The "Newest" Moms Hangout...

[staley7580]

Emma went to bed at 9pm and is still sleeping. She got up at 3am, insert pacifier and out cold.

Question...was anyone elses first period awful? I don't know if the tubal, baby, or not having one for ten weeks impacted mine...so darn heavy worse than after delivering Emma. I had to cancel a procedure I had scheduled for tomorrow.

My period has been really bad since I had the twins. Worse then any other baby I have had. I also have cramps when I ovulate.. I have been able to tell when I ovulate since I had my miscarriage... Thats how I knew I was pregnant with the twins. I knew IMMEDIATELY. I never even tested. But now I am cramping when I ovulate. Crazy.. huh?

Patsy.. Im so glad you had fun with your friends!! It is always nice to have fun grown up time!

 

[Disney Ron]

Emma is on a roll with sleeping she is doing great!!!

I had a bad night with DS yesterday. He decided to trip over my foot and land face first into the corner of our french door. He hit so hard, he was running full force. He has a nice black & blue but fortunately no stitches. He scared the crap out of me, and we had him in our bed last night to make sure he was ok. He also started with a runny nose and woke up at 11pm with a 101.8 fever. No fever this morning just a running nose, which I am not crazy about with the baby.

 

[Maggimus]

Hey! For those of you who dont ready the pregnancy thread-- I had my son, Jake, on 9-9-09. He weighed 6lbs 12.9ounces and was 19inches long. He is beautiful and we are completely in love!!

So i have a few questions for the new moms who breastfeed...

Jake was doing great breastfeeding... latching wonderfully and I was feeding (when i had colostrum) about every 2.5 hours 15 minutes on each side. He was sleeping like a champ!

When we got home from the hospital he would sleep about 4 hours at night before he would wake up and I would feed (still colostrum).

Now that my milk is in... you would think he has starved all this time.
I dont understand the whole needing to make sure you get to the rich milk part. At this point im not feeling let down (i dont believe) and i cant tell. I let him feed for like 45minutes plus on each side so that I could make sure. Well... last night he wanted to nurse all night long. I got 1 hour of sleep from midnight until 7am. Im pretty sure im nursing too long, but the books and pamplets say that the baby will come off or stop sucking when they are through. He is NEVER through. It also makes me feel terrible because after he gets finished (or what i feel like surely to goodness should be enough- i know he cant be hungry anymore)-- he still tries to suck on his hand and makes smacking noises and looks to the side for me sucking. I know my milk is good-- its coming out really well. I try and offer him the pacifier (which he does take) but when he realizes theres no milk coming out he starts to cry again - even just after a feeding. So ill cave, even though he has just ate, and let him go back-- but half the time he doesnt eat he just puts it in his mouth and goes to sleep. Ill pull him off and he goes back to crying. If he does go back on its kind of a weak suck...


What am i doing wrong? Any and all advice is appreciated. He is only 4 days old and we are still trying to figure all of this out.. but feeding all night is getting crazy. He feeds pretty normally during the day- its just at night.

How often did you all feed your newborns? Also how long on each side?

Im going to go back to JUST 15-20minutes on each side during each feeding... hoping i get to the "rich milk" in that amount of time. Im afraid when he did the long feedings that i was actually letting down again for a second time or something... and there may have been a period where he was getting nothing and then getting hungry again by the time the second let down happens. Goodness... i dont know... at this point im running on adrenaline and ibuprofin. I hope this made sense.

What do you all think?

 

[trmcguire]

Maggie-

Its been awhile, so hopefully I can remember a little of what DS what like in the beginning. He definitely ate more at night- most babies have their days and nights mixed up for a little bit, so it would be common for him to actually eat more during the night which would be like his daytime. Also, he is probably using you for comfort as well as nutrition. He may not like the pacifier, and just prefer the closeness to you. This is why I started co cleeping with my DS- he would fall asleep nursing and the second I moved him he would wake up! I was so tired, and it was the only thing that helped. I know people have a lot of opinions on co sleeping- and we never thought we would- but it ended up working out very well for us, and I got so much more sleep!! Everyone was much happier that way. We put him in the little positioner in between us, and it made me feel safer about not rolling over on him (which I never even came close to, but of course I was paranoid!)

Anyways, he will start feeding less as he learns to be more efficient with his sucking- my son was very slow and lazy at first, but he got better and it didn't take as long.

Hope some of this helped you, I know how stressful it can be!!!

 

[hotveggy]

well, i just wrote a long reply to maggie and lost it! argh...

anyways, at first, I was told to feed every 2 hours, even at night we had to wake her up. this was until 2 weeks and then we were aloud to let her go 3 hours and up to 4 at night.
when you have letdown, it will feel like pins and needles. i think it took a few days after my milk to come in for me to feel this.
try listening for swallowing to know if he is just sucking to suck or sucking to comfort. i think at that age it is usually 2-3 sucks and then a swallow.
i was told differing things about how much to feed on each side. in the hosptial the lactation consultant made a big deal about the hind milk. i was told to let allison empty one breast before offering the other. my midwife then said to try feeding about 20 minutes or so on each side. that is what i ended up doing and it has worked great- allison has had no trouble with gaining weight.
i would keep trying the pacifier and see how that goes. but allison often feel asleep while just sucking at the beginning as well.
hope this helps

 

[december]

Katie just likes to nurse. It may not have been 15 min since they fed her at daycare, but when I pick her up she wants to nurse, right then, and all afternoon! I don't think it has anything to do with hunger (she is 4 mos today and I'm going to have to get the 6-9 mos clothes out and washed this weekend!). She will still nurse for an hour or more at a time if I let her. I just eased away from her to get online, and she had been nursing for well over an hour (since we got home from school). I keep a paci at daycare, but we don't bother at home. She has her own private paci here!

I cosleep, too. So she can nurse anytime she wants at night. Except for a very bad week last week, she has been sleeping pretty well though. I wish I had some advice for you there!

If it makes you feel better, the more they nurse, the longer you'll go without your monthly visitor!

 

[Laura]

When DD was born, I had her feed about 20-25 minutes each side. It was what the lactation consultants in the hospital recommended. For a few days while I was in the hospital DD was feeding really crazily like you describe, like all night. It got better after we got home, and she was eating every 2-3 hours. You might try just holding Jake skin-to-skin when he starts crying to see if that helps soothe him.

 

[Maggimus]

Thanks girls...

I think my main issue is that Jake will eat... but I have the hardest time getting him to wake up to eat, and stay awake. Ive taken his clothes off... ive changed his diaper, ive put wet wipes on his face, i feel like ive tried everything. He will wake up for a second but as soon as he latches on- he falls back asleep. His sucking becomes weak and i try and wake him again.

After i feed him most of the time he will still root around... and try and suck on his hand. I feel terrible like i am not satisfying him or something.

we went to the pediatrician today and he only gained 1 ounce since sat early moring- so we have to go back next week to get weighed again. im afraid my milk isnt rich enough.

Last night he went back to waking every 3 hrs for a feeding... so i got some sleep. But im feeding him about every 2.5hrs now .

 

[MelessaG]

Thanks girls...

I think my main issue is that Jake will eat... but I have the hardest time getting him to wake up to eat, and stay awake. Ive taken his clothes off... ive changed his diaper, ive put wet wipes on his face, i feel like ive tried everything. He will wake up for a second but as soon as he latches on- he falls back asleep. His sucking becomes weak and i try and wake him again.

After i feed him most of the time he will still root around... and try and suck on his hand. I feel terrible like i am not satisfying him or something.

we went to the pediatrician today and he only gained 1 ounce since sat early moring- so we have to go back next week to get weighed again. im afraid my milk isnt rich enough.

Last night he went back to waking every 3 hrs for a feeding... so i got some sleep. But im feeding him about every 2.5hrs now .

Alexis was a sleepy nurser too. She still is to some extent, but I had a horrible time getting her to wake up and eat during those first two weeks. Everything you are describing here is really familiar.

As far as the weight gain goes, that would worry me too. I wonder if Baby Jake's sleepy attitude is keeping your body from knowing how much milk to produce? (I had that problem with my oldest DD.) I wish I had some wealth of knowledge about this to solve the problem, make him gain weight, and make you feel better; but all I do know to do is to call a lactation consultant or even the number for your local La Leche League. Those women are miracle workers in my opinion. What they probably wouldn't want me to tell you is that I had to supplement my son from pretty early on with 1-2 bottles per day and we had the best of both worlds that way. I nursed first thing in the morning, gave a bottle at the second feeding (or better, got someone else to do it while I ran errands from time to time), nursed the rest of the day, gave him a bottle around dinner time, then nursed before bed. I'm a big believer in breastfeeding, but an even bigger believer in babies gaining weight and mamas staying sane! Hang in there and do what feels right for you and Jake!

(I was able to nurse my other kids exclusively and I did nothing different with them. Each one is just their own person with their own needs.)

 

[Piecey]

I think Lucas is getting a tooth....

He's been fussier the last three days than he has his entire existence on earth combined...

I couldn't take it anymore so I put him in his crib. I hate that. He always naps downstairs with me through the day.. either in the pack-n-play, in the recliner or his swing. I like to think he associates his crib with bedtime and that is why he sleeps so well through the night. I could be crazy, but I hate that I had to put him up there because I'm afraid it might mess him up.

Sure enough 10 minutes after I shut his door, he was sound asleep!

He's been super slobbery, chewing on his arm/hand NONSTOP and screaming like mad.
I tried to look last night but he wouldn't let me... he is getting to be such a pain with his kicking! He kicks himself out of your reach. He's started doing it with diaper changes, kicking the diaper back and out from under him. Frustrating.

I got some Orajel yesterday but I'm afraid to give him any until I'm sure he's teething.

 

[mmkk]

Maggie-congrats on Jake! I totally agree with Melessa. Call your local lactation office or La Leche a:nd see what they recommend. Zander was also a lazy eater to begin with. It wasn't until he was about weeks that he got out of that habit. But he was also gaining weight. So check with them to see if there is something they can recommend.

Patsy-poor Lucas. He may very well be getting a tooth-its not unheard of. But it may be awhile before you actually see anything. I hear that they can drool like that and be fussy for a couple of months before anything shows up. Hopefully he won't be fussy everyday though. You may talk to your ped to see if they agree with the thought that he is teething because you may can give him Tylenol to help but I would check with them first.

So it sounds like the majority of the LOs on this thread slept well this weekend! Awesome!!! Zander has been doing well with his sleeping, typically going to bed around 9:30-10 and getting up around 6. I have started letting him sleep in his crib in his and MAdeline's room the last two nights and unfortunately he has started going to bed earlier and getting up around 4:00-4:30. Luckily I can feed him for about 15 minutes and put him right back in bed and he will sleep until around 7:30.

 

[Disney Ron]

Patsy, these teething tabs are great for teething.
http://www.hylands.com/products/teething.php

 

[Piecey]

Patsy, these teething tabs are great for teething.
http://www.hylands.com/products/teething.php

Thanks! There is a mothery nature store down a few blocks. I'll have to see if they have those.

 

[Disney Ron]

Thanks! There is a mothery nature store down a few blocks. I'll have to see if they have those.

I know Walgreens & CVS carry them near me.

--------------

I have a cold and am so afraid of giving it to Emma.

 

[Piecey]

Got my Magical Express paperwork today. Woohoooo!!!!!!!!!!

 

[goodeats]

we went to the pediatrician today and he only gained 1 ounce since sat early moring- so we have to go back next week to get weighed again. im afraid my milk isnt rich enough.

Trust me your milk is rich enough. There is no such thing as weak breastmilk. In the first two weeks your baby will want to eat all the time. It's nature's way of ensuring that your body will make enough milk. Just keep him on the breast as much as he wants. It will get better I promise! Also, the baby goes through a growth spurt within the first two weeks so they need to eat more.

If you are concerned that he isn't getting enough go to a lactation consultant (or have one come to you - more $$$ though) to weigh the baby before and after a feeding to see what he takes.

ETA - what worked for us to keep DD awake in the beginning - breast compression. TMI, but the increased flow encouraged her to suck more. Also, sitting her up to burp her (not on you shoulder). When she was super sleepy I would lay her on the floor and she would start flailing and wake up.

 

[Disney Ron]

That is exciting Patsy...that means it is right around the corner.
Did I read you are staying at CSR? We are going 11/6 and that is where we are now staying.

 

[DannysMom]

Hi Ladies, sorry I've been MIA. I have been lurking, but really had not the time nor energy to post. I've been so tired. I don't have words to express how very hard & draining taking care of 2 infants is. I love them but I am so beat, all the time.

I haven't been able to get either of them to the breast, so have still been pumping, but not often enough. I'm down to only 3 pumps per day, and am uncomfortable most of the time. I'm still getting 30-some oz at those 3 pumps, so quite a bit of milk, but not enough for 2. I've been using frozen milk regularly. We also started experimenting w/ formula. Dylan seems to have an iron gut & tolerates most things without complaint. Katie is waaaayyyy sensitive. Katie is also colicky. She has screaming fits where nothing seems to comfort her. Often enough, nothing but lying on mom is comforting, that's draining too. Also I just can't hold her all the time, I have to take care of Dylan too. My poor 6 year old is really missing my presence, he's totally getting the least of me & my time. And I'm missing him too.

I know this will get better, it's not forever --- but right now it really sucks. Yesterday I was fantasizing about taking my older son down to WDW for a 3 day Mom & Dan weekend -- we could certainly both use it, but it's so not feasible. Nice fantasy, but that's all it can be. I could use a vacation, even if only for a couple of days, but there is no one to leave babies with. These 2 have me, DH & MIL all completely exhausted & DH has to work. My mom has been coming over to help where she can, but it is limited.

Having just 1 baby would be soooooo much easier, even if it were just 1 colicky, cranky baby. Having 2, feeding needs extra hands, unless one sleeps longer than the other, and then it just takes 1 person a really long time. Having 2, I haven't managed to get out of the house w/o another set of adult hands to help & that makes me feel crazed and cranky, on top of sleep deprived. Today I need to take Dylan to the ped, I think my MIL will watch Katie at home. Going out w/ just 1 baby, even a baby on a monitor just isn't that hard......

Staley, any words of wisdom for me? How long before it got better for you? Well that's my long drawn out whine......

 

[Disney Ron]

Valerie, you and Staley have had it worse than the rest of us by a mile. I don't know how you do it. Thinking of you, stay strong Mom!!

 

[ShootingStarMom2]

Hi,
Just wanted to stop in and say hi.

Congrats, Maggie! I hope you are enjoying every moment with Jake. My first was a very sleepy eater as well. We would have to undress him to wake him up. One tip our nurse gave us was to prepare him to feed and when he fell asleep, to pick up back up and put him over my shoulder like I was going to burp him. When he started to fuss or eat his hand, I placed him back down to nurse. It woke him up and he got the idea that sleeping wasn't going to happen. I hope nursing gets easier for you. It can be really tough the first few weeks getting it all straightened out. I didn't have a feeling of letdown at all with my first. I could tell because he would start swallowing super fast, like gulping. I didn't feel anything. This time around, I can tell. Just like hotveggy said, pins and needles. Don't worry about the hindmilk just yet. If he's getting some for now, you can try to nurse for longer for the rest once he's settled in. It's not uncommon to nurse for super long periods of time, then only nurse for a little while. You can do it!

Patsy, our LO is teething now too. He's got the 2 small bumps on the middle of his lower gum and two little indents where the teeth are getting ready to come out. My DS got his first teeth at 5 months, the same ones coming through for the baby. Go figure! We just gave Tylenol at the super fussy times. I'd be interested if the tablets work out. I've never heard of them. Cute picture of Lucas. We are calling to book our ME this week.

MMKK, I'm glad Zander is sleeping better for you. Our DS was backsliding last week and is back to sleeping from 10-8.

Ann, I hope your DS is feeling better. Was the runny nose just from his fall? DS crashed right when the baby was born (I was still in the hospital!) into the entertainment center at my dad's. He had a huge black and blue egg. I was so worried. My sister was watching him at the time and she slept with the monitor on her pillow!

We're doing good. Getting ready for DS 2nd birthday. I think we're going to do a barnyard/pumpkin theme. Big Lots has really cute barnyard paperbag puppets with felt ears, tails, etc. that we're planning to decorate with. And Vistaprint has a cute invite that has all the same animals. I can't believe how old he is! Where has my little baby gone?