**~~June 12th-June 30th chat**~~ - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[cristeen]

For night time grunting - are you burping after those night feedings? Even if you just pull babe up over your hip and pat their back, burping can make a big diff.

For "congestion", try a humidifier at night. Cold mist, get one that doesnt need filters and use distilled water (it'll last longer). Dry air causes the mucousal membranes in their tiny noses to dry out and sound congested, although true congestion would be accompanied by a runny nose.

[MeredithA]

Excellent advice Onemore! I need to be easier on myself.

Also I found this shirt: http://www.cafepress.com/mf/12130667/just-had-a-baby_tshirt

[casmer]

Originally Posted by cristeen 

For night time grunting - are you burping after those night feedings? Even if you just pull babe up over your hip and pat their back, burping can make a big diff.
For "congestion", try a humidifier at night. Cold mist, get one that doesnt need filters and use distilled water (it'll last longer). Dry air causes the mucousal membranes in their tiny noses to dry out and sound congested, although true congestion would be accompanied by a runny nose.

I think I need to be more diligent about burping.  I do pat her on the back, but it doesn't seem to do much. There have been times where I feed her, then I'll put her down to quickly swaddle her and when I pick her back up she'll burp.  I try to keep her vertical for as long as possible after feeds...although I don't try very hard at 2AM. 

Speaking of the wee hours...this morning and yesterday morning at 3AM she would not go back to sleep in the crib.  Yesterday I had to place her on my chest to sleep and DH did it this morning.  I LOVE snuggling with her, but it does scare me so I try not to do it.  I guess I'm afraid she'll fall or something.  I'm very paranoid.  Anyhow, she's been super sleepy today and I'm afraid tonight is going to be a beast.  I shouldn't be anxious, but it's hard not too...she really fights sleeping quite a bit.

[rozziemama]

Casmer I am the same - hard to burp him when it's 3:30 in the morning and he has fallen asleep nursing and all I want to do is go to sleep!
Man, I know this is my second child so technically I knew what to expect - but I've got to say - these night feedings are kicking my a**...!
I honestly think I blocked out my memories from the first three months with DS - at least the hardest parts, like what it feels like to be so sleep deprived. I guess that's actually the hardest part for me - disrupted sleep. If I could at least know when he would wake up I'd feel so much better.
It's the unknown-- not knowing when I'll be woken up - that creates some real anxiety for me and makes me afraid to stay awake past 9:15!
Of course, going to bed so early makes it really hard for DH and I to have any kind of relationship. - not just DTD but actually taking the time to talk to each other at the end of the day... When we've not seen each other at all without kiddos around.
Last night I literally had to ask him at 4 am if he needed to take the car today. Ugh. I know it gets easier - that is the wisdom having done this before has imparted / I know this sleepless phase ends (when, who knows, but it does end) and that nights become a heck of a lot less anxiety provoking and scary once they aren't eating as often.

We put Kai in his crib this week. This means he is out of our room. He was just too loud. Of course, I still hear the grunting - our house isn't very big! His room is right there. But I probably am sleeping a bit better because he's no longer right next to me. However, night feedings have become harder now that I have to leave the bed and my room. I think that may explain my negative attitude. In the long run though I am thrilled to start him sleeping in his crib already.

Originally Posted by casmer 


I think I need to be more diligent about burping.  I do pat her on the back, but it doesn't seem to do much. There have been times where I feed her, then I'll put her down to quickly swaddle her and when I pick her back up she'll burp.  I try to keep her vertical for as long as possible after feeds...although I don't try very hard at 2AM. 

Speaking of the wee hours...this morning and yesterday morning at 3AM she would not go back to sleep in the crib.  Yesterday I had to place her on my chest to sleep and DH did it this morning.  I LOVE snuggling with her, but it does scare me so I try not to do it.  I guess I'm afraid she'll fall or something.  I'm very paranoid.  Anyhow, she's been super sleepy today and I'm afraid tonight is going to be a beast.  I shouldn't be anxious, but it's hard not too...she really fights sleeping quite a bit.

[lightheartedmom]

I have a grunter too...almost always because she needs to burp. When I'm in a sleep-deprived fog from cluster feeding half the night, I can't say I'm very careful about burping her but...oh well. Honestly, I sleep with earplugs and so does dh. She still wakes us up, but less often.

Anyone else have a baby with a loud tummy/digestive system? DD has been pretty colic-y since she was 10 days old. Lots of burping, tons of fussiness after feedings, acting like pooping is painful, passing gas, etc. Honestly as adorable as she is, her first few weeks she hasn't been all that happy poor thing. I've tried cutting stuff out of my diet (no cheese, no coffee -sucks because that was keeping my migraines at bay- no chocolate, no tomatoes, no quinoa, no green veggies), but it doesn't seem like that makes much of a difference. I also have oversupply issues and have to pump before feedings to keep her poops fro
Turning frothy green. She's still clicking when she's nursing, despite clearing our latch with an ibclc (and I'm pretty sure at this point she doesn't have tongue tie). My husband calls her "lazy latch" lol. I think this is why she gets hiccups constantly and has like 3-4 burps per feeding.
Anyway...when she's fussy, we can hear loud gurgling and bubbling in her stomach. A lot. Anyone else have a baby who does this? Should I be worried?

[Astraia]

LHM, fast letdown can also cause gassiness, fussiness, burping, etc. If she's clicking I'd lean towards the letdown- all three of mine click and it's definitely not latch related, they do it when the flow is fast and heavy so they can let excess milk dribble out. They'd often finish and when I pick them up the lower side of their faces were all wet with milk they let go because they couldn't handle it all. Are you pumping  purposely to save the milk? If not, and you're pumping before feedings, you're telling your body to keep making that same amount of milk that your baby can't handle - block feedings will suck for the first few days while you deal with engorgement, but is well worth it in the long run. I always have fast let down and I had oversupply with my first- nothing quite like a choking, angry baby every time you nurse who then screams for ages after because it's all wrong :/

Even if you do nothing differently, she WILL grow out of it. At some point the amount of milk you are currently producing will be sufficient, and she'll be more able to cope with the fast let down as she gets older and you'll have one of those miracle fast-feeders who chugs it down and then disappears to play when she's 10 months old or so.

Everett SCREAMS for about 5 minutes when he needs to poop. Nothing you do will help him, then he'll let go a big poop and everything will be great again. That's a first for me. 

Grunting- this baby doesn't ever seem to need to burp. It's a little odd. I try to burp him after all our daytime feeding but he gets cranky when I move him to a burping position and never actually burps while I try. I don't bother at night any more. When he grunts it's because he needs to fart so he grunts and stretches and pedals his legs around and farts and farts and farts. So much gas, but he's not unhappy about it.

Casmer- I hear you on the fighting sleep. It takes a lot of very real effort to get Everett to nap. Yesterday he was wide awake except for one 20 minute nap in the wrap when we went to the park and then a 1 hour nap when we got home from the park and that was it. What the heck? The only way I can get him to nap is to swaddle him and rock/bounce/walk (all at once!) until he falls asleep, solidly asleep with his head lolling and his mouth wide open. Often he can look like he's sleeping but keep opening his eyes just a crack and if I try to put him down like that he'll be wide awake again in moments. He can be in that half-awake state for an hour or more and then suddenly POP- wide awake, done "napping" (nevermind that I've been holding and walking a 12 lb baby for the last hour, and now I need to hold him so he can bounce around and drape over my shoulder looking at things. Argh!) Recently I've been laying down with him and letting him nurse to sleep and then sneaking away. It is increasingly turning into the ONLY way to get him down, but it's going to be impossible to do when my husband goes back to work in a few weeks and I've got the other two kids to worry about.

[Kamiro]

Grace I just want to say I was there where you were with 3 kids under 3 (mine were 3 under 2 1/2) and it was so challenging I don't think most people can even understand unless they have been there. I don't remember about 5 years of life - seriously.  I went to work so I could have a break- LOL

I just want to say as a mom who has BTDT that it does get better, I hope you can get a nice long break between pregnancies (because let me tell you, though 5 years was a little long between babies it was a wonderful break and its SO much easier with older children to help. seriously) and hang in there - Everett sounds like my first.

You are doing wonderful and you all will survive this. LOL

<3

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by lightheartedmom 

I have a grunter too...almost always because she needs to burp. When I'm in a sleep-deprived fog from cluster feeding half the night, I can't say I'm very careful about burping her but...oh well. Honestly, I sleep with earplugs and so does dh. She still wakes us up, but less often.
Anyone else have a baby with a loud tummy/digestive system? DD has been pretty colic-y since she was 10 days old. Lots of burping, tons of fussiness after feedings, acting like pooping is painful, passing gas, etc. Honestly as adorable as she is, her first few weeks she hasn't been all that happy poor thing. I've tried cutting stuff out of my diet (no cheese, no coffee -sucks because that was keeping my migraines at bay- no chocolate, no tomatoes, no quinoa, no green veggies), but it doesn't seem like that makes much of a difference. I also have oversupply issues and have to pump before feedings to keep her poops fro
Turning frothy green. She's still clicking when she's nursing, despite clearing our latch with an ibclc (and I'm pretty sure at this point she doesn't have tongue tie). My husband calls her "lazy latch" lol. I think this is why she gets hiccups constantly and has like 3-4 burps per feeding.
Anyway...when she's fussy, we can hear loud gurgling and bubbling in her stomach. A lot. Anyone else have a baby who does this? Should I be worried?

When she was brand new, I could hear Layla's tummy gurgling.  At first I thought it was mine.  lol  I haven't noticed it in a while though.

I also have a forceful let down, and although she still sputters every once in a while she's doing a lot better.  I never bothered to do the block feeding thing.  I used to pull her off when I felt letdown coming.  When it stopped spraying I put her back on.  She seems to be able to keep up now though.  Sometimes I cheer her on.  "Chug! Chug! Chug!"  ;)

[cristeen]

DS was really loud everything when he was little.  He just had no fat on him to insulate sound, so everything from his tummy gurgling to his back cracking was LOUD.  It was a bit freaky.  Once he started putting on a little muscle, it resolved itself.  That wasn't until about 9 mos though.

LHM - if you're pumping and freezing (please don't tell me you're pumping and dumping!), I'm happy to take any excess you may have. 

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by Onemoreontheway 

Grace I just want to say I was there where you were with 3 kids under 3 (mine were 3 under 2 1/2) and it was so challenging I don't think most people can even understand unless they have been there. I don't remember about 5 years of life - seriously.  I went to work so I could have a break- LOL

I just want to say as a mom who has BTDT that it does get better, I hope you can get a nice long break between pregnancies (because let me tell you, though 5 years was a little long between babies it was a wonderful break and its SO much easier with older children to help. seriously) and hang in there - Everett sounds like my first.

You are doing wonderful and you all will survive this. LOL

<3

Thank you so much for the encouragement. So far things have been going great because my husband is home almost all the time- today he did laundry and tidied the kitchen and living room and swept all the floors and is cleaning the basement right now. I went to a friend's house with the kids and am now sitting on the computer while all three kids nap. But I also know that this is totally impossible when I'm on my own. I've been on my own a few days here and there and it's almost always the kid of day that leaves me wishing I could drain a bottle of wine and a bucket of icecream- so hard! 

I know between Nigella and Orrin (she was 14 months old when he was born) I seriously do not remember the first 5 months of his life. I don't remember if he crawled or the sounds he made or when he first laughed or ANYTHING about his life until he's about 6 months old. I feel terrible about it, but I was in such an emotional basketcase/ extreme frustration/ sleepless sort of fog it was impossible. I'm worried about hitting that stage again as soon as my husband goes back to work. Everett is just starting to do "stuff" (other than eat, sleep, cry, and poop) and my DH goes back to work in 2 weeks and I'm really worried i'm going to lose it.

Some part of me is (dementedly) thinking we should have our 4th baby in 16 months or so- just get that baby phase over with entirely - but I think it would be way too hard. Of course, we haven't planned a prengnacy yet (they just keep HAPPENING! I always wonder, what makes that happen? ) so we'll see what happens this time.

[casmer]

Originally Posted by rozziemama 

Casmer I am the same - hard to burp him when it's 3:30 in the morning and he has fallen asleep nursing and all I want to do is go to sleep!
Man, I know this is my second child so technically I knew what to expect - but I've got to say - these night feedings are kicking my a**...!
I honestly think I blocked out my memories from the first three months with DS - at least the hardest parts, like what it feels like to be so sleep deprived. I guess that's actually the hardest part for me - disrupted sleep. If I could at least know when he would wake up I'd feel so much better.
It's the unknown-- not knowing when I'll be woken up - that creates some real anxiety for me and makes me afraid to stay awake past 9:15!
Of course, going to bed so early makes it really hard for DH and I to have any kind of relationship. - not just DTD but actually taking the time to talk to each other at the end of the day... When we've not seen each other at all without kiddos around.
Last night I literally had to ask him at 4 am if he needed to take the car today. Ugh. I know it gets easier - that is the wisdom having done this before has imparted / I know this sleepless phase ends (when, who knows, but it does end) and that nights become a heck of a lot less anxiety provoking and scary once they aren't eating as often.
We put Kai in his crib this week. This means he is out of our room. He was just too loud. Of course, I still hear the grunting - our house isn't very big! His room is right there. But I probably am sleeping a bit better because he's no longer right next to me. However, night feedings have become harder now that I have to leave the bed and my room. I think that may explain my negative attitude. In the long run though I am thrilled to start him sleeping in his crib already.

 We put DD in her crib too.  I was really wanting to have her in the bassinet as long as possible, but we're both sleeping better so I guess that's a good thing.  We also have a small house, so I hear her wake up before any crying starts.  I do need to get a monitor for during the day.  *finger crossed* she's been sleeping better the past few days. 

Astraia - I totally get what your saying about the cracking his eyes open and waking soon after laying him down - that's exactly what DD does. It's especially irritating at 3AM!

I'm sorry to hear you're having a hard time.  My anxiety has been creeping back up.  I do the best I can to remember to take my supplements and ask DH for help - when he can help at least.  I think this week was the first time I haven't cried about something every day.  I hope things level out for you soon.

On a much grosser note - I am SICK today.  I woke up with some pretty severe abdominal pain - we almost thought it was an appendicitis...but then the diarrhea started.  Luckily DH stayed home with me to help out.  All I've eaten today is a cinnamon roll and I couldn't even eat it at one time.  I don't think it's infectious, but I'm washing my hands, etc.  I guess it's probably IBS related.  I don't have an official IBS diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure that's what I have (lots of anxiety sets it off).  Kombucha was a huge help, but I wasn't drinking it prior to pregnancy so I didn't drink it at all for the whole pregnancy.  I might start with just an ounce or two to at least get some of the positives it has to offer. 

[MeredithA]

Originally Posted by casmer 

 We put DD in her crib too.  I was really wanting to have her in the bassinet as long as possible, but we're both sleeping better so I guess that's a good thing.  We also have a small house, so I hear her wake up before any crying starts.  I do need to get a monitor for during the day.  *finger crossed* she's been sleeping better the past few days. 

Deacon doesn't have a crib yet and is still in the bassinet but we are shopping for a crib. For those of you with cribs - what kind of mattresses do you guys have? I was looking at organic NaturePedic ones but man are they pricey! 

I like having Deacon in the bassinet right next to my bed, but for one he is outgrowing it quickly and also I feel like we might get better sleep once he is in a crib as well. He will only be a few feet away in the office attached to our bedroom even in a crib so he will still be close by...but far enough away that every tiny grunt might not wake me :-) 

[casmer]

This is the one we got:

http://www.amazon.com/Willow-Natural-Coconut-Palm-Mattress/dp/B001N44BXE

[rozziemama]

Ooh yuck, Casmer I hope you arefeelingbetter!
I've been taking probiotics since pregnancy that also help with stomach issues... FYI about grungy babies my pediatrician recommended baby powdered acidophilus once a day on our nipple as a potential solution... Going to try to remember to do it tomorrow.

Originally Posted by casmer 


 We put DD in her crib too.  I was really wanting to have her in the bassinet as long as possible, but we're both sleeping better so I guess that's a good thing.  We also have a small house, so I hear her wake up before any crying starts.  I do need to get a monitor for during the day.  *finger crossed* she's been sleeping better the past few days. 

Astraia - I totally get what your saying about the cracking his eyes open and waking soon after laying him down - that's exactly what DD does. It's especially irritating at 3AM!
I'm sorry to hear you're having a hard time.  My anxiety has been creeping back up.  I do the best I can to remember to take my supplements and ask DH for help - when he can help at least.  I think this week was the first time I haven't cried about something every day.  I hope things level out for you soon.


On a much grosser note - I am SICK today.  I woke up with some pretty severe abdominal pain - we almost thought it was an appendicitis...but then the diarrhea started.  Luckily DH stayed home with me to help out.  All I've eaten today is a cinnamon roll and I couldn't even eat it at one time.  I don't think it's infectious, but I'm washing my hands, etc.  I guess it's probably IBS related.  I don't have an official IBS diagnosis, but I'm pretty sure that's what I have (lots of anxiety sets it off).  Kombucha was a huge help, but I wasn't drinking it prior to pregnancy so I didn't drink it at all for the whole pregnancy.  I might start with just an ounce or two to at least get some of the positives it has to offer. 

[Astraia]

Casmer, my stomach has been pretty whacked the last... erm... 3 months? The last few months of pregnancy everything was really screwed up, and i thought it would improve but it's just worse. IBS type symptoms, gas, abdominal pain and crampy feelings, nausea, bloating, on and on. It's been really difficult and I am so uncomfortable.

I started drinking kombucha too (making my own!) but I'm out now because my scoby started growing grossness. I'm thinking that a more heavy-duty probiotic might help, and if not I'm going to start eliminating more foods- I think wheat will be the next one on the chopping block.

In other news, I've been off dairy for over 3 weeks now (I think?). I was thinking about reintroducing it and seeing if Everett reacted, but had decided that I'd wait until he was 3 months old. And then, not 10 minutes after a long discussion with a friend of mine about how good an idea it is to stay off dairy, we proceeded to eat a lot of pizza... with cheese. Duh. So far, no reaction in Everett at all and it's been almost 12 hours.

[casmer]

I started bleeding again this morning, bright red. Surely this isn't my period.

[rozziemama]

Casmer when was babe born again? I doubt it's your period. Are you filling whole pad(s)?

Originally Posted by casmer 

I started bleeding again this morning, bright red. Surely this isn't my period.

[BubbleMa]

Originally Posted by MeredithA 

Deacon doesn't have a crib yet and is still in the bassinet but we are shopping for a crib. For those of you with cribs - what kind of mattresses do you guys have? I was looking at organic NaturePedic ones but man are they pricey! 

I like having Deacon in the bassinet right next to my bed, but for one he is outgrowing it quickly and also I feel like we might get better sleep once he is in a crib as well. He will only be a few feet away in the office attached to our bedroom even in a crib so he will still be close by...but far enough away that every tiny grunt might not wake me :-) 

NaturePedic makes this cheaper line too:  http://lullabyearth.com/products.php

Originally Posted by rozziemama 

Ooh yuck, Casmer I hope you arefeelingbetter!
I've been taking probiotics since pregnancy that also help with stomach issues... FYI about grungy babies my pediatrician recommended baby powdered acidophilus once a day on our nipple as a potential solution... Going to try to remember to do it tomorrow.

Did you mean grunty?  ;)  Although, Layla seems to be pretty grungy too.  I don't know how a tiny baby can get so dirty!  She constantly has lint (or something) between her fingers and toes and in the palms of her hands.  And she gets dirt (or something) under her fingernails.    Her neck rolls get pretty funky too.  I promise I bathe her regularly!  lol  I don't remember having this issue with DD1.

Originally Posted by casmer 

I started bleeding again this morning, bright red. Surely this isn't my period.

Did you do anything strenuous?  I noticed that when I started bleeding again it was when I had carried Layla in the carseat (that thing is so stinkin' heavy!).  Usually SO carries her, but there were a few times I went out without him and carried her into a store myself.  Soon after I was bleeding again.  It took me a while to notice the pattern.  And luckily now at almost 7 weeks PP it's stopped completely.

[casmer]

I'm almost five weeks PP. Maybe all of the intestinal problems I had yesterday triggered it? it was much brighter than the other PP bleeding so I kind of panicked I guess.

Bubblema - DD also gets the lint in her hands and between the fingers. I noticed some neck roll gunk as well. Not sure what she's been up to, to get so funky.

[maryamrose]

I'm 5 weeks PP and I got bright red bleeding exactly 24 hours after going for a very slow but longer-than-usual walk. I also did a load of laundry that day. I made myself take it super easy after that (no walks, not much housework, as little bending as I could get away with) and it's been gone for about three days now. I'm going to keep it up for another day or two and then try another walk, and hopefully the bleeding will stop.

my uterus also felt kind of funny and my incision got a bit inflamed/sore, so I definitely think I'd been overdoing it.