Discovery Home & Health

Hello all,

Rusty, Sorry you didn't get that job, hopefully something just as good or better will turn up. How's Harriet's feeding going? Glad she likes her squash, what other goodies have you tried her on?

Jane, glad Aisha's doing well too. Custard and rice pudding sound good to me..Mmm. I can't wait to start weaning Jemma, she weighs 14lbs 4oz now so doing really well and still loves her milk . I've had a stinking cold so we couldn't go swimming or do music today but hopefully at the w/e.Just hope Jemma & DH don't catch it, who would have thought a cold in the middle of Summer - mad! You still watching the tennis, the Murray/Gasquet match was brill - he's getting stuffed by Nadal now.

Pinky, glad you had a lovely hols and all the kids enjoyed themselves. How's Sophie doing? Is she eating mummy's home-made stuff yet?

Jemma's starting to be a real monkey in the evening - she hates being put to bed in her cot and cries and screams for ages. I thought it was overtiredness so try and get her down when I see the signs but she still cries. I've tried music, reading to her even leaving the room after a while but she just works herself up into a frenzy so I go rushing back in. The weird thing is I put her on her changing table and she starts laughing?!? but seconds later she's screaming again when back in her cot! Not sure what to do.. She's such a good baby the rest of the time and hardly ever cries - sleeping like an angel now

Sorting out stuff before we move...2 weeks today, can't wait Bought a lovely blackout blind from J. Lewis. It's got Noah's animals all over it, will be nice to decorate her nursery once we're in. I get a new kitchen too so very excited looking at brochures.

Got some possible new tenants coming round tomorrow so been doing housework all day.

Waves to everyone else, hope you're all enjoying the sunshine.

Jenny xx

Hi everyone,
just a quick one to ask some advice if anyone can help.

Aisha is doing great with her food but is rapidly going off her milk, i spoke to HV a couple of wks ago who said as long as she was eating ok then it was not a problem but i'm not so sure.

The first problem is I think my milk is drying up, either that or Aisha is just not wanting to feed from me anymore, she will not feed for more than 5 mins, just ends up kicking legs around and pushing herself away. She doesn't cry tho just lays there looking at me.

Yesterday morning she would not even latch on so i had to quickly make up bottle just so she had milk in the morning.
I have got a bad cold at the moment so could that be having an effect on supply or is it possible that my time for bf is coming to an end?

If it is my milk drying up i'm sad about this but happy i got to nearly 6 months but was hoping to go a bit longer if possible.

She then has 2 more bottles and a couple of feeds from me (if she will take it) but will never take more than 4-5 oz at the most.

Also she has had what i think is bad tummy for the past couple of days and her poo has been runny and green in colour, i have read this is a sign of dehydration, does anyone know if this is correct? I've tried giving her water and very watered down juice but she's just not interested and worried she is sick.

Sorry I've rambled but i'm not sure if i am just being unduly anxious.

She's putting weight on ok now weighs 14lb 6oz.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Sorry for me post but bit worried at the moment.

Thanks ladies
Jane
xxx

Hi Jane,
Dont worry, Aisha will wean herself naturally off your milk as food makes her more satisfied, as long as she has fluid in form of pre-boiled water, which just offer her as often as you feel and at meals.
Your milk supply will decline as she is taking less but drink plenty of fluid yourself and offer her feeds but dont worry if she pushes you away, even if she just takes a morning and evening feed its still breast feeding.
I am feeding Sophie solids, but she takes a morning midday and evening feed, she is quite patient in waiting for my milk which my others have not been and thats when my milk does decline.
I would say a greeny nappy was more a tummy bug than dehydration, but ask hv if you worried.
As long at the fontenelle is normal looking not sunken or swollen then she is ok, that is usually how health is judged in babies, Sophie has been constipated and i was worried like you she was not taking enough milk but hv said give her fruit to help nappies and she was nicely hydrated so not to worry. My worry was her being such a sicky baby but hv said it should go by 12 months but as her mummy i feel perhaps she has underlying cause like my weak stomach valve letting foods back, i am lucky the other children have not inherited it from me so not surprised if she has, its no worry just little but often on the foods, at least i know what to do!

Hope all goes ok, my milk dried up with the boys at 10 months, and my first dd at 6 months as she did no night feeds, if you want to maintain feeding and she wont feed try expressing to keep a demand.
I have not expressed for a while now so i think i just produce on demand, i dont fill up overnight but Sophie seems to get plenty of milk, i get a milky smile in middle of feed so i know its still there for her!

Take care, will catch up soon with everyone!

Ps Pobs from our Jan thread (now july aug thread)has had her daughter, so pleased for her to have her baby in her arms at last, been filling up thinking about it!!

Must dash,

Sophie demands!

Pinky xx

Hi Pinky

Thanks for yr replies it makes sense what you said and I think that because i've had a cold and felt rough maybe i let things get to me more than normal and that affected the supply and aisha picked up on it.

She is only really feeding from me 2 or 3 times a day now but like you say i'm still breast feeding so feel good its lasted so long, am going to carry on until she decides enough is enough even if it gets down to only morning feed. Regarding the expressing, to be honest i got a bit bored of it as it was getting hard to get enough out to be worthwhile.

as for the dehydration i've checked her head and it all seems fine, thanks i did not know this was a way of checking.

She's had runny poos again today so will keep an eye on her and if same tomorrow will ring HV and see if i need to see the doc or not. She's had a touch of my cold so i'm wondering if thats the reason.

Thanks again
Jane
xxx

Hi Jane,
I expect thats it, cold or teething can give them the runny poo's and extra bum cream needed as teething can give them sore bottoms too!
Pinky xx

Jane

Sorry to but in! My son, Jayden (8 and half months old), went off his milk as soon as I started him on solids (when he was 19 weeks old). I wasn't breast feeding.
He only has one bottle (6oz) at bedtime. He sometimes has one during the night (also 6oz) depending on how well he has eaten throuh the day. One H/V gave me a telling off cos he wasn't having enough formula! And another one told me not to worry as he is having a very good diet and is still putting weight on and is following his line well!!!
I will only worry if he goes off his food or starts to lose weight.

I wish all the H/V said the same thing.
Jo & Jayden

hi all,

just stoping by to say thank you to frenchie, pinky and rusty for your well wishes. I have uploaded pic's of my beautiful Scarlett onto msn as requested. Can't believe she is mine for the keeping!!!!!!
hope you girls are all doing well with your babies.
love Pobs xxxx

Pobs- thanks for dropping by, will check out your pictures in a minute, can't wait!!

Jane- How's Aisha's feeding going? What did your HV say? Harriet still bfing every 2 hours and although she's starting to like solids she definitely prefers the boob! Hoping she will take enough to start dropping a few feeds soon. I hope Aisha's feeling better and feeding from you more as I would be worried if Harriet was only feeding from me 3 times a day. But like Jo says if she is putting on weight and doing well it's best not to worry.

Pinky- Harriet has been a bit constipated too since I started her on solids. It's not nice watching her strain, and she passed a bit of blood on Friday which freaked me out!

Have had a pretty shitty day today I found a bruise on Harriet's thigh on Saturday morning and couldn't think of a reason for it to be there, she hadn't fallen or bashed herself at all. My brother and sister said it was probably her car seat strap rubbing on her leg (although I don't think it was) so I just kept an eye on it.

Went to a baby group this afternoon and a HV saw it. I explained that I didn't know what had caused it and she made me an apt at the doctor's. I was a bit worried then that it might be something I shouldn't have ignored. She then said she would have to contact social services as a non motile baby with a bruise can be child abuse. Luckily my doctor agreed with me and told the HV not to take it further but I feel awful. I know that they have to protect children and investigate anything suspicious but I hate to think that anyone thinks I've hurt my baby. It was in front of everyone at the mother and baby group and I don't think I can go back there now

All over a bruise, I just wish I knew what had caused it!!!

Rusty x

Hi all, just lost post, so making it quick!!

hello everyone, where are you all? how are all the babies??

Rusty,
Terrible how you were treated, babies still move so can still bruise themselves, Sophie smacks herself with hands and rattles, on legs or head!
Has Harriet got her leg through the cot bars? Sophie keeps doing it and i am trying to put her in a sleep bag tonight, see if it stops her!
Sorry you had such bad experience, do take her back or it looks like you are trying to cover things up! make sure she is free of marks b4 u go as you know she will be throughly looked over!! Go back and chat to the other mums so they can see it was not at your hands if you feel they think you would hurt Harriet.

Sophie says 'ma ma' now and 'ba ba', she makes other noises but dp wanted her to say da da first but its so clearly ma ma!! Its only when she wants something and as i give her all she wants so suppose it was natural for her.

Really struggling with nights, we are still up all night, its getting worse!
I am going to add a bedtime bottle of formula as i know i am not filling her up and my milk is getting less, food is not helping much so trying milk.

must go, sophie squeaking,

love pics pobs, Scarlett is beautiful xx

bye for now

Pinky xx

Have had the WORST 2 days!!!!
Had Harriet weighed and she's not put anything on in 2 weeks, and only 6oz in 8 weeks. The HV said it might be a problem with my milk supply, wtf! She seems satisfied to me after a feed. If no weight gain in a week being referred to the hospital as she's now below the 9th centile. What will they do at the hospital??? She's a really happy chubby baby I'm sure there's nothing wrong with her but I'm really worried now...

Hi everyone,

Jo - thanks for yr post about milk intake, Aisha is different every day so i just let her have what she wants.
Like you i wish all HV gave the same advice.
By the way i have a 4yr old nephew called Jayden, great name

Rusty - OMG how awful for you to be humilated in front of everyone and to say they would have to contact social services but good that yr doctor agreed with you, like Pinky said it could have been anything, you know it was nothing you did so don't worry.
Bye to way aisha has only ever been on 2nd and recently just went slightly over the 9th centile in the last couple of weeks and HV said it was ok.

Sorry to hear she's not gaining too much weight but at least she has put on, my HV has always said as long as they are gaining not losing then they don't get too concerned. Like you say she seems satisfied and you are well done that you are feeding her so much.
When I said before i was feeding her 2 or 3 times a day i forgot to say that she is also having a couple of bottles of formula. Has 5 or 6 oz at lunchtime if i'm lucky then her last bottle at bedtime is hungry baby milk.
I knew that she wasn't feeding enough from me to be satisfied and she seems to like this but it is bit hit and miss how much she takes, one night she'll have 6oz the next only 2 or 3 but i don't worry.

Aisha is much better in herself and cold and runny tummy has gone but Monday night i was nearly close to being carted off by the men in white coats !!
I'll keep it short but basically she went to bed normal time and was asleep for about half an hour when she woke up again and no matter what i did she would not lay down again to sleep, i'd pick her up and she'd fall asleep, then i'd lay her down and off she went again screaming the place down like i was beating her or something. I texted my sister who subsequently rang my mum (as i'm too stubborn to admit i needed help) and mum came down to try and help out while i had something to eat. Mum went home about 10.45pm having had no success so i just sat up with her til nearly midnight before she decided that perhaps she was tired. Off she went to sleep and i went to bed but basically she was awake then on and off ALL night, i just didn't know what to do.

Jenny - it was pretty much like you described she just worked herself up into such a state she was hiccuping and sobbing even when she eventually dropped off.
Hope the packing is going well.

Anyway, last night started off the same but i decided not to get stressed and she went off at 9.30, woke at 12.30ish but after standing stroking head and holding hand for 15 mins she went off and slept til 5.30. I then fed her and she went off back to sleep in her own cot(which is a miracle in itself) til 7.30am.

Tonight so far she only woke up about 15 mins ago but managed to settle her in about 2 mins without having to pick her up so lets hope that things are back on the road to sleepyville...zzzzzzzzz

I don't know if its just me or does anyone else feel like some other mums think you are doing something wrong when they say "oh my baby has slept through from 4 weeks...., how have you coped for 6 months?" I know they are not being funny but ...

Pobbins, i know i was not on the thread when you were but just wanted to say saw yr pics on MSN yr little girl is lovely, congratulation to you and yr family.

Greetings to katyt and jenni (altho spoke to jenni on facebook)

Once again i seem incapable of writing a short and concise post, i sometimes think i could write a novel, if only i was as good at speaking as i am at writing.

Off to get some food now hope i've not bored you all

night all
take care
Jane
xxx

Hi All,

Rusty, poor you, it just seems mad the hv is interfering like this, If Harriet is happy and contented then i dont see what all the fuss is?
Food wise we are still getting into some sort of routine and this is what seems to suit her and what she has gained weight on as weigh in b4 last her weight had dropped off and now its shot up again.
Early 5am or there abouts! My milk
Breakfast 7.30ish baby porridge
10.00 my milk
12 lunch, jar and yog
2.00 my milk
4.00 tea jar and pud (not quite managing all
6.00 small milk feed if requested!
8.00 baby porridge and big milk feed

When i say my milk i recon i get about 2-3oz to a boob now at a guess, i try and save it up a bit for the last feed.

This we did first time properly yesterday, did teething gel, bath with sleepy baby stuff in it and sleeo bag and all together this got me from about half 8 til 5, the longest we have had so far!
I did not sleep much i am so used to her not sleeping i was ready for her!
I put her dummy in once or twice and she settled but was sleepy rather than the usual wide awake.

I tried formula and she was not having any of it, she spat it out screamed and refused the bottle again!! So its breast wether i like it or not, Sophie has decided and as long as she is patient enough to wait for the milk to come in i am ok giving it to her!

Jane,
Hope your sleep better, sounded like a normal night to us!!
Oh and my last baby was throught the night at birth, its just each baby is so different, I am the same, if anything more relaxed with my second girl but Sophie is really demanding and a terrible sleeper, i used to think it was my fantastic mothering skills but sophie has given me cause to re think that one!!!
xx

Must go its lunch time and Sophie just reminding me of that!! LOUDLY!!

Catch up better soon,

Pinky xx

Hi everyone,

I just had to report that Aisha slept for 11 hrs last night !!!

She went to bed just after 7pm, stirred about 20mins later when i put dummy back in and then she slept til just after 6am this morning.

After the episode earlier this week i can't believe how quickly she has settled down, lets hope it lasts. I still woke a couple of times automatically waiting for her to wake but it didn't happen.

Thats all i wanted to say, i was so happy

bye for now
Jane
xx

Hi everyone,

long time no speak AGAIN! Sorry, I don't know where the time goes!

Pobs, so so many congrats - and the pics are gorgeous!!

I know I have been rubbish at posting, but I do think of you all... Rusty I cannot believe what a couple of days you've had. How RUDE of the HV to speak to you like that in such a public arena! At the very least if she had been concerned she should have said it somewhere privately! but I agree with Pinky - babies get all sorts of bumps, especially now they're rolling and into everything. Glad your doc is more sensible and hope you're feeling a bit better. And as for the weight, I know it's a bit of a concern, but try not to worry too much. You know when she's healthy. One of the girls in my antenatal group here had 4 weeks of no weight gain for her son. He is now huge! So try not to worry too much. Do you have a different HV you can chat to about it?

Jane, congrats on Aisha's sleeping!

Pinky, Sophie sounds like she is doing really well too - you're quite a pro aren't you!!

As for us, we're good - our little pickle is still not the best sleeper though! He did a week of going through from 7pm til 6am ish, but that has been disrupted more recently - mainly because he doesn't take enough milk at bedtime. He's on bottles except for the morning feed now so I now how much he takes! He has tea at 5 and then milk at 6.30 after his bath, but often only takes a couple of oz. Try again at 7pm but normally no joy. Hmmmm.

The last couple of nights we've reintroduced the dream feed at 10pm, which worked last night, but I don't want to be doing that forever!

Apart from the sleeping he's great. Sitting and noisy and rolling all over the place! pulling himself up onto his knees too so I don't think our house is safe for long! He's eating fairly well, but can be very fussy, particularly at tea time, I think that's mainly because he's tired.

Anyone heard from Jenni recently? Bit worried about her...

Love to you all

Frenchie x

HAPPY 6 MONTHS AISHA

HAPPY 6 MONTHS SOPHIE

Frenchie- nice to hear from you, glad you and Reuben are doing well. Hope Reuben starts sleeping better soon, I thought weaning would help but it's not helped me either.

I agree with you about rude HV and have decided to go elsewhere as I'm fed up with them at my baby clinic. I never see the same one twice and they are so busy they don't have any time to discuss things with me. After being told that I might have a problem with my milk supply they had no time to talk to me about what I could do about it. They have a weigh in at my local children's centre so will go there as they are lovely and I will at least see the same person!

I have heard from Jenni on Facebook recently, she and Josh are doing well as far as I'm aware.

Jane- Yay to the 11 hours sleep!!! How's it been since? Know what you mean about other mums and they're marathon sleeping babies. Oh well, they'll probably have terrible toddlers to even things out a bit

Pinky- yes Harriet is very happy and contented most of the time. She has been very constipated recently and I think that must have something to do with the lack of weight gain. Although she has put on 7 oz in a week this week Feel much better now

Started Harriet on some lactulose yesterday as her poos were really making her cry and it was a bit distressing to watch. I'm hoping for some movement soon!

As Harriet's 6 months old now I have bought some follow on formula in cartons to give her if I've had a drink or I go out without her. I'm worried she won't take it now after Sophie's refusal! Will try it out tomorrow...

Hope everyone's well, can't believe our babies are half a year old!!!!!!!!!

Rusty x