*Baby Corner*

[Marry American 0]

I think I finally got the breastfeeding part down. what a rocky road!!! Ben was having green stools and really fussy so I finally checked out that website ->kellymom (sp?) (Eveline, I really owe you for that tip!)

anyways, I found out that I wasn't feeding him long enough on one side (I switched him to the other breast too soon) wich resulted in a formilk/hindmilk imbalance and he got really fussy, gassy and frustrated for a few days.

Now i only let him drink on one side tillhe's done and he's doing a lot better! My milk supply finally leveled out too.

And guess what- I went shopping today all by myself! No more wheelchair/walker (I use the stroller as a walker) and it hasn't even been 4 weeks since my delivery!

The doctors told me that I'd be in a wheelchair for 6-8 weeks. and I haven't been taking prescription painkiller for 5 days now! It's nice to feel like my old ME again

I picked up BPA free bottles from Medela today. ..... how am I going to explain this to hubby??? we just got a whole set from avent... oh well.

@belwin: I'm so happy for you that breastfeeding got better for you! good luck autumnchick!

@Chnst: About the breastfeeding part, I did exactly the same. First because Adam was done after one ####### and second because I had the foremilk/hindmilk imbalance too. That is why I pumped at night for a while to get rid of the foremilk and then I let Adam latch on. It didn't work out though cause when I started pumping he was already so hungry that he was crying. So I just let him latch on and run out whatever ran out and the rest he drank. It was messy for a while but worked. Congratulations.

I'm glad to see that you are feeling better, don't overdo it. I started bleeding heavily again after six weeks cause I thought I was doing a lot better and I went on to scrub the house etc...got the result right away, that wasn't nice.

About the bottles: Oh well. Here's what I did with the Playtex Bottles my MIL gave me. I handed them over to DH and also told him to go get his bbgun and he was busy shooting bottles all afternoon in the Backyard

Could someone please explain this more ... i have been breast feeding for 3 weeks ... our baby has been getting fussy sometimes ... so our ped suggested that we feed her the bottle sometimes with formula ... other than that i have not had any problems .. other than she wants to use my nipple as a pacifier even when she is not hungry

[Eveline 9]

What exactly is your problem? That she wants to use your nipple as a paci is completely normal. She's comfort nursing. Adam luckily wasn't a comfort nurser, he loved/loves his paci. Many many babies comfort nurse, especially in the evening.

A foremilk hindmilk imbalance happens when mom makes too much of the thirst quenching foremilk and then baby is usually done and full before the fatty nourishing hindmilk is letdown. The foremilk has more lactose than the hindmilk and so it often happens that baby has green explosive stools (ohhh, I can tell you all about it, haha) that kinda look like broccoli. "Normal" stools is rather mustardy looking (TMI, I know). Like I said. I used to pump right before I latched Adam on. I waited until my letdown would start and then just let it run out by itself. That way Adam still got plenty of foremilk but also some more of the hindmilk.

A very good site for breastfeeding questions and concerns is www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

Edited May 26, 2008 by Eveline

[Autumnchik 6]

Another website for breastfeeding is:

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/

My lactation consultant recommended it.

The lactation consultants and the maternity nurses (one in particular) are becoming my new best friends since we are still having breastfeeding difficulties. I was seriously at the end of my rope this weekend and ready to quit (not something I want to do when I am rational and not out of my mind with exhaustion and frustration), so I called the maternity unit of the hospital. One of the nurses who was incredible with trying to help me learn to breastfeed was working. We went by yesterday. She was able to get Declan to latch on BOTH breasts WITHOUT the nipple shield (at home, cannot get him to latch without the nipple shield and cannot get him on the right breast at all). So hubby and I left the hospital very encouraged. Then we had the worst night ever with a baby who would not even take the left breast and was screaming the entire time. We went back to the maternity unit today to drop off cookies and flowers as a thank you. The same nurse was there and tried to help Declan latch. Today, he was a stinker for her too and didn't really latch, mostly just screamed. We figured out that he seems to get frustrated when he doesn't have milk immediately and has not grasped the concept that sucking will get him milk. So, I actually ended up feeling better after today's visit because I have more strategies to try. And it does seem that using fenugreek and blessed thistle (I read an article that recommended using both together to increase milk supply) has increased my supply a bit, so at least little one has milk that I pump too.

Hey Eveline (and anyone else) -

What do you guys think about Baby Bjorn carriers?

[Eveline 9]

Hey Eveline (and anyone else) -

What do you guys think about Baby Bjorn carriers?

Wow, I admire you for your stamina when it comes to breastfeeding. I don't know if I could have tried for soooo long. All the best and hopefully your little man will learn to latch soon.

About the Bjorns. I have an infantino carrier, got that from my MIL, put Adam in there once and he hated it. He always looked up to me and 'choked', or I don't know what he did. Well, needless to say it freaked me out and I never put him in there. Later I learned that the Bjorns are not good at all, especially for boys since their entire weight is on a two inch piece of fabric in their crotch. I know little boys don't hurt 'there' yet but still I don't think the pressure is good, especially when they get older. Then, when they are facing out, they don't really have good back support. It's like you are hanging on something, trying to hold yourself up. You know what I mean? When you are half bending forward without having anything to hold onto. I got the sling first since baby - when in the 'cradle' position - is laying in a natural position just like in the womb. Adam fell asleep within the first 20 minutes I had him in there. Then with the MeiTai, he's got better back support (but facing belly to belly or belly to my back when doing the kangaroo position) his legs are spread waaaay further than they would be in a Bjorn carrier, and he is kinda sitting on his butt instead of hanging in there. Just my two cents. http://www.didymos.de/english/index.php

[nannygirl82 0]

Hey Eveline (and anyone else) -

What do you guys think about Baby Bjorn carriers?

Wow, I admire you for your stamina when it comes to breastfeeding. I don't know if I could have tried for soooo long. All the best and hopefully your little man will learn to latch soon.

About the Bjorns. I have an infantino carrier, got that from my MIL, put Adam in there once and he hated it. He always looked up to me and 'choked', or I don't know what he did. Well, needless to say it freaked me out and I never put him in there. Later I learned that the Bjorns are not good at all, especially for boys since their entire weight is on a two inch piece of fabric in their crotch. I know little boys don't hurt 'there' yet but still I don't think the pressure is good, especially when they get older. Then, when they are facing out, they don't really have good back support. It's like you are hanging on something, trying to hold yourself up. You know what I mean? When you are half bending forward without having anything to hold onto. I got the sling first since baby - when in the 'cradle' position - is laying in a natural position just like in the womb. Adam fell asleep within the first 20 minutes I had him in there. Then with the MeiTai, he's got better back support (but facing belly to belly or belly to my back when doing the kangaroo position) his legs are spread waaaay further than they would be in a Bjorn carrier, and he is kinda sitting on his butt instead of hanging in there. Just my two cents. http://www.didymos.de/english/index.php

i don't have that one...but i agree with the support and the "cradle" position...Kaila loves to lay in it i think she feels like she is back in the womb...and the support is great!! I used the bjorn's before as a nanny and i really didn't like them...didn't think that had a lot of support for the little ones...

[chnst 6]

The foremilk has more lactose than the hindmilk and so it often happens that baby has green explosive stools (ohhh, I can tell you all about it, haha) that kinda look like broccoli.

haha that explains it all. I swear Ben totally fainted once after one of those "explosions". poor guy.

Thanks for the advice about the slings. I could kick myself for spending so much money on the Baby Bjorn. I'm always worried if he's breathing ok when he's in there, but it works better if I leave his arms inside, not hanging out.

But I wouldn't recommend it for a newborn. I kind of depend on it, when I'm on crutches, that's the only way I can carry him around with me but I'll definitely get a sling.

what kind of schedules are your babies on right now? Ben is almost 4 weeks old and I think I'm totally enslaved to HIS schedule, which changes every day. sometimes he nurses every hour, sometimes he sleeps 4 hours straight and I actually have to wake him up for a feeding. also sometimes he eats for 10 minutes and goes back to sleep andthen there are days when he eats for 1 hour. is that normal? It's pretty straining, that way I don't think I've slept , more than 45 minutes at a time within the last 3 weeks. so tired!!

@autumnchick: you are one tough lady! pat yourself on the shoulder for trying so hard. You are doing a great job, i think i would have given it up by now! It's great that you got such good help from that maternity nurse! I really hope that little Declan will figure it out eventually!

[nannygirl82 0]

The foremilk has more lactose than the hindmilk and so it often happens that baby has green explosive stools (ohhh, I can tell you all about it, haha) that kinda look like broccoli.

haha that explains it all. I swear Ben totally fainted once after one of those "explosions". poor guy.

Thanks for the advice about the slings. I could kick myself for spending so much money on the Baby Bjorn. I'm always worried if he's breathing ok when he's in there, but it works better if I leave his arms inside, not hanging out.

But I wouldn't recommend it for a newborn. I kind of depend on it, when I'm on crutches, that's the only way I can carry him around with me but I'll definitely get a sling.

what kind of schedules are your babies on right now? Ben is almost 4 weeks old and I think I'm totally enslaved to HIS schedule, which changes every day. sometimes he nurses every hour, sometimes he sleeps 4 hours straight and I actually have to wake him up for a feeding. also sometimes he eats for 10 minutes and goes back to sleep andthen there are days when he eats for 1 hour. is that normal? It's pretty straining, that way I don't think I've slept , more than 45 minutes at a time within the last 3 weeks. so tired!!

@autumnchick: you are one tough lady! pat yourself on the shoulder for trying so hard. You are doing a great job, i think i would have given it up by now! It's great that you got such good help from that maternity nurse! I really hope that little Declan will figure it out eventually!

Kaila will feed on a pretty regular schedule it is the sleeping the is uncertian which drives me crazy!!! Because i think she should be sleeping at certian times but she doesn't and i need to get things done...at least at night she can go from 10:30pm till about 4:00am so that is nice can't wait till she can go longer.....

[chri'stina 190]

Kavi has his regular Dr's appt tomorrow. He'll get more shots. He weighed 14lbs last week so he'll probably weigh a little more than that tomorrow. He'll be 4 months soon!

So at 4 months old, his sleeping schedule still varies. Maybe 3-4 nights a week he sleeps from 10:30/11pm til 6am! That is glorious. But then the other nights he'll wake up during the night. last night it was 2:30am and then again at 6:30am. I'm tired! But not as tired as I was in the beginning. It does seem to get better. I remember the nightly lack of sleeping and it's so hard, hopefully things should get better and better as the months go by when they eat larger amounts and their bellies stay full longer.

[sara535 15]

about the schedule - Amirah is 7 months now (WOW) and has a set schedule in the sense that there is a very predicatable order to how things are going to go . for example, she gets up in the morning and is up for about 2 or 2 and a half hours then is ready for about a one hour nap (longer one in the afternoon). what is not regular is the times. some days she is up at 6 0r 6:15 so we start early. other days she will sleep until 7:30 so the whole thing gets pushed back a couple of hours. the one time she IS set on is bedtime, she is ready about 8:30 every night even if she had a late afternoon/early evening nap. I think knowing what to expect next in terms of schedule benefits both her and me even if I cant set a clock by it.

However she has only settled into this pattern in the last couple of months. I think really little babies just cant do it yet, I wouldnt worry about a schedule at all until at least 3 months.

hey LOVE all the baby pics!

[nannygirl82 0]

just got back from Kaila's one month check up....she is doing great!!! she is at 11 pounds 2 ounces...and 21.5 inches long i can't believe she is that much already then again she is eating 6 ounces at a time...the dr said that was fine because she is in her own little curve....although my poor baby girl has sensitve skin and she is having a break out so i have to put hydrocordizone cream on her for a week...fyi..i never knew this but check behinde your babies ears to make sure it isn't dry because if it is dry and hard it will crack and become infected she showed me on Kaila and i never thought to look back there just something new i learned today and thought i would share!

[sara535 15]

just got back from Kaila's one month check up....she is doing great!!! she is at 11 pounds 2 ounces...and 21.5 inches long i can't believe she is that much already then again she is eating 6 ounces at a time...the dr said that was fine because she is in her own little curve....although my poor baby girl has sensitve skin and she is having a break out so i have to put hydrocordizone cream on her for a week...fyi..i never knew this but check behinde your babies ears to make sure it isn't dry because if it is dry and hard it will crack and become infected she showed me on Kaila and i never thought to look back there just something new i learned today and thought i would share!

actually Amirah has that too, at first I thought it was like crusty fry milk but I scraped it and it bled a little. I didnt think to ask the doctor aobut it, I just try to hit it with some cream after bath. did they tell you to do anything special for it?

[Eveline 9]

I think in the first couple of weeks I let Adam sleep and eat whenever. I didn't leave the house for probably 10 days or so and then I decided to wake him up every two hours and keep him awake for one hour. It was tough to keep him up when he rather wanted to sleep but pretty soon it worked well for us. That is another scary thing for me. With Adam our days are predictable again. He wakes up at eight, goes to bed at noon, sleeps until two and is up until about five, sleeps again and goes to bed at eight. It's like that more or less every single day but with a newborn...ugh. I don't know how I'm gonna handle that. We'll see.

[nannygirl82 0]

just got back from Kaila's one month check up....she is doing great!!! she is at 11 pounds 2 ounces...and 21.5 inches long i can't believe she is that much already then again she is eating 6 ounces at a time...the dr said that was fine because she is in her own little curve....although my poor baby girl has sensitve skin and she is having a break out so i have to put hydrocordizone cream on her for a week...fyi..i never knew this but check behinde your babies ears to make sure it isn't dry because if it is dry and hard it will crack and become infected she showed me on Kaila and i never thought to look back there just something new i learned today and thought i would share!

actually Amirah has that too, at first I thought it was like crusty fry milk but I scraped it and it bled a little. I didnt think to ask the doctor aobut it, I just try to hit it with some cream after bath. did they tell you to do anything special for it?

to put hydrocortoizone 1% on it for 7 days or until it goes away....and if it gets red like it is sore...they to bring her back in so they can make sure it is not infecected

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

wow lots to read...

sounds like your a lucky mommy nannygirl...zaid never has slept more than 5 hours...and he only did that once...its normally 4 hours at a time...although, he is very consistent, so i do know what to expect everynight..

usually he is awake from 6pm-9pm, then eats and falls asleep about 10pm....he will sleep til 2am eat, go straight back down til 6am then eat, go back down til 8am...so i do manage to get 6-8 hours of sleep a night....which i am grateful for...his eating patterns are weird...sometimes its like hes starving for 4-5oz...sometimes he cannot even finish 2-3 so for now, we have been doing 3 oz feeding during the day, about every 2 hours, and at night he does 4oz because he is eating less often

[anxious 0]

Man its been a bit of a while that I have had anytime to post.

Nasim has his set bedtime of 9 every nite or all heck will break loose.

He has two bottom teeth coming in but still a picky eater. He just started crawling. He used to drag his

body by using his elbows for the longest... I was tempted to put a Rambo head tie on him

I love seeing all the cutiepie pics!