Expectant parent club! Where the pregnant people hang out.

[happytxchick]

Quote:
This is exactly what I do. To address the "routine" you mention above: I pump, feed half, burp, change the diaper which has usually been soiled again by mid-feeding (as you mention) b/c the feeding stimulates the bowel & Caroline usually stays quiet for this change b/c she's had half her meal, then I feed the other half, and put her back to bed. She is usually asleep at this point, but if not, then I give her her pacifier and that's the end of that. This system works well in the daytime, too.

However, Caroline is a much easier baby than Kolbi. Bree was easy, too. I am sorry that you've started out with a fussy one. I've often said that if Bree had been like Kolbi, I would have never had another one. I remember with Kolbi that I started mixing in some rice cereal into a little formula or breast milk for the just-before-bed feeding at around 2 weeks of age (I know, I know, I can hear everyone's gasps) -- but I was desperate and it worked like a charm. She had no GI issues with it and has no food allergies, etc, etc. She was just so hard to satisfy and this did the trick for her.

Hope that helps a little.

Oh, and I agree with Shireshome. I haven't put a cap on Caroline since the ride home from the hospital. And, don't lift feed!!!! Maybe it's time for a loving sit-down talk with DH; it's quite possible he just doesn't realize.

Maybe by the time you have four kids and your DH is 37, like us, then he'll have it down pat. Sweet Rob might need to give your young hubbies some pointers.

 

[Shireshome]

well good to hear I am not the only one doing this by myself, mostly. My DH is good, when he is home.

we found that he sleeps better and is less fussy when he is warm, he doesn't pant or sweat or look uncomfortable when he is heated. I have tried the gas drops and they seem to help, but is it really ok to do every time I feed him? I hate to do it unnecessarily, but he was better last night. Don't ya know I spilled almost the entire bottle this morning . yet another thing I have to go get today. It is difficult to try and time our outtings, but atleast he sleeps real well in the car seat

ok, another thing I wonder about.... after I have fed him, changed him, fed him again (this is unfortunatly the routine we have fallen into) he poops again...so I am often left with the dilemma in the middle of the night. Every time I change him he wakes up and wants to be fed again, leading to this never ending cycle of feeding, pooping, diaper changing. Then I don't know when to expect him up again cause we eat a full meal, change diaper, snack, change diaper and snack again. Sometimes I feel like this could go on all day and night if I didn't neglect to change a diaper occaisionally. any ideas here? I feel like a bad mama when I don't change a diaper right away, but at 1am, 3am and 5am I just wanna go back to bed. If I start with a diaper change before I feed him he is frantic and it is harder to change him and I know I will still need to change him again.
I think I might be starting to get a little crazy and could use a few hours of rest. I really dont want to fall into post partum blues, but feel like I might be headed that direction.. or is it the lack of sleep?

I need some help, but what kind of help? What can I ask anyone to do? Hopefully once I start the bottle it will be easier. sorry to address issues that are not really belonging in this thread, but you guys have been real helpful and supporting.

My rule for night time diaper changes is....if it isn't leaking and baby is sleeping, so am I! But I will give you a heads up, it might be the "gas drops" that are causing him to poop. I don't know what you are using for "gas drops" but try 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to 1/4 cup of luke warm water, mix until desolved and us a dropper or a straw to give it to him, just a little he doesn't need more that a teaspoon or so. This will help him feel better without making him poop. I just used this on my baby today when I couldn't get her out of the eat cry eat cry cycle. You'll need to pat him until you get a good burp, then swaddle and hold him until he falls asleep. A real tip off to me is when you said "he sleeps real well in the car seat" that usually means they have heart burn and don't get relief from it unless they sleep in an upright postion like that of a car seat. Again, try the baking soda, it should work like a charm. Can you or do you get sleep during the day? Sounds like you could use it.​

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
We put a note on the invitations to bring diapers for a chance to be in a raffle. I got so many diapers I literally didn't buy any until Wyatt was 5.5 months old.

OH that's a good idea!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:

 

[LilBizzy]

Hello Everyone! I am not a new mother, but as of MAy 19th @! 1:29 pm, I am the very excited new GRANDmother of a beautiful little baby girl. I know I am not allowed to post a new arrival without pictures so... here she is! ( I DO have a question to ask, so don't forget to read on after all the "Awwwwwww" LOL)

 

[LilBizzy]

Oops, I forgot the question.. Its been a large number of years since I had an infant. The daughter is breast feeding, and she says the baby nurses for about 20 minutes and then falls asleep, waking in a half hour screaming to eat again. I advised her to pump after eating to stimulate milk production, because I am guessing there is not enough, maybe, and the baby is working hard and falling asleep before full. Does this sound about right?

And, because I AM a new grandmother, I am going to have to show another picture

Or two

Or Three LOL

 

[babymakes6]

Quote:
Whipped cream for the fruit, just in case someone like me shows up. Honey butter for the croissants. Iced tea too, not just hot. Otherwise you are golden!!!

Cool, thanks. I am wondering if we could get away with no hot food? Someone else suggested cucumber sandwiches...maybe those & lots of fruit, bagels & cake?

How about Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches ? This is my favorite recipe!

I make them with TWO slices of bread, trim the crusts off, and cut them in thirds-it makes nice, easy-to-hold servings.

 

[suzettex5]

LILBIZZY-

Awwwwwwww! She is soooo cute! I LOVE the picture where she is winking! Toooooo cute!


To answer your question (forgive me if I jump around a bit!)- First, dont let anyone tell new mom that she isnt making enough milk, thats a common answer to newly brestfeeding moms who are having a tiny bit of trouble. It really does take some time for a supply and demand routine to kick in for the breasts. A new baby can get tired from nursing and often will fall asleep before they are full. AND a new baby may have a tiny tummy that can only hold so much, and what with breatsmilk being so highly digestible, its very easy for baby to be hungry very soon after eating. If new mom wants to, she can easily feed one breast, then if baby falls asleep, mom can just wake her up by giving her a diaper change (need it or not, it will wake up and stimulate baby) and after the change, offer the other breast. Dont give a pacifier or bottle unless mom is sure baby has had enough breastmilk to stimulate a decent supply, or at the very least, mom can pump the first breast offered (to keep up supply) and offer the un-nursed breast after baby wakes up. Its important to switch breasts evenly as possible in the begining to establish a good supply in both sides and to prevent engorgement of one side.

Pumping or even hand expressing between feedings can help since the more milk your breasts think baby needs, the more they make, and it is easier for baby to get milk from a fuller breast than one that is half empty. Dont worry, pumping or hand expressing the milk will not take any away from baby, your breasts always have milk in them.

I have breastfed 5 children (never used bottles) and they all nursed at least the first 12 months of life. Its not always easy and can be frustrating, but I chose to never give up and Im glad I didnt! Hooray for your DD for choosing to breastfeed! I hope her trouble passes quickly and she and baby stay happy and healthy!

Oh, and welcome to the thread!! We LOVE pics!!

 

[LilBizzy]

I just wasnt sure how long it takes for the supply to keep up with the demand. She was born at 38 weeks, an adorable little 5 pounds. My daughter didnt think she isnt making enough milk... she was actually worried that the baby eating too much would cause her a little tummy ache. I did assure her that the baby wouldn't eat too much. I assumed that she is falling asleep before full. The first 24 hours after she was born, she really didnt eat. I believe the hospital had her pumping, but perhaps not often enough. So really it's only been 4 days.
Come to think of it, I believe I only saw her nursing from one side. I'll make sure to remind my daughter to use both sides. She took a breast feeding class- LOL yet she asks me questions and I havent nursed in 28 years!

And yes, the winking picture- we call that the Popeye look. She IS adorable.. But then again, aren't all babies?

 

[suzettex5]

Quote:
I imagine she is a bit busy/pre-occupied, lol. I have had so much to do and so little energy to do it. I am noticing that priorities change a lot after having a baby...this is our 1st one and I bet kelsey is feeling the same way I am...a bit overwhelmed. I bet her husband is a little more helpful than mine though. I love my DH and understand what his motives are, but he has been working extra overtime to cover the bills. Last night he got home from work at 9:30, leaving me with Shane non-stop, no help. Today I have to figure out how to carry a baby and 100 lbs of chicken feed by myself. I have to say I am a little frustrated. Please don't judge my DH to harshly but I do need to vent a little. I was hoping I would have a little more help or even a little more confidence in caring for Shane by now. 2 weeks in and I still wonder if what I am doing is correct, especially at night time when I cannot seem to console him. I have no idea if I am supposed to hold him during his poop faces or if I can put him down. He makes lots of noises when he sleeps and I still have to keep an eye on how warm he is. I keep freaking forgetting to put a hat on him and turn the heat on.

oh..crying baby, gotta go

Why do you have to put a hat or heat on him? Except for the first five hours after birth your baby doesn't need a hat unless it is very cold or draftly. Your baby should not have any more clothes/heat then you do. If you are making him too hot this could be a big part of what is wrong with him especially since boys run hotter than girls. You should try not keeping him so warm and see it that helps him. A dead giveaway is if he is panting (short quick breaths) while sleeping or calmly laying in your arms also if his temp is 100 to 101F your are cooking him out mommy! Another thing to try is Gripe Water or, if you don't have a health food store nearby let me know I'll tell you how to make it. I have some good tips on how to console him; they will also help narrow down to whether or not there is a problem or just a baby that loves to be with his mum.

You also have NO business moving 100 lbs of anything. You should leave it where ever it is and if you have to, pay someone 5$ to move it for you, maybe a neighbor, a teen, someone. It isn't worth losing your uterus over. As for your husband, he sounds a lot like mine. Guess we both have good taste

I find that with my husband, if I just write down on paper 4 or 5 things for him to do that I simply cannot do like move a feed bag out of the car I just hand it to him and say "hey, I need my big stronge husband to help with these 5 things" Then hand him the paper and XOXO. As tempting as it is to hand the baby over to dad when the baby is crying, new dads are often just puzzled

as to what to do, and if the baby keeps crying or cries more while dad is holding him that only aggravates, after all men don't get a new dad brain like we get our new mommy brains.

I gotta disagree a little with this answer as far as body temp goes. A babies regulatory system is still very immature and unable to maintain constants for very long. Thats why the majority of DR's and moms will tell you to dress a baby in one layer more than you have on. A onsie and an outfit or jammies is usually sufficient, unless you keep your home at 80 degrees or hotter or 65 degrees or colder. Baby needs you to help them maintain a constant body temp and they simply are not able to do that without help. Feel babies feet and toes and fingers, if they feel warmer than your arm, baby may be too warm, if they are colder than yours, baby may need socks and a hat. That said, a baby having cold fingers and toes is also proof that a babies circulatory system is still imature and has trouble getting warm blood to the extremities, thus the need for an extra layer of clothes to help baby out a bit.

I cant say I have ever heard of boys 'running hotter' than girls. Why would that be true? I have 1 girl and 4 boys, as babies they all seemed to stay in the normal range unless there was a fever. What would sex have to do with it? Maybe that boys are often born bigger than girls and thus have more body fat and are able to maintain a higher body temperature slightly longer than a smaller, thinner girl? IDK, most my babies were 8 pounders, but I still dressed them in one layer more than I had on, unless it was super hot outside, then they stayed in the shade with the same amount of clothes I had on. But in the house on hot days with the A/C running, baby would get cold fingers and toes, so on went the socks and clothes and hat to keep baby comfy.

I do agree the baby doesnt always need a hat. Alot of body heat escapes through the head, so unless its really cold, baby probably doesnt need one. My babies seemed to be more comfortable with a hat on the first week of life though, for whatever reason?!

I also agree you shouldnt be moving heavy feed around till at least 6 weeks post-partum, better safe than sorry.

As for hubbies- as long as they go to work, and come home to you, treat you nice, and dont stray, youre doing pretty good. SOOO many men out there who abandon the mothers of their children or choose to hit the bars or worse...ick. Its a tough world out there and as hard as it can be to feel like you are doing all the work while he isnt- try to remember the burden he carries as well by trying to be a decent husband and father. Its one thing to be a couple of capable, independent adults, but to suddenly have another totally dependent, non-contributing, helpless baby can be a scary thing. If he is working overtime, its because of his drive to be a provider and thats a good thing. Believe me, I know how it feels, my hubby is gone at 9 am and gets home at 9pm or later, most nights and often weekends and anniversaries and holidays and birthdays. And it gets lonely and it gets really, really hard (especially now with 5 kids, all the critters, a garden, and being 22 weeks along!) but his working so very hard allows me to stay home with our kids and allows me to feed all the extra critters and have a nice van to tote all the kids around in. Its a hard trade and its never easy to sacrifice year after year, but in this economy, I am happy he has a good income and still comes home to us every night.

Remember to be kind to your partner and ASK him for help, try to be open and communicate and dont feel the need to be Super Mom and Super Wife. It never works!