September 07 Mommas-- Happy New Year, It's Jan.! - Page 3

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by mrsb422

Jazzybaby9 – Hmmm…resolutions. I’ve never been too big on that, but first and foremost I am going to forbid myself to wear anymore maternity clothing out of the house unless it double-duties as nursing attire. Also, I’m going to make a concerted effort to stop being so angry. 2007 handed me so many challenges and I feel like I’m still carrying them around. : I’d like to lose 10 more pounds along with every other woman in the world too , but I’m not going to make it a resolution. If it happens, it happens! Happy New Year, mama! :

KatieJJ334 – Going to the doctor today and just praying that I picked a good one out of my insurance book. : I prefer to go off of other people’s referrals, but the only good one I got wasn’t a participating provider. Damn insurance companies! I have excruciating ear pain though and am hearing everything doubled on my left side so I’m a little scared…hopeful they can give me something that I can take and continue to bf. I would hate to pump and dump knowing that both my son and Gavin would be losing out! Wish me luck!

Sunshine’s Mama – I am so sorry about your mother. I will pray for her :. What you are going through sounds so scary. I’m new to the group, so I don’t know much background, but will offer a shoulder if you need it.

Lactivist – It was really hard to feel happy on new year’s eve knowing I was supposed to spend it taking care of Jessica and her boys. We had talked about the evening a couple weeks ago and I told her I was her “date” for the evening. We were both looking forward to it I think and it never ever crossed my mind that she wouldn’t get to see 2008. I am hoping for more happiness in this year and that her family can make a new start in the new year in peace and without pain in their lives. Thank you for thinking of all of us

Forestrymom – We have an exersaucer and at first DS didn’t like it at all probably because it was up in his bedroom. I moved it into our livingroom and now he loves it, even when we’re in the same room. He really likes to stand and be able to be self-sufficient at times. He tries to jump in it like his jumperoo, but gets frustrated because it isn’t really made for jumping. He loves to jump…all day and all night…on your lap, on the floor, in the jumper, in the tub (so dangerous)…it is ridiculous. In any event, I think the exersaucer is great now because, like you said, if you need to quickly do a chore, you know your babe is safe and entertained for a few minutes. They need to know how to entertain themselves here and there too after all!

Plaid Leopard – I am going to Jack’s this weekend to drop off milk and pick up Jessica’s clothes . I will definitely check to see if he got your package. I’m sure he did, but probably doesn’t know where or how to respond. I’ll get back to you as soon as I know and if I talk to him before then I’ll ask.

Nikkihoi – DH is right, you need to be more positive. How much of BFing success is attitude and belief in yourself that you can do it? You CAN do it, you probably just need to relax. Please excuse me if I’m out of line, I don’t mean to be. I just know how frustrating it can be when you’re pumping and nothing comes out or very little does. Maybe you’re dehydrated? I know Jess recommended, and I really like, the Mother’s Milk tea by Traditional Medicinals. We both would go through tons of it and I think it works well, but maybe that’s just me. Either way I hope things get better soon. Have a little faith and if you need to supplement, it is not the worst thing in the world. At least your LO is getting some BM and that is the best gift you can give!

Ok, well that’s probably it until tomorrow (like I didn’t just write a novel). Having a blue day…just feeling sad about a lot . I hate going to the doctor and so few people understand just how important BFing is to me and that it is a priority above and beyond. Hopefully I don’t meet too much opposition with this new doc. I’ll all let you know what’s up tomorrow and I hope you all have great Wednesdays! I’m back to work which really is crummy.

Love ya mama’s!

I hope the doc helps you out and you're feeling better quickly

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by forestrymom

We are gonna have to switch our diapering system. I used primarly pockets with dd, but ds is leaking out of all of those...I bought a wool cover and have been using prefolds successfully--so I am gonna sell of my pocket stash to afford wool. Its fun getting new fluff! I would love some longies if anyone knows of mamas who are knitting those.

We're doing prefolds and wool covers as well, though I just bought some fitteds that should be here today . You can check hyenacart for some custom longies, I think that's what I'll purchasing later on this month. I have a lana and a disana cover, and I actually prefer the disana (it was cheaper too). I've been eyeing some alpaca shorties too

[~Katie~]

sunshine's mama - Sending prayers for your mom's recovery. My grandmother just had something similar to a stroke caused by an electrolyte imbalance from her medication, it is scary and I'm sorry you're going through this

[EricaE]

Sunshine's Mama: Thinking positive thoughts for your mom

[EricaE]

Though I find myself highly amused that she tries to get her thumb and my nipple in her mouth at the same time. Silly girl, trying to have her cake and eat it too.

That is so cute!!

[EricaE]

Sean really doesn't nap during the day. We're lucky if we get 4 naps (1/2 hour long each) out of him a day. Normally he falls asleep by nursing or DH holding him.

Today I knew he was tired, even though he wasn't fussy or anything. He was rubbing his eyes, so I swaddled him and laid him down (with a pacifier) in the cosleeper. 30 seconds later he was asleep, and he didn't fuss at all.

I figured it was a fluke, but I tried again a few hours later and it worked! Within 60 seconds of me putting him (swaddled and with his bink) in the cosleeper he was asleep. My other 2 kids didn't fall asleep on their own until age 2, so this is huge for us!

[mommajb]

I found the thread! This means I did do something today though I am not sure how productive it is. Actually, I am sure it will hinder my productivity in the future.

Off to read and catch up.

[nikkihoi]

Originally Posted by mrsb422

Nikkihoi – DH is right, you need to be more positive. How much of BFing success is attitude and belief in yourself that you can do it? You CAN do it, you probably just need to relax. Please excuse me if I’m out of line, I don’t mean to be. I just know how frustrating it can be when you’re pumping and nothing comes out or very little does. Maybe you’re dehydrated? I know Jess recommended, and I really like, the Mother’s Milk tea by Traditional Medicinals. We both would go through tons of it and I think it works well, but maybe that’s just me. Either way I hope things get better soon. Have a little faith and if you need to supplement, it is not the worst thing in the world. At least your LO is getting some BM and that is the best gift you can give!

Thanks mrsb422! and no, you're not out of line. I just ride the roller coaster of emotions. When I first went the LC over 3 months ago, I thought we might only be doing this routine for a month tops! But here we are and it's so much better than it was. I just loose prespective and then I think
about Mighty Mama and her family and what a drop in the bucket my worries are. It's so wonderful you and others are able to express enough milk for Gavin!
Anyway, I do like Mother's Milk Tea, although I haven't been drinking much of it. I've been taking the More Milk Plus herbs.
Thanks again for the reply.

[jbirdbrain]

Hi everyone!

Sunshinemama- thinking of you and your mom!

Otto is 3 months old and I have just returned to work. I have never done anything so hard. We've gone round and round about me being able to stay home and it just won't work for us right now. I have a good feeling about his daycare, but I called just now (its his 2nd day) and he was having a hard time taking the bottle and wouldn't sleep for them. I'm completely heartsick over this.

Sorry to be such a downer! I, too, miss the DDC.

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by jbirdbrain

Otto is 3 months old and I have just returned to work. I have never done anything so hard. We've gone round and round about me being able to stay home and it just won't work for us right now. I have a good feeling about his daycare, but I called just now (its his 2nd day) and he was having a hard time taking the bottle and wouldn't sleep for them. I'm completely heartsick over this.

I went back to work right after Thanksgiving and I feel your pain. Benjamin (and I) both struggled during his first week at daycare. Same kind of issues, not wanting the bottle, not napping, lots of crying and fussing. However, I just want to tell you that it DOES get better. Benjamin has settled in and takes a bottle like a champ and takes good naps for them IN A CRIB (won't nap in a crib for me at home...little bugger). He hardly ever crys when I leave him in the morning and is almost always happy and smiling when I pick him up at the end of the day.

One other thing...Benjamin initially had problems taking the bottle and I *thought* it was a bottle problem. However, it turns out it was a milk problem. I had never used my frozen milk before and it turns out he didn't like the taste. Apparently I have high lipase and freezing my milk made it taste funky. Once I fixed that problem the bottle issues went away.

[EricaE]

Otto is 3 months old and I have just returned to work. I have never done anything so hard. We've gone round and round about me being able to stay home and it just won't work for us right now. I have a good feeling about his daycare, but I called just now (its his 2nd day) and he was having a hard time taking the bottle and wouldn't sleep for them. I'm completely heartsick over this.

I also returned to work part time when Sean was 3 months old. I bawled my eyes out the first day I dropped him off It was horrible. But I can say that it has gotten a bit easier, even though I'd still give my right arm to be able to stay home with him all the time.

[ATD_Mom]

Crikey, y'all are fast! I, too, couldn't figure out why no one was posting on the other thread ... Duh me.

Alasdair just started spitting up, at 3.5 months. Is anyone else experiencing this? We can't figure out what different has happened/he is doing to cause it. He only spat up a tiny amount, about once a week, until now. Now he spits up (vomits?) about every other burping session. White chunky stuff just kind of falls out of his mouth after a good burp.

[Plaid Leopard]

jbirdbrain - I'm sorry you have to go back to work now but I'm glad you have found a good daycare for Otto. I checked out your blog. He is such a cutie!

EricaE and dctexan - I'm sorry you are having to work too.

ATDmom - Yann has been doing that lovely vomit thing too. The only thing that has changed is that he is teething and very, very drooly. I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I often don't realize he has spit up like that until one of my other kids tells me I have some white stuff all down my back (or I step in a puddle of curds. ick) I love your blog too by the way. Great pictures!

Yann tries to suck his thumb and BF at the same time too. Funny. He has really been talking the past couple of days too. We had a deep conversation while he was sitting on the potty yesterday, complete with furrowed brow and head nodding and the occasional raspberry. The talk ended with a giant poop explosion.
Tonight he turned to dd, smiled, and said coocoo. He hadn't said that for a while. Actually he said "eh ah coocookpfffffff", which I'm sure was "Elsa coocoo" he's so smart heehee.

We are still waiting to hear if DH got the job in Ireland that he interviewed for. It is very frustrating not knowing what is happening or where we will be moving at the end of next month. They said they would let him know ths month but didn't say what part of the month.

[jbirdbrain]

Plaid Leopard, EricaE, dctexan- Thanks for the words of encouragement, you guys! Hopefully Otto and I will both adjust to the working/daycare thing soon. My strategy right now is to just do some serious reconnecting when we are home- lots of nursing, babywearing, co-sleeping. We'll see how it goes. I think I cried about 5 times today. My poor co-workers must think I'm bonkers.

I'm providing fresh (never frozen) milk for him- can the lipase thing happen with refridgeration too or is it just freezer? He's taken bottles from DH though so I guess that's probably not it...? Hrm.

ATDmom- Otto has also started spitting up more...not as often as your little one seems to be but its definitely a more frequent occurrence...I wonder what the deal is!?

[Brilliantmama]

Originally Posted by ATD_Mom

Alasdair just started spitting up, at 3.5 months. Is anyone else experiencing this? We can't figure out what different has happened/he is doing to cause it. He only spat up a tiny amount, about once a week, until now. Now he spits up (vomits?) about every other burping session. White chunky stuff just kind of falls out of his mouth after a good burp.

You lucky beast.

Georgie has been barfy since day 1. She always has the "curds and whey" spit up with her burps. When she was tiny, she was prone to nurse happily until she would overflow, spewing milk out with such force (even out her nose a couple of times.) She is slowing down now, and I know when to cut her off so she now just spews a small amount all of the time.

God help me if she was formula-fed, she'd be such a mess I'm sure. I was EBF and excessively barfy too.

[~Katie~]

Spitting up - If we let Liam burp on his own he doesn't spit up, but if we give him assistance he will spit up. I remember my brother telling me the same thing about his daughter. I just sit him up or put him up against my shoulder without patting him and he gets some pretty good ones up that way.

jbirdbrain - I'm sorry you're back at work, I hope you both can get used to the adjustment soon.

Plaid Leopard - I hear you on not knowing where you'll be moving to. We know we're going to Arizona in May, but won't have any clue where we're going after September until we get to Arizona. It also stinks because we have to rent an apartment without seeing it, luckily I've been able to find some good places online with pictures and read some tenant reviews.

[forestrymom]

Originally Posted by jbirdbrain

I'm providing fresh (never frzen) milk for him- can the lipase thing happen with refridgeration too or is it just freezer? He's taken bottles from DH though so I guess that's probably not it...? Hrm.

I *think* its only with frozen milk.

I had such a hard time leaving me dd--and I have yet to leave ds. I have taken him to work with me when I've went in--but I haven't went in much. I just can't bring myself to. I have been depressed and my doctor has excused me from working--but that won't hold out for long. I'm pretty certain that I'm not going back at all. We really can't afford for me to not work, but I have had nothing but problems since they moved me into this new position a year ago. I will NEVER find another job as good as this, not in this town, but I just can't work at this job and take care of my family. We really don't ahve a lot of daycare options either, and our sitter just isn't caring for our spirited toddler like she needs to be cared for. Anyway...I started all this to give hugs to all of you that are/have returned to work....

Waylon is constantly sucking his fist, but he hasn't yet found a finger or his thumb. He sort of claws at him self when he does. I really want him to find one of them, or two of them if that's what he wishes, but how? I woudl so much prefer that to the pacifier, and since he would only take the same paci as my dd, we are stuck not trying to get her to ditch hers. Any suggestions? Did you help your babies find theirs?

[maylea_moon]

Wow, so many posts already I'm just going to jump in too!

Happy New Year! New Years will always be special for me (I found out I was pregnant with Lila on New Years 2007!). Anyway, Lila is 4 months old today and she's my little "mini baby" she just grew out of her 0-3 month clothing, I got way more use out of them than I thought I would! I'm not sure what she weighs but she's finally starting to chunk up a little and get the knee and elbow "dimples" hehe. She's just a little bean.

She's starting to try and sit up, she can stay up for maybe 3-4 seconds before she starts to topple over, lol. Very cute.

[maylea_moon]

Originally Posted by KatieJJ334

Spitting up - If we let Liam burp on his own he doesn't spit up, but if we give him assistance he will spit up. I remember my brother telling me the same thing about his daughter. I just sit him up or put him up against my shoulder without patting him and he gets some pretty good ones up that way.

Yup! Lila is the exact same way, if we try and burp her she spits up everywhere, when she does it on her own, she hardly spits up at all.

[dctexan]

Originally Posted by jbirdbrain

I'm providing fresh (never frozen) milk for him- can the lipase thing happen with refridgeration too or is it just freezer? He's taken bottles from DH though so I guess that's probably not it...? Hrm.

It can happen with fresh milk too. DS took bottles from DH no problem, but it was always milk that was no more than 24 hours old. Basically the lipase thing means that you have high levels of lipase (which I believe metabolizes fat). The more lipase you have, the faster your milk will become unpalatable (it is important to note that your milk isn't "bad" - although it may taste and smell bad to you - it is just that some babies won't drink high lipase milk that isn't super fresh). Chilling the milk speeds up the process. Soooo, if your milk has been refrigerated for a couple of days (never frozen) it is still possible that it tastes "off" to your DC. I find that my milk becomes unacceptable to DS after 48 hours in the fridge. It is pretty easy to tell if you have the lipase problem. Pump some fresh milk and compare the taste & smell to your stored milk. Lipase creates a distinct soapy/metallic taste. If it is the lipase thing, you can fix it by scalding. If it is just a bottle problem, try not to worry too much, the babe will work it out (either by taking the bottle or by drinking more from mama). Just remember that some babies (or so I've been told) go 8/9 hours at night without eating and are just fine. Your babe can make it through a daycare day without eating as long as there is plenty of milk at home.