Newborn and baby advice

OH MY WORD. Excuse the essay - didn't realise it was so long.

Hello Ladies!
Of course after I finished typing last night she woke up and stayed awake and fussy until 12pm.. I was shattered lol. It's fine if she is awake and chilled out but she was very upset... and I had to walk up and down with her and rock and sing and all sorts. She was not a happy camper. She looked like she had a lot of wind again and I haven't managed to get any of those other products to try yet.. ugh. Oh well.

Sounds like a few people had rough nights.. I guess we will try again this evening lol. Oh the joys!

Mommy21 - neither of my kids wanted to be swaddled so I didn't persist. I do a semi swaddle where the bottom half of their body is nice and snuggly wrapped (can still move but not kick everything off) - and the little hands stick out at the top.

Hello ScribblingAl!! So sorry you are struggling. Honestly - I think when you have a traumatic birth and you are down and stressed it really messes up your supply and even takes ages for the milk to "let down" because you are never relaxed. I had the same with my son and he was stressed too - because you rub off on each other. If you really want to try to carry on with the breastfeeding - maybe consider elgonyl - it is apparently a mild anti-depressant which increases milk supply. I think the first 8 weeks with my son were one big, frequent feeding, frenzied, emotional blur - nothing natural or fabulous about it (breastfeeding) - after that it miraculously started getting better and I was glad I stuck it out - actually did end up being wonderful and bonding like it was supposed to be. I spent so much time crying those first weeks, it was crazy - and I'm not a crier at all. If you decide to stop too that also really shouldn't upset you - you have been expressing and giving as much as you can - and every little bit is an immune boost. Your baby has already benefited from what you have done and will thrive on formula if that is what you decide to do. I always respect you ladies who pump/express as that take serious amounts of commitment. Enjoy the salon - I'm insanely jealous!!! Need to do something like that too.
Enjoy your birthday dinner - when is/was your birthday.
(PS I'm replying to your messages in both threads because I'm lazy)

Try to take care of yourself and remember... your birth experience, as traumatic as it was will soon be a distant memory - take it day by day and try to focus on the positive. Get time out when you need it, talk,talk, talk and remember this too shall pass.

That's excellent Beansmom!!! Sounds like she is doing great!!

For stimulation, in the early days they say just putting your face closeby and talking or singing or even just changing scenery and moving baby around is plenty to stimulate them. THey are so easy to overstimulate. Things like different textures against their skins, little sounds, moving little things for their eyes to follow are all good too. Just watch for back arching, or looking away and getting cranky as signs of overstimulation.

I was taking a long walk with toddler and baby to the park earlier.. and by the time I got to the park, Lia was crying in the pram and Jordan was moaning he was tired I must carry him... lol... not good. Luckily I got Jordan to carry on walking all the way home (I did piggyback whilst pushing the pram for about 100m but that's not too bad) and LIa moaned the whole way... but.. when she got home she was so chilled out. Cooed and lay on the bed kicking her legs, looking around, not wanting to be held all the time like she has been. Both kids are sleeping now.. *touch wood and thank god lol* but I am very glad it ended so well... I had visions of trying to carry my 15kg toddler and push the pram with a screaming baby just to get home and we are all in tears. Luckily all worked out well lol.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I'll probably pop on here... makes me feel human again especially when I haven't been out the house or seeing other people at all.

Hi there everyone... Just got back from clinic this morning to have little Tayla weighed - and she is 3.08kg which is exact birth weight... they are super impressed that she has gained 340g in just 4 days! YAY!!!
We pushed the feeds out to every 4 hours from yesterday afternoon and feeds are going much better... and longer. She is now drinking for approx 15 - 20 mins and is taking in 60ml per feed... little oinker Thank you for all the advise...

Any tips on ways to stimulate a newborn??

Hi ladies

I'm joining you from the Pampers April 2010 forum. I've only read this page of posts - don't have much time in between running after a screaming baby.

You're all so lucky to be breastfeeding. I've tried everything, and am on the verge of giving up. At the moment I'm expressing, but I only get about 10ml a breast at a time, so I wait a few expresses and give her a decent feed when I have enough. Am topping up with formula. It sucks not to be able to do even the most natural of things for your little one. Pinky I use the nipple shields, but only because I can't latch her properly without them and my left nipple is a bit inverted. But they hurt like hell so I'm sticking to the expressing for a while.

morning ladies

chatting on my phone which is kinda irritating cause i can't see everything in 1 screen!!

i'm getting my hair done as we speak which is so nice! after this we start moving!!

pinky we had a 'bad' night last night my LG slept for 4 hours and woke up @ 2:30 then she didn't want to fall asleep again,she wasn't crying or anything. she eventually fell asleep @ 5:30,i don't know during the day she sleeps so well but @ night its another story! well this is our 2nd bad night! i'm sure she'll be a bit offish tonight also since it'll be our 1st night in the new place! anyway i'm sure your LG is growing nicely nd sorry about the sore nipples.

cheers
chat soon

Good morning ladies!

Mommy21, well done for going for a walk... I think I must do the same today...

Yesterday Karla was VERY difficult... she was awake in the afternoon for about 5 hours and didn't want to go to sleep, I struggled so much. Hubby got home and took over, put her down while she was sleepy but not asleep, she cried for about 3 minutes and then she was fast asleep!! Hubby is very consistent in not picking her up every time she cries. The Baby Sense book says you must not let them cry for more than 5 minutes, so it really does work. I feel so sad to hear her cry, but they must probably learn to self soothe!!

We had a relatively good night, she slept between 3 - 4 hours, now we are going to weigh her, I hope she picked up weight nicely this week!!

My nipples are really so sore, actually just the left hand side, but I suppose it will get better... It stings and burns, but I use my lansinoh after every feed, hopefully it will work!

Have a good day ladies!!

Jac-I find the burping to be hard, sometimes she'll burp immediately but most of the time she just wont. The sister at the hospital said if after 5 mins nothing has happened then dont try any longer and I also read the same thing in The Expectant Mother's Guide 2010.But I always keep an eye on her if she doesnt burp just in case she burps while asleep and milk comes back up!

Quick Question ladies, do you guys swaddle your LO's? I swaddle my daughter but @ night she will wiggle her body until I loosen her up or maybe I am doing it too tightly but she doesnt seem to like it. Is it possible for a newborn not to like being swaddled?

Just put her down to sleep so I should do the same, hoping we can go for a 4 hour stretch again today I am tired!!

Night night ladies! Hope you and the LO's sleep peacefully!!!