Feb-May 2011 Mommies

ok very very quickly. I have a few questions and one major concern. Ok first when can I start giving H cooled boiled water and how much. She two weeks now and has only been on breast no bottle. Also Wen can I give her the baby rooibos.
Second is there anything to stay away from when breastfeeding?? My mom says all beans and lentils. Stuff that causes flatulenec. Anything else??
Ok now I forgot what else I wanted to ask.
Oh ya the freezer bags that you store expressed milk in the freezer?? Where do you get em from??
Ok now for my major concern, well this has concerned me for a week now but its so embarassing. Meags you say your cervix is still visible. Ok now how do you know its your cervix?? Ok let me explain what concerns me. I can feel a ball like structure down there, it feels like a hard muscle and its the size of like a golf ball right there at the entrance. Omg this is such an overshare but it is so worrying. Has anyone had this??? I mean I didn't have a normal birth, why should anything be wrong or different there???? Ok so I googled and all I found was that it could be a freaking prolapsed uteris or bladder and I need surgery. I mean I don't want to freak out. But its a ball!!!! Apparently kegal exercises are suppose to help. That's according to google. Oh yes how long do I hold wen I'm doing that exercise. Do I just hold and release or do I keep the hold for a few seconds.

Hi ladies
Lucy - Mishka was the same - she has settled a bit but still feeds often - her growth spurts 2 and 6 weeks lasted about 2 weeks each- each baby is different and the time lines we are given are only guidelines. My dh was also worried about me and my mental state because all I was doing is feeding all day every day. I decided not to pressure myself to go out , which is very difficult but once the decision is made and accepted it makes it easier. M is now just over 9 weeks old, she still feeds every 2-3 hours during the day and an cluster feed from 5-7 sometimes 8 but at night I now ger longer streches one of 4 sometimes 5 hours then every 2-3 hours again. I also had to wait for dh to get home so that I could brush my teeth or go to the bathroom. I recommend you get a wrap and strap Tessa to you- can get difficult to do some tasks, but will free your hands and she will sleep longer strapped to you. I got the UbbaBaba one. To check if baby is warm check the back of her neck, they tend to have cold hands even if they are warm enough. She actually be too hot.

It is challenging but try and stay calm babies sense our tension and won't settle.

We must remember our lo's need us to provide all their basic needs - thirst and hunger - how often do we need to eat and drink something and need human interaction.

It's all worth it.

Joli -thanks. I won't do anything until I really feel I can't go on. In the meantime I hope she gets over this phase. Perhaps the midwife tomorrow will have some ideas. So far I have had enough milk for the manic feeds but not expressing too. Perhaps when things go to normal again I should express and freeze.
Really appreciate your help, it even feels better to have just off loaded.
I hope Dorcas 's holiday goes quickly, you are lucky to have such a super domestic.

Oh shame man Lucy it sounds terrible. When I go out, i.e. shops, take girls to swimming etc. I leave Callum with Dorcas and I express just before I leave. Even when I have to go do a shoot - I just express before I leave and leave a bottle with milk. I've always got milk, so I guess I'm lucky in that way. I remember with Kayla - when she was about 8 weeks old I would feed and feed and feed and feed - like never ending and then she would still scream for more so I gave her formula and my milk just stopped and stopped the whole BF thing. Maybe try feed one feed morning, one feed lunch time and one feed night and give her formula in between. And then if you want, when you feel better, you can try breast again more often.

Joli - that is a very valid point. I also have her in a vest and full babygrow. When I feed I also put a fleece over her. Her hands do get cold. When she sleeps I also use 2 blankets on normal days. When it is rainy or cold I put 3. What worries me is often her head sweats but her hands are cold. Even if I bundle her hands up she works them free.
About the formula , I so don't want to use it. But I can't carry a baby attached to me all day everyday either. I have no idea how you ladies go out, it isn't possible. When we do drs I end up feeding in the rooms. If it was just a few days like this I have no problem sticking it and getting through. But it is getting worse not better and it is playing on my mind. I can't even take my vitamins if hubby doesn't bring them, let alone get myself a drink of water. Brushing my teeth doesn't happen until hubby is home from work!

Lucy forgive me if I sound stupid - but is she warm enough? Babies need to be kept warm and some babies more than others. Callum hates to be cold and won't settle if he is not nice and warm. So he is wearing a vest and a winter babygrow and then still wrapped in two fleece blankets. Then only will he sleeps nicely. Remember if you going to give formula (and I don't say there's anything wrong with that - I did with my girls), your milk will become less. I haven't given Callum any formula. With the girls I did and then eventually just stopped as they would drink for like an hour on me and then still screams and then finish a bottle of formula anyways. Never even took tablets to stop my milk then.

Ok whole post went awol. Here goes point form!

Rakker-sure you are all settled now. Good luck and i'm sure you.ll get your quick easy birth.

Meags- well done on the latch. Hope goes from strength to strength. Lol on loo story, also been tempted. In get checked out.

Kimika- tks for post. His first tip already helped. Will try patting today as well. This has started fri/ sat last week and good from not settling by 11am to midday until yesterday was 11pm. Not sure a growth spurt can go for a week! I am finished, she has been attached to me for a week! Dh is super stressed for me and wants me to supplement with formula. No ebm as madam drinks everything!