I noticed last night during Masterchef that my left eye was sore in the outer corner. I dismissed it thinking it was probably a war wound from a 5 weeks olds' post feed attack but it worsened and when I had a look in the mirror at bedtime it was weeping and kind of snotty. Marvellous. I put in some eye drops and went to bed hoping it would clear but when I got up to feed Oliver at 2am it was still sore, crusty and weeping. This morning it's not too bad but I've continued with the eye drops so I hope it clears and buggers off. That's the last thing I want right now.
I attempted to breastfeed Oliver yesterday morning. It was 6am, husband had gone to work and I was shattered so I got him of his basket, lay down next to him and he fed quite well from my left boob. He went back to sleep afterwards and whilst he brought a bit back up, I was happy he'd had a good fill. I was a little tender afterwards but it's normal. I then attempted it at 2am this morning. Big Fat Fail. My left nipple is in pieces and it's now covered in L.ansinoh along with a no entry sign. I was kind of hoping that I could breastfeed at night to save the warming of bottles and him fussing/getting upset it's all taking too long but alas, we're in the same boat we were in at the hospital when he was born. His latch is strong but he doesn't open wide enough, hence he chomps down on my nipple. Ouch! I'll be having a word with the Health Visitor at Tuesdays' weigh in to see if she can advise. Have I sealed his latching fate with the dummy?
Thursday passed with little tears. I was so consumed in trying to keep Oliver settled that there was rarely a time I could actually sit down let alone think about things. I sat down with Oliver at one point and explained he has a sibling watching over him. It felt good to talk to him about it, even though the reply I got was a scratch down my left cheek but I digress.
Colic is still rife in this household. I would like to say it's not as bad as it has been (or could be.. I've seen in my nephew what colic can really do) but it still plays havoc late afternoons. The Gripe Water is working as he is getting better albeit a bit fussy after feeds..
I just wish I could pin point what it is I'm eating that is upsetting him. We established the Jalfrezi curry I ate Tuesday evening was my own undoing. Weds night was not pleasant. I only drink decaf tea and coffee, I don't touch fizzy drinks, I've (begrudgingly) given up on chocolate. I'm wondering if it's dairy. I don't want to cut that out as it's a big deal and the Health Visitor advises against it unless in dire circumstances.
I have recently come under fire (from those irl) for having a routine with Oliver. Who said structure and routine was good eh? Comments have come my way about him feeding every 4 hours and the fact that he 'has to go to bed' at a certain time. For the record I belive putting him to bed early evening is a wonderful way for him to get used to the idea that it is indeed bedtime. Some folk have their babies downstairs with them until they go to bed. It's not a bad thing but each to their own.
so I'm going to give you a picture of a typical day for us (Oliver and I.. When husband is here we double team the poor mite) to see what you think:
05:30am - normal wake up time. He stirs, grunts, strains, gurgles etc
06:00am - I get up, change and feed him and put him back down in his basket. I express.
07:00am - 09:ooam - I shower, grab some toast and a cuppa, put some washing on, wash bottles/sterilise bottles and spend a small amount of time on the laptop catching up on various things.
09:00am - I express.
09:30am - He wakes, again putting the world to rights with the grunting
10:00am - Another feed (all feeds are 120ml/4oz except the tea time one)
10:30am - 12:oopm - Cue playtime/him having a colicky moment, eventually he settles. I try to express whilst tapping his bouncy chair with my foot and fighting the urge to glue his dummy to his lips. Don't talk to me about multi tasking!
14:00pm - Feed. Fight with colicky baby. Leave room to make a strong cuppa. Come back to crying colicky baby. Cuddle/soothe/sing to baby, attempt to eat something.
Miss expressing due to colicky baby.
16:00pm - Attempt to grab a cuppa & some sleep on the sofa - until colicky baby has other ideas. Normally manage to express for a short time about now.
17:30pm - Bathtime (he actually likes it)
18:00pm - Feed and put a somewhat chilled baby to bed.
18:30pm - 19:00pm - Aquire sore mouth from too much ssssshhhhhuushhh noises.
19:00pm - Husband returns from work, has a wash and takes over. Baby asleep in minutes.
19:01pm - I throttle husband then have a good cry. I express.
19:01 - 22:00pm - Dinner, relaxation, chatter, MasterChef Oz style, Shower (or bath together if we're feeling adventurous)
22:00pm - Feed somewhat sleepy baby and return him to slumberland. Express.
22:29pm - Tip away numerous cups of tea I've been unable to drink. Clear the sitting room of muzzies, rattles and his playmat.
22:30PM - Bed time for me whilst Husband catches up on emails/online game.
The night is filled with a feed at 2am (or near as dammit) a bit of a fuss when he won't burp and starts to cry/fight being burped & then we start the cycle over again. It's worth pointing out that when Husband is home off shift then this routine kind of hits the fan a bit. Only because we go out or Oliver just tends to be a little more settled when we're all home together and can often sleep for 5-6 hours after his 6pm feed. However, he soon settles back into the above when Husband returns to work.
I don't think there is anything wrong with the above. Routine is good. Yes, I appreciate Oliver is not quite 5 weeks old yet but this is not MY routine, it's his. Trust me, he dictates the events in this household.
What is 24 hours like for you?
To add: Oliver has been down since 09:ooam. As I have been typing he has stirred and it seems he wants to add more disruption to my Saturday morning plans. Mrs H is right.. it is a conspiracy and this is what he thinks to my plans:
First of, that's the cutest picture!
ReplyDeleteSecond, that sounds like a great routine. It's funny how you're getting crap about having a routine, but here you would get crap about NOT having a routine. Interesting...
Don't listen to anyone but your own instincts. You're the one that spends all day with your baby, you know how and why things work. Next time someone says something, just say thanks and forget about it. If they ask again say "you know, I talked it over with Oliver, and he agrees that what we do works great for us" ;)
Finally, it is a conspiracy. E just woke up too.
I've heard that a few drops of breast milk in the eye will clear infections...worth a try?
ReplyDeleteHas the health visitor mentioned a nipple shield? I'm wondering if that would help with the biting (or at least protect your nipple some).
24 hours? Little One usually wakes between 2-4AM for a feeding (pump parts get refrigerated without washing to minimize awake time) is usually up for a good 1 1/2 hours, finally goes back down until 7-8, feed/pump then I get a shower while she chills in the bouncer, we both get dressed for the day, then she goes back for a nap in the swing until the next feed between 10-11, repeat feed/pump, 2-3PM feed/pump I get a nap if I make the effort, 5-7PM feed/pump and fussy while I attempt to make dinner and DH comes home to a fussy baby, back down until 9-10PM feed/pump and to bed for her. And repeat. Somewhere in there I get breakfast and lunch and fit in an errand or two or a bit of housekeeping. She also gets some tummy time daily, and a bath every few days.
My multi-tasking is to bottle feed on my lap while pumping. It generally works pretty well unless she's got the wiggles. DH takes over care between his arrival home and bedtime, and I try to make one feeding a day direct from breast, so that pumping gets skipped. I'm also alternating breast milk and formula thanks to some bottom issues, am using almond milk for my cereal & not eating much chocolate or peanut products at all.
You'd think with the trouble we had getting knocked up that we'd get a break on this feeding thing as a consolation prize. Not this additional stress!
oh what an absolute doll!! He's adorable!! (not like you need to hear that from me! :P)
ReplyDeleteRoutine is good!! And most babes actually crave it- but it works best I find to go off their cues. My household is almost thoroughly dictated by my baby girl. Of course, we have to maintain some sense of routine because we also have a 9 year old.
I know how you feel with the colic- our girl is finally seeming to come out of it a bit now. Instead of fussiness from late-afternoon until late evening with loooong bouts of out-and-out scream fests, she's now only fussing for around an hour before bed. And the screaming has diminished. Colic DOES end!!! And sleeping through at night does happen too- I've actually gotten a solid 6-7 hours a few nights now!! It's amazing the difference a few weeks makes!
I think you're doing a great job! For something that's so natural breastfeeding is tough. I had problems with E in the beginning. She made my nipples a mess. So I pumped for about a month. It was enough that they healed and I began to put her back on the breast one feeding at a time and then gradually increased it over time. I believe that you do what's best for your family. I'm here if have any questions. Hang in there! I love that picture ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think you're doing great, and I think that anyone who tells you that you're doing the "wrong" thing because you are trying to have a routine should keep their mouth shut. What works for one family will not work for another family, so whatever works for you is best.
ReplyDelete