Newborn chatter

[vlinder]

Aug 1, 2019 14:54:09 GMT -5 oceanstbride said:

I'm going back to work on Monday and am starting to freak out a little bit. This will be my first time returning to work and pumping (SAH with DS until he was 15m). I've been pumping so have a stash in the freezer and have been pumping more than DD drinks at a feeding so am not currently stressed out about that. DH will be home with her for August and then she'll go to daycare in Sept. Fingers crossed him feeding her will go better than it has been.

I'm planning on packing the following for Monday (hoping to pump 3 times). Any tips/suggestions for logistics welcome as I'm having a hard time with this!
Pump (unsure which one - I have PISA (leaning towards) and Spectra (pink)) which I will leave at work. Also have access to Symphony in lactation room. Side question - how do people use the Spectra? I am finding all of these pump routines that are a lot longer than I'd like to pump.
Extra bottles/caps. Figure I will dump one bottle into the other for each session (reusing one from the previous for the next session). So 4 bottles total?
Pump wipes
Wet bag/ziplock bag to put pump parts in fridge
Medela cooler bag/ice pack
Hands free bra - how do you do this at work? If I'm wearing something that has easy nursing access (wrap dress or nursing top), do you put hands free bra on over your shirt? Won't it get really wrinkly? See above that I'm struggling with logistics.

As I bring home milk, should I keep that in fridge to use for next day or should have DH defrost frozen milk?

Susie your post from your first day was super helpful!

For the Spectra, I use the default letdown mode until milk starts, then switch to an expression mode the rest of the time— I don’t remember my exact setting. Nothing complicated!

Easy nursing access and easy pumping access aren’t always the same. I like things like wrap dresses where I can expose my nursing bra, unsnap and put the cups down, then put on the hands free bra.

I use pumped milk for the next day—so milk pumped on Monday is used on Tuesday, etc. Milk pumped on Friday gets frozen. Then the milk for Monday is the oldest frozen milk.

[vlinder]

Dear DH,

I put the baby down to prepare to nurse. The baby was screaming because it was past time for him to eat. So while I appreciate the effort to calm him, if you hand him back ASAP, I will stick a boob in his mouth and he will shut up. Or you could keep on bouncing him around while he screams, whichever.

[latte]

You know the saying “Never wake a sleeping baby?” I should have listened to it, because DD fell asleep at 10pm but I hadn’t given her her medication yet (wasn’t expecting her to fall asleep so fast). Giving her the medicine woke her up and she didn’t fall back asleep until 1am. She is sleeping at my parents tomorrow night and I can’t wait to go to bed semi early and sleep all night. I was trying to get H to let her stay 2 nights, but he said we’d have to see how she did tomorrow. I just want more sleep, so hopefully he goes for it.

vlinder that would make me so irritated!

[hamster]

latte grandma and grandpa's house is the best! I think I started sending C at 4 or 5 months. Sadly D will be later since he isn't exclusively bottle fed.

[latte]

Aug 2, 2019 2:40:10 GMT -5 hamster said:

latte grandma and grandpa's house is the best! I think I started sending C at 4 or 5 months. Sadly D will be later since he isn't exclusively bottle fed.

It is the best! And considering she is already back up, it looks better and better! Ha! That is definitely one benefit of formula feeding is anyone can feed her. She stayed once at 5 weeks, but we had to get up so early that next day for my medical appointments, we could catch up on sleep. This time, I hope we sleep in!

[Susie]

oceanstbride , Here's what I bring to the office every day:

The bottles are 8 oz Avent Natural bottles and I dump the milk into them to bring home.  The two fit perfectly into that little cooler bag, which was a giveaway from some formula company I think.  It's a pretty compact setup.  During the day I store the pump parts and milk in the fridge in my office, and then I bring the milk home in the cooler bag and the pump parts home in my empty lunch box to use for my bedtime pump.  I don't use any special wipes.

Here's what I leave at the office (I close my door and pump at my desk):

Paper towels for any drips, gallon bags, a Medela steam clean bag for the microwave just to have here in case (I guess in case I do something dumb and forget to put my pump parts in the fridge after my AM pump?  Just good backup.)  Extra bottles in case I have a heavy pumping day.  Pumping bra.  Fridge.  Spectra S1.  That's about it.  I would like to add a full length mirror behind my office door just so I can check myself after I'm done before I go back out in public.

When I'm wearing wrap dresses, I open the front and put the pumping bra over the top of everything.  If I'm wearing pants + top, I do it basically like pooh8402 .  I am not a super methodical pumper.  I do about 2 mins at 70 cycle/3 suction level, and then switch to 38 cycle/level 5 suction to express.  I usually do another stint at 70/3 around 12ish mins for a couple mins to get another letdown, but I tend to find it I just leave it all alone I get the letdown anyway.

As far as freezing/defrosting, I'm playing a lot by ear right now, especially as his bottle intake is varying and we're trying to get it settled.  Early in the week he gets thawed milk in bottles #1-3 of the day (of 5) and fresh milk in bottles #4-5 which have potential to roll over to the next day at daycare (I don't want thawed to then sit overnight).  As we get toward the end of the week I reevaluate.  This week I outpaced him by quite a bit, so last night I put a ton in the freezer because I will nurse all weekend and I don't want the fresh milk aging in the fridge.  He gets more fresh milk late in the week, partly because I've built it up all week, and partly because he's more likely on those days to start the day with previous day bottles.  Today he has 2 from yesterday and 3 fresh, no thawed.

When DD was a newborn she stayed home with H for a couple months waiting for our daycare spot to open up.  I had him defrost one bag at a time and prep bottles on more of a rolling basis.  That's a luxury that you have when you don't have to pack the whole day for daycare all at once.  Defrosting the bags in water goes pretty fast.

[oceanstbride]

Thank you all for advice on pumping/packing - feeling less stressed and have a list of what I want to bring now. pooh8402 and Susie your photos are super helpful! I'm liking the idea of bringing larger bottles to transfer into and bring home.

namasteak agree that Dr. Brown's pacifiers look similar - the HappyPaci.

[Susie]

oceanstbride , one other thing -- I have an S1 (new) and a PISA (from DD), and was also debating which one to bring to work. One plus to the Spectra is that it is quieter so I can take conference calls with it on, as long as I don't set it right next to the phone. That is a major plus for me but YMMV. In the end, one of my friends mailed me her S1 because her baby (6 mo. older than mine) has weaned so I can have one at home and one at work. I put the PISA back in the tote as a backup only. OMG college besties - how our lives have changed since we met - but that has been amazing.

I keep a set of adapters at the office too, I forgot to mention that (you can see the yellow things on the ends of the Spectra tubing), so I can either use Medela parts from last time, or take them off and use Spectra parts, with my S1.

[hamster]

At the pedi. 14 lbs 4 oz, 23.5 inches!

[hamster]

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

[woowoo]

Aug 3, 2019 17:11:51 GMT -5 hamster said:

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

Nope.

All the nope. 

Although he slept a 4 hour stretch last night then another 3 hour stretch which felt like nothing short of a miracle.  

Not getting my hopes up for tonight...but maybe we are getting closer! 

[namasteak]

Aug 3, 2019 17:11:51 GMT -5 hamster said:

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

Definitely not time but loose routine. Naps are better in the morning and wake times are longer in the evenings though.

Time of day changes the length of each segment but we do - wake (needs reflux meds twice a day 30min before eating), eat, wake (upright for 15minutes after eating), sleep.

He eats every 2.5-3 hours.

[pooh8402]

Aug 3, 2019 17:11:51 GMT -5 hamster said:

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

Nah. The only predictable schedule is that he eats every 2.5 to 3 hours. This is definitely an improvement over E1.

[Patsy Baloney]

Aug 3, 2019 17:11:51 GMT -5 hamster said:

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

DS just turned 3 months yesterday, and we’re getting there. His first feeding is usually 5am-6am, and if we can get him in that time frame, he’ll stay up until about 7:30, snooze until his next bottle, and then rinse repeat throughout the day. He is DEFINITELY more wakeful in the afternoon, which I wish wasn’t the case, because what a grumpy mess he gets to be. His last bottle tends to fall between 8pm-9pm, and then he goes down for the night.

Before he was doing that huge chunk of sleep overnight, though, he was sucking at being predictable.

[lovelyshoes]

Can anyone recommend a strapless pumping bra. I tried the Medela one and it didn’t work for me.

[latte]

Aug 3, 2019 17:11:51 GMT -5 hamster said:

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

Not at all. It’s hard because she is all over everywhere with her naps and eating, but we are trying to at least get into a routine.

[hamster]

Aug 3, 2019 19:08:53 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

Can anyone recommend a strapless pumping bra. I tried the Medela one and it didn’t work for me.

I used this one
PumpEase Hands-Free Pumping Bra Now with Straps - Galaxie Black - M www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZYNTSY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OGIrDb8KF4Y7R

[hamster]

At least I'm not alone. I hate not having a schedule or routine!

[Susie]

lol no on being on a routine. It's killing me with sleep and being back to work now, because *I* am on a routine now! I need DS to get in line, ha.

Aug 3, 2019 19:08:53 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

Can anyone recommend a strapless pumping bra. I tried the Medela one and it didn’t work for me.

I have this one:

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00295MQLU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

The Medela one definitely sucks.  I had it when I was pumping for #1, and I don't even know why I kept it for #2.  I bought two of the linked ones this time, one for home and one for work.

[vlinder]

Aug 3, 2019 19:08:53 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

Can anyone recommend a strapless pumping bra. I tried the Medela one and it didn’t work for me.

The Simple Wishes one Susie linked to is the same one I have. Works great.

[pooh8402]

Aug 3, 2019 19:08:53 GMT -5 lovelyshoes said:

Can anyone recommend a strapless pumping bra. I tried the Medela one and it didn’t work for me.

I have a PumpEase (the exact same one hamster linked) and the Simple Wishes one Susie linked. I prefer the Simple Wishes.

[scm1011]

Guys, I think Spain broke my baby. She has been miserable the last 5 days and hasn’t pooped since we got here last Tuesday. What happened to my chill DD? We’ve had pockets of enjoyment but I’m ready to head home tomorrow.

[pinkalicious]

Aug 3, 2019 19:19:33 GMT -5 latte said:

Aug 3, 2019 17:11:51 GMT -5 hamster said:

Is anyone on a predictable schedule yet? Either time or routine based.

I feel like D sleeps all morning with back to back naps, and then is awake all evening. I'd really like him to be at least awake for an hour or so between naps, but sometimes he is only awake for 20 minutes to eat and falls back asleep.

At almost 5 months we are finally in a routine, but not sleeping through the night.
Wake up about 6-6:30, breakfast at 7:30, leave for daycare at 8:15, nap at 10-11:30, lunch at 11:30, afternoon nap about 1, afternoon bottle 3:30, dinner at 6:30, bedtime routine starts between 7-7:15, in bed between 7:30-8:00.

[namasteak]

Aug 4, 2019 14:40:44 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Guys, I think Spain broke my baby. She has been miserable the last 5 days and hasn’t pooped since we got here last Tuesday. What happened to my chill DD? We’ve had pockets of enjoyment but I’m ready to head home tomorrow.

Oh no! Hopefully it’s just the time change.

[zarapipe]

Can I join? Dd3 is 3 weeks. Also have a 4 and 9 year old. I keep waiting for the ball to drop. I was absolutely petrified having a third but the transition has been light years easier than I thought. Having older kids helps I’m sure. The 4 year old is in prek still and the 9 year old is home with me until school starts. The real hell is going to be when I go back to work the first week of October. I’m really wondering how I’m going to manage it all. Dh will take the bigs to school, I’ll drop off the baby. Pickup will suck. Three different locations and I have to get them all

She is sleeping like an average baby I guess. Up 3x a night for like an hour each. I’m bfing and it’s going well considering it was awful in the hospital. She was 6lb14oz at birth and I think she is well over 8lbs now.

[hamster]

I'm pretty sure I have some PPD
I think most is just shitty life stage problems, but it feels elevated beyond that.

I know lack of sleep is a driving factor. D will now be getting one bottle a day for training (we've been slacking and now he is struggling) with his first overnight bottle on Wednesday. Working on getting C used to his sound machine so D can move to his own room (with adjoining wall) this weekend.

We will go from there.

[namasteak]

((( hamster ))) will you talk to your OB or PCP? Even if you think it is mostly shitty situational stuff you deserve to feel better. Don’t underestimate the power of sleep deprivation either. I hope you can work out a way to get more sleep ❤️

[noodleoo]

Aug 4, 2019 14:40:44 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Guys, I think Spain broke my baby. She has been miserable the last 5 days and hasn’t pooped since we got here last Tuesday. What happened to my chill DD? We’ve had pockets of enjoyment but I’m ready to head home tomorrow.

Ugh, I’m sorry. I took DD1 to Florida to visit my family when she was about 3 months old and it was miserable. She wouldn’t sleep or nap and pretty much cried the whole time. And that was same time zone and staying at my parents house, so a relatively easy trip. I found a post I made during that trip on here before we had DD2 and it reminded me how much it sucked so we haven’t traveled with DD2 at all yet, LOL! We take our first trip this weekend up to Storyland and I’m hoping she does ok, but not optimistic seeing as she’s never slept anywhere but our house and daycare.  I hope your DD goes back to normal quickly when you get home! 

[lillaguma]

Aug 4, 2019 20:47:10 GMT -5 hamster said:

I'm pretty sure I have some PPD
I think most is just shitty life stage problems, but it feels elevated beyond that.

I know lack of sleep is a driving factor. D will now be getting one bottle a day for training (we've been slacking and now he is struggling) with his first overnight bottle on Wednesday. Working on getting C used to his sound machine so D can move to his own room (with adjoining wall) this weekend.

We will go from there.

I am so sorry. I am coming to this realization for myself, too. I'm trying to decide what I need to do about it.

For me I think I just had a baby and never stopped...I started working again (I'm freelance, so it's not full time, but still) 3 weeks after S was born, then we moved a few weeks after that, then my in-laws came for a few weeks, then we took off on our own vacation after they left. Now I'm back and our new place is  a disaster, I definitely don't get enough sleep, and I feel like I just can't mom anymore. I am so irritable and having the hardest time with my 4-year-old. Also tons of anxiety. 

Is this something I go back to my OB about? Or my primary physician?

(Also sorry to quote and hijack...started typing and it all just came out)

[humpforfree]

Aug 4, 2019 21:46:56 GMT -5 lillaguma said:

Aug 4, 2019 20:47:10 GMT -5 hamster said:

I'm pretty sure I have some PPD
I think most is just shitty life stage problems, but it feels elevated beyond that.

I know lack of sleep is a driving factor. D will now be getting one bottle a day for training (we've been slacking and now he is struggling) with his first overnight bottle on Wednesday. Working on getting C used to his sound machine so D can move to his own room (with adjoining wall) this weekend.

We will go from there.

I am so sorry. I am coming to this realization for myself, too. I'm trying to decide what I need to do about it.

For me I think I just had a baby and never stopped...I started working again (I'm freelance, so it's not full time, but still) 3 weeks after S was born, then we moved a few weeks after that, then my in-laws came for a few weeks, then we took off on our own vacation after they left. Now I'm back and our new place is  a disaster, I definitely don't get enough sleep, and I feel like I just can't mom anymore. I am so irritable and having the hardest time with my 4-year-old. Also tons of anxiety. 

Is this something I go back to my OB about? Or my primary physician?

(Also sorry to quote and hijack...started typing and it all just came out)

Your OB should help! I went to mine when my “baby” was over 2 and I finally realized in had PPA and needed help. She was amazing and didn’t blink an eye at me showing up that late.