April & May 2008

[rebeccaj]

hello everyone, sorry i haven't been posting - just have zero time these days but great to read that everyone is doing well and enjoying mummy-hood!

have to say that i'm a bit jealous of those of you with help - finances won't extend that far for us so we're on our own, at least for now. my dh works from home which has been a life saver but it's the hardest job ive ever done (but also the best ) I'm BFing full time but pumping 3 - 4 times per day to do the night feeds by bottle. my girls are on the boob for 30 minutes per go!! at times i've had to supplement with a bit of formula as my boobs can't always keep up! I agree that it's exhausting and night times are very tough - i'm scared i'm going to head-butt one of the babies one of these days as i find it so hard not to nod off while feeding! my little one is ready to feed every 2 - 2.5 hours where as my bigger girl can go for 3 - 3.5 which makes a schedule really hard. anyone managing to stick to a schedule? if so, please tell me the magic trick!! i have managed to BF them at the same time a few times but also need my DH there to help latch, relatch, burp and scratch my nose which always needs an itch the moment both hands are full!! i also can't use the EZ2 pillow, it just doesn't work for me for some reason so that was a waste of $!

also for the twin mummies - how do you manage when both are crying at the same time? it's my biggest frusrtration as i just can't let one cry while tending to the other - it upsets me too much.

other than being completely knackered everything is great and i still can't believe how lucky we are to have our girls, i think the bumpy ivf path makes us all appreciate them so much more as they are so wanted.

sorry for the lack of personals, typing with my left hand as i start my millionth feeding session for the day!

love to you all and happy belated mummy day for the US mummies.

rebecca

ps anyone else have nothing to wear?!

[Babyb]

Rebecca: You are NOT ALONE in any of your concerns -- head butting while BFing, nose itches, crying at the same time and nothing to wear.

I'm entering wk 3 now and most of my feeds are by bottle (BUT use only breastmilk). For many of the feeds, the little ones are simply too tired to latch on for any real time period. My rule now is that if they don't latch within 5-10 mins, I heat up the bottles. Bottling is certainly much easier, but I'd like to be able to have the boys BF if the need arises -- for example, if we are out and about and I am out of milk, I can whip out a body part; if I'm out of stored bags/bottles at home, same thing. Plus, it is precious to see my boys when they are latched onto me. I do worry that I haven't been BFing enough -- the boys seem to be a bit lazy when it comes to the boob and may only take to the bottle long term. GOD, I'M FALLING ASLEEP WRITING THIS! TYPICAL OF MY BEHAVIOR THESE DAYS!

I think I might have carpal tunnel (Sp?) in my good hand. It's getting tough to hold the boys properly during feeds. Hoping I am wrong in my diagnosis.

As for crying at the same time, my boys are pretty good for the time being (hope I don't jinx it). When they do cry together, my doula suggests placing one or both in a bouncy chair so you can rock one in your arms while bouncing the chair with your foot (haven't tried this yet, but plan on buying a bouncy chair). For twins, consider getting 2 bouncy chairs -- sit Indian style on the floor while you bottle feed both at the same time.

Let's see, what else? Oh, nothing to wear. Yep, hate it, but that is the cold reality.

Very sleepy now. Catch you later with more.

[robinsonpr]

Hi everyone, just a very quick question about making up bottles. All my books, the instructions on the formula etc all say you need to make up bottles as you need them and not make them up in advance.

Surely people make them up in advance right?

My sister used to just add boiling water to enough bottles for the day and leave with the top on at room temperature. When she needed a feed she just added the formula and gave it to the baby.

My sister-in-law used to make up the bottles with boiling water, enough for the day, and store them in the fridge. When she wanted one she just heated it up in a bottle warmer.

What has anybody else heard about doing this? Anybody making up formula in advance?

Love, Hayley xx

[Cocoa]

OK... just wrote out a whole long post and pressed the wrong darn button andit dissappeared... I hate that...

Haven't been around for a while - lots to do and the only one taking care of babies, a teen and a home - whew! It gets tough... The good news is that my DH is interested in being here but I am cautious so we'll see.

OK, I decided that I would BF mostly UNTIL the reallity hit that doing two and getting them enough milk is a FULL TIME job in and of itself SOOOO... I am BFing 4 feedings (sometimes only two) but I switch off with the babies meaning baby girl gets BF'd two times a day as does baby boy BUT I do not BF during the night because they fall asleep and it takes TWO hours - with 2 bottles it takes 1 1/2 hours (they have to be changed, burped etc too). I wonder if it was survival of the fittest way back before formula when twins were born cause I can't seem to keep up with their changing need for more and more food. I mean they have grown 2 1/2 pounds in 5 weeks!!! I was able to tandem feed for the first 3 weeks but that is impossible now as they are too big to handle balancing them myself and getting them reattached and they do head butt - all the same concerns as ya'll...

Making bottles - the formula does not need to be any warmer than room temp. I use bottled purified water to make their bottles. I pre-measure the water into their bottles and the powder formula (it doesn't stain but the premade does) into tupperware minis and I have each of these right at my bedside so all I do is open the bottle, pour in the powder and serve

These babies are so perfect... (is it just me??!!) My girl is really laid back and sleeps a good 4 hours but baby boy is chow hound, spits up a lot because he eats so fast (hence mylacon before each feed expect not the BF feeds) and won't sleep anywhere past 3 hours (most of the time he's up every 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 hours) and at times will wake up baby girl! THEN I am rushing... I change them first (to wake them up more) and then feed them with the bottle - can't BF in the middle of the night - takes WAYYYYY too long! I do the BFing at 6am, 3pm, 6pm and 9pm (the noon, midnight and 9am feeds are all bottles). They are eating more than 4oz already so I even have to supplement the BFing now until the boobs catch up...

Who's going back to work and when? I go back late August and I do look forward to it BUT I do not lool forward to getting ready in the AM and putting them in daycare cause I can't afford a nanny

I am fitting into my BIG pre-pregnancy clothes but I still want to lose 15-20 pounds to feel like me. I do have a tiny pooch above my belt when I sit but that's OK - I consider a pooch of honor just like my scar. No more pain but I will tell you that I do feel low back pain if I try to do too much but its not real pain - its more like a burn from being out of shape. You know, it takes a YEAR to get your body back (unless you have time, money and a trainer like the celebs - then its 6months)- I know this from experience.

So ladies - we do need to think about starting a thread on the "parents" board. I say wait until the start of June so we are in a routine and can follow us there on line. I will start it if you want - let me know -I need EVERYONE to reply so we are all on board for the new thread...

Love to you all!!! I will go back and read the missed posts later today...

xxxCocoa
ps - my high BP is coming down and I feel pretty good now

[Cocoa]

WHERE'S MANDY????

[robinsonpr]

Hi Cocoa,

YES I'm up for a new thread on the parents board!!! Wow feels weird to say the P word!

Re formula... I've been told that the formula needs to be mixed with water over 70 degrees in order for the hot water to kill any germs that may be in the powder (powder isn't sterile).

No way can I make up the bottles on demand...

Hayley xx

[Mandy J]

Hello Girls,

I've just got back from the hospital 3 hours ago, and just finally had a chance to let you know what has been happening.

Firstly: Ellie Rose was born on Saturday 10th May at 19.57, this being 11 days overdue and weighed in at 2.22kg (4lb 14oz)!!!!!!!

I went into hospital on Friday to be induced, they used the pessary however it didn't do anything, so on Friday evening they did another one and this one did give me cramps but also Ellie was distressed and her heart rate kept losing, so they transferred meto labour ward, with aview to doing ac-section, however just monitored me overnight to make a decision in the morning.

On Saturday AM, ther tried to break my waters, but couldn't so decided on a 3rd inducement....OMG, it was so powerful, the pain was so bad I begged fora c-section....they gave me paracetamol, I asked for epidural and they gave me morphine!

Eventually I got stroppy and insisted on epidural, but they said I was only 1cm dilated and could only do an epidural at 4cm which would be hours away!!!!!, so they rechecked and I was 10cm (less than 1/2hour!),so Ellie Rose shot into the world 20 mins later....with no epidural! ......so much for my planned water birth!

The funny thing was, because we didn't realise I was in true labour, just thought it was inducement cramps, my DH sat on a chair reading the paper ignoring my groans!

Ellie Rose was starved in the womb due to placental insufficiency, unfortunately this was not picked up in antenatal, when she was distressed in the womb the meconium was passed into her fluid so she was covered in it, some was on her lips, but don't think much was swallowed which can give additional problems.

Anyway, our little one is just so gorgeous, and despite looking like a preemie baby, heart, lungs etc are all perfectly formed, Her main concern was maintaining body heat, so we were in special care for 2 days, then down to maternity ward, where Ellie stole all the nurses hearts!

I wanted to breast feed to give Ellie the best and chance to catch up, but really struggled to keep her awake to feed, or to get her to latch on, however, yesterday everything clicked into place and now I have the problem I am producing way too much milk, I can feed Ellie on one breast and milk flows from the other one too, without needing to express, i can just collect it in a nipple cup and transfer it to a bottle for the freezer. the down side is that my breasts get totally engorged so 2 hot baths a day, and frozen ice pads are easing the pain - been told the pain is only 3-5 days though! So, perhaps I should auction my spare breast milk off on e-bay to all you twins Mums...

So now we are home for ourfirst night together as a family, Ellie is asleep on my knee as i type and I am just so in love!

Time to go back and read everone's posts now, love to you all

Mandy
x

[Vlada]

Mandy,
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
She is gorgeous!!!!!
Vlada

[woodcliff]

Gorgeous, MANDY...congratulations to you and your husband...so happy Ellie is healthy and here!
xxoo

[Babyb]

CONGRATS MANDY: Your little Ellie looks absolutely gorgeous. Despite complications, she looks like a perfect little angel.

I think we have all delivered by now, no?

I'm off to the grocery store in just a minute, so only have time for a quickie here. A few BF questions . . . I am only BFing 1-2 a day (both boys get BFed at each feed). Other feeds are bottle, but with breast milk. I pump every 4-5 hrs (should do it more often, but finding out that between boobing, burping, changing, cleaning bottles and pumps, that I have very little time). How long are your babes taking to the breast? My boys go no longer than 10-15 mins. I used to supplement after they were on the boob to make sure they were getting enough nutrition. Now, I'm just letting them sleep after they doze off on my chest. Also, is anyone out there pumping? If so, how many times a day and how much milk are you averaging per pump? I get about 4-5 oz on left breast (6 in the morning because I sleep through the night) and about 2.5-4 max on the right. Don't know if my production will increase to support growing appetites. Anyone with advice/experience?

Still exhausted like everyone else, I'm sure.

Cocoa: I'm going back to work in Aug as well. Taking off about 3.5 mos. Worried about getting everything situated. DH will be in school so I'll need someone to watch the kids. Daycare here is so expensive, it will probably be cheaper for me to hire a live-in nanny (but finding a good one that you can trust is like searching for a needle in the haystack). If I could only win the damn lottery, I'd be able to keep my current doula on board full time -- she's amazing. Then again, I need to play to win (something I don't do at this moment).

Dashing now.

[Cocoa]

OH Mandy Congrats!!!! Ellie is cetainly a beauty!!! I am so mad for you that they did not catch the IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) - that is just unconscionable!!!! I am so happy that Ellie has adjusted herself to this strange new world though... Amen! Way to go on the milk production!

BabyB - Wow - you get more B milk than I do although my son seems satifisfied after 15 min on each breast as HE'S the skipper to please He is my complainer and my girly girl is so laid back - but she can crank with the best of 'em! They are 9lbs (girl) and 8 3/4lbs (boy) already!!! They can eat!

Hayley - I never heard about formula powder needing to be scorched with boiling water to kill germs... that's a new on me. I use enfamil with these two as I did with my older son and NEVER used boiling water to mix. I will have to look into that. Anyone else know anything about it? The other option is to use ready made or concentrate but those come in a can and I don't like that - it also stains whereas powder does not.

So ladies as I said before please PM me if you want to see/send pics - I will provide my email address (don't want to be "exposed" on the net - I feel funny about it like WC).

I will start a Parent Board thread on June 1st so be sure you look for it to post! I cannot believe we are all living our dream!!! But let us NOT forget to pray for LisaPa and Sciteacher77 (Michelle) who are again reaching toward their goal of parenthood - If you girls are out there please know you are in my thoughts and prayers and PLEASE keep us up to date even on the parent thread!

xxxCocoa

[robinsonpr]

Mandy your little one looks gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!

[rebeccaj]

congrats mandy!!!

how is everyone?

[robinsonpr]

I am shattered!

My little ones are tending to be quite awake from midnight to the 3am feed, which means I am not getting much sleep. They are asleep alot of the day which I guess means they are not tired enough at night.

What's anyone else doing with naps during the day? How many, what times, how long etc?? Do you put them to sleep during the day in their room? Darkened? I want them to start realising there is a difference between sleeping in the day and sleeping in the night so thought it would be best to not put them in their moses baskets during the day...so they are downstairs on some cushions.

How are you meant to keep a sleepy 5 week old baby awake during the day when he clearly can't even keep his eyes open!!?!?!!?!

I have got both of mine on Aptamil Easy Digest formula now. It's a bit thicker than normal formula and seems to help with them not being sick as much. Jack is still on the Gaviscon too...he's still sick sometimes but he is piling the weight on so I'm not too worried!

Birth weights were 6lb and 5lb, which dropped to 5lb6 and 4lb6 in the first week, and they were up to 7lb3 and 6lb3 at the weigh-in last week. I'm taking them to get weighed again today!

Hope everyone is well!

Hayley xx

[Cocoa]

Hey Hayley!

Great weights on the babies! Mine are almost 7 weeks born at 6/7 and 6/3 and are up to NINE pounds!!! They are eating enfamil lipil and I am BFing two meals a day for each baby...

OK, with regard to the sleeping... mine like to sleep during the day BUT I somewhat solved this problem - I got them naked and bathed them and then kept them naked (well with a diaper and a onsie) for a while. We also played with them even with their heads down eyes closed. I did this for a couple of days and now they stay awake during wake hours but mostly between 7 and 10pm - eh, its better than sleeping ALL day and staying awake between 11pm and 2am which is what they WERE doing... SO try those techniques and see what happens.

How are you all who had c-sections healing? I am feeling much better these days and have started power walking again (though its been raining the last few days). I do have a lot of skin on my belly - not loose and not flabby just in the way. It does take about a year to get back into the old form so I am ok with it...

So... tell us how you are all doing... how the babies are doing!!!

xxxCocoa