Babies April 2015

Thanks Gloei. It's quite difficult pumping at work. I think I might start pumping only once during the day and if it's not enough then I'll supplement with some formula at daycare. I am happy to breastfeed at night. It's also just having to feed in public. I am ok with it but it is a bit irritating at times. Also having to be so careful with what I eat and drink. Not able to have maybe a few glasses of wine etc. It's the best for my boy though and I am sure I will miss it when I stop. I will push through this stage of "aversion" and see how I feel in a month though.

Otherwise, we also don't have the best sleeper. He doesn't fight it too much and he goes to sleep easily at night...but he wakes up for milk every 3 hours or so. Also, we need a baby monitor so that we can put him down at 7:30pm in his cot and still watch TV etc until we go to bed. I am happy with him sleeping in my bed at night but that awkward stage between him going to sleep and us going to sleep is not comfortable with him in the lounge on the couch with us. The TV often wakes him up etc. If we can get a monitor then he can sleep in his quieter room until his 11pm wake up.

Using cloth nappies at night now because the disposables don't hold all night. We have wrigglebugs bamboo/cotton night nappy and a fleece cover and it works like a bomb. all night no problem. If you have a heavy wetter at night...get these nappies!

ummmmm otherwise I am super anxious because I going on a work trip to Mauritius for a week. Daddy is taking care of babes and I have frozen breastmilk etc and planned everything out. But I am SOOOOO anxious about leaving him and him not having boobie for a week. I also have to pump when I'm there. lots of admin and planning and stress. Hope I can relax a bit at least. Hopefully babes will want boobie still when I get back. eeeeek

Hi Ladies,

I was beginning to think our thread has died, I guess we aren't going to stay in touch till High school days?!!

Faffymum - soooooooo relieved things are going fine. It sounds as if he is really well taken cared of!! I take my hat off to you for pumping so much. I am only pumping every couple of days to keep some milk for mornings hubby gives the 5:00 feed and I hate the pumping. The things we do for our little ones! I have also given a bit of formula here and there, luckily at this stage of breastfeeding things are more stable. It is wonderful that you could manage to breastfeed till know. I am thinking to carry on for another while with the breastfeeding...this being my last little baby (if the vasectomy was successful he he he) I just want this to last a bit longer. But I remember with my first I was so shell shocked as a new mommy I counted the days till 6 months to end breastfeeding. Weird how I feel quite the opposite this time.
Is your LB on solids yet?

Nelsn - how are your 2 boys doing? Is he 6 months already? Sho, can't believe it is almost half a year since they were all born?!!! Hope your part time work is still going fine. And your chickens and veggie garden???!!

RonelleB - How are you coping with work and being a mom? Hope Layla is sleeping well at night? I never know how a sleep deprived mom puts in a whole day at the office (and be productive)...

We are doing well and I am enjoying every second of having a baby! I feel so much better prepared as a mom this time round. I have started doing some part time work from home again (aiming for 1 - 3 hours of work per day). We are having some serious sleep challenges the last couple of days. Things were going so well as I could put her down the moment while she falls asleep without having to hold her for a long period of time....and....suddenly it takes about half an hour to an hour to get her to sleep! The MOMENT we put her down she starts to cry?!
She has been pulling on her ears while feeding for the last week or so. I think I will take her to see a doctor as I think that she might be having an ear infection. Or perhaps teeth on its way???!!!

Googling gentle sleeptraining at the moment....mmmm....

Hope to hear from you all!! xx

Hi ladies.

I have been back at work now for 3 weeks. It's going well. It was tough at first but my baby actually enjoys daycare, can you believe it. He talks and smiles all day apparently. When I get there he is always being held or playing happily. Feel so relieved about that.

Pumping at work twice a day and breastfeeding at night. I am really over it now though, I wont lie. I am still doing it for babes. We are also giving him some formula because he is very hungry. He just wants more and more and the volume of breastmilk fills him but it doesn't satisfy him. He's a big boy too. So we are giving him some formula as top ups during the day. Seems to be going well.

I might wean him off boob at 6 months and just pump twice a day to give him that boobie juice booster.

Hope you are all enjoying your babies.

xxx

Hi Ladies,

Nelsn -

Sorry to hear about the headaches, it must be so frustrating to have them regularly. I guess we are all still recovering from having a baby.
THanks for your encouraging words about taking care of Mommy too - we need to hear it!

Daytime sleeps for us have also become more of a challenge...but nighttime is still the same.

RonelleB and Faffymum - Thinking of you especially. I presume daycare started this week??? Big hugs to you. Please let us know how it went if you got a moment. xx

Separation anxiety is normal, it happens alot especialy to moms going back to work because you have all the what ifs and the guilt of leaving your baby. Try speaking to a therapist like Gloie suggested. Speaking to your boss is a great idea.
Gloie@ sorry to hear about your gardening, praying for a miracle. Read an article on Above Rubies recently and thought of you. (issue 89). Its great to hear your boss understands and giving you time. How are your girls doing?
Great to hear that laila is sleeping better (I hope im talking about the right baby:D), those few nights are refreshing and needed. Praying that she keeps it up.
Being a parent to a newborn is hard no matter if its the first or second baby, being a mom is hard. Taking care of ourselves is vital, those few minutes to yourself can do alot. Please try to slow down and relax and just think of you no one but you. Enjoy you and the rest is easier to follow. You do no one a favour feeling drained, taking a long bath while huppy has baby or taking a walk alone can help relieve the stress. Please take care of yourselves mommies, if not for you do it for your babies. Will keep in touch

Hello Ladies

glad to hear you are doing well.
No AF yet and hoping it takes time . Khanya is becoming more demanding during the night, but sleeps well at night wakes about 1 or 2 times for a feed. He wants to play nonstop and then sleeps quiet a bit from exhaustion. I have started to exercise daily and eat better, still cant cut of refined sugar and carbs completely finding it hard. Am trying to cloth diaper more often and so far its working well. Khanya keeps getting a skin infection that needs antibiotics, hoping it dissapears completely now.
My headaches are still there especially after exercise. Cant remember who said what but will try answer what I remember before k wakes up. I cosleep with k too, for me its easier and he sleeps way better.

Hi Ladies!

Faffymum - I think it is a good idea to see a therapist. I wish I knew what to say to you...my heart breaks for you (and all other moms who don't have a choice to leave baby for work). If going back to work means you are able to put a roof over her head and food on the table then it is the best thing you can do for baby, remember that. Have you considered co-sleeping? I know not everyone is open to the idea but I believe it really does promote bonding and sense of security for baby. You might find the Dr. Sears article interesting:

www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concern...ing-yes-no-sometimes

There are so many acitivities to do with baby and children to foster a close connected bond - think quality time not quantity.

I also had the most horrible nightmares with my first baby. I have had a few again now. It really is extremely upsetting.

My husband worked at the nicest place in jhb who had the cutest little creche on the premise - I was blown away. It can be done with great success. I think it is worth while to take it up with your boss and other mommies in your company.

RonelleB -

So glad Laila is better!!!! Wooo-hooo!!!! Crying most of the day is no fun for parents or baby. Can you see a little swolen bump on her gums yet?
One of the benefits of formula is that they normally can stretch longer between feeds, especially night time. So glad you are all getting more sleep. Keeping fingers crossed that this is the new normal.

So glad Aunt flo wasn't extremely unkind to you. I am very nervous for the first time as I remember it being quite painful and heavy after my first c-section. Especially now with the POP I am terrified since everyone reports very heavy bleeding.

Hoping your trial run went well!

I am going to "try" my best to start working part-time (stress VERY part-time) again soon from home. My work has been very understanding with my current situation and said that they will be happy with whatever I can manage to get done. Must say that now with 2 kids I really just feel like being a stay at home mom and focus on my kids, but our pension funds are non existing currently....and approaching 40....

Baby waking up!!!

Love you all and you are in my thoughts!!