't understand how to hold the pump on with her right there anyway. I am very small breasted so her whole body is very close to mine. I don't know what galactagogues are. Noone rents pumps in my community and I can't afford to buy another double electric pump. Mine seems to pump alright, but I am just not producing much?
On the co-sleeping topic, we do not cosleep except in the morning when she wakes up. She kicks and squirms and wakes up so easily when she sleeps with us and I do not sleep at all. She sleeps so well in her crib and I sleep better too this way. Therefore we do not reverse cycle. Besides with working ten hour days plus Bfing her I just don't think I would be very healthy or happy being up all night. I wish I could sleep and feed, but as I said before I am very small breasted and she falls off frequently and I have to lift her to put her back on when we are lying down.
I have tried to pump at home, but I get even less than at work (like 1oz out of both breasts combined)and then I have a low supply when she wants to bf. I am not exactly sure how many times a day she gets fed, but I think she gets offered a bottle every two-three hours, although she eats varying quantites each time. Usually in the morning she eats more and in the afternoon eats less. And finally, I pump four times a day (every two to three hours like the baby's schedule) for 15-30 minutes each time.

[tzs]

@2boyzmama
i love how gavin's pic is in your "pets" photo section! he he
i hate to make the comparison but it's really scary how similar alot of this baby stuff is to doggy training. yikes!
heck, i've worked at a doggy daycare and a human one and i've had to wipe poop off of the toys at both!

[texmati]

Originally Posted by rockdoctor

Let me see if I can answer these questions. I just don't see how it is possible to pump and nurse her at the same time. She moves so much and is so heavy for me it takes both of my arms to nurse her even with a nursing pillow. I have never been able to use a football hold with here and I don't understand how to hold the pump on with her right there anyway. I am very small breasted so her whole body is very close to mine. I don't know what galactagogues are. Noone rents pumps in my community and I can't afford to buy another double electric pump. Mine seems to pump alright, but I am just not producing much?
On the co-sleeping topic, we do not cosleep except in the morning when she wakes up. She kicks and squirms and wakes up so easily when she sleeps with us and I do not sleep at all. She sleeps so well in her crib and I sleep better too this way. Therefore we do not reverse cycle. Besides with working ten hour days plus Bfing her I just don't think I would be very healthy or happy being up all night. I wish I could sleep and feed, but as I said before I am very small breasted and she falls off frequently and I have to lift her to put her back on when we are lying down.
I have tried to pump at home, but I get even less than at work (like 1oz out of both breasts combined)and then I have a low supply when she wants to bf. I am not exactly sure how many times a day she gets fed, but I think she gets offered a bottle every two-three hours, although she eats varying quantites each time. Usually in the morning she eats more and in the afternoon eats less. And finally, I pump four times a day (every two to three hours like the baby's schedule) for 15-30 minutes each time.

s Rockdoctor! You are working so hard! Pumping and working is exhausting. Right now it feels like DS is reverse cycling, and it is so tiring.

The only way that I can pump and feed at the same time is with a sleep bra, using football hold and DH's help.

Galactagouges is a fancy way of saying things that increase supply-- like oatmeal, fenungreek, ect.

I was able to get more out of a nursing session buy fiddling with the knobs, and using the let down button until I got a second let down. (I have a PISA).

There is a really helpful pumping forum at llli.org that is helpful as well. On there, they say that your milk producing hormones peak at night, so you should pump/feed at night to keep up your supply. But it exhausting if you can't get a proper nights sleep.

Also-- I'd make sure the daycare was using *all* the breast milk (not tossing any if it's left in the bottle, ect).

Finally, formula is not hte devil, it's better than keeping your little one hungry. And a happy mama is always better than a stressed out mama. I don't pump at home if my little one is awake anymore. I decided he needed me more than he needed my milk.