September 18-24 randoms

[king26]

Sept 22, 2017 12:15:16 GMT -6 bsouls said:

king26 R is exclusively formula fed.

We are supposed to be headed into our first leap. I haven’t noticed a change. Last time we didn’t always know we were in the fussy period until afterward - then we’d notice changes. We also realized with T that she would nap more when she was about to do something new.

How old is she Now? How much formula do you feed at a time? How manybtimes a dat? Do you feed as soon as she wakes up? What do you do when she is done? Part of my problem is when J take a bottle it is fast and I know we will have time afterwards but I don't know what to do with him them. What type of bottles do you use? Do you mix formula ahead of time or make bottles on demand?

[muscari]

I too have a question. For those who sometimes switch out a BFing session for a bottle pumped milk: how much do you give per bottle or did you give when baby was 1mo?

[bsouls]

Sept 22, 2017 14:20:23 GMT -6 king26 said:

Sept 22, 2017 12:15:16 GMT -6 bsouls said:

king26 R is exclusively formula fed.

We are supposed to be headed into our first leap. I haven’t noticed a change. Last time we didn’t always know we were in the fussy period until afterward - then we’d notice changes. We also realized with T that she would nap more when she was about to do something new.

How old is she Now? How much formula do you feed at a time? How manybtimes a dat? Do you feed as soon as she wakes up? What do you do when she is done? Part of my problem is when J take a bottle it is fast and I know we will have time afterwards but I don't know what to do with him them. What type of bottles do you use? Do you mix formula ahead of time or make bottles on demand?

R is almost 6 weeks old. She’s taking 4 oz at a time and usually eats 6 times a day, but might do 7. I’ve read that they’re supposed to have 2.5 times their weight in formula. But, she’s currently consuming slightly less than that. Since birth they’ve been surprised how much she drinks in one sitting, but she lets you know she’s done/full. She usually takes 30 minutes to drink/burp, but at night it might be 20 min if she’s had a long stretch before feedings.

She pretty much wakes from a nap and wants to eat. She usually starts making grunting noises closely together, then yells for food. At night I’ve been waiting for her to yell before I get up, because I’m hoping to get longer stretches from her. She’ll usually be calm if I’m holding her while getting the bottle.

We just use cheap bottles - Gerber ones we got at Walmart, because they worked well last time. We are currently still using the slow flow nipple. This time we’ve been making them as we go, but last time we made 20 ounces at a time in one of those blender shaker bottles. Once she goes to 5 oz at a time then we will switch, I’m sure since the powder is measured by even numbers. When it’s been refrigerated then we warm the bottle in a hot cup of water.

When we go out, we put the water in the bottle or take a bottle of water. We portion the formula out separately to add. Last time we did a zip lock bag and cut the corner to put it in bottle - I’m not sure how others do it. Or, we try to plan outings around bottles, but always take one just in case.

Let me know if I didn’t cover something.

[addymac]

Sept 22, 2017 14:34:31 GMT -6 muscari said:

I too have a question. For those who sometimes switch out a BFing session for a bottle pumped milk: how much do you give per bottle or did you give when baby was 1mo?

So I started off with 2-3oz. Now he's 1mo old, he will take between 4-6oz. I start with putting 4oz in a bottle bc it's very rare he takes less than that these days. Then I try to burp after every oz but he isn't a big fan of that, haha. After he finishes 4oz, if he's burped and is screaming and rooting / smacking his lips / eating his hands, we offer another oz. and repeat. He's never taken more than 6oz.

[king26]

bsouls that is super helpful thank you

[muscari]

Sept 22, 2017 21:22:49 GMT -6 addymac said:

Sept 22, 2017 14:34:31 GMT -6 muscari said:

I too have a question. For those who sometimes switch out a BFing session for a bottle pumped milk: how much do you give per bottle or did you give when baby was 1mo?

So I started off with 2-3oz. Now he's 1mo old, he will take between 4-6oz. I start with putting 4oz in a bottle bc it's very rare he takes less than that these days. Then I try to burp after every oz but he isn't a big fan of that, haha. After he finishes 4oz, if he's burped and is screaming and rooting / smacking his lips / eating his hands, we offer another oz. and repeat. He's never taken more than 6oz.

So the 6oz bottle is instead of a breastfeeding session right? I instantly felt like a bad bad mother when I read that and started doubting myself thinking I was starving D! (Guess that just goes to show how insecure I feel about BFing still). Cause we never have given more then 2-2.5oz a bottle. But then again we give the bottle to supplement after a boob session so that makes a difference. We have given her a larger bottle but she will simply not drink more then 60cc/2oz max. So that must mean she has had enough at that time right?

We have not yet skipped a BF session to give a bottle instead, only supplemented (usually once a day maybe twice). MH has offered on multiple occasions to take over a MOTN feed so I could get some more sleep and while the sleep sounds awesome I just know it won't work. My boobs already feel like they are gonne explode when D sleeps a bit longer then usual.. so sleeping through the the nightjust isnt gonne work. Yet.. I hope we can before too long 😊 I thought that that engorged feeling would just last a day or two every time supply went up but it has been going on for a while now?

[unicornsparkles]

Sept 22, 2017 21:48:11 GMT -6 king26 said:

bsouls that is super helpful thank you

Late but S is EFF and our experience is much the same as bsouls except how much she takes- anywhere from 28-32oz/day but she's a bigger girl. I feed her on demand, 4oz at a time but sometimes she will take 5. She has spit up maybe once ever which is my sign that I'm not overfeeding which is something I worried about. We use Dr. Browns bottles and I've used them for all my kids- I seriously think the vent flow system is the magic that has kept my kids from ever having real gas issues. Also for going out and about, we use a little formula container by Munchkin with 3-4 compartments depending on how many bottles worth of formula you need to take. Also something I finally learned this time around is depending on where we go, I only take 1-2 bottles with water in it and just wash and reuse the bottle (like if we are at family's house or something) so I don't have to take 3+ bottles bc that's annoying.

I also use the Munchkin thing for MOTN feedings. I put 2 scoops of formula in each compartment and take 3-4oz bottles of water upstairs bc I don't want to have to trudge downstairs to the kitchen to make a bottle for every feeding.

[muscari]

Also I wanted to apologize for not being on as much as I normally am. I guess I just need a bit of a breather from .. anything that requires brains lol. I am just feeling overwhelmed and all and caring for D. solo nights and daytime and only having some help in the evening doesnt leave a lot of room both mentally as timewise to be real active atm. But I do try to read and keep up and am thinking of you all loads!

[jt2378]

muscari, don't apologize! Sorry your overwhelmed, I think most of us are. As far as bottles, my first DD never took more than 4 oz of breastmilk in a feeding when I was pumping and working. That is about average I think but this was a whole feeding so she basically had that 3 times a day while I was away working. So I think if your supplementing after a BF session, that should be fine.

The MOTN stuff, your boobs will regulate over time to not be engorged if she sleeps long stretches but not if your pumping

[addymac]

muscari yeah that's instead of a BFing session. If we supplement after a BF session he usually takes only 2 or so ounces. You're not starving her! If she's not taking any more that means she's full!

Today he's only taken 2oz every feed. Of course he's been feeding every 1-2hours, hah, but that's all he wants today in between his naps. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I feel like we've all been a little focused on our LOs and not being here. It's amazing how exhausting life can be right now!

[king26]

unicornsparkles, Thank you! Also very helpful. We just started using the Dr. Brown's bottles because J spits up so much and they have really helped. I love how hardly any air gets into his belly now. I just ordered more on Amazon. We only ever give a max of 2 oz. of formula after a breastfeeding but I'm really not sure how much longer I'll be able to breastfeed and that Munchkin thing sounds convenient, especially for when we have to travel to my families 2.5 hours away. One more question, how many times a day do you feed on average?

muscari, I feel like I'm usually only on here in the middle of the night because I'm tired and need something to keep me awake while I'm feeding J.

I'm glad I'm not the only one exhausted. I feel like by the time I get J to sleep and then get him in his RNP I only have time to get dressed or do laundry or eat before he's up again. It's tiring and I just keep waiting for night time sleep to start regulating so we get more sleep. Everyone says they start sleeping better at 6 weeks which is just 2 weeks away and I'm hoping.

[unicornsparkles]

king26 here's the link to the formula container www.target.com/p/munchkin-formula-dispenser/-/A-13991505

Baby eats probably 7-9x a day it just depends on how much she takes per feeding. Just like a breastfed baby she will eat a little more during growth spurts or wonder weeks like this past week but then it will go back to her average consumption.

[addymac]

Ugh I think N has a cold he must have gotten it from my MIL - she had a cold and still came to visit and now he's sneezing like crazy, sounds snotty, keeps blowing stuff out his nose, and has been the sleepiest he's ever been since like week 1 of Life ☹️ I feel so bad for my little munchkin.

Also ugh! So I got a k'tan wrap. I got a small and I felt like it was TOO small and tight. So I returned it and got a medium. Now I feel like the medium is too loose! I already washed and dried it, so I don't think it would shrink much more, but I don't feel super secure with him in it. Do I just need to give up my dream of using a wrap? I don't like the ones where you really have to make the wrap from scratch, I like the k'tan bc it was basically half assembled - if that makes any sense. Sigh.

[jt2378]

addymac, sorry N seems sick, it's so sad when they are like that. We dealt with it when M was like 2 weeks old. Hope he feels better soon.

I just got a boba wrap which has been an absolute savior because she cannot be put down most of the time ugh. Sorry I don't have any experience with the k'tan. The boba is super user friendly

ETA of course this is different than the sling wraps so maybe not even what your looking for

[jt2378]

After being a hot mess from 7-11 last night she finally conked out till 6:30! Fed and changed her and slept till 9:15. Hallelujah for sleep but the trade off has been barely sleeps and cranky all day. I can't decide if this is worth it? lol clearly I don't have a choice but woof things are so finicky with infants

[nutmeg]

Sept 24, 2017 9:59:27 GMT -6 addymac said:

Ugh I think N has a cold he must have gotten it from my MIL - she had a cold and still came to visit and now he's sneezing like crazy, sounds snotty, keeps blowing stuff out his nose, and has been the sleepiest he's ever been since like week 1 of Life ☹️ I feel so bad for my little munchkin.

Also ugh! So I got a k'tan wrap. I got a small and I felt like it was TOO small and tight. So I returned it and got a medium. Now I feel like the medium is too loose! I already washed and dried it, so I don't think it would shrink much more, but I don't feel super secure with him in it. Do I just need to give up my dream of using a wrap? I don't like the ones where you really have to make the wrap from scratch, I like the k'tan bc it was basically half assembled - if that makes any sense. Sigh.

I tried the k'tan and hated it. I couldn't get the right fit at all. I returned mine for a Moby and it was much easier than I thought it would be.

That being said, this time around I bought a ring sling because I needed something that would be quicker while also taking care of Molly. I love it. It's so much easier than wrapping once you get the hang of it.

[king26]

DH and I are feeling like failures. J was up for like 2.5 hours this morning and would not go down. He finally did and had 2 good naps but now He has been doing 15-25 minute naps and it's exhausting.
I have a Moby wrap that we love but it's hard to get it wrapped when I'm alone and j is awake.

I think he is constipated too. He keeps farting and gets so red then pushed and screams. I feel awful. He did this last time too then had a major blow out after 3 days and it was all soft. Anyone else have a constipated kid?

Also, anyone else still cry when baby is crying and you can't figure out what's wrong? I feel like this happens every 2 to 3 daysmostlt when I'm alone. I'm also panicking about going back to work but things should be easier when he is 3 months right? More consistent or ami fooling myself

[kristyw]

E is 4 weeks today. I forgot how fast it goes. Also, my maternity leave is half over and I'm so not ready to think about going back to work.

She has been snack-nursing all day. 5-10 min at a time. My boobs are not enjoying this. I should pump but keep thinking she'll want to actually nurse soon.

Also, my toddler is refusing a nap for the second day in a row and I may lose my mind.

[king26]

kristyw I'm having the pumping problem too as i don't want to pump if he is going to want to eat. He's been snacking all day but having his regular bottles.

I think he may be going through his first leap. It says it will start tomorrow but he is super fussy and doesn't want to be put down which is unusual. We usually don't have too hard of a time putting him down but he has cried every time today. And of course DH has been gone all day today. I hope this doesn't last a dull week. I don't think dh or I can survive a week of this.

[muscari]

king26 huge hugs. You&YH are NOT failures! This new baby thing is just really hard!

[addymac]

Sept 24, 2017 10:25:05 GMT -6 king26 said:

Also, anyone else still cry when baby is crying and you can't figure out what's wrong? I feel like this happens every 2 to 3 daysmostlt when I'm alone. I'm also panicking about going back to work but things should be easier when he is 3 months right? More consistent or ami fooling myself

🙋🏻 Yep. Or when things are just really hard. I just sit and cry and he cries and we just sit there crying. I sure hope this ends soon bc it is the pits. And then if DH is home and I'm crying I want nothing to do with him and I don't want him to even touch me to try to console me.

[muscari]

Sept 24, 2017 14:17:29 GMT -6 addymac said:

Sept 24, 2017 10:25:05 GMT -6 king26 said:

Also, anyone else still cry when baby is crying and you can't figure out what's wrong? I feel like this happens every 2 to 3 daysmostlt when I'm alone. I'm also panicking about going back to work but things should be easier when he is 3 months right? More consistent or ami fooling myself

🙋🏻 Yep. Or when things are just really hard. I just sit and cry and he cries and we just sit there crying. I sure hope this ends soon bc it is the pits. And then if DH is home and I'm crying I want nothing to do with him and I don't want him to even touch me to try to console me.

This is me also. :*(

[muscari]

*sighs* Things are just so rough right now, I know it'll get better but right now I just want to sit and bawl my eyes out. I think sleep deprivation is finally starting to catch up with me too. We had a rough morning, but a really awesome afternoon which made me feel so much better (that and the 2h nap we all got around lunchtime). Then this evening it went from fine to shit again and I just don't know anymore. I finally seem to have my supply up to par but now she won't latch or drink properly!!? DH is feeding her a bottle right now, I hope that'll satisfy her enough (as apperently my boobs aren't, even though she's been on them whenever she wants) to where she'll settle down and fall asleep.. I'm going to pump then head to bed as well if she sleeps. We have our pedi appointment tomorrow afternoon, on the one hand I'm looking forward to being able to ask questions and hopefully get reassurance and information. On the other hand, ugh just worried about her weight in and what not.

[muscari]

Oh and my sister showed me how to use her wrap on Friday and D. loved it. So tonight I tried to wear her in hopes it'd help her settle down but I'll be damned if I can get the darned thing sorted. I watched a lot of youtube vids and it seems not too hard but wth.. I'm not sure what kind of wrap I have, I think it's similar to the moby wrap. Basically just one reaaaaaally long stretchy strip of fabric?

[muscari]

Oh btw, do you know.. is the "phase 1" nipple of the Dr Browns bottles a slowflow one? I want to give the Dr Brown's a try after reading you all being so positive about them. The one I found online just says 'phase 1' nipple and suitable for newborns..



eta: hmm I just noticed there's two different kind of bottles. one is narrow the other wider. what's the difference?? Or does just the nipple make a difference? Why oh why are there so many different optionslol

[kristyw]

muscari yes, phase (or level?) 1 would be the slowest flow. Well, technically premie is below that, but super super super slow. Level 1 is most likely what D would want. We have the narrow bottle like the one you posted. I know they have a wide neck one too. I'd choose whichever matches the nipple shape you are currently using.

[muscari]

Sept 24, 2017 15:11:56 GMT -6 kristyw said:

muscari yes, phase (or level?) 1 would be the slowest flow. Well, technically premie is below that, but super super super slow. Level 1 is most likely what D would want. We have the narrow bottle like the one you posted. I know they have a wide neck one too. I'd choose whichever matches the nipple shape you are currently using.

Thanks! We have the medela slow flow and philips avent slow flow bottles/nipples atm. At first we stuck to the avent as she seemed to take longer to finish a bottle, but we also felt she was sucking in a lot more air with that one then with the medale, so we switched back to the medela. We try the slow paced bottlefeeding method now, too, which made a difference. I have a medela pump and I like that the Dr brown's bottle fits on that one, too (at least the narrow one states it fits the medela pump).

[bsouls]

R has been pretty fussy today and difficult to get her to take good naps. I just got her to fall asleep in her belly on the floor with me patting her back. I’m gonna roll with it since I’ll be sitting with her and she’s been farting a bunch (must have gas). We used to let T nap next to us the couch on her belly, since she seemed to like it.

[addymac]

Sept 24, 2017 15:05:25 GMT -6 muscari said:

Oh btw, do you know.. is the "phase 1" nipple of the Dr Browns bottles a slowflow one? I want to give the Dr Brown's a try after reading you all being so positive about them. The one I found online just says 'phase 1' nipple and suitable for newborns..



eta: hmm I just noticed there's two different kind of bottles. one is narrow the other wider. what's the difference?? Or does just the nipple make a difference? Why oh why are there so many different optionslol

So actually I got the preemie nipples for N bc he was sucking the bottle down in less than five minutes with the level 1 ones. I was worried he would lose interest in the breast when I started pumping when he was 2 weeks old. At this point, since D is over a month old I wouldn't worry about needing slower than phase 1

[muscari]

So I BF 2.5h ago and pumped 1h ago (tho just got 15 minutes) and my boobs feel full -ish already again? D. is finally asleep after a bottle (she did drink on the boob for a while but seemed hungry still which didnt surprise me as she drank so lazily... the amount shevdrank did however surprise me... almost 3oz!?) and I am in bed too and just an too exhausted to get up and pump sone more. Fx i won't explode before it is time for D to eat again. I prolly should pump but ugh I just can't. Always worried about ffing up my supply some how by not pumping tho.