Feb-May 2011 Mommies

Tazzy, I agree that T looks like her scans. Especially the last lot where we got good clear shots.
I have baby sense i'll have a look and let you know. I am so glad you are having such a good time with Amelia. She does round like such a sweetie. It will be awesome to do tea if Kimika comes down, now just to convince her to come.....hehe.

Cath - Will is a cutie pie. Love the smile. The only reason I am not bankrupt is because I am not brave enough to go to shopping centres. The business trips suck. I am still bfing so not sure how it will work.

Joli , well done on being so busy. Good news! A puppy! That is so cool but loads of work. Do the girls help? Would love to see a pic of puppy and of course Callum.

Betty , yes tights! My best! Madam has 5 pairs. I find they make any outfit warm, plus cute as pie.

Kimika- come to ballito! Thanks for info on R after jabs. T also has the same since her jabs and my friend here too. She never had a problem pooing until jabs. Hers doesn't in hard though she battles for a whole day to get it out and cries from pain. It is awful.

Meags that is so weird about 70ml . Poor monkey has had a hard ride with feeding. Your jack of sleep sounds hard. I wouldn't even feel guilty about the swing. Sometimes it needs to be about getting through. I am sure Matt is just fine after his comfy night!

I can't remember anything else, silly me. Will come post again later come check if I have missed anything.
Hope all the lovely ladies and their cherubs have a super day.

Hi ladies

I am still alive! and things with the boobs are going so well finally!!!
ok first personals then I'll update about me:

Tazzy - sleep training is said to be most effective at 6 months as they understand best at that age (the method of leaving them to cry it out). In the mean time they suggest putting baby in the crib drowsy. If they cry, pick them up, console them and once drowsy, lay back in the crib. Keep at this until they fall asleep in the crib.
You can also sit near the crib and keep a hand on them until they fall asleep. Then keep moving the chair further and further from the crib until you just put them down and leave the room and they are fine.
I know the other pills dry up the milk but my midwife told me she will only prescribe it once I'm done with pumping?! Even though she knows I'm trying to dry up the milk? it's just really bizarre here...

Cath - still no BD going on here.....I dont even know how to initiate it anymore and actually cant be bothered
W is SOOOOO cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! such a gorgeous smile I cant wait for M to start laughing.

Kimika I too am jealous of preg moms. I really miss the bump!!! And I'm very jealous of BF moms. We were at a braai last night and this mom was BF her 3 week old baby, he was just laying there UNSWADDLED and BF and I actually felt very very heartsore DH came to me and said "go look at the baby. its BF and unswaddled!!!" - I dont think he realised how much it would upset me. I explained to him today I felt a tug at my heart strings and actually wanted to cry a little....we had friends over this afternoon and he was telling them all about this baby compared to Matt and kind of laughing an saying how annoyed I must have been. Still dont think he gets that its a sensitive topic with me STILL!!!!
I would talk to your sister about the kids. Dont blame her or anything. Just make an open discussion?!
It seems it's difficult to do the lactose testing here....really bizarre....I'm going to ask the paed tomorrow if he'll do it or not. Otherwise we'll do it in france. I am not convinced he is allergic to dairy...will explain in my update.
He is still badly constipated from the formula. Every day I have to stick the thermometer up his bum and stimulate him to poo. its horrible but atleast today after the hard poo came out, a soft poo followed so perhaps his tummy is adjusting?!

Schatsie when do you get your results?

Faw - good luck for the court date. how was the phone call with the ex?

Lucy - Tessa is SO precious man....beautiful little girl

BettyF - we need a pic of your angel - havent really seen her. The braai was good (will tell in my update). The family photo session was cancelled again. I'm really annoyed....suppose to be next weekend. If she cancels again I'm going to tell her not to bother contacting me again. Sorry about your DH....I think I would have killed mine. They REALLY dont get it....

Joli - yes it's possible to get AF while BF. They just say that if you dont see AF not to worry as the BF can stall it. But yes - you can still get a monthly while BF!! So glad you are doing well with your photos

ok quick update on my before we eat.
The pumping I have been trying to reduce slowly. Eventually it went down to twice per day and then yesterday I went 15 hours and this morning I pumped at 8am so I am going to try and not pump until tomorrow morning when I wake (anywhere from 5-8am depending on Matt). So thank God it's finally coming to an end!! I pump about 130 from each boob. I seem to get like one hard lump and it really doesnt soften much....and it's sore so I have to pump until its soft (hence pumping 130ml). I guess slowly I will reduce the amount.
We had people for a braai on Saturday - very nice. But went to bed at 1am - Matt woke at 1:30. Back asleep just after 2. Then up at 5 and up for almost 2 hours!!!! I had only slept for 2 and a half hours and I was EXHAUSTED so I actually had a little cry that he wanted to play
Then we had another braai on Sunday at a friend. Also very nice but again got home around 12:30 - fed Matt and bed around 1:30. He then woke again around 4:30-5 (cant rememeber!) fed and back to bed but then woke at 7 and wanted to play. well I was having none of it so I woke DH and said "here...time to play". He said 'doesnt he need to eat?' so I said 'no not for another hour and a half'. so he asked what he should do with him!!!!! I told him to entertain Matt as I was tired and its his turn. hehe. anyway. I didnt sleep. we played with him together, I pumped, made tea. then we went back to sleep. (public holiday today hence the braai on the sunday night).
forgot to say...on sunday morning since we were so tired form having people over we brought the swing up to the room and poor matt was forced to sleep most of the morning!!! I felt really guilty as he slept A LOT and mainly cos we really just couldnt function!!!!! Anyway...it was just once...
We have a good routine at night. He goes down between 6:30-8 (depending on feeding times) and then wakes anywhere between midnight and 1am. Then again between 4-6am.
So after midnight is not great....but at least from 7pm I can relax. tonight we are going to bed early (I hope!!) to try get in some sleep before midnight. the last 2 nights have killed me. I feel like SUCH a zombie.
So Matt is still not 100%. At first I thought there was an improvement with the soy. But he really just seems to hate drinking. If I'm lucky, he takes 90ml without a fight. I'd say generally around 70ml. After that I have to FORCE him and there is lots of crying and fighting. So in fact, I think soy or breastmilk, there's the same reaction. I dont think its the milk making him cry. It's me forcing him that makes him cry!! But he has to drink 120ml minimum in order to get his minimum daily requirement so ya...I do force him otherwise he is going to lose weight. Why he only wants 70ml...I have no clue. and if I was to try feed him 70ml every 2 hours instead of 120ml every 4 hours - he is not interested. mainly because when he is tired, he needs to sleep and once asleep, if I wake him to feed him, he just cries and refuses to feed. So that wouldnt work either....
I have to call the paed tomorrow to let him know about the soy. So I'm going to just tell him to please do the test so I can know what to do with the breastmilk and also because we need to rule out any allergy/lactose intolerance to decide the course of action.
It's not normal for babies to hate feeding....I'm not sure he's in pain. Because if you leave him after his 70ml - he's actually fine. smiles, chats etc. its just when you try make him drink more that shit hits the fan!!!!
ok cant think what else to tell you...hope to have more time during the week. We have spent a lot of the weekend sleeping due to being out each evening. As nice as it is to socialise - it really doesnt work well when I have to get up 2-3 times to feed during the night.

CAth!! Will is the cutest little thing! He has such an awake & alert look to him.. he is for sure going to be a real clever little guy

Joli, Im so happy you are so busy with your phodies!!! Such a great thing that you can do what you really love while being home with the kids! Enjoy it, even when its tough to cope with all the things at home

Tazzy, great that your girl had such a good day Bliss When is your oldest girl's birthday??

Meags, how are you doing.. not used to you not being around??

Joli - hello !! Glad u busy with work. Oh I wish u were closer so u could do a family shoot for us. I showed my dh your pics and he thinks you're very talented!
So if Callum won't take a bottle , does he wait patiently for his boobies or does he scream?


I tried to give Amelia 25ml of formula today and she gagged and refused! Not sure if that's good or bad. Atleast I know she is getting enough milk from me otherwise she would have downed the formula.

She has been as good as gold today. Eats,sleeps,plays -repeat!

Joli hhow awesome that you so busy with the photogrraaphy am not surprised your pics are real art! Lol i also lie to dh awful but he would frek out if he knew what things inn general cost bes to keep him in the dark! Isnt it aamazing only a few months ago cllum was a very prem baby and now he is a little by with a dog!!! Awesome!!!! Kimika how wonderful re yr older one sleeping through!! Hope its for good!
Cathm x

Hello! I am still alive - barely - but I am LOL! Sjoe things are hectic. I am so busy with the photos (and very happy about that) that I don't get time for chatting. We've also got a puppy and Callum is now more awake and wants attention all the time - or boobie! He's got a new thing now that he does not want to take a bottle! It's so frustrating cause when I work, I express but he will not drink until I am back .

Also wanted to ask - is it normal for AF to be back if you breastfeed? I dont miss any feeds??

Cath - I am just as guilty but I lie to DH and says all the Naartjie stuff were on special - they clothes are quite small. Now you must know I buy for 3 kids! Just bought Callum the cutest jacket today William is too cute.

Kimika I don't burp Callum either. I feed him at night and then sleep! I am not sure re your sister's kids. She might take it very personally and might be very upset. It's a difficult situation. Nobody wants to hear their kids are naughty.

Lucy - your girlie is such a sweetie pie!

Ok sorry for those ive missed - tried to go back more back noe c is awake and i must still go cook and do washing etc etc etc!

Meags re the mini pill (Microval), my gynae said it is only effective as a contraceptive as long as you are BFing/expressing at least 4 times a day. So if you're going to stop now you definitely need to go on another contraceptive.

My surgery went well, so now we just wait for the results from the lab to see whether everything is okay. Just before I went into surgery my gynae came to say hi and I told him I was suddenly bleeding a LOT again this week, so he suggested doing a D&C since I was going in anyway. So I got a 2 in 1. He said there was some leftover placenta that might have caused the bleeding so he removed that. I'm feeling 100%, no pain or bleeding so far - touch wood!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! Arno has his first kiddies party tomorrow - our 2 friends' kids are turning 1 and 2, so I'm quite looking forward to taking him to that.