I may have to try this because I'm overwhelmed with how little I'm getting done.
+1 for baby wearing.try to let the housework go. Newborns are only like this for a short time. Also i found that the baby reflected my mood so first thing every morning I would be in a better mood if I took a shower so I would put the baby in the portable bouncer in the bathroom and take my shower. Even if it meant they cry for the time you shower or fuss. It's important to take time for yourself if it makes you feel reenergized.
I've also let the baby cry to get my shower in. Helps me feel sane!
I also recommend trying to wear DB! I've been using the ergo. He gets mad at first, but I bounce on the exercise ball until he's calm and then he'll usually let me wear him in peace. Also, we're just doing a ton of alternating between nursing/holding and bouncing on the ball. It's a fussy time!!
erbear Not sure if your doctors and nurses told you the same thing or not, but I was told that any poop a quarter size or larger counts as a bowel movement. Which seems pretty standard, so I apologize if I am beating a dead horse with that info.
SS part: We took little one to the doctor today. Her spit up had increased and I was wondering what I could do to help prevent so much bloating and gas. He basically said to use gas drops and gripe water. I said I was sorry for being such a paranoid new mom, but thankfully they understand.
AW part: My preemie has gained over 2 lbs in the last month!! SO exciting!! She was 5lb 9oz at birth, dropped a bit, and was 5lb 2oz when they discharged her. At her first appointment at the doctor, she was 5lb 5oz. Today she was a whopping 7lbs 5.5oz!! She's the size of a full-term baby. She's also grown from 18" long to 20 1/4" long.
I'm worried I might have stretched out my LO's stomach from overfeeding and that's why she's always so hungry, but more likely it's a growth spurt I guess.
Pacifier update: She liked it yesterday; today she wouldn't take it. Also she cried a lot more angrily today, it seemed to me. Not sure why but I am of course blaming the pacifier because I don't know what else changed. She did like it okay when I was wearing her, but the rest of the times anyone tried to get her to take it (Mum and DH both tried) she was having none of it.
with little ones of course we stretch out their stomachs, cause when born it's the size of a marble, about 5ml, and then it HAS to stretch out from there to hold milk! So you are fine unless you've been giving huge bottles of milk, it's just the normal course of things.
There is a growth spurt at about 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 mos (I'm probably repeating myself) so it's likely that YES it is a growth spurt, and during a growth spurt they just need to eat all.the.time and the pacifier will become acceptable again once the spurt passes (3-5 days)
@amyg! Guess who has a fatty baby?! That's right, this girl!
LO was 8lbs 14.5oz at her check today! She was 8lbs 7oz at birth and 8lbs at her check last Friday. I kinda wanted to tell the other doctor to suck it, but I was good and just did a happy dance on the way out of the clinic
happy dance happy dance happy dance
Now back off on those bottles, watch diaper count and if they drop by more than about 1 or maybe 2 a day you need to back off a bit slower. expect that she'll need to nurse a bit longer or a bit more often to just get that extra milk herself instead of you having to pump. and of course, back off on the pumping, but be careful to not go too fast so you don't get too engorged.
Breastfeeding has gotten better now my milk has come in. She'll nurse for 45 minutes at a time and usually not fall asleep while doing so. We do have to wake her up for feedings every 2.5-3 hours (I try to hit the midpoint of that). We're still using the shields but I try to offer her my nipple as well. The LC suggested I use the shields as needed until we see how her weight is. She only lost 5.7% in the hospital.
She had three big poops in the hospital and hasn't had one since we've been home (came home Wednesday around 2). She's continually wetting diapers (we had 5 yesterday), so should I be concerned? Someone suggested to me that breastfed babies might not poop as often but my handy dandy infant care book says she should be passing yellow poo at this point. She's super gassy, too, but doesn't seem to be in pain.
Use a bit of breast compressions and massage as she nurses. This speeds the flow of milk but also helps to loosen the fats stuck to the walls of the ducts to enter milk a bit faster. Also be sure she eats all she wants on side one and she pulls off on her own, before burping and offering side two. This also helps get more hindmilk into her. Hindmilk helps with poop!!
Poop isn't necessary to see if you have good pee diapers, but it can mean baby isn't getting quite enough to have some to poop out leftovers. So keep an eye on things. Since she hadn't lost much weight at all (up to 10% is normal) you get to be a little bit more relaxed about weight gain that many moms worry about.
Edit to add.
I looked at your ticker,
at 4 days old we expect to see about 4 diaper changes. I wouldn't worry about poop or no poop just yet. Use a bit of tummy massage and gently bend their knees toward their chest and they'll often go ahead and poop. sometimes they can't quite figure out which muscles do that.
This little monkey wants to be nursing ALL DAY. I have to wear her as she eats or I can't get anything done. I've tried giving her her paci but she won't take it because she wants milk. Wrapping her has definitely saved us otherwise no one would eat and nothing would get done.
This little monkey wants to be nursing ALL DAY. I have to wear her as she eats or I can't get anything done. I've tried giving her her paci but she won't take it because she wants milk. Wrapping her has definitely saved us otherwise no one would eat and nothing would get done.
What wrap are you using and how do you like it? I want to get something for baby-wearing.
Post by ombradellarosa on Jun 20, 2015 0:31:47 GMT -5
Thanks @amyg! I knew her stomach had to get bigger but I was afraid I was overdoing it. Then again I don't force her to eat so I guess that shouldn't be a worry. I did see her little belly bulging out at a diaper change and she still seemed hungry, having eaten not too long ago. Today she spit up a ton again though, might be projectile, and I worry about her poor little tummy.
This little monkey wants to be nursing ALL DAY. I have to wear her as she eats or I can't get anything done. I've tried giving her her paci but she won't take it because she wants milk. Wrapping her has definitely saved us otherwise no one would eat and nothing would get done.
What wrap are you using and how do you like it? I want to get something for baby-wearing.
I've been using a MekishikoMX because it's been the easiest but I have quite a few. I also have a linen ring sling but I'm not a huge fan because I haven't broke it in enough and I feel wraps are more secure. I also have a brand new moby wrap but I think it's too hot and I don't like stretchy so I'm giving it away.
Post by mrsmonogrammed on Jun 20, 2015 2:03:52 GMT -5
Im about at my melting point with breastfeeding- my milk came in (woo!!) but I can NOT get this girl to eat at the breast! Not to mention MOTN, she absolutely refuses to be woken.
I pumped twice today to take the edge off and got about and 1 1/2 of milk. I gave it to her in a bottle and she sucked it down like there's no tomorrow. She has also had 2 oz of formula throughout the day because she can NOT calm down at the breast! I'm heartbroken that we haven't gotten into a rhythm yet, and worried that she isn't having enough wet/dirty diapers. I don't want to be starving my baby just because I *want* to breastfeed and am resisting formula as hard as I can:(
Weight check in the morning, we'll see what dr says. She was down 1 lb on Thursday (born at 9lb, 8lb 1oz at dr).
mrsmonogrammed the LC at the hospital gave us a way to "trick" her into latching (onto a nipple shield) by giving her a few sucks of formula and then rubbing a bit on the nipple shield to draw her in. It still takes a few tries usually, but it works!
This "breast feeding is hard" thing I have always heard is no joke.
Joanna is almost exactly 2 days old as I type this, and although I can get her to latch usually, I just don't have much colostrum to give her. I know she's getting some, but they (hospital) had me pumping and it was only a few drops. Seems like normally they wouldn't worry, but she's already lost 10% of her weight, and her blood sugar was low. There's no real sign that my milk is coming in soon... So they suggested a formula supplement. I just gave her that, about 18 ml, which she ate right up, actually seemed satisfied by, unlike when she'd nurse and still be rooting after (breaking my heart here, sweetie).
And now, I am second guessing myself and hoping I haven't just lost my chance at breastfeeding. Has anyone needed a little formula to get them to milk coming in and then been fine? Did I just nipple confuse her?
I am running on like 6 hours of disjointed sleep in 3 days, so I may be over stressing. It's so hard when you feel like you can't feed your baby! I guess I was more mentally prepared for latching issues than supply issues.
This "breast feeding is hard" thing I have always heard is no joke.
Joanna is almost exactly 2 days old as I type this, and although I can get her to latch usually, I just don't have much colostrum to give her. I know she's getting some, but they (hospital) had me pumping and it was only a few drops. Seems like normally they wouldn't worry, but she's already lost 10% of her weight, and her blood sugar was low. There's no real sign that my milk is coming in soon... So they suggested a formula supplement. I just gave her that, about 18 ml, which she ate right up, actually seemed satisfied by, unlike when she'd nurse and still be rooting after (breaking my heart here, sweetie).
And now, I am second guessing myself and hoping I haven't just lost my chance at breastfeeding. Has anyone needed a little formula to get them to milk coming in and then been fine? Did I just nipple confuse her?
I am running on like 6 hours of disjointed sleep in 3 days, so I may be over stressing. It's so hard when you feel like you can't feed your baby! I guess I was more mentally prepared for latching issues than supply issues.
When I was still in the hospital I was barely making anything. We're talking 1/2 ml after pumping for like 20 minutes. And that was just drops that had to be sucked up with a syringe and they had me supplement with formula. Since then after seeing the LC and building up my supply from their recommendation, he hasn't had formula since literally the day I saw the LC 2 days after discharge from the hospital.
Don't get disheartened. Just keep at it. You're both new at this so there's a learning curve for both of you.
This "breast feeding is hard" thing I have always heard is no joke.
Joanna is almost exactly 2 days old as I type this, and although I can get her to latch usually, I just don't have much colostrum to give her. I know she's getting some, but they (hospital) had me pumping and it was only a few drops. Seems like normally they wouldn't worry, but she's already lost 10% of her weight, and her blood sugar was low. There's no real sign that my milk is coming in soon... So they suggested a formula supplement. I just gave her that, about 18 ml, which she ate right up, actually seemed satisfied by, unlike when she'd nurse and still be rooting after (breaking my heart here, sweetie).
And now, I am second guessing myself and hoping I haven't just lost my chance at breastfeeding. Has anyone needed a little formula to get them to milk coming in and then been fine? Did I just nipple confuse her?
I am running on like 6 hours of disjointed sleep in 3 days, so I may be over stressing. It's so hard when you feel like you can't feed your baby! I guess I was more mentally prepared for latching issues than supply issues.
I didn't supplement and wish I had because of how much weight DB lost and the stress it caused. Most likely you'll be back to breast feeding in no time once your milk is in! Try to rest in the meantime, while you're not on demand to nurse every two hours. Seriously, take advantage of you can.
Post by baytosa2013 on Jun 20, 2015 10:03:52 GMT -5
Yesterday was a rough day for us. DD had her 2 week appt at the Pediatrician and she's gaining like a champ but when I asked about her stool the dr became concerned. She's been having ALOT of dirty diapers and they were mucus-y and stringy. They tested and there was a small amount of blood in it though nothing that we could actually "see". The Dr said that she believes that DD is having a hard time breaking down cow's milk proteins and put us on another formula to see if it helps clear up. Her belly button still hasn't completely dried up and she's got clogged tear ducts. I just felt like we'd broken our kid already.
We saw the LC right after and we had already been trying to decide if we should give up because my milk is clearly not coming in. I totally ugly cried in the office even though I know we've tried to get it to where it needs to be. I think at this point we are just going to let her feed and get what little she can from me and then supplement the majority with the formula. We decided to stop using the hospital grade pump because I was pumping 6-8 times a day and it was taking me a week to get 2oz. Rationally I was prepared for this to happen...hormonally is a whole other story.
baytosa2013, hopefully switching formula does the trick, her cord will eventually fall off, and I don't know anything about clogged tear ducts but you didn't break her! Stress plays such a huge role in all of this. Try not to put so much pressure on yourself. You know that with the supplementation she's not starving or anything like that. That was always a relief to me to know that even if I couldn't produce enough for him that he wasn't going to go hungry because of me. Try to take comfort in that and keep trying with breastfeeding. I had such anxiety about my milk production even knowing all of that. When I pumped each time before seeing the LC I was getting like 5ml at most. During my appointment with the LC I pumped 70ml while I was distracted with everything they were doing with G. I was shocked to get so much after getting barely anything.
You're doing a great job! Keep at it and creepy internet hugs to you!
baytosa2013, I am right there with you re: BFing issues. My situation is not completely the same, but I think I can commiserate re: what you're feeling.
It took a whole week for my milk to really come in, and by that point LO had already lost more than a pound (and he was pretty damn tiny to begin with). I tried my best to pump as much as I could, but my stress level is about 10/10 right now (just found out I'm being laid off 3 weeks after my mat leave ends), so I was barely getting anything, even sitting at the hospital-grade pump until it automatically shut itself off. Our little dude also had pretty severe jaundice, so he would sleep through feedings - which definitely didn't help anything.
Our pedi insisted that we start supplementing formula right away at our very first in-office visit - it was either that, or back to the hospital for bili-lights and monitoring. I ugly cried because I felt like a failure for not being able to provide what my baby needed to thrive. It's such a basic, natural thing, right? Rationally, like you said, I know there are many GOOD options for feeding my baby, but the "breast is best" rhetoric still stings so badly for mamas in our shoes.
Now that LO is two weeks old, we are exclusively formula feeding, because it was just not possible for me to pump every 2 hours, manage formula bottles, and try to BF (despite working with multiple LCs, LO cannot latch because I have severely inverted nipples that even a shield cannot match). I finally decided with DH that it would be better for all of us if we could streamline LO's eating routine and focus on bonding with him instead of the fear I felt at each feeding.
It took us a couple of tries to find the right formula for LO's tummy, because he needs the specialty sensitive stuff, but he is now doing much better and gaining weight like a champ. It sounds like your bub is gaining weight well right now, and your pedi has recommended a specific formula - that's more than half the battle!
I hope I didn't derail your post any - I think this is just my hormonal, long-winded way of saying that, no matter what you end up doing, the important thing is that you will find a way to feed your LO, and she will be just fine. If switching to formula is what will enable you to stop stressing as much and focus on bonding with your little girl, then I think it's a fair consideration. I also send mountains of support if you intend to keep pumping and supplementing. Sending creepy internet hugs to you!!
This "breast feeding is hard" thing I have always heard is no joke.
Joanna is almost exactly 2 days old as I type this, and although I can get her to latch usually, I just don't have much colostrum to give her. I know she's getting some, but they (hospital) had me pumping and it was only a few drops. Seems like normally they wouldn't worry, but she's already lost 10% of her weight, and her blood sugar was low. There's no real sign that my milk is coming in soon... So they suggested a formula supplement. I just gave her that, about 18 ml, which she ate right up, actually seemed satisfied by, unlike when she'd nurse and still be rooting after (breaking my heart here, sweetie).
And now, I am second guessing myself and hoping I haven't just lost my chance at breastfeeding. Has anyone needed a little formula to get them to milk coming in and then been fine? Did I just nipple confuse her?
I am running on like 6 hours of disjointed sleep in 3 days, so I may be over stressing. It's so hard when you feel like you can't feed your baby! I guess I was more mentally prepared for latching issues than supply issues.
I experienced this exact scenario with DS1 and we successfully breastfed for 15mo. He had formula for 3-4days to bridge from birth to when my milk came in/we got into the LC.
Post by baytosa2013 on Jun 20, 2015 18:46:27 GMT -5
jcprn - Thank you for the kind words and the creepy internet hugs. I keep trying to tell myself that we are doing just fine.
teenybird - you totally didn't derail my post and although the reasons are the same the outcome of switching to formula is the same. I'm not sure yet if I want to keep pumping but for now I am letting her latch and get what she can from me while supplementing the rest. I figure at least it's something even if it's very little and if that's all I can do then that's all I can do.
budders - Today is a better day. I think it was just overwhelming hearing all those things at once on top of knowing that I will need to make a decision on whether to keep trying to breast feed and pump or just let it go. The hormones are kicking my butt this week. I've been crying over EVERYTHING!
My baby is really sleepy and she's not pooping - she hasn't since we've been home. Cue freak out mode!
Mine too!! Our pedi says not to worry as long as when she does poop that it's soft. But definitely with you on the sleepy thing...I can NOT get her to wake up MOTN to nurse! I've been going downstairs to pump because she won't cooperate:(
I didn't know where to put this so I'm putting it here. Anyone else still not feeling like their baby matches their name? I pretty much wanted Nathan for the last 5 months, but of course kept second guessing it as the end grew closer. Now whenever anyone calls him Nathan, it just seems weird. I just look at him and think "little boy" or "sweetie". I totally don't feel Nathan yet. I think this happened with my daughter too, but I feel so weird about it. DH wants to kill me whenever I mention it. I think a name just makes them so much more of a specific unique individual, but I don't know him well enough yet to know him as "Nathan".
Does this make any sense or am I just completely crazy?
My baby is really sleepy and she's not pooping - she hasn't since we've been home. Cue freak out mode!
Day 3 or 4, baby boy almost went 24 hrs without a wet or dirty diaper. We were freaking out. Called the after hours line and she only made me more nervous. However, we took his temperature and that helped; he pooped within a few minutes. And we left his diaper off for awhile and that also helped him to pee. Once he started up again, he was completely fine. But it was a worrisome 24 hours.
I didn't know where to put this so I'm putting it here. Anyone else still not feeling like their baby matches their name? I pretty much wanted Nathan for the last 5 months, but of course kept second guessing it as the end grew closer. Now whenever anyone calls him Nathan, it just seems weird. I just look at him and think "little boy" or "sweetie". I totally don't feel Nathan yet. I think this happened with my daughter too, but I feel so weird about it. DH wants to kill me whenever I mention it. I think a name just makes them so much more of a specific unique individual, but I don't know him well enough yet to know him as "Nathan".
Does this make any sense or am I just completely crazy?
Definitely having a hard time connecting Oscar with his name! I tried to convince myself to use Henry during my whole pregnancy, so I would always call him that. Oscar was a last minute choice. Now that he's out, I have to repeatedly call him Oscar, but it still doesn't feel right! And a couple of times I've had the thought that Henry actually fits him better. Ahh! I'm hoping it grows on me/him!
I didn't know where to put this so I'm putting it here. Anyone else still not feeling like their baby matches their name? I pretty much wanted Nathan for the last 5 months, but of course kept second guessing it as the end grew closer. Now whenever anyone calls him Nathan, it just seems weird. I just look at him and think "little boy" or "sweetie". I totally don't feel Nathan yet. I think this happened with my daughter too, but I feel so weird about it. DH wants to kill me whenever I mention it. I think a name just makes them so much more of a specific unique individual, but I don't know him well enough yet to know him as "Nathan".
Does this make any sense or am I just completely crazy?
I totally get this. I love the name Joanna, and we've never really varied from it. But I still have to think to connect her face to it, if that makes sense... I think it is getting better. I just talked to her, and thought of her as Baby or Sweet Pea for so long... I'm still working on switching over!
I didn't know where to put this so I'm putting it here. Anyone else still not feeling like their baby matches their name? I pretty much wanted Nathan for the last 5 months, but of course kept second guessing it as the end grew closer. Now whenever anyone calls him Nathan, it just seems weird. I just look at him and think "little boy" or "sweetie". I totally don't feel Nathan yet. I think this happened with my daughter too, but I feel so weird about it. DH wants to kill me whenever I mention it. I think a name just makes them so much more of a specific unique individual, but I don't know him well enough yet to know him as "Nathan".
Does this make any sense or am I just completely crazy?
Same here. We've had her name for a long time but for some reason I keep wanting to call her a complete different name. Not only that but we were team green and both dh n I coulda sworn she was a he so sometimes I call her him-_-.
Still no poops today but the pedi's after hours line is beyond amazing. They don't think there's anything wrong with her and we just need to bring her in for her regularly scheduled appointment tomorrow. I feel like I made the right choice with pedis just based on that!
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