The "Newest" Moms Hangout...

[DannysMom]

You are doing the best that you can. I'm impressed by what you accomplish daily. I'm a big believer in breastfeeding, but have always wondered what I would do in the case of multiples. That's great that Dylan has taken to it. My son had a suck like a vacuum too.

Thanks. Well I've heard, that if you have 2 good nursers (which I read to be 2 full term healthy babes who nurse like pros from the get-go like babies are supposed to) that tandem nursing is the way to go. Get a nursing pillow & latch one on each side & you are off to the races. Or so I've heard.....

 

[staley7580]

And some news I haven't shared yet...... Dylan has started to take to nursing! I've been pumping for these kids for 3 1/2 months now, my goal is to keep them in bre@stmilk through this cold & flu seaon.

I've only been pumping 3x a day but getting 30-40 oz of milk in those 3 pumps. So they've been getting primarily bre@stmilk right along. Anyways, something just sort of clicked in with Dylan & man that boy, he really likes his bo-ob. He's also got a suck like a vacuum!

I don't see nursing full time to be practical, not with 2. And Katie just gets angry when I try to nurse her. Plus Dylan literally takes like an hour to nurse. I know that he could probably get better with practice, but I just don't see being able to devote lots of time to nursing practice, not with Katie as high maintenance as she is. But I'm hoping that even part time nursing may help me to maintain my milk through this winter. I'm aware how tenuous my milk supply may be with that few pumps per day. I try to fit in extra pumps when I can, but I know that I'm doing the best that I can.

YAY!!! That is so great!

Thanks. Well I've heard, that if you have 2 good nursers (which I read to be 2 full term healthy babes who nurse like pros from the get-go like babies are supposed to) that tandem nursing is the way to go. Get a nursing pillow & latch one on each side & you are off to the races. Or so I've heard.....

There are lots of moms on my twin board that exclusively nurse.. Most of them in fact. I am way impressed that they have the patience for that. I dont.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Hi everyone. I've been out of touch lately. Natalie and I went to my parents for the weekend. We had a great time and she did great sleeping in the pack-n-play. I was worried she wouldn't like it. Right now she is in her swing laughing and talking away. She is supposed to be sleeping... oh well. Wed. is our 4 month check up. I can't wait to find out how much she weighs. I am guessing around 16 lbs.


BTW... only 38 more days until Disney!!!!!!!

 

[yellowfish78]

Hi everyone! Alex had his 5 week checkup yesterday! He's 21 1/2 inches long and now is 9 lbs 4 oz.

 

[Piecey]

He is so cute!

I love the Tigger hat!

 

[harleyquinn]

Oooh! Alex is too cute!

And Valerie, you're doing great!! Do whatever works for you and don't worry about what anyone says. Lily is still using the nipple shield, which everything says is evil, but she does great so

My co-worker's SIL came in the other day with her 9 week old that still looks like a newborn. She only weighs 7 pounds, smaller than Lily ever was--I can't believe Lily was ever even close to that small!

Most of you saw this on FB, but here's our 5am Storytime:

 

[Disney Ron]

Ah what cuties on this thread!!!!

 

[Piecey]

You already do story time? I wondered when to start. I haven't yet..

...Lucas wanted to be around me earlier, while I was making dinner, so I put him in his tub and put his tub on the counter. I bent down to get a can of chili beans out of the cabinet and when I stood back up he JUMPED and his eyes got huge. It was cute but I felt bad for scaring him like that.

 

[harleyquinn]

You already do story time? I wondered when to start. I haven't yet..

...Lucas wanted to be around me earlier, while I was making dinner, so I put him in his tub and put his tub on the counter. I bent down to get a can of chili beans out of the cabinet and when I stood back up he JUMPED and his eyes got huge. It was cute but I felt bad for scaring him like that.

As a children's librarian, I'm ashamed to say that we didn't start until about 8 or 9 weeks and we don't do it regularly. You're supposed to do it from birth for at least 20 minutes a day. Even when they don't focus on the book hearing the book read to them is important. They pick up on rhymes and inflection and pronunciation. Studies show that children that are read to often are much better readers themselves and that they enjoy reading more.

At my library storytime starts at birth, tho its really best for about 3 mos and up. It's my group. We only read one book together as a group each week, and then I pull out a big basket of board books at the end for about 10 minutes. It's mostly nursery rhymes and games that are also supposed to be important for infant development. And it's tons of fun!

So give it a try. Don't expect them to actually react to you reading or it to be exactly as you pciture it. Lily only has one book that she really gets excited about, but right now she usually will sit still and stare at the pages with great big eyes. It's too cute!

 

[Piecey]

Hmmm... I might give it a try then. I love to read and I'll never turn down an excuse to cuddle with Piglet in the glider.

Someone got me a book of nursery rhymes for boys. Maybe we'll start with those.

 

[Laura]

DD gets a story before bedtime every night, then she's rocked for a while before we put her in her crib. It's a nice ritual. She likes the pictures, and tries to whack them.

My dad brought over a bunch of books that I read when I was a kid. It's funny how I can remember some of them, more from their pictures than their words. It's like some memory brain cells have been asleep for almost 30 years and get switched back on when I read a book I must have read dozens of times as a kid.

 

[harleyquinn]

Hmmm... I might give it a try then. I love to read and I'll never turn down an excuse to cuddle with Piglet in the glider.

Someone got me a book of nursery rhymes for boys. Maybe we'll start with those.

Try to find books with large bright pictures--board books are the best early on, so they don't accidentally rip pages. Shorter is better as is simple. If they get restless especially--touch and feel books are GREAT for keeping their attention.

Longer, quiet stories (like fairy tales and bedtime books) are best at night to lull them to sleep. That doesn't work for Lily right now--she is excited when I'm reading an adult paperback with no pictures (to myself--not to her!)lol

 

[Piecey]

Lucas doesn't really need lulled to sleep.... The kid loves his sleep!

He's STILL asleep. Went to bed about 11:30 last night. I checked on him and he's just happily sucking his thumb in his sleep. I'm about to go get him... I think he needs to eat. I didn't realize how late it is! Geesh. I already foresee problems getting him up to go to school.

 

[harleyquinn]

I'm so jealous! Lily sleeps great with me, but I can't imagine getting to sleep liek that by myself---let alone all the stuff I could get done! lol

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Natalie LOVES her books. We read everyday for about an hour total. I hope it becomes a nice habbit for her. I am off to get her ready for the doctor.

 

[Piecey]

I'm so jealous! Lily sleeps great with me, but I can't imagine getting to sleep liek that by myself---let alone all the stuff I could get done! lol

I'm not sure how I got so lucky.
His dad is like that, too. I have insomnia and Tom is a rock. He is CRANKY without sleep and he can fall asleep just about anywhere anytime. It's probably been the biggest hurdle we've had as a couple..

I can't imagine sleeping with Lucas! I'm impressed you guys co-sleep! I'd be so afraid to roll over on him or drop him or something.

I've totally been lazy today. I have a ton of stuff to do before we go but here I am.
I did load the dishwasher and do one load of laundry though.

 

[harleyquinn]

I'm not sure how I got so lucky.
His dad is like that, too. I have insomnia and Tom is a rock. He is CRANKY without sleep and he can fall asleep just about anywhere anytime. It's probably been the biggest hurdle we've had as a couple..

I can't imagine sleeping with Lucas! I'm impressed you guys co-sleep! I'd be so afraid to roll over on him or drop him or something.

I've totally been lazy today. I have a ton of stuff to do before we go but here I am.
I did load the dishwasher and do one load of laundry though.

Believe me, we wouldn't be co-sleeping if she would sleep in her crib or bassinet. Luckily I've always been able to sleep perfectly still.

I just ordered this:
It's weighted so that it stays in baby's mouth. Lily usually wakes up as soon as the paci falls out. Plus it's cute.

 

[MelessaG]

I'm not sure how I got so lucky.
His dad is like that, too. I have insomnia and Tom is a rock. He is CRANKY without sleep and he can fall asleep just about anywhere anytime. It's probably been the biggest hurdle we've had as a couple..

I can't imagine sleeping with Lucas! I'm impressed you guys co-sleep! I'd be so afraid to roll over on him or drop him or something.

I've totally been lazy today. I have a ton of stuff to do before we go but here I am.
I did load the dishwasher and do one load of laundry though.

Alexis sleeps a lot in the morning too. She gets up at about 5-5:30 a.m. to eat (not a big deal since I have to get myself and the older kids up by 6 a.m. to get ready for school) but the she will sleep most of the morning while I do other things. Of course, if I don't get something out for lunch before she gets up I'm always sorry because once she is awake she wants all-mom all the time. I wonder how that would have worked when most of the kids were still at home with me?

 

[Piecey]

That thing is really cute!!

Lucas hates pacifers. He spits them out and now he throws them at you. He's definitely figured out his hands!!

He can't hold a full bottle but after he drinks about half of it he'll hold it himself. It's sorta sad but he likes to hold it so we let him.. When it's empty, he'll keep sucking on it. I'm not sure if he just wants to suck or if he's proud that he's holding it himself!

Melessa, I can't imagine! I know sometimes Lucas gets fed over me and I spend the whole bottle starving! I can't imagine having other hungry kids around and one pretty much demanding all the attention!!

I really need to get with it. I do not feel like we leave for Disney in just a few days! I've got so much to do but all I want to do is curl up and read while Lucas enjoys his jumperoo!

 

[MelessaG]

Melessa, I can't imagine! I know sometimes Lucas gets fed over me and I spend the whole bottle starving! I can't imagine having other hungry kids around and one pretty much demanding all the attention!!

My son didn't start supplementing with bottles until he was about 6 mos. old, so he could already hold one when the time came. I was spoiled that way. I would just make it and hand it to him and get back to whatever needed doing around the house.

To tell you the truth, bringing my 3rd child home when her siblings were almost 2 and just turned 4 was my hardest transition. Everyone was still really needy and it was the dead of winter when I always feel depressed anyway. The fourth one born at the beginning of summer break a couple of years later was pretty easy and with everyone being 5 and up, this hasn't been as big a change as I thought it would be throughout the pregnancy. That's not to say I don't get a little nervous at how completely outnumbered I am now, but I think the saying that "once you get past three it doesn't matter anymore" really has some truth to it.