Category: Pregnancy & Baby

6 Month Baby Update

Lisa

6 Month Baby Update

6 Month Baby Update – Happy half a year baby boy! We’ve seen a real change in Freddie over the past month. He’s got a cheeky personality and wants nothing more than to be involved in anything and everything.

6 month baby update

Teething

He has his first tooth! This came through a couple of weeks ago after a few days of flame red cheeks, dribbling and chewing. He spends a lot of his day fiddling with his tooth with his tongue and has made it known by biting his sisters knee, daddy’s fingers and most excruciating me when he feeds. Ouch! We’ve been coping with the teething with lots of teething toys, calpol and teething granules. This past few days though he’s been spitting the calpol out which is an annoyingly new thing that he’s started.

Play

Freddie loves to play. He likes lights and sounds as well as music. His favourite toy is his car-car which was one of Isabelle’s by Playschool which I don’t think you can buy anymore. He’s happy to play on the floor for a little while, and now that he can roll around seems to be happy. We also bought a jumperoo which he can bounce like a pro in now. It’s a godsend when I’m trying to get dinner sorted.

6 month baby update

Growth

He’s still got his adorable chunky baby legs and whilst he’s a big boy he’s quite long. He’s now at the in-betweeny size on clothes so size 3 – 6 months are getting too small and some he’s outgrown but the 6 – 9 months clothes are way too big.

6 month baby update

Feeding

The feeding has been going well. We’ve ditched formula completely as it’s been really hit and miss for him taking the one remaining bottle that we were giving him so it’s breastfeeding all the way now. I’d like to go until he turns one, but he bit me the other day and pierced my nipple. It was excruciating and I’m hoping that it was a one off, but he is constantly scraping his tooth on my nipple as he feeds which is not very nice at all.

6 month baby update

Weaning

We decided to wean him just before the six month mark as he was getting so cross and upset when we were eating and constantly trying to grab food out of our hands. He’s only having one meal a day which is mostly baby porridge, carrots and sweet potato. He does like a bit of toast in his hands as well as the Ella’s kitchen giant wotsit crisps (6m+). I think we’re going to do a combination of baby led and purées dependent on what we have in the fridge. So far so good with this. He loves sitting at the table with us, and is managing really well to feed himself. I think we’ll carry on like this for a few more weeks before we add in lunch and breakfast on a daily basis.

Sleeping

We’ve given up with trying to get him in his crib endlessly and are currently co-sleeping. I’m sure that a lot of people will have a lot to say on this topic but at the moment it’s working for us so that’s what we’re doing.

5 Month Baby Update

Lisa 18 Comments

5 Month Baby Update

5 Month Baby Update – Our little Freddie is five whole months old today! He’s such a loving, smiley little boy. Of course he’s a total Mummy’s boy which I love, but equally the look of love on his face when Daddy comes home and calls him ‘Sausage’.

A baby dressed as a pumpkin sat with inflatable pumpkins

Teething

No teeth as yet but we’ve had lots of teething and dribbling. He has a couple of hard bobbles on his bottom gums at the front but nothing has broken through yet.

We’ve had so much dribble that he now wears several dribble bibs a day. It doesn’t help that he likes to blow raspberries which adds to the wetness.

We had a few days last week when he was chewing like crazy, had red flushed cheeks and would not settle enough to sleep. I used both Neurofen for babies as well as homeopathic teething crystals to try and give him some relief as well as having his teether permanently in his mouth. These have been the worse days we’ve had with him so far. The look in his poor red rimmed eyes as he had no idea what was going on.

A five month old baby asleep in a pram holding a yellow teething toy

Play

Freddie really loves playtime which we do several times a day. He likes to be able to grab things on his own so we’ve pinched one of Isabelle’s fabric boxes to put some of his things in so he can take them out.

All the nursery rhymes are now flooding back such as ‘this little piggy’ and ‘row your boat’ and he likes those. Luckily he isn’t able to complain about my singing yet.

Peekaboo is, I would say his ultimate fave. Whether it’s your hands, a muslin or the covers when making the bed. He loves it!

We had a pumpkin themed baby sensory session last week with inflatable pumpkins, ribbons, leaves, shakers and pictures which he loved despite it being the start of his few days of teething misery.

A five month old baby boy sat smiling in his pram

Growth

Well what can I say. He’s a scrummy boy with yummy baby rolls, chubby cheeks and the squishiest baby legs ever.

He’s really strong with a good grip, particularly on hair and my necklace. He likes to sit up but he’s not doing it on his own yet. Oh and he’s started doing that great thing of going completely stiff when your trying to put him in his seat which is always fun.

Much to my upset, he is now in the sitting up part of his pram. I had no choice but to do it. He was holding onto the bar trying to stomach crunch himself up desperate to see the world AND the bobble hat that we bought him made him actually too long to fit without the bobble squishing into his head.

He loves it! He can see me and he can see everything going on around him. The first time I took him out he didn’t know which way to look, and he just grinned at anything and everything.

He weighs 16lb 4oz now.

He’s wearing 3 – 6 months clothes and his every day clothes are fine, but I’ve noticed that his toes are right at the end of some of his sleep suits. We bought him a snowsuit which we had to change for 6 – 9 months which was sensible since it hasn’t been cold enough to wear it yet.

Feeding

Feeding is the same. We’re still breastfeeding with a bottle of formula at night. He has a good routine of timings for feeds during the day but night times are still hit and miss.

He’s started pulling at my clothes when he’s hungry which is a good indicator, but he is still feeding for such a long time which is quite restricting.

Sleeping

Argh we really need to work on this. He sleeps with me be it day or night. He hates being put down! I’ve tried, Chris has tried but he doesn’t last longer than an hour before realising that he’s in his own bed.

So we’re co-sleeping which I do and I don’t mind. I’m happy for him to sleep with me but if he’s restless or keeps snuggling into my armpit then I can’t sleep. Not to mention the fact that I’ve now started to go to bed with him just so that he will sleep which leaves me no baby free time unless you count my speed-wee breaks.

I need to get this sorted for all of our sanity but mostly so that Freddie knows it’s ok to sleep without Mummy, and that he’s safe.

Until next month.

Lisa x

Relactation – Using Domperidone

Lisa

Relactation Using Domperidone

Relactation using Domperidone – Taking tablets to increase my milk supply was not something I’d considered or knew about so I was a bit apprehensive. However, little Freddie has started to refuse formula so what’s a mama supposed to do.

Relactation Using Domperidone

I was advised by a Breastfeeding Consultant through my Health Visitor to go to my GP and request this armed with the information from the Breastfeeding Network regarding dosage.

My GP is a reluctant prescriber so I didn’t feel particularly optimistic. I had to take an urgent slot at the surgery which, again I felt a bit uneasy about buts it’s almost impossible to get in any other way AND it’s pretty urgent when your baby is refusing to feed.

My usual GP was away so I was seen by a locum doctor who wasn’t that keen on giving me a prescription, but after showing her the info from the Breastfeeding Network and telling her it was on the advice of the Breastfeeding Consultant, I came out clutching the golden ticket (or green prescription sheet).

I was to take three tablets a day to start with for two weeks and then reduce down to two and then one a day until they were gone.

I’d read about Domperidone and had expected immediate increase in my milk which I didn’t feel was the case. I was still trying to force feed Freddie (not literally) formula after every feed for fear of him being hungry still.

The Outcome

After taking the tablets for a few days, the mornings were the most noticeable. Every morning I was drenched in milk and my boobs were engorged to the point of being ridiculously uncomfortable. Holding Freddie was uncomfortable and he was finding it difficult to latch whilst battling the letdown spray.

But during the day I still didn’t feel that he was getting enough.

I had to take a huge leap of faith that he was getting enough and stopped topping him up with formula.

What a difference it made. I fed him whenever and as long as he wanted to which felt like having a newborn again BUT I’m pleased to report that apart from his night feed he is boobed all day. At night he seems to quite like the faster flow of a bottle and that’s fine.

The tablets are gone now and we seem to be doing well. He’s still a chunk and having regular wet and dirty nappies.

It hasn’t done much for us getting into any kind of routine as he doesn’t have a set timing between feeds and naps (if at all) are sporadic cat naps during the day mostly on me or in the pram but he’s a much happier baby so we’ll keep on going until we hit the next hurdle which I fear will be teeth!!

Happy Boobing

You can stay up to stay up to date with out Family updates Here.

Lisa x

4 month Baby Update

Lisa 1 Comment

4 Month Baby Update

4 month baby update – I’ve said it before, but I’m going to say it again. Time is truly flying away and Freddie is getting bigger by the day. He’s four months old now and is starting to form his own little personality.

4 month baby update

He’s definitely a smiley happy baby and the only thing that makes him cry is hunger or fighting tiredness at the end of the day. Oh and he’s rather put out at being put down as well!

He loves to see everything! The trees when he laying in his pram, and I’ve just got a sling so that I can at least attempt to do things which he loves. He clearly likes to be upright and in prime position for absorbing everything going on around him.

He’s desperately trying to sit up. If we lay him down he stomach crunches so the his head and legs are up. Imagine an overturned tortoise!

Freddie smiles a lot which is always nice when you’re knackered. He has really ticklish feet and back and does a proper belly laugh when tickled.

Teething

Poor Freddie! As I said he’s a smiley happy baby, but his gums are definitely giving him troubles. He has flushed cheeks and a temperature at it’s worst, and his little confused face is so sad to see. There are no signs of any teeth cutting through yet though. He dribbles and chews on anything and everything, but he likes the teethers that you can put in the freezer and also his Squidge & Pip teether.

4 month baby update

Play

Freddie is very inquisitive and loves to play with toys. He has quite good hand eye coordination and can pick toys up and move them around until he finds the right bit that he wants to chew on. His favourites have to be the Lamaze toys that you can clip to his chair or pram with lots of textures and dangly bits.

He also quite likes tummy time on his play mat. He has a tummy roll which he can push himself forward on.

We’ve just started Baby Sensory Classes which Isabelle did as a baby and the first week he just stared at all the other babies, but this week he was more interested. Who knew that an egg box and pegs were so interesting!

4 month baby update

Growth

I’ve particularly been keeping an eye on his weight since I’ve reestablished breastfeeding to make sure that he doesn’t suddenly dip. I’m so pleased that he seems to be gaining weight at a steady rate with his last weigh in at 15lb 3oz. He’s in size 3 -6 months clothes which he fills nicely as well.

He had his last lot of immunisations last week which left him with a temp and feeling grizzly, but it’s nice to know that he’s done now until he’s a year old.

Feeding

This has been my biggest concern. Restarting breastfeeding has been so rewarding but also a major source of paranoia. Is he still hungry? Has he had enough? Am I making enough milk?

So I was offering him formula after nearly every breastfeed ‘just in case’ he was still hungry. He wouldn’t drink it so clearly he’s getting what he needs.

4 month baby update

Sleeping

He’s not that great at it. He likes to be in my arms and not in his crib. We were lulled into thinking we had a bit of a routine going and then just like that it’s all over the place. I’ve been reading up on the four month regression. It’s just a stage which could be  down to a growth spurt or teething, but either way we hope it settles down quickly.

Slow down baby x

 

6 Ways to use Coconut Oil on your Baby | Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil

Lisa 17 Comments

6 Ways to use Coconut Oil on your baby + Review Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil

6 Ways to use Coconut Oil on your baby with Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil- We all know that babies skin is delicate and sensitive and use products as such.

Our daughter had eczema as a baby and we were really restricted with what we could and couldn’t use on her which we’ve now taken on board with Freddie.

Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil

I would say that as a starting point, the best advice was not to bathe your baby every day which strips the skin of it’s natural oils.  When our eldest was a baby a bath was an every day occurrence and helped him to wind down towards bed time. It also meant that we had a structured routine every single day.

As we were advised not to bath Isabelle everyday, every third day we replaced the bath with a baby massage to help her relax before bed.

So far Freddie hasn’t shown any signs of eczema but since bathing every day can dry out the skin we’re sticking to the same routine as Isabelle.

One thing we didn’t try with Isabelle was coconut oil so when we were asked to review the Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil we were more than happy to give it a go.

Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil

Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil is 100% organic and chemical free making it the perfect choice for baby’s delicate skin.

The coconuts used are ethically sourced and organically farmed to ensure a premium quality.

Ways to use Coconut Oil on your Baby

The packaging is in keeping with the product and is 100% recyclable.

Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil

Moisturise

Melt a small amount in your hands and apply to your baby’s skin head to toe for lovely moisturised soft skin.

Cradle Cap

Most babies have a bit of cradle cap. To help this, smooth a small amount of coconut oil onto the scalp and leave for around 20 minutes. Brush gently with a baby brush to remove the flakes and then rinse with warm water.

Baby Massage

Baby massage is soothing for a range of things such as colic and constipation as well as being something lovely to do at the end of each day to wind down as part of the bedtime routine. Use coconut oil as the massage oil which will also moisturise the skin and smells yummy.

Nappy rash

Coconut oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which can help prevent and treat nappy rash. Even better news is that you can use coconut oil if you use washable nappies since it doesn’t affect the absorbency.

Insect Bites

Coconut oil has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which can help reduce the redness and swelling. Just pop a small amount on the affected area.

Teething

Rubbing a small amount on your babies gums is thought to help ease the pain of teething.

It’s basically an all round product that can be used for many things for both big and small people.

Our Thoughts

The Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil is a nice big sized jar (250g) which is available from Amazon as well as their own site. The coconut oil was easy to get out of the jar, and melted easily in the palm of my hands before using.

Freddie has a bit of cradle cap on his head and between his eyebrows which is always worse when he’s had a bath. I put a small amount on his head and left for about 15 minutes before using his soft brush to dust off any flakes that had come away. It made his hair extra fluffy on his head which was super cute.

After his bath he gets quite chatty and smiley so it was the perfect opportunity to be able to put some on this arms, legs and tummy. I then put him on his tummy and rubbed some into his back which he seemed to enjoy. At the moment he’s not showing any signs of having eczema but it’s nice to use natural products that also smell so yummy as well.

I may have used a bit on my hair as well since pregnancy seems to have left it quite dry.

We also use washable nappies and most nappy rash creams aren’t recommended since they reduce the absorbency of the cloth and builds up whereas coconut oil is perfectly fine to use. This hasn’t been an issue so far but it’s good to know that we have something to help sooth him should we need to.

Having not really used Coconut Oil very much I think I might be a convert. I can definitely see it becoming a staple in our skincare for Freddie. It’s a huge thumbs up from us as a lovely fresh smelling multi-use product.

What do you use Coconut Oil for? Leave us your suggestions in the comments box.

The Cocobelle Organic Baby Coconut Oil is £12.99 for a 250g jar which will last ages since we’ve used daily and have barely scratched the surface.

Lisa x

Cocobelle Baby Coconut Oil
*we were sent a jar of Cocobelle Coconut Oil for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

My Breastfeeding Essentials

Lisa 19 Comments

My Breastfeeding Essentials

My Breastfeeding Essentials – breastfeeding your baby is supposed to be a natural process. It wasn’t for me and many other women so I’ve put together a list of the things that can make your breastfeeding journey easier on both yourself and your baby.

My Breastfeeding Essentials

Lanolin Cream

This has to be my number one must have when breastfeeding. It’s a cream that forms a protective barrier for your nipples to help prevent and aid cracked and sore nipples. I personally started using this right from the get go as a preventative measure so would recommend that you pop a tube into your hospital bag. You only need a very small amount but it definitely makes a difference.

Get Online

You don’t have to do anything blindly these days. Look for pregnant and new mums in the online space. You’ll find an expanse of advice with everything from getting your latch right to tips for the best feeding positions.

Breastfeeding pillow

You have to get as comfortable as you can when you breastfeed so a pillow can help with both your comfort and the baby’s position.

Muslin cloths

Great for mopping up baby sick and popping on your shoulder when winding, but also great for leaky boob moments. These are also great for giving you a bit of coverage when feeding out and about.

Snacks

Breastfeeding definitely gives you the munchies so it’s good to have some snacks within reach.

Drinks

You definitely feel the thirst when breastfeeding so it’s a good idea to have a water bottle within reaching distance. There are also loads of breastfeeding teas which can help with your milk supply. I’ve tried Hot Tea Mama and Pukka Motherkind Pregnancy tea which are both lovely (even Luke warm).

Nursing bras

Jeez these are ugly contraptions but essential to make feeding easier. I bought sports bra style ones from H&M which are underwired and made from really stretchy material making them a comfortable option. I also wear soft bra tops at night which makes you more comfortable and easy to pop a breast pad if you need to.

Clothes

This is definitely something you will need to think about. Dresses are pretty much out unless they have buttons down the front. As long as you have easy access you could wear whatever you like. I would highly recommend the Bshirt Breastfeeding Vest (Read my Review Here) and the range of Breastfeeding T-shirts available from the Milky Tee Company both of which look like normal tops but give you easy access to breastfeed.

Nipple shields

These aren’t something everybody uses, but I was recommended these when my nipples were cracked and bleeding as a way to protect them. I had a couple of successful feeds using these but mostly they pinched.

A breast pump

This has been essential to our breastfeeding journey to increase my supply as well as giving my poor nipples a break. There are loads of different types including manual and electric. A manual pump can be good if you need to pump to relieve your full Breasts or the odd session, but if you want to express quickly and often then an electric pump would be the best option. I started out with a single pump that I hired through my Health Visitor before getting a Lansinoh Double pump which is really quick and easy to use.

Milk Storage Bags

If pumping you’ll want something to keep your milk in. Storage bags are great as they can be filled and easily stored in your fridge or freezer without taking up too much space.

Breast Pads

I would pop some of these in your hospital bag but you may not need them at the beginning. You can get disposable ones or washable breast pads which are much nicer and cost effective.

Diet

Not a diet diet, but there are a lot of foods that are recommended for breastfeeding women which can give you the energy you need for feeding and looking after a newborn as well as increasing your milk supply.

Hot/Cold Compress

These are great for blocked ducts. As well as massaging the area, taking a hot shower, a hot or cold compress can help to reduce any redness.

A Latch Assist

Can be used if you have everted or flat nipples to draw the nipple outwards into the perfect shape for feeding.

I’m sure there are far more things that I could add to this list, and if you are a seasoned breastfeeder and think of something that I’ve missed then pop it in the comments as I’m willing to try anything and everything.

Lisa x

*This post may contain affiliate links which means that I receive a small payment should you click on the links and make a purchase at no cost to you.

 

Relactation – An Update

Lisa 16 Comments

Relactation – An Update

Relactation an update – It’s around six weeks now since we restarted breastfeeding and I was hoping that it was going to be positive news but we haven’t got any further forward than we were when we started.

Confession time

I started off pumping and feeding with formula as well and it was going well. I felt like my breasts could cope with breastfeeding three times a day as well as pumping and I was looking forward to the breast pain/discomfort to stop at some point.

I should confess that the pumping became very intermittent and there were times when I missed it out completely. This was because Freddie only wants to sleep in my arms during the day which rules out pumping during those times. He also breastfeeds for around 40 minutes at a time and then topping him up with formula takes another 20 minutes. I know babies are time consuming but fitting this in around getting dressed, eating, having a wee, the school run etc etc has really been taking its toll.

I’m not going to lie, this is hard. I feel slightly trapped at home with very little support. Leaving the house is getting harder not easier since the time between feeds is so small it doesn’t really give me time to do very much. It feels like all I do is feed Freddie.

I had my arranged phone consultation with the Lactation Consultant on Wednesday last week and explained everything from the time it takes to feed and also the lack of milk produced when pumping. I’ve also been getting sharp pains through the whole breast during and after feeding/pumping which is also a factor in reducing the pumping so that I feel recovered enough to feed him the next time.

I was asked to make an appointment with my GP to be tested for thrush of the breast and also to get a prescription for Domperidone which is used to increase your milk supply.

I don’t like to take tablets but Freddie wants Breastmilk and is refusing formula more and more. I was told to print off the information for both the treatment of thrush and also the guidelines for Domperidone for the GP who aren’t always prescribing the correct dosage.

Ideal situation

In an ideal world I would either be exclusively breastfeeding or at least feeding and pumping enough to replace the formula. I think there is also an element of him using me as a comforter rather than just hunger which we need to knock on the head.

GP Appointment

I managed to get an appointment at the doctors on Friday, taking along the info. The GP which wasn’t my usual GP dismissed oral thrush in Freddie with barely a glance in his mouth so was reluctant to treat either of us but I insisted that a swab and sample was taken on the advice of the Lactation Consultant.

I asked regarding the Domperidone and she initially said she would give me a few days worth to take a couple of times a day. The Breastfeeding Network advice is to take 10mg three times a day for seven days, and then a reduced dose under the management of a trained Breastfeeding Advisor.

I felt a bit like ‘teaching your Granny to suck eggs’ when I offered the information I’d been given, but the GP was happy for the information as she said she would have needed to look this up and so I was given a prescription to be managed by the Lactation Consultant which I felt happy with.

Domperidone is given to mums who have a low supply or for Mums if baby’s who are born prematurely to initiate and keep the supply so they can express.

It’s Monday so this is Day 4 of taking the tablets and I have noticed a slight increase in supply. My let down is quite fierce, Freddie struggles a little bit as the milk flows so fast. If he comes off he literally gets sprayed in the face!

I’m pumping and feeding but still not the recommended times a day as I’m still sore. I’m hoping that thrush is found which would give a good explanation for the pain and would hopefully stop after treatment.

Onwards and upwards as they say!

If you’re breastfeeding and experiencing the same problems I’d love to hear your experiences or tips you may have. I need to get this baby into some kind of routine that suits all of us.

Lisa x

How I Re-established Breastfeeding

Lisa 19 Comments

How I Re-established Breastfeeding

How I Re-established Breastfeeding – You many know that I made the decision not to continue breastfeeding after I was re-admitted to hospital and treated for sepsis when Freddie was a couple of weeks old. I was totally gutted and felt that I’d failed my third and final baby. I made this decision based on the fact that my poor nipples felt and looked like they’d been savaged by a dog, and the only thing that was coming out was blood and pus.

I was seen by a Breastfeeding Consultant whilst on the ward who was prepared to get me back to breastfeeding, but the thought of feeding my baby and possibly passing on a nasty infection was enough for me to shut the door on that completely.

How I Reestablished Breastfeeding

I cried a lot! I cried every time I fed him a bottle. Freddie struggled away from the bottle not knowing how to feed from it. He turned his head in towards my breasts searching and crying for all he’d known. My breasts were engorged and sore, showing no signs of recovery but reacting to my little boys cries by leaking milk that he desparately wanted.

I hated giving him formula milk, not because I’m against formula but because it was a constant reminder of what I hadn’t been able to achieve. I was reassured by people telling me that a fed baby is a happy baby when all I wanted to do was scream at them to shut up. Since starting formula, Freddie had become constipated and was suffering with colic after each feed. It was awful watching him strain knowing that it was the change from breast to formula, and winding him after each feed took forever.

The healing process from the infection was slow going and my breasts remained engorged and sore, but the milk kept on coming. I wanted it to stop so that I didn’t have the constant reminder and hopefully Freddie would stop trying to get to my breasts because he could smell it. I had to have a further course of anti-biotics as again I woke up with extremely engorged breasts and a cold shakiness. My attempts to hand pump enough milk away to be comfortable was impossible. It felt sore and uncomfortable to hold Freddie against my chest which is really hard with a newborn.

When Freddie was six weeks old, I’d just got out of the shower and Freddie was awake in his crib. The sound of his cries left me dripping in milk and my instinct was to put him to my breast and feed him which I did. It was uncomfortable to latch him on and he didn’t quite get it at first but then it clicked and he was away suckling and content.

When he’d fed I felt happy and it got me thinking that as my milk hadn’t completely gone, and now I was healed, could I start to feed him again.

No, because once you’ve stopped you’ve stopped. Finished. Finito!

“He’ll have got used to a bottle and you won’t get him to latch” and my discharging Midwife told me just not to even think about it “what’s done is done”. I know she was only trying to make me feel better about my decision to stop, but it was upsetting all the same.

I wasn’t prepared to accept this. Freddie had fed and although my nipples felt sore again, it felt right. So this is where good old google steps in as the fountain of all knowledge (and a load of crap).

Freddie was still searching for the breast. This little guy wasn’t ready to finish our breastfeeding journey, so if Freddie wasn’t going to give up on me then I had to give it a go.

Did you know that it’s possible to re-start breastfeeding? No me neither but I figured that as I was still needing to use breast pads the milk must still be there even if only a little.

Relactation

Relactation is the term used for restarting breastfeeding after a period of either stopping completely or very little. It is even possible for adoptive mums to lactate with the right level of support and guidance.

I feel a bit shortchanged that this isn’t common knowledge. I asked a few friends if they knew that you could re-start breastfeeding and none of them had a clue that you could. Why isn’t this information given by Midwives or Health Visitors so that new mums know it’s an option? I wonder how many mums stop breastfeeding and then later regret it, but are unaware that this is a possibility.

I asked my Health Visitor for support as she knew that I wasn’t happy with my decision to stop and when she visited I’d already done some research and had started my relactation journey. She gave me some details on power pumping which essentially you pump a lot as well as feeding and looking after your baby. To make this easier, a double pump is pretty much essential or it will take double the amount of time. I’m using the Lansinoh Double Electric Breast Pump which can be battery powered or plugged into the mains.

After that first feed, I’d been quite sore so decided that I would try expressing the milk so that at least he was getting the breastmilk even if it had to be from a bottle. I knew that feeding and pumping was going to take a lot of patience but I wanted to give it a shot.

I wasn’t sure how Chris would react since he was worried about me getting a further infection, but I felt that I knew what signs to look out for and would get help if I needed it.

Support

After watching Breastfeeding Uncovered it seems that there are a lot of women who are offered very little or no support to enable them to breastfeed which is shocking. The UK has pretty poor breastfeeding rates compared to other countries. Only 34% of babies are still breastfed at six months, and this is an improvement since 2015.

It’s definitely not my place to judge and I don’t think any less or more of other peoples choices. There are loads of reasons why people make the decisions they do and sometimes the decision is taken away from them. Quite frankly it’s none of mine or your business – I really hate that total strangers (other mums mostly) feel like they can ask about your feeding choices, and I always feel that I have to give my full upsetting story as a justification. Us mums really are the most judgemental bunch.

I feel lucky that my Health Visitor had a lot of information for me, but it was through me seeking and asking for help and support. I know that I needed help to check my latch which I think was the downfall and decline into infection in the first place.

As I had been discharged from the midwife team, I no longer had access to the Breastfeeding Consultant at my local hospital, but the Health Visitors have various support they could offer me.

Latch and Attach – This is a pilot scheme and is a one-off session offered to mums where you go along and essentially check your babies latch is correct. They offered advice on different positions which can work for both you and your baby. I attended this and Freddie behaved beautifully (as he did whenever anyone else was looking) but as I was re-establishing feeding it was felt that I would benefit from one to one sessions which I was booked in for.

Infant Feeding Clinic – This was an hour one to one session and is offered to all mums, breastfed, express fed and bottle fed. Each of these groups of mums are offered support and guidance. We discussed and checked the latch and any issues that I had. I felt that Freddie wasn’t opening his mouth wide enough to get the best latch since he had become used to a teat so we worked out the optimum placement of his bottom lip as a guide. It was nice to air all my concerns which were specific to both Freddie and I, and we are to receive ongoing support whilst we need it.

Local Facebook Groups – These are a godsend since you can access and ask questions around the clock, and theres always another mum there who has been in your shoes willing to offer advice on anything from supply issues, cluster feeding or if you’re just feeling a bit meh. These definitely give you a mental boost in the middle of the night when you feel basically alone.

Breastfeeding Groups – I think these are on the decline due to funding cuts which is a shame. Look for locally run groups which you may find via word of mouth or via locally run Facebook Mum’s Groups. We’re lucky in Exeter that we have an independently funded Baby Room which is run by trained Breast Peer Support Workers where you can gain great advice on all things breastfeeding, washable nappies, slings and everything else baby related.

Online Support Forums – There are numerous forums and online support which can be both helpful and overwhelming. Find a couple that you like and stick with them.

Social Media – As a blogger this is and has been my support network for a lot of things. My relactation journey started in the midst of World Breastfeeding Week so it was a more than a hot topic than usual. There were loads of positive and negative issues. It seems to cause a huge Breast V Bottle divide so lots of controversial debates shall we word it were had.

Increasing my supply

I did some research on increasing my supply and it seems that there are various foods that can help increase your milk supply including oats, fennel, brewers yeast and fenugreek. I’ve started drinking fennel tea which thankfully does taste really nice and am having a predominantly oat based granola and yoghurt every day for breakfast.

There are loads of recipes for lactation flapjacks, cookies and smoothies which I have added to a Breastfeeding Pinterest board which I will continue to add to as I find useful things.

Hydration is also key to making sure you’re producing a good supply of milk. I keep a water bottle filled all the time so that I have no excuse to make sure that I’m drinking enough.

Progress

Having done that first feed since stopping and seeing how content Freddie was, I knew that I had to pursue it further. The first week that I started I attempted to breastfeed him once a day and express and feed for the remainder of the feeds. Pumping started off well, but then the amount that I was getting declined and was barely enough for a feed so I had to persevere with this.

Turning to social media and you tube is pretty much standard these days, and started to follow the progress of a fellow blogger and mum, Through Ami’s Eyes who is documenting her journey of combination feeding her baby boy which also gave me hope during the really hopeless feeling moments. It’s nice to know that you’re not alone even when it feels like you are.

Power Pumping was recommended which is essentially pumping for 20 minutes, rest for 10 minutes, pump for 10 minutes, rest for 10 minutes and then pump for another 10 minutes alongside pumping after every feed.

Massaging the breasts also helps to clear the milk ducts and causes the milk to flow more freely which will help to empty the breasts and trigger higher milk production.

Using hot and cold compresses as and when needed and lots of skin to skin which is no hardship with a new baby.

After the first week I increased it to a couple of breastfeeds a day. This was kind of forced on me by Freddie who would refuse a bottle sometimes and search for the boob until I gave it to him.

At week three he was breastfeeding three times a day with expressed/formula milk for the remainder of the time.

We’re now at week four and I’m offering him the breast before each bottle feed since breastfeeding alone doesn’t seem to satisfy him completely as a top-up.

He also prefers the breast if he is tired or grumpy which I think is part hunger and part comfort.

I’m also pleased to report that he no longers suffers from constipation and the colic has gone completely, he winds perfectly fine these days. So far so good and both Freddie and I are happy with how things are going.

I will keep you updated with how we’re getting on over the coming weeks.

Lisa x

*This post may contain affiliate links which means that I receive a small payment should you choose to click on the links and make a purchase at no cost to yourselves.

 

 

 

What to pack in your Hospital Bag for Labour + Checklist

Lisa 9 Comments

What to pack in your hospital bag for labour

What to pack in your hospital bag for labour – So it’s nearly time for your baby to come out so I thought I would show you what to pack in your hospital bag.

I have had three vaginal births so I’m packing quite a minimal amount based on not being in hospital for very long at all. I’m hoping to be home the same day as I was with Isabelle.

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag For Labour

So this is what I packed:

Hospital Notes – I wouldn’t pack these actually in the bag, just leave them in the top as you may still have appointments to attend between now and then.

Nightie – this is more for afterwards so I’ve gone for one with buttons down the front for breastfeeding.

Dressing Gown – I don’t know about you but I feel exposed walking around the ward without one.

Nursing Bra – for wearing after the baby is born for those first feeds.

A comfort bra – I’m taking this with the intention of wearing it in the birthing pool.

Vest top – Again I may wear this in the pool as I’m not really one for birthing in the nude.

Maternity Pads – I’ve bought Boots Maternity pads which seem to be the recommended ones at the moment but I may switch these to Always Nighttime ones which are a lot thinner.

Breast Pads x 3 sets – I intend to use washable ones but have a few disposable ones to take into hospital as well.

Nipple Cream – for sore and cracked nipples. This probably won’t be a problem to start with or ever if you’re lucky, but I suffered last time so this time I’m embracing breastfeeding with every single tool in my belt!

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag For Labour

Flip flops – for walking around in both before, during and after the birth. Much easier than slippers especially if your waters haven’t broken.

Towel – Hospitals do provide towels but it’s always much nicer to take your own. Preferably not a pristine white one.

Knickers x 3 – I bought a pack of three from Primark for £5 which are just basic full brief knickers which will be comfortable afterwards. Definitely go for black or navy.

Face wipes/wash – whichever you find more refreshing. You will want this afterwards to help you feel more human and less hot and sticky.

Deodorant – for afterwards when you’ve showered.

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag For Labour

Toothbrush and toothpaste – again an obvious one to take with you so that you can freshen up afterwards.

Hairbrush – my hair looked like I’d been dragged through a bush which kind of sums up how the rest of me felt.

Body wash – you will be thankful for a shower once you’ve had the baby and lots of kisses and cuddles. It’s best to choose a fragrance free one if you intend to breastfeed or even just for skin to skin so I’m taking the Dove Baby head to toe wash that I got in my Emma’s Diary Labour Information Pack. This is also the range that we intend to use on the baby for bath time etc.

Shampoo & Conditioner – for washing my hair when I have my post labour shower which will make me feel refreshed from the head sweat.

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag For Labour

Hair bands – unless you’ve got really short hair you may want to tie your hair up so that it’s not in your way or stuck to your face.

Lip Balm – using gas and air last time my lips were so horribly dry and split so this time I’m taking a lip balm to help with this.

Clothes for coming home in – this is something that I forgot last time so had to go home in what I arrived in. I’m taking a pair of leggings, a loose fitting top and a cardigan.

Change for the car park – it’s amazing how people forget that you need to pay for parking at most hospitals and you don’t want to be scrabbling around looking for change. Have a bag of change on the glove compartment ready for when the time comes.

Camera – for taking those precious first pictures.

Phone – I don’t go anywhere without mine, but my hypnobirthing tracks are downloaded onto my phone which I intend to listen to during labour.

Phone charger – what a nightmare it would be if you’re battery ran flat.

Kindle/tablet/magazines – for both you and your birthing partner. It may turn into a long day otherwise.

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag For Labour

Snacks – the hospital do provide meals for you but not for your birthing partner. Also if you go into labour in the middle of the night you may find that there isn’t anything available. Pack easy to eat snacks such as fruit, cereal bars, drinks, jelly babies and crackers. I’ve also packed some Dextro Energy sweets to help me get through if it’s going to be a long one again.

Contact Lens stuff – I wear contact lenses to have to pack my lens pot, solution and saline as well as a spare pair of contact lenses. I wear 30 day ones so i will take a new set so I don’t have to worry if one goes astray.

Glasses – I do wear contact lenses but in the mornings before I put my lenses in I wear my glasses whilst i have my morning cuppa etc.

Hair stuff – I have wavy/curly hair so I’ll take some hair mousse just to put a bit through my hair once washed.

Toner & cotton pads – just for my usual post face wash face.

Moisturiser – a light day cream that I wear daily.

Make-up – this is totally a personal preference but I don’t go anywhere without make-up and having a baby is no different. I don’t wear loads but I will be putting it on as soon as I’ve had my shower unless it’s the middle of the night.

Comfy clothes for your partner – as I was induced last time we took in joggers, a t-short and flip flops for Chris so that he would be comfortable in the hospital.

Plastic bag – for putting any wet or worn clothes in.

Dextro Energy Tablets or Jelly Babies – my labour with Isabelle was long and exhausting so a sugar boost can help with your energy levels.

I must have packed and re-packed my bag so many times, just in case I’d missed anything.

If you’re unsure as to what to pack I’ve attached a downloadable Hospital Bag Checklist that you can print off and keep with your bag so that you can tick them off as you add them. I’ve even left a space to add your own.

hospital_bag_checklist

Good luck.

Lisa x

Eco by Naty Review

Lisa 16 Comments

Eco by Naty Review

Eco by Naty Review – during your pregnancy there are lots of things to think about for the arrival of your baby. One of these things are products that you will use that will have contact with your baby’s new fragile skin. This is everything from washing powder to shampoo and wet wipes.

Eco by Naty Review

The decision to use washable nappies was made early on, but Chris is not onboard with the decision and so we’ve come to a compromise that we’ll use both which as I’m at home with Freddie will predominantly be washable nappies. I’m also going to give washable Wipes ago which didn’t work out last time.

Isabelle had eczema as a baby which guided our decisions on skincare, making sure that we used gentle and sensitive products. The less chemicals and overall ingredients the better!

We were sent a selection of Eco by Naty products. Eco by Naty is a Swedish brand which makes a selection of baby products including nappies, wet wipes, baby bath and skin care. The brand was developed by Marlene Sandberg a former Corporate Lawyer who saw a gap in the market for environmentally friendly nappies when she became a parent. Eco by Naty is one of the leading brands in eco-friendly nappies and baby products, and as such have received certification by several eco organisations.

Eco By Naty Review

Eco by Naty Nappies

Eco by Naty is the first nappy with OK Biobased Certification from one of the world’s most demanding independent non-profit organisations based on natural and compostable materials. The nappies are non-perfumed with a soft cloth like feel which has been certified by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association. There are no nasty harsh chemicals used making them a great choice for newborn and infant skin.

Our thoughts

The nappies look like any other disposable nappy on the market but have a more papery feel to them. In terms of use, they fasten and look like any other nappy. They aren’t any bulkier and fitted well onto Freddie. As Freddie is a newborn he has his nappy changed quite often and is a heavy wetter. The nappies lasted well with no leaks and no odours between changes. The wet nappy felt quite squidgy which is the only noticeable difference. Overall the nappies did exactly what they are intended for with the added knowledge that they aren’t full of chemicals and are environmentally friendly.

Unscented Wet Wipes

The unscented wipes are made from a renewable plant based material which is 100% natural, GM-Free and 100% compostable. They contain 98.5% water as well as soothing chamomile and aloe extract which help to prevent the causes of nappy rash even on sensitive skin.

Our thoughts

I really liked the wet wipes. We had both a large pack and a travel pack ideal for the changing bag. The wipes were a good size and I liked that they were quite wet which made cleaning Freddie up really easy. They were unscented, but there was a lovely fresh water smell to them which I liked.

Nappy Rash Cream

The healing organic rash cream is made from tried and tested natural ingredients that soothes irritated skin and reduces redness often caused by trapped moisture. The cream is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested and can be used daily. It is also fragrance free and includes NO parabens and NO mineral oils. The balm is an effective recipe infused with organically farmed botanicals such as rich shea butter and cooling aloe. Shea butter on its own is a natural baby-care product renowned for its intense concentration of natural vitamins. The infused aloe vera and sunflower oils are adept at calming dry and itching skin.

Our thoughts

Freddie thankfully hasn’t suffered with nappy rash, but on the occasional day has had a little bit of redness on his bottom so I put on a little bit of cream at each nappy change which cleared up within the day. The cream is really soft and smooth and does exactly as it’s intended.

Baby Shampoo

The Eco by Naty Organic Shampoo is fragrance free, contains No parabens and No mineral oils. It is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested made from plant based natural and certified organic materials. It gently cleanses delicate hair and skin and can be used daily.

Our thoughts

As with all of our baby skincare products, we choose our baby shampoo with skin sensitivities in mind. The Naty Shampoo worked really well with only a tiny amount. Freddie is just starting to get cradle cap on his scalp so we’re pleased that this, like the rest of the range is dermatologically tested with no nasty chemicals. The shampoo lathered up well and gave Freddie a clean baby smell following his bath. As we only use a tiny amount the bottle is going to go a long way.

Nappy Bags

The nappy bags are made of natural cornstarch film only so are fully biodegradable and can be composted with the nappy inside.  They come packaged inside a cardboard box which is recyclable and contains 50 bags.

Our thoughts

The nappy bags are easy to use as they dispense through the cardboard box so don’t all unravel if you’re trying to grab one mid nappy change. They have handles for tying the bag once the nappy is inside. I like that you can pop these straight into the compost bin.

Hand Cream

This organically formulated Eco by Naty organic hand cream so it is naturally rich and deeply moisturising with high doses of aloe vera, shea butter (Butryospermum Parkii), Vitamin B5 and olive oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil). Naturally derived hydrolyzed keratin, the same protein that serves as the skin’s building block, is also a key ingredient. It strengthens skin by protecting it from free radicals and softens it. An extra bonus is healthier and stronger nails.

Our thoughts

I thought this was a nice touch since you seem to wash your hands an excessive amount of times during the day when you have a newborn. The cream is really lightweight with only the slightest flowery type smell with no greasiness. I’ve been using this every day as I do get a bit of dry skin if I wash my hands a lot and none of the usual dryness has appeared so far which is always a bonus. I’ve kept this on the changing table so that I remember to do it.

Overall I’m impressed with the Eco by Naty range which is widely available in the big supermarkets and you can also sign up for a Nappy Subscription which is delivered direct to you every 3, 4 or 5 weeks.  The nappies are more expensive than other disposable nappies, but you are getting what you pay for with the overall production and quality of the nappies. If you want to try them out you can order a trial box to see what you think.

Since single use plastic is a hot topic at the moment it’s definitely worth considering the switch as the benefits for both your baby and the environment are huge.

Discount Code

Fancy giving Naty Nappies a go? Pop over to the Eco by Naty website and just for you we have a 15% Discount Code. Just add babynotincluded at the checkout (this excludes the subscription service and trial box).

*We were sent a selection of Eco by Naty products for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
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