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Post by happyfeet9 on Sept 17, 2017 0:03:00 GMT -6
happyfeet9 you are supermom! Kudos to you EP/BF the twins - such an enormous endeavour but you are rocking it! Also i been meaning to ask.. how exactly does EP work? Do you pump on a schedule but feed on demand? Or pump and feed on schedule? Or? I have been wondering whether EP (or maybe with a cple of nursing sessions too as I really dont want to miss out on that) is the way to go for us even if tis just for a little while so we have more of a clue how much is actually eating..which would help with feeling less freaked out about her weight too i think. Thanks! I EPed with my first so I felt more comfortable making the decision this time around - esp because Eva has latch issues and I had to pump in the hospital to get them close to bw before discharging anyway. I pretty much pump on schedule and feed on schedule as long as they don't seem to be going through a growth spurt - then it's on demand. For E, she likes to eat less more frequently so she feeds closer to every 2.5 hours, D likes to load up and will go longer stretches in between, so every 3-3.5 hours. I pump every 3 hours so I don't become too engorged, but also to avoid over supply. I watch for their cues, same as breastfeeding, and will prepare their bottles accordingly. I pace feed and use slow flow nipples which also help with preventing overfeeding. I know some people are not fans of EPing, it's a lot of work to clean bottles and pumping parts without getting the newborn snuggles from breastfeeding, but for me it really eased my anxiety to know how much they are taking in and that they are gaining appropriately. It also made the transition to work easier bc I had a good routine for pumping. I found it to be very manageable and EPed with my first until around 10.5 months with him getting breastmilk until his 1st birthday. If you have any more questions, just let me know
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Post by happyfeet9 on Sept 17, 2017 0:04:54 GMT -6
muscari no benefit really - E just loves to sleep with his arms straight up by her head, so when we initially swaddled her arms in, she would fuss and fight constantly. With her arms out, she would fall asleep faster.
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Post by happyfeet9 on Sept 17, 2017 0:10:29 GMT -6
addymac I wake myself to pump. Q3/q4 sounds about right, if I go longer than 4 hours it's pretty painful. I don't get more than 4 hours of sleep in one stretch anyway, so I will always pump MOTN. I have everything ready so I can pump as efficiently as possible. It takes some discipline to not sleep through but I keep telling myself how important the MOTN sessions are to maintaining supply.
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 1:26:28 GMT -6
Hi @easilyunamused - how are you settling in to your new place? It's going really well, thanks! I've had help while MH has been working his 12 hour shifts, otherwise it'd look the same as the day we moved in. Glad you have been having some help! And ugh 12h shifts.. is he always on those long shifts? Hope he is liking his new job tho!
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 1:31:35 GMT -6
I been reading about that too and just don't see how I could ever pull that off heh. Def not with a newborn, maybe when they are a little older? I couldn't with a newborn for sure. Plus I use a nipple shield so I feel that makes it harder since it can fall off. I was thinking the same thing, that using a nippleshield made walking nursing even harder likely. And ahh I couldnt remember who it was that also was using a nipple shield. I just remembered we talked about it before, but it was you! These past couple days I noticed that my left nip get sucked into the shield in an awkward position no matter how I put it on, and it hurts like hell. Now I am wondering whether I need a larger shield maybe, at least on the left. My nipples aren't as small and flat as they used to be and left is oddly enougg much bigger now then the right one. I don't have the issue on the right.. Also, have you ever tried to go back to BFing without? I tried to let baby latch on without but ugh so frustrating. On the left it took forever but in the end she did latch on. Om the right however she simply refused. Once I put the shield back on it was easy peasy. Maybe I have to wean her off of them gradually...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2017 2:39:21 GMT -6
It's going really well, thanks! I've had help while MH has been working his 12 hour shifts, otherwise it'd look the same as the day we moved in. Glad you have been having some help! And ugh 12h shifts.. is he always on those long shifts? Hope he is liking his new job tho! He works 7 days on, 7 days off, so he works 12 hour shifts. It's not super fun while he's working but it's great to have 7 days off. He just started this new job, so we are working out the kinks. Good luck with weaning the nipple shields. If it doesn't happen, is it ok to use them long term?
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 4:29:12 GMT -6
Good luck with weaning the nipple shields. If it doesn't happen, is it ok to use them long term? They say not to use them long term cause ... I forgot the reasoning , butI have read some do use them long term without issues. So I dont know really. I think @cwb2378 used them long term with her first as well? My sister used them with both hers for quite a while as well but did manage to wean off succesfully. I am confused tbh that my left nipple pain issue seems linked to the shield. I thought it helped keep my nips safe from wrong latching issues etc but apperently not.. I also don't get why my left gets huge after nursing&esp after pumping while ny righty stays smaller. Guess I just have really asymmetric boobs??
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 4:43:27 GMT -6
D. has had a bit of a stuffy nose ever since she came home from the hospital but since a couple of days is just too stuffed she has trouble breathing while nursing. I feel it wears her out to where she doesnt finished eating well.. and stays hungrier /sleeps shorter. She barely slept 2h stretches max overnight...i am beat as I got even less. Also she started her first leap according to the WW app. I am NOT looking forward to these next days?! We just got thru the fussyness of her 3wk growth spurt.
Anything I could do to help her breath a little better??
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Post by pennylane on Sept 17, 2017 5:06:30 GMT -6
My almost 3 year old was up more times overnight than my newborn. Ugh. Definitely going to need to sneak a nap today.
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Post by pennylane on Sept 17, 2017 5:08:06 GMT -6
muscari Do you have a humidifier you can run in the room with her? Or sit in a steamy bathroom for a bit? Unfortunately at that age I don't think there's much you can do.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2017 5:31:32 GMT -6
muscari you might be able to use saline drops in her nose to open up a bit.
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kristyw
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Post by kristyw on Sept 17, 2017 5:43:59 GMT -6
muscari I used a shield with my first as well. He never weaned from it and we BF until he was 7ish months. My supply tanked when I went back to work so I think it's ok to use long term. I had tried to wean him by letting him use the shield for latching and let down and then taking it off but he was not a fan.
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kristyw
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Post by kristyw on Sept 17, 2017 5:45:24 GMT -6
My almost 3 year old was up more times overnight than my newborn. Ugh. Definitely going to need to sneak a nap today. Yup same thing here. E only got up twice. DS (2) got up at 4 and was up for over an hour.
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king26
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Post by king26 on Sept 17, 2017 6:10:37 GMT -6
J is starting to not want the boob. I feel like he knows it is so much more work for him then a bottle and he gets a bottle after almost every feeding. He will eat from the right one everyone but either is refusing thenleft or will latch then just sit there. It's frustrating because I'm really trying to hang on to breastfeeding.
DH doesn't like when he is up and not eating. He thinks he is up because he is hungry . I tried telling him we can't keep jamming food in him, sometimes he will just be up and we just need to talk to him or rock him etc. There isn't much we can do with him yet but it's ok to just chill and hold him. I keep feeling like we should be doing something else but I know there isn't much.
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king26
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Post by king26 on Sept 17, 2017 6:14:36 GMT -6
Also, hownoften do you do tummy time? What do you do with them? I've been having him try to get a rattle or just lay on the floor and talk to him.
Does your LO have anhbtohs at this point? What ate they? I have a rattle but that's it
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jt2378
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Post by jt2378 on Sept 17, 2017 6:29:03 GMT -6
muscari, M seems all stuffy too. The pedi recommended what pennylane said and also saline drops but I can't figure out how you get those in her nose lol. I also produce way more in left boob then right so it is entirely possible to be lopsided 😛 king26, that can definitely happen with bottle and boob. The flow is just faster with a bottle and they don't have to work as hard. Also I think you have the right idea and YH needs to chill a little. They hardly refuse a bottle so it is possible to overfeed. Sometimes they just fuss and need to be walked around, rocked etc. does he take a paci? He needs to be awake and not eating like you said all the time
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 6:29:09 GMT -6
muscari Do you have a humidifier you can run in the room with her? Or sit in a steamy bathroom for a bit? Unfortunately at that age I don't think there's much you can do. Shortly afterI posted she pooped all over herself so she got a shower with daddy which seems to have helped loosen things up a bit. @easilyunamused yeah seashore drops was what we came up with as well. Will try that when she is stuffed up again.
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 6:32:20 GMT -6
muscari I used a shield with my first as well. He never weaned from it and we BF until he was 7ish months. My supply tanked when I went back to work so I think it's ok to use long term. I had tried to wean him by letting him use the shield for latching and let down and then taking it off but he was not a fan. Thanks! It makes me feel better knowing some of you used a should longer term as well! Right now i latch without on my left which seems to work (done so twice now) but she refuses (or just doesn't manage) to latch on right side without?? Beats me lol.
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 6:41:03 GMT -6
J is starting to not want the boob. I feel like he knows it is so much more work for him then a bottle and he gets a bottle after almost every feeding. He will eat from the right one everyone but either is refusing thenleft or will latch then just sit there. It's frustrating because I'm really trying to hang on to breastfeeding. DH doesn't like when he is up and not eating. He thinks he is up because he is hungry . I tried telling him we can't keep jamming food in him, sometimes he will just be up and we just need to talk to him or rock him etc. There isn't much we can do with him yet but it's ok to just chill and hold him. I keep feeling like we should be doing something else but I know there isn't much. Are YH and MH twins? Mine has exactly the same response when D is up and fussing - he thinks all and everything are hunger cues. I like to think I can tell the difference at times (maybe not aleays but sometimes definitely) by now. At times she just wants to be held or rocked etc. He does like to hold her or lay down with her and chill out together but hasn't wanted to walk around the room or rock her for some reason ? Seems to think that is useless but uhm all babies like to be rocked!? I wish r'n'ps were sold here (they oddly enough arent! I even checked Fisher Price). We don't have much toys yet. She has a rattle too but hasn't played with it yet. We havent done tummy time perse yet but she spends time in her tummy on daddy daily and has been training lifting her head that way. I am sorry you now additionally worry about whether J is refusing to nurse cause of nipple confusion and bottle feeding. It is a concern for me as well and I can't help but worry but what else can I do...? Do you do paced bottle feeding? If not that may help some..? I just started doing paced bottles myself today.
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jexxa
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Post by jexxa on Sept 17, 2017 7:29:29 GMT -6
I just want to give you all giant hugs. Newborns are fucking HARD. Breastfeeding is hard, pumping is hard. There's so much trial and error. But I promise you - you all are doing just fine. Everything that you guys have described is normal. It sucks for sure, but it's normal. Don't hesitate to reach out to your pedi or LC if you're having concerns about anything - that's what they're there for! And of course use us as a sounding board, cuz that's what we're here for too 😊
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Post by happyfeet9 on Sept 17, 2017 7:30:26 GMT -6
My almost 3 year old was up more times overnight than my newborn. Ugh. Definitely going to need to sneak a nap today. Solidarity. My almost 3 yr old also wakes up in the MOTN consistently.
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Post by happyfeet9 on Sept 17, 2017 7:35:14 GMT -6
Also, hownoften do you do tummy time? What do you do with them? I've been having him try to get a rattle or just lay on the floor and talk to him. Does your LO have anhbtohs at this point? What ate they? I have a rattle but that's it We do tummy time around 2-3 times per day - so morning, afternoon, and evening. The twins have a floor mat that we use that has accessories but they don't pay much attention to them yet (except for the mirror). They also have an octopus that projects lights onto the wall that they enjoy. Their favorites though are Freddie and Fifi the firefly. They enjoy looking at the black and white wings and like the crunchy sound it makes. They're really young for toys so talking, reading, and music works just fine.
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Post by happyfeet9 on Sept 17, 2017 7:36:08 GMT -6
I just want to give you all giant hugs. Newborns are fucking HARD. Breastfeeding is hard, pumping is hard. There's so much trial and error. But I promise you - you all are doing just fine. Everything that you guys have described is normal. It sucks for sure, but it's normal. Don't hesitate to reach out to your pedi or LC if you're having concerns about anything - that's what they're there for! And of course use us as a sounding board, cuz that's what we're here for too 😊 Agreed!
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yoshijo
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Post by yoshijo on Sept 17, 2017 7:54:30 GMT -6
king26 maybe show your H this? They sleep a lot but it's ok to be up and not eating lol
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2017 7:57:54 GMT -6
I hate the hours between 1am and 7am. A is up every hour to 90 mins in that time and it's so hard physically and mentally. Motherhood would be so much more enjoyable on a better nights rest.
I mean, don't get me wrong. I am enjoying it. But I'm realizing I'm not that great of a person on 3 hours sleep.
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king26
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Post by king26 on Sept 17, 2017 9:02:14 GMT -6
I hate the hours between 1am and 7am. A is up every hour to 90 mins in that time and it's so hard physically and mentally. Motherhood would be so much more enjoyable on a better nights rest. I mean, don't get me wrong. I am enjoying it. But I'm realizing I'm not that great of a person on 3 hours sleep. Ditto this. He may sleep 1 or 1.5 hours but then is up at least 1 hour in between. Exhausting
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kristyw
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Post by kristyw on Sept 17, 2017 9:08:41 GMT -6
@easilyunamused I remember feeling so anxious with DS as soon as the sun would set because I knew the night was going to be long. I don't have any advice, just know it won't be like this forever.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2017 9:14:56 GMT -6
@easilyunamused I remember feeling so anxious with DS as soon as the sun would set because I knew the night was going to be long. I don't have any advice, just know it won't be like this forever. Yes! I dread bedtime and when I look at the clock and see it's close to 1am I absolutely dread it. And I do have to put it in perspective that it won't be forever, it's easy to do in the day time but not in the MOTN. 😕
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muscari
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Post by muscari on Sept 17, 2017 9:33:51 GMT -6
Also, hownoften do you do tummy time? What do you do with them? I've been having him try to get a rattle or just lay on the floor and talk to him. Does your LO have anhbtohs at this point? What ate they? I have a rattle but that's it We do tummy time around 2-3 times per day - so morning, afternoon, and evening. The twins have a floor mat that we use that has accessories but they don't pay much attention to them yet (except for the mirror). They also have an octopus that projects lights onto the wall that they enjoy. Their favorites though are Freddie and Fifi the firefly. They enjoy looking at the black and white wings and like the crunchy sound it makes. They're really young for toys so talking, reading, and music works just fine. I think D. is getting Freddie the Firefly as a gift from a cousin&his wife (they asked for specific gift suggestions so I hinted heavily to this particular one haha), and I can't wait to see her with it when she's a little older. I love these toys!!
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king26
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Post by king26 on Sept 17, 2017 11:20:33 GMT -6
Do you guys go out? Like I've had 3.people write me this week. 1 is for book club, 1 is for a happy hour, and 1 is a party. I turned the party down right away. I'm debating book club but will 99% say no to happy hour. I feel.weird like I shouldn't be going put and leaving DH with J for.hours to have fun. DH did buy me a massage and wants me to get it within the next 2 weeks and I'm worried about that. It's 45 minutes each way and an hour massage so I'll be gone 3 hours.minimum. I think the longest I've been gone is 1.5 hours to grocery shop
So....do you go out yourself? Does your H? Mine does.but it's for work mostly and he is gone 4 hours tops. Would you take baby to book club? ( it's at a friend's house). J is just so unpredictable and is breastfeeding, and doesn't sleep more than am hour at a time in the day so I don't know how that would work.
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