Weekly thread, Jun 6-13 - Page 3

[Knitting Mama]

Dena, I'm NAK right now and unable to go into vast detail, but remind me to PM you later with curly hair care tips. I have extremely curly hair myself, and I used to hate it until I learned how to take care of it. I love my curls now, and I can't wait to care for Cecilia's hair the same way (it's already beginning to get curly).

[smeisnotapirate]

Dena, go to www.naturallycurly.com - my favorite website for curly care tips.

[jenfl]

So this is my day. Sprout will only take mini-naps (30 minutes tops) and is generally cranky and not nursing well. DD is dissolving at the slightest and ordering us around. Got bitten by some mutant insect and my whole foot swelled up, but got no superpowers. Had to take Sprout back to the ENT for a post-op -- had to hold him still while he screamed so doc could look at his tongue, and got to hear that the doc doesn't think it's worth clipping his lip tie. Tongue looks good, which would be great except breastfeeding has gone back downhill. Got home and slammed my thumb in the car door.

[Carita]

dena - the best time to comb curly hair is in the shower w/conditioner. on days i skip a shower, i rely on a ponytail LOL

jen (hugs)

dani is nursing very6 infrequently & i worry - only once every 3-4 hrs... 7:30 pm, (can't remeber if we nursed midnight), 6am, 10:30, 1:45, 4:30. my son nursed constantly so i worry she's not gettng enough. at 12:45 she cried and seems hungry but wouldnt latch and passed out for 30 min, then woke & nursed. shes been fussy to nurse and onl want to lay on her right (my left boob). my right boob has had oversupply issues - you think she's mad at it?

[jsh7809]

Jen, yewoch! You deserve a break, mama. A good night's rest AND a great nurse. Phew!
I am shocked at how rewarding it is when S nurses well. We are both such happy, relaxed girls! I wish it happened more, but it does seem to be getting better in the daytime. This morning I had a great massage that I saved up for, and my mom babysat for the 2 hours I was gone. S ate a little bit of milk I had expressed but I came home right as she was starting to get hungry for more, and she latched on great, sucked to her heart's content, and was able to keep up with the flow. After one of our worst EVER/ most frustrating 4am sessions, this was awesome. This is what nursing should be, and it sucks that it can't be that easy for all of us, all of the time.
But it will in time. Jen, I really hope that comes soon for you and Sprout, goodness knows you deserve it!
Great link to the curly hair care site! My mom didn't know what to do with mine and always brushed it straight, so I look forward to working with S's hair (when she gets more than peach fuzz) to keep it curly and pretty.

Since I probably do the most complaining of anyone around here, I have to say - through my exhaustion and overwhelm, I am also having more and more moments of absolute head over heels love for this baby! I have at least a few minutes (if not more) a day where I think "I am a good mom, I know what this baby wants and needs!". I am able to stay patient with both of us more often. I am starting to feel more like she is me and I am her (which sounds weird, but do you mamas know what I mean?)... like we are truly, deeply, madly bonded. It is amazing
Now, I just have to make sure I let go of that "we are part of each other" thing before she's a teenager, that's where my own mom and I got into some serious problems.

xoxo to you all

[Knitting Mama]

Dena, I PMed you with curly hair care tips. I hope they help!

[jenfl]

Okay, question.

* Given that Sprout and I are still experiencing breastfeeding difficulties.
* Given that it's generally understood that you shouldn't introduce a bottle until breastfeeding is "well established".
* Given that if you wait too long, many kids won't take a bottle.

WHEN should I let DH give Sprout a bottle?

[Dena]

Aimee - got your pm - thanks! Great advice, we will try asap!

Carita - we do wet dd1's hair down before combing, but it is still a rat's nest. The child would actually have dreadlocks if we stopped. As for the nursing, have you tried holding your daughter in a football hold so she can still nurse on the right lying on the same side as she does on the left? That is the only way Maya will nurse these days. We are seeing the chiro tomorrow.

Jess - Yay for a massage! I am envious!

Jen - I hope your day got better.


I survived a near disaster trip to the Y today to sign up the older kids for swimming classes. Ellen had a full-on two year old melt down just before we got into the car at Sofia's school. Little booger actually ran away from me when I asked her to get into the car. And then screamed all the way to the Y. Fortunately, she calmed down enough just in the nick of time. And then started screaming again on the way home. Bribed her with a cupcake just to get it to stop. Bad mommy.

[snoopy5386]

so tonight I put Kelsey in the sleeper she wore home from the birth center, which is also the same sleeper Morgan wore home from the hospital and it is *this close* to being outgrown. Which made me sooooo incredibly sad. My last baby is growing out of her first outfit. Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle, I'm not ready!!!

[Carita]

dena - oh the conditioner is the trick to being paraban free since its easy to find paraban free conditioners. but then you'd wan t to wash it out after, which is why I always comb in the shower. In high school when wore my hair long I put it up in a net to sleep at night, LOL.

oh yes - I have been nursing her football hold to trick her!! I am such a mean mommy LOL. We have out chiro appt Thursday - CAN'T WAIT!

[smeisnotapirate]

Jen, maybe 6-8w or so? Not sure. My DS did ok with a bottle, but we really preferred cup feeding. If you have bottle troubles, you can also use a cup (and sometimes with much better success).

[nikirj]

Jen, cup feeding may be more appropriate. We've been having latch issues over here and I'm really reluctant to introduce the bottle nipple (not really worried about her preferring it, I'm worried about her latch getting even lazier than it already is), but she will kind of lap up liquids. You can also (carefully) use a sippy cup without a valve. We haven't had to do any time apart yet, so I don't know how well it works for full feeds, I've just tried to see if she would be able to so that when I do need to leave her, I'll know what to suggest to DH.

[loveneverfails]

Today is just one of those days. It's been.. interesting. I broke up a fight between the 5 and 7 year olds, had the 3 year old scratch the 5 year old hard enough to draw blood, and the almost 2 year old trip on the stairs and get a busted lip.

And I'm also trying to work to get the Midwifery Modernization Act passed in NY state, to ditch the written practice agreement requirement. Busy day!

[rhiOrion]

just got back from the pediatrician's office. had her first shots today (no flames, please!) and it was AWFUL! She was just so upset. But then I nursed her and she was okay. But then I stopped nursing her and she was mad about that.

Then I put her in the carseat and started the car and she fell asleep again!

She has slept in the car seat every time I've put her in it for the last two days!!

We have about 8 hours of driving to do on the 18th, and then another 4.5 on the 20th, and I can possibly deal with it if she isn't screaming the whole time. So let's hope she keeps this up

ETA: Oh yeah! And the nurse saw her cloth diaper was like, "I just love the diapers you ladies are using these days. None of that plastic stuff on the babies!"

[rhiOrion]

Oh yeah, and she did confirm that L has a bit of an umbilical hernia, but that it is tiny and should fix itself.

Anybody else ever dealt with that?

[Dena]

The babies were up 239087 times last night. By six I was so tired I actually asked dh to give Hannah a bottle. Of formula. I gave in to disposable diapers because I thought the ease would help me keep up with breastfeeding, and here I am doing formula too. Plus I yelled at my older kids yesterday and swatted my two year old. And I am pretty sure ppd found me after all. I will start Zoloft tonight.

In short, I fail.

[Knitting Mama]

Oh, Dena, you do not fail. You have a plate so full the food's falling off the sides! Please don't feel like making your life easier is a failure. You're doing the best you can based on your situation. I imagine when you're on your Zoloft again, you will see things from a clearer perspective, but you are not a failure!

[smeisnotapirate]

Rhi.

Car naps rock - until they only start napping in big chunks. Then they are evil. My child will give up a 2 hour nap in exchange for a 15 minute car nap and be a total basketcase for the rest of the day.

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Originally Posted by Dena

In short, I fail.

No, YOU didn't fail, the NIGHT was a fail. Big difference there. Girlfriend, you have twins and two wee ones, cut yourself a break! Seriously. Disposable diapers and some formula is not going to kill a baby. I've had to use both as well, and I really wish someone had said "There is no perfect way to parent."

(((hugs)))

[smeisnotapirate]

Dena!

You are NOT failing. Better that the girls get a bottle of formula than you totally lose your rocker and become incapable of dealing with them at all. They need a healthy and sane momma. Glad you're getting some medical help, and I hope you can get some physical help too. Remember that you're dealing with a LOT right now, and be easy on yourself.