The Breast Feeding Support Thread

jlm29

hollymartins wrote: »

The last two days have been a lot better, while he's still feeding every 1 to 2 hours during the day he will now tolerate being left on his play mat for a few minutes without crying or needing to be held or nursed, and he's sleeping better. That makes the frequent feeding easier. I have managed to express milk and that seems to going okay, I'm using a manual pump and I'm in two minds if I should buy an electric pump. Do any of you ladies use a pump and if so do you have any recommendations or should I just stay with the manual? I can express about 4-6 oz at the moment, would the electric pump be worthwhile?

I have a medela swing, and I find it good. With my first, I also tried an avent manual and got not one drop. It's just different strokes for different folks- if you're getting 4-6oz, that's a fine amount- be careful you don't overdo it, because you don't want to give your supply a huge boost.
If you're happy enough to continue with the manual, then do- electric might be a bit less work (but I do so hate the milking machine noise!). Some tesco stores seem to have been selling off pumps lately, might be worth checking out your local. I saw someone on another site post the other day that there local tesco was selling a medela mini electric for really small money.
There is a lot of discussion also re open vs closed system pumps- closed is probably more preferable (medela are open). Open pumps shouldn't be passed on to another person

tinkerbell

BusyIzzy wrote: »

I have introduced a bottle of formula at bedtime.She's taking it fine-gulping it down in fact-so if I'm stuck at least I know she'll take one. We do use a soother but she's very hit and miss with it.It can be an awful nuisance because she spits it out and you have to keep reinserting. I don't realy like using it unless I'm trying to get her to sleep. As for slings, we have an ergobaby which she tolerates...sometimes....for sleeping in.At nine days, she was happy enough in the sling, but at five weeks-and a VERY alert five weeks-the sling restricts her view of the world :-) Her sibling was the same. They don't make it easy.
Hollymartins I do know someone who had a hungry baby!Six weeks is still very early to tell,but this baby fed very often all the way to six months, every 90mins to two hours.Needless to say, nighttimes were a disaster!

We are going ok here still, but my supply hasnt really settled.She misses feeds due to being very awake, so when she sleeps it can be for very long periods but not always.I often end up leaking.Then at other times I wonder is there enough in there for her, as she feeds frequently.Wind is also our no.1 enemy right now.

I can see it probably does get easier but I am leaning very much to combination feeding right now, with bottles at nighttime and breast during the day.

I'd really advise looking up paced bottle feeding as otherwise your baby may start refusing the breast altogether. Also, breastmilk at night is so good for them and is full of sleepy hormones to help both you and baby sleep better so it wouldn't be advised to introduce formula at night.

Can I ask you about what you mean about missing feeds? Breastfed babies are fed on demand so if baby is sleeping, let them sleep. When awake, give boob whenever baby is looking for it. You don't need to worry about missing feeds if you're feeding on demand. Trust your body - your body grew this baby in you, it can produce enough milk for your baby too. You know that your baby is getting enough by the number of nappy output per 24 hours (look up the kellymom website for info).

Also, soothers aren't advised either because it can hinder milk supply as you can miss cues that baby wants to breastfeed.

All babies are "hungry", just like all adults are "hungry". Breastfed babies feed little and often, some take a longer time to feed, others are very quick feeders - nothing to do with one being more hungry than another, it's just how the baby prefers to feed.

It is also totally normal for babies to wake multiple times at night! That's how they are designed. That's not meant to be patronising by the way - just many people (including myself) incorrectly think that babies should be sleeping 12 hours straight at night from 6 weeks. Once I realised that wasn't actually normal, I became more accepting of the nighttime wakings because it's normal healthy baby behaviour. It's actually a defence against SIDS - so wakings at night are a good, healthy thing, not a thing to prevent.

tinkerbell

hollymartins wrote: »

So last week my baby was constantly feeding but as he was 6 weeks I thought this was the growth spurt that everyone mentions. I thought his feeding had stabilised by the end of the week but over the last few days he's back to being constantly hungry and crying every time I try to put him down. Is this still the growth spurt or is he just going to be like this for another few weeks? I expressed milk yesterday and my husband was able to feed him but today I haven't had any time to do it. It's disappointing as I thought I'd be able to express and then have some respite but I can't see that happening.

So many people from my friends to my doctor and PHN have said it gets easier once he hits the 6 weeks mark so for him to still be as hungry as ever is pretty disheartening especially when I read for some people it didn't get easier until their baby was a few months old.

The early weeks are tough going. It really is hard but it does get easier. Why are you expressing? It's just that it wouldn't be advised to express that early (unless under medical advice) as your milk supply is still being established. Expressing also is hassle because you have to pump, clean bottles, etc. so you may get some respite in that you don't need to feed at a certain time, but you use up time in expressing and cleaning bottles.

Would you consider a sling? Your baby is still so new to this world, they just want to be close to you as you are their security and comfort.

Have you checked out the wonder weeks app? There's lots of things going on for a baby of that age - growth spurts, developmental leaps, etc. All of that equals baby wanting boob all the time.

jlm29

I went for a meal tonight with friends, and left my mam minding my boys. Baby 5mo, usually takes a bottle no problem- nuk bottle, latex teat.
I handed my mam a brand new bottle, and a separate latex teat, and asked her to wash the bottle as its new.

I fed him at 6.45, left a short while later.
9.25 I text "how are things". "Not good, won't take bottle, come home, don't delay".
I get home and he's howling. I fed him, he went straight to sleep. And there's the bottle sitting there- silicone teat in situ, and the latex one beside the sink. I obviously wasn't specific enough. Throwing 4 oz of milk down the drain is a bit upsetting!
It'll also be a while before my mam offers to babysit again!

Lucuma

Argh how annoying Jim29! Your night out interrupted for no reason when you had everything in place for it to be a success!

I'm breastfeeding a newborn she's 11 days old now. It's my second baby. I'm stuck in this cycle day and night whereby I feed til baby is finished and delatches themselves, then I feel I should burp her and in burping her she wakes up and wants the boob again. Hard to know what to do as I don't like to leave her sleeping with wind as she grunts and groans in her sleep with it, particulary at night and it can be hard to sleep through the noise.

Lucuma

hollymartins wrote: »

The last two days have been a lot better, while he's still feeding every 1 to 2 hours during the day he will now tolerate being left on his play mat for a few minutes without crying or needing to be held or nursed,

I bought this and it's a sanity saver. It swings the child, plays a choice of noises (birds chirping, white noise, music etc) and has a mirror and a mobile hanging over them. It's just great to have somewhere you can put them down after a feed apart from lying down in their crib/bed/basket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3iwK6tl8M8

hollymartins

tinkerbell wrote: »

The early weeks are tough going. It really is hard but it does get easier. Why are you expressing? It's just that it wouldn't be advised to express that early (unless under medical advice) as your milk supply is still being established. Expressing also is hassle because you have to pump, clean bottles, etc. so you may get some respite in that you don't need to feed at a certain time, but you use up time in expressing and cleaning bottles.

Would you consider a sling? Your baby is still so new to this world, they just want to be close to you as you are their security and comfort.

Have you checked out the wonder weeks app? There's lots of things going on for a baby of that age - growth spurts, developmental leaps, etc. All of that equals baby wanting boob all the time.

No I haven't that app but I'll check it out. I have tried the sling but I have joint problems and it was very uncomfortable for me.

I thought I could begin to express after 6 weeks? That's what the PHN and my GP told me. The reason is that I have to be away from him for one evening at the end of May and I want him to get used to being fed with a bottle when his grandparents babysit for the evening. So my plan was to express just enough for a feed each evening until then so that my husband or I could bottle feed him so he is comfortable with it. I will be away from him for 7-8 hours. But you think it's too early to try that? I bought Nuk bottles as they were recommended to me so he wouldn't refuse the breast during feeds

hollymartins

Lucuma wrote: »

I bought this and it's a sanity saver. It swings the child, plays a choice of noises (birds chirping, white noise, music etc) and has a mirror and a mobile hanging over them. It's just great to have somewhere you can put them down after a feed apart from lying down in their crib/bed/basket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3iwK6tl8M8

Wow that looks amazing, we have a bouncer but nothing like that

RentDayBlues

hollymartins wrote: »

I thought I could begin to express after 6 weeks? That's what the PHN and my GP told me. The reason is that I have to be away from him for one evening at the end of May and I want him to get used to being fed with a bottle when his grandparents babysit for the evening. So my plan was to express just enough for a feed each evening until then so that my husband or I could bottle feed him so he is comfortable with it. I will be away from him for 7-8 hours. But you think it's too early to try that? I bought Nuk bottles as they were recommended to me so he wouldn't refuse the breast during feeds

Of course you can, you're following an excellent schedule. Once you are happy that your supply is established and pumping is not affected feeding then go ahead.

I expressed with both from 4 weeks, I had no issues and like you, I had a night out at 8 weeks I couldn't miss. Once I started pumping I continued to do so every morning and kept a stockpile in the freezer.

hollymartins

Yes that's exactly my plan. I was going to express enough in the morning when my breasts are full just so I can freeze a small amount every day and build up a supply for my evening away and also express a little that I can give him some from the bottle during the evening, it never satisfies him as it's maybe 1 or 2 oz, I always have to feed him from the breast once he finishes

RentDayBlues

hollymartins wrote: »

Yes that's exactly my plan. I was going to express enough in the morning when my breasts are full just so I can freeze a small amount every day and build up a supply for my evening away and also express a little that I can give him some from the bottle during the evening, it never satisfies him as it's maybe 1 or 2 oz, I always have to feed him from the breast once he finishes

Mine would either guzzle 4ozs or mess and have 2oz, but always liked the breast afterwards for comfort. Neither loved the bottle but as a short term substituent for when I wasn't there it worked well

Couchkitten

hollymartins wrote: »

No I haven't that app but I'll check it out. I have tried the sling but I have joint problems and it was very uncomfortable for me.

I thought I could begin to express after 6 weeks? That's what the PHN and my GP told me. The reason is that I have to be away from him for one evening at the end of May and I want him to get used to being fed with a bottle when his grandparents babysit for the evening. So my plan was to express just enough for a feed each evening until then so that my husband or I could bottle feed him so he is comfortable with it. I will be away from him for 7-8 hours. But you think it's too early to try that? I bought Nuk bottles as they were recommended to me so he wouldn't refuse the breast during feeds

6 weeks is generally given as fine. Just a word of warning about your night out. I left babs at 8 weeks for a night out - after about 4 hours I couldn't focus with the searing pain in my bombs and ended up hand expressing in the bathroom! If you can bring a pump do.

Jen44

Of course it's fine to express now! Sounds like your a dab hand getting the 4 oz that's great! I used to express in the morning too to build up my freezer supply and after a few weeks of that I started expressing in the evening too as my husband used to give a feed at 22:00 so I would express so my supply wouldn't be affected by a dropped feed! The freezer stash was great when I had to go back to work!

LegacyUser

Lucuma wrote: »

Argh how annoying Jim29! Your night out interrupted for no reason when you had everything in place for it to be a success!

I'm breastfeeding a newborn she's 11 days old now. It's my second baby. I'm stuck in this cycle day and night whereby I feed til baby is finished and delatches themselves, then I feel I should burp her and in burping her she wakes up and wants the boob again. Hard to know what to do as I don't like to leave her sleeping with wind as she grunts and groans in her sleep with it, particulary at night and it can be hard to sleep through the noise.

Exact same problem here with a six week old. I'm so glad someone else's child grunts and groans in their sleep too, our older one never did that! We don't feed to sleep in this house, doesn't work!! I've stopped trying, looking on it as a way to make me get her into a good sleeping routine at a later date and break the food/sleep connection early I've just had to find other ways to get her to fall asleep, and yes, I've introduced the soother (terrible parent). She's actually taking to it quite well. Generally wrap her up nice and warm and carry her around and she sleeps, or else she goes in the sling. It's time consuming but sure what are my options, really.

She does have silent reflux I think, so it's making it a bit trickier, she tends to wake easily during the day. But then, feeding to sleep wouldn't help that situation either. However she is sleeping 7 straight hours at night the last 2 nights, and previous to that, had been sleeping up 5 hours in a row for a couple of weeks. So I'll run with that

Lucuma

hollymartins wrote: »

Wow that looks amazing, we have a bouncer but nothing like that

I got it about a fortnight ago in Smyths

tinkerbell

hollymartins wrote: »

No I haven't that app but I'll check it out. I have tried the sling but I have joint problems and it was very uncomfortable for me.

I thought I could begin to express after 6 weeks? That's what the PHN and my GP told me. The reason is that I have to be away from him for one evening at the end of May and I want him to get used to being fed with a bottle when his grandparents babysit for the evening. So my plan was to express just enough for a feed each evening until then so that my husband or I could bottle feed him so he is comfortable with it. I will be away from him for 7-8 hours. But you think it's too early to try that? I bought Nuk bottles as they were recommended to me so he wouldn't refuse the breast during feeds

Oops, my apologies! I misread your post - I thought you said your baby was under 6 weeks, not was actually 6 weeks. So yes it is perfectly fine to express now! Have you looked up paced bottle feeding?

If you're going to be away for 8 hours, you may need to express while you're out as your boobs may become way too uncomfortable.

Lucuma

BusyIzzy wrote: »

Exact same problem here with a six week old. I'm so glad someone else's child grunts and groans in their sleep too, our older one never did that! We don't feed to sleep in this house, doesn't work!! I've stopped trying, looking on it as a way to make me get her into a good sleeping routine at a later date and break the food/sleep connection early I've just had to find other ways to get her to fall asleep, and yes, I've introduced the soother (terrible parent). She's actually taking to it quite well. Generally wrap her up nice and warm and carry her around and she sleeps, or else she goes in the sling. It's time consuming but sure what are my options, really.

She does have silent reflux I think, so it's making it a bit trickier, she tends to wake easily during the day. But then, feeding to sleep wouldn't help that situation either. However she is sleeping 7 straight hours at night the last 2 nights, and previous to that, had been sleeping up 5 hours in a row for a couple of weeks. So I'll run with that

7 hours straight with no soother reinsertion required? That's amazing at that age. I'd say you're so glad of the rest.

My first one grunted and groaned as well but it was only a phase and stopped after a while. I didn't think it started as early as this though, this one has been grunting since she was born.
She doesn't really do it if she's sleeping next to me or on me in the bed so there's been a lot of that going on, as it's the only way I can get some sleep. She grunts & groans really bad if I put her lying on her back in the crib.

She's 2 weeks tomorrow so for now I'm just surviving and will worry about getting her into a good sleeping routine in a few weeks when things stabilise and feeds start developing into some kind of pattern.

jlm29

Lucuma wrote: »

7 hours straight with no soother reinsertion required? That's amazing at that age. I'd say you're so glad of the rest.

My first one grunted and groaned as well but it was only a phase and stopped after a while. I didn't think it started as early as this though, this one has been grunting since she was born.
She doesn't really do it if she's sleeping next to me or on me in the bed so there's been a lot of that going on, as it's the only way I can get some sleep. She grunts & groans really bad if I put her lying on her back in the crib.

She's 2 weeks tomorrow so for now I'm just surviving and will worry about getting her into a good sleeping routine in a few weeks when things stabilise and feeds start developing into some kind of pattern.

Sleeping routine??? Let me know how that works when you figure it out!!! 22 weeks here, and I can count on one hand the number of times my boy has slept in his bed by day. My first was a great sleeper. One of those babies who was put into bed and just went to sleep. This one.... Not so much! I used think people who put their babies in the buggy, car etc to make them go asleep were half cracked.... Now I am that solider!

LegacyUser

Yeah she's five and a half weeks, so she's doing well.Funny. she's the same, grunting is less when with in me.She drops off herself after a feed around nine and sleeps the seven hours.I can't really claim any credit, she's doing it herself.The thing is she's very awake during the day.I was laughing at your post about your first jlm....do such babies exist?Both of mine have been 'alert' and 'awake' babies not a hope of either of them just dropping off during the day.I worked hard to get a nap routine in place for my first and teach her to drop off to sleep herself, but it took hours of sitting beside the cot or coming in every ten mins, making sure I was at home for at least one nap every day and in the car or out with the buggy for the other, so she could sleep .I think this one will be the same but how the hell I'm going to do it with a toddler in the house, I don't know.

My first had silent reflux and slept well at night, and my second looks to be the same so far, but I think the nightime thing is because they sleep so little during the day, even though they do get tired.It's tough somedays.Lucuma, my little one is grunting and groaning most with gas going down I've noticed.I have put her on her side the odd time, and she sleeps better that way.I don't really like doing it and I wedge towels and blankets around her to keep her in place.I'm paranoid about doing it though so havent done it often but it has helped.

Lucuma

jlm29 wrote: »

My first was a great sleeper. One of those babies who was put into bed and just went to sleep.

Same with mine. I live in hope I'll have another one of them. And if hope doesn't work, denial will keep me going for a while! :-)

I've so many sleeping problems myself that I'll have to do whatever it takes to get the baby to sleep through the night as early as possible. My first was bottle fed from 3 weeks. Hopefully bf for a bit longer this time around! That sounds like hard work, how are you holding up during the day after the broken sleep?

tinkerbell

Sleeping routine?! :pac:

Like I mentioned up thread, it's not actually normal for babies to sleep through the night. It's normal for them to wake regularly and it's also a natural SIDS defence. I really wish I had known about this when my baby was that age as I used to think my baby wasn't a great sleeper. Now I look back and know that was totally normal baby behaviour but I wish somebody has told me - instead I used to get constant comments on sleeping through the night from people which were so irritating.

If you want to improve your own sleep, you could either get a co-sleeping cot or co-sleep? There was some study done and breastfed mothers apparently get the most sleep when compared to those who formula feed!

jlm29

Lucuma wrote: »

Same with mine. I live in hope I'll have another one of them. And if hope doesn't work, denial will keep me going for a while! :-)

I've so many sleeping problems myself that I'll have to do whatever it takes to get the baby to sleep through the night as early as possible. My first was bottle fed from 3 weeks. Hopefully bf for a bit longer this time around! That sounds like hard work, how are you holding up during the day after the broken sleep?

Ah he's not too bad at night. He only wakes twice maybe... I couldn't swear to it, he usually ends up in beside me for some bit of the night. It's the day times that get me- id love an hour or two where I would know he would sleep in his bed and actually get a decent rest for himself rather than cat napping!

IvyTheTerrible

Mine sleeps about 8 hours in a row at night (from 8/9 pm til about 4/5). There have been some nights where she sleeps until 7am. She's 8 weeks old, my first didn't sleep that long til he was nearly 9 months old.

rainbow kirby

My little guy is 6 weeks old - he slept 10:30 to nearly 4 last night and that's the longest he's ever slept straight through.

Lucuma

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

Mine sleeps about 8 hours in a row at night (from 8/9 pm til about 4/5). There have been some nights where she sleeps until 7am. She's 8 weeks old, my first didn't sleep that long til he was nearly 9 months old.

Fab Ivy. Hopefully I have one of them too!

Will find out in the next few weeks.....

Lucuma

rainbow kirby wrote: »

My little guy is 6 weeks old - he slept 10:30 to nearly 4 last night and that's the longest he's ever slept straight through.

That's great at 6 weeks. Was that in beside you, in cosleeper or basket/crib? On his back?

Mine seems to sleep better on their side as well BizzyIzzy as in that's the position she falls asleep while bf'ing & if I just leave her alone like that, don't roll her onto her back or move her, she doesn't grunt & groan and sleeps away.
I might get one of those wedges that keep them on their side & prevent them from rolling onto their front

rainbow kirby

On his back in his Chicco Next2Me beside my bed - I don't have the side open on it though because I have the wrong type of bed to set that up safely. I took the blanket off him after the feed just before 4 because my room was getting very warm, he fell asleep mid-feed and I put him back down, he slept until just after 6 after that.

LegacyUser

Oh never saw those Lucuma I must have a look.My mum keeps telling me we all slept on our sides because that what they were told to do so....
Sorry, I sound like I'm implementing a sleeping routine here.I'm not at all, just running with it for now, and in a few weeks, we'll see how we're going.I'll see about a routine then.RainbowKirby, mine is doing about the same sleep-wise in her bed, then she tends to come in with me after the 4am feed, due to the grunting....

Lucuma

That sounds great rainbowkirby, on his back as well happy days!
Mine is doing no sleep at all in her co-sleeper crib at the moment. She will not settle in it at all: tosses& turns, moans, grunts & snorts like an elephant. That's on her back.
I had 2 wk checkup yesterday & she's back to (and has even exceeded) her birth weight, so she's getting plenty and she looks healthy and loads of wet +dirty nappies. So all good on that front at least!
Nights are a disaster with her though. Due to wind and a snotty nose, she can't seem to settle at all while horizontal. During the day she'll sleep for hours in the baby swinging chair, the car seat or in a sling- all of which she's upright or semi upright. Either I find a way for her to sleep at night semi upright (?!?) or I'm facing noisy nights for the time being til this wind and snot issue resolves.
Doc suggested giving her Infacol before each feed which I've started and she is farting more now with it. A Mum at play group also showed me a winding manoeuvre where you sit baby on your lap, hold their head with one hand and rotate them around their hips with the other...that's also producing better results than the back rubbing/patting has been.
GP also listed off foods I could avoid to reduce her wind but basically there'd be nothing left that I could eat if I cut them all out ! Also every morning I take: 1 zantac, 1 pregnacare, 1 fish oil, 1 prescription laxative sachet, 1 sachet of spatone. Any of them could be having an affect too but I need them all!
Just hoping this phase passses soon......it's an absolute pain in the @ss having to have her sleep right next to me all night and try not to roll onto her etc. Plus the grunting is right in my ear when she's so close. (Even through the earplugs it keeps waking me up)
Moan over!

jlm29

Lucuma wrote: »

That sounds great rainbowkirby, on his back as well happy days!
Mine is doing no sleep at all in her co-sleeper crib at the moment. She will not settle in it at all: tosses& turns, moans, grunts & snorts like an elephant. That's on her back.
I had 2 wk checkup yesterday & she's back to (and has even exceeded) her birth weight, so she's getting plenty and she looks healthy and loads of wet +dirty nappies. So all good on that front at least!
Nights are a disaster with her though. Due to wind and a snotty nose, she can't seem to settle at all while horizontal. During the day she'll sleep for hours in the baby swinging chair, the car seat or in a sling- all of which she's upright or semi upright. Either I find a way for her to sleep at night semi upright (?!?) or I'm facing noisy nights for the time being til this wind and snot issue resolves.
Doc suggested giving her Infacol before each feed which I've started and she is farting more now with it. A Mum at play group also showed me a winding manoeuvre where you sit baby on your lap, hold their head with one hand and rotate them around their hips with the other...that's also producing better results than the back rubbing/patting has been.
GP also listed off foods I could avoid to reduce her wind but basically there'd be nothing left that I could eat if I cut them all out ! Also every morning I take: 1 zantac, 1 pregnacare, 1 fish oil, 1 prescription laxative sachet, 1 sachet of spatone. Any of them could be having an affect too but I need them all!
Just hoping this phase passses soon......it's an absolute pain in the @ss having to have her sleep right next to me all night and try not to roll onto her etc. Plus the grunting is right in my ear when she's so close. (Even through the earplugs it keeps waking me up)
Moan over!

Would it help to tilt the co-sleeper? Is it a chicco? You can set the top legs higher than the bottom. If it's not a chicco, could you put something under the top legs so that she's not totally flat?

bovril

Hi Lucuma,

I've read on the Kellymom site that food eaten by the mother affecting the baby is the myth. I personally didn't cut anything out but then my baby wasn't *that* bad. Have a look on youtube for some baby massage techniques for wind. Sounds like the trick on your lap is working though.

For sleeping at night have you tried to put a rolled up/ folded towel under the mattress in the crib at the head end so the baby's head is slightly higher while they are lying down? It's worth a try if you haven't already tried it.

I hope it gets easier for you soon.

Lucuma

jlm29 wrote: »

Would it help to tilt the co-sleeper? Is it a chicco? You can set the top legs higher than the bottom. If it's not a chicco, could you put something under the top legs so that she's not totally flat?

I

No it's a Snuz pod (wooden one). I put 2 encyclopedia under it last night thanks.
Bovril I also elevated the mattress.
Neither made any difference -same old ding dong argh.
I'll keep trying though. ...determined to get her to get some block of sleep in it so I can get a block of sleep!

tinkerbell

Lucuma, have you tried some saline nasal spray to help with the stuffy nose?

Lucuma

BusyIzzy wrote: »

Oh never saw those Lucuma I must have a look.My mum keeps telling me we all slept on our sides because that what they were told to do so....
...

This bad boy. I just ordered one! Keeps them on their side & prevents them from rolling onto their tummy. Side sleeping is deemed unsafe coz it can lead to tummy sleeping.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delta-Baby-Sleep-White/dp/B000SZ90ZS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463176494&sr=8-1&keywords=delta+baby+baby+sleep

Have a theory today mine just cannot sleep on her back. I fed her to the gills, got every bit of wind out of her, put her down asleep in elevated co sleeper and within minutes she was awake: tossing &turning, grunting & groaning.
Reluctant to let her on her side but seems to be only way she can sleep

Lucuma

tinkerbell wrote: »

Lucuma, have you tried some saline nasal spray to help with the stuffy nose?

Yeah thanks. I'm spraying it into her a few times a day then attacking with the de-snotinator (nasal sucky yoke)

RentDayBlues

Lucuma wrote: »

Have a theory today mine just cannot sleep on her back. I fed her to the gills, got every bit of wind out of her, put her down asleep in elevated co sleeper and within minutes she was awake: tossing &turning, grunting & groaning.
Reluctant to let her on her side but seems to be only way she can sleep

My second loved sleeping on her side, I gave in from 4 weeks!

Lucuma

RentDayBlues wrote: »

My second loved sleeping on her side, I gave in from 4 weeks!

I can't figure this little lady out at all. Why can't they come with an instruction manual!!
We had a recent sids death in the immediate family where the baby (ebf) was asleep on their side so it's not a decision I take lightly. Last night on her side in cosleeper still didn't work tho.....only falling asleep on the boob in side lying down position & being left there works....she'll sleep for 2 hour blocks or so like that.
When I get the sleep positioner I'll use it for when she's lying next to me.
That's if I'm still bf by then!

tinkerbell

Lucuma wrote: »

I can't figure this little lady out at all. Why can't they come with an instruction manual!!
We had a recent sids death in the immediate family where the baby (ebf) was asleep on their side so it's not a decision I take lightly. Last night on her side in cosleeper still didn't work tho.....only falling asleep on the boob in side lying down position & being left there works....she'll sleep for 2 hour blocks or so like that.
When I get the sleep positioner I'll use it for when she's lying next to me.
That's if I'm still bf by then!

OMG, that's just so awful Sorry for your loss

Lucuma

I gave up on the cosleeper last night and just left her in the position she fell asleep in on the boob while feeding. I had been swaddling her as it worked a treat on my 1st daughter to get her to tell the difference between night and day but I saw I think it was you tinkerbell? post in another forum the LLL guidelines that you shouldn't cosleep with swaddled baby. i was thinking it's not really safe alright. Daughter1 was always asleep in her own bed, on her back so it was different. So til I get her sleeping on her back at night, I've ditched the swaddle for now.

Normally I get a bit of a snooze in the mornings as she drifts off again on the boob but not today! Since 5:30 or so this morning she was fussing at the breast - latching on, delatching, latching on, delatching over and over and tossing, turning, writhing around. Obviously wind.

I winded her for ages, got some out, she wanted to be fed again so latched her back on, then she was quiet for a while and just as I'd start drifting off the grunting, tossing, latching, delatching would start again argh! I've started to learn to fall asleep while she's feeding despite the pain of it (nothing out of the ordinary just normal levels of first few weeks nipple pain) but I can't sleep through the fussing at the breast, it's a head wreck! I'm giving her gripe water now as well as the Infacol. I'll try anything! Hard to believe breast milk is actually good for her when you see how bad she is with the wind

tinkerbell

Lucuma, can you call someone in Ciudiu for some advice? They have phone numbers of Cuidiu counsellors on their website - you might get some tips from one of them?

LegacyUser

Lucuma, I can't remember if I said this before, but apparently if you drink fennel tea it helps with wind.

I'm at 6 weeks, almost 7 now and she is getting the wind out a lot easier, although she'll still fuss with it. She's sleeping much longer now (8:30 - 4ish last couple of nights) but I have to start getting into the habit of putting her in her basket after her 4am feed. She grunts and groans a bit when you lie her down, but it has reduced and I think if I was to start putting her in the basket and persevere, I'd manage.It's just that No.1 gets up at 6:30am....and I really need that little hour of sleep between the feed and getting up for no.1...... She spends the night in her own basket otherwise. I do give her a bottle feed for "bedtime" now, just to get her used to it, to give me a little break and to let me put no.1 to bed a few nights, because she likes that one-on-one time, it's her little slice of normal in the new craziness

I definitely found the baby was at her worst at 4-5 weeks and then suddenly it got better, the wind came out quicker and with less pain. Actually it was like something just clicked at about 5 weeks and I suddenly began to understand her cues for eating, sleeping and wind a whole heap better, it's made life much calmer for us all. So hoping it continues to get better, and maybe you'll have a similar experience. I go to a local bf group the last few weeks and I've found it very good, maybe there's something similar there for you?

Lucuma

thanks Izzy. yeah i'll go to the HSE bf group now on Tuesday. i picked up a few tips online about windy babies - one was to feed them sitting up coz they're vertical. so i do that now for all day time feeds. I also give her infacol before feeds and I got some good winding techniques from the web, some of which i was doing already (cycling her legs, pushing her legs up to her chest) but they take it a step further (stretch up her arms, bring her toes to her nose) and I'm getting a lot of farts out now using those techniques. i also bought almond oil and am doing baby massage (the ones on their tummy like clockwise circles, making a U on their tummy, fingers walking across their tummy etc) at least 1-2 times a day. she seems to be better today actually for wind. could also be coz i stopped taking the prescription laxative the last 2 days, i'm finally at the stage where i don't need it anymore.
yeah my GP told me to drink fennel tea and also to give a dilute version to the baby. i've had a few cups but haven't given it to her yet.
baby is 3 wks plus 1 day today so i've officially surpassed my record....i stopped bf'ing no.1 at 3 weeks. it might not seem like very long but for me this is a huge personal rubicon and milestone and i'm delighted and proud :-)
went and got fitted for bf bras today. i had been hoping to get away with the ones i had from last time which are Lidl so the 'jolinesse' brand which are underwired, were really cheap. i have about 5 of them. but it's become apparent the last few days they're far too small, as if i don't have enough things making my nipples sore they don't need to be squashed into a too-small bra as well. was reluctant to go to the shops though coz i know you can only get non-underwired ones in the shops. but i went to mothercare and got measured. the lidl ones i have are 36C and in mothercare they said i'm 38 DD ha! never thought i'd be that cup size in my life! i bought 4 of them anyway from the mamalicious range, they actually give plenty of support even without the underwire, i was pleasently surprised. and the relief of wearing a bra that's big enough now!
bf past 3 weeks is unchartered ground for me now.....it's all surprises and unknowns from here on in! kind of exciting though.....so i don't know will i stay 38 DD now or will it go back down around 6 weeks when my supply settles i wonder

spottybananas

Congrats on your milestone Lucuma, well done

bovril

Yes well done Lucuma. The pride and satisfaction from the milestones only gets better too as you reach the next one. You're doing a great job.

yellow hen

I'm 6.5 weeks feeding now and I still leak uncontrollably. I thought it might have stopped by now?

IvyTheTerrible

My girl is two months old and I still leak at night. I have to wear pads.
I don't leak during the day, except at the start of a feed, when the boob not being fed on leaks at let down!

yellow hen

IvyTheTerrible wrote: »

My girl is two months old and I still leak at night. I have to wear pads.
I don't leak during the day, except at the start of a feed, when the boob not being fed on leaks at let down!

Thanks ivy. Exact same here.

jlm29

My boy is 5 and a half months and i still have the odd leak. Wouldn't chance going without pads!

rainbow kirby

My little guy is 7 weeks and I'd be the same - would leak just enough for it to be a bit embarrassing at the wrong time.

Lucuma

spottybananas wrote: »

Congrats on your milestone Lucuma, well done

Cheers. I totally jinxed myself by writing here that her wind was getting better ....disaster again last night.
I get up at circa 4am every night now, change her nappy, do tummy massage & go through an elaborate stretching/bicycling legs procedure to get wind out of her. I also have a herbal cuppa & a nature valley bar . Anyway after de-winding her we settled back down around 5am. Unf instead of nodding off once she had a bellyful of milk she started grunting, groaning, tossing turning etc. So no sleep for me. I did not have the energy however to get her up & dewind again. Tried propping her head on my belly but even that didn't stop the grunting & groaning.
Called it a night at 9:30 and got up. I actually did have a big dream somewhere between 5am & 9:30am though so it seems I actually managed to nod off for a short period of 1hr or so! I can't believe from exhaustion I'm morphing into a creature that can sleep through a little pair of jaws constantly latching & delatching off my nipple while grunting & groaning to beat the band! :-D