sparkly

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Latest post on 03 August 2012 - 22:22

Hi Ladies, I am very keen to try out baby led weaning for my LO who will be 6 mth old in 4 weeks. Has anyone done this and do you have any top tips? We will be traveling while DD is 7 mth old so any tips on BLW on holiday also appreciated! TIA !

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Latest post on 01 August 2012 - 22:52

Oooooh yes, i had them. It's very common among pregnant ladies I have known and unfortunately can leave you limping for a day or two. My Dr advised to take calcium and magnesium tablets, it helped reduce the severity and frequency of the cramps alot.

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Latest post on 28 July 2012 - 22:00

Hi Sydneygal I am from Oz, and I have a Safe n Sound convertible car seat (birth to 4 years) and I use it in Dubai. It was bought in Australia. I was thinking of getting a different one because as a rear facing seat the belts on the sides drive me bonkers when getting my LO in and out. If you are interested, I could sell it to you (it's only 5 months old). I just need some suggestions of what car seat to buy from here (having a compatible one for Aus is not an issue for us as we have one there already!). It is for use with the seatbelt, so suits the plane. Let me know ;) <em>edited by sparkly on 28/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 23 July 2012 - 20:09

I have two. The one I use I dislike but it was a gift from the in-laws! :( I am selling one on the classifieds, I never used it but it is a lot more practical than the one I use. Black, lots of compartments and a good size. Don't buy the Pickle Bottom ones (the one I must keep) from Pottery Barn or Destination Maternity as they are really annoying, even though they look lovely. There's not enough space and it's hard to access the main compartment quickly as there is a super strong velcro flap over the top and then a zip and the front compartment is good for nothing but the useless change mat it comes with!! <em>edited by sparkly on 23/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 23 July 2012 - 19:51

Hi Nutty, My LO is super easy to over stimulate, she feeds a lot less outside of the home and also goes longer between sleeps (making for a tired and hungry bubba when I get home!). She is currently 20 weeks but this has been the same situation since around 2 months. The malls are a big issue for me when she is in the pram as there is so much lighting and music as you pass each shop. She will sleep eventually but usually gets quite overtired. I find the longer I am out the better it gets for her but the first 2 hours is the toughest, as she takes time to adapt. To help her nod off in the pram I use a breastfeeding blanket (the one from babyshop that drapes around each shoulder and clips at the front) and I cover the top of the pram, the back where the light pours in onto bubs' head, and also the sides of the pram so all she can see is me pushing her. This works a treat and is now a bit of a cue to her that it is time to sleep. She has made a massive turnaround with the car seat but usually she needs the dummy to nod off. I think sitting alone and facing backward must be so scary for them! In the end I decided to time car trips for when she was tired so she would sleep for the journey, until she grew out of the unsettledness. The only other things that work IMHO, is to have someone with you so one of you can sit next to her and hold her hands while she nods off, or time. Now she is 20 weeks she sits quite calmly in the car seat even when alone and sleeps whenever she needs. I feel a lot less retricted now. I would say she became easier to put in the car seat alone around 15 weeks and before that I needed someone with me, or a dummy. I bought her lots of toys for the car seat for when she is awake and I take them all down if it's a sleepy journey. I also have nursery rhymes on CD for when she is awake and a lullaby for when she needs to sleep. I used that since 8 weeks so it's also another sleep association. Hope that helps you a little ;)

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Latest post on 20 July 2012 - 12:37

Thanks Kiwispiers! And you can take your email down now :)

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Latest post on 19 July 2012 - 11:23

chocoholic, don't be worried... I'm so envious!!!

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Latest post on 19 July 2012 - 11:16

Thanks Kiwispiers, Yes it means so much to me that BFing works out, so on those couple of days I fed, fed, fed as much as I could and even took a sickie from work one of my two shifts just so I could avoid bottles. I have had to pump every feed before when bubs was in her first 5 weeks due to a lot of latch isues and also a lot of confidence issues from me, so I am lucky she has taken to BFing so well actually. Yes we feed on demand but in fussy days I do the same, feed at waking up in dim room and feed while drowsy. My supply is definitely different the past few days though, its up, however I have started taking fennel tea (couldn't find fenugreek in a hurry) and also started eating more oats (kellymom states research supports milk supply increases w oats also). Interestingly though bubs can't keep up, as I expressed way more than she had while I was at work yesterday, so it seems my supply is a little too high now ( either that or she dislikes the bottle- totally ok with that!) This quite possibly supports that it did not affect my milk. I have been wanting to ask you though and almost emailed you... How did you manage the micro feeds and 45 min naps and distractibility with BFing and going out? I am spending a lot of time at home which I don't mind but I feel like I CAN'T go out or actually I have a fear of going out. She also dislikes the car seat too so thats tricky enough timing naps and car rides. I don't want bubs to skip a feed or refuse to feed or become overtired. Worried that bubs will start being fussy about her pram, carrier, more fussy with the car seat and refuse napping in car or pram. Well now it's a bit off topic but hope you have some good advice!

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Latest post on 19 July 2012 - 10:59

I think I saw this brand in Just kidding

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Latest post on 19 July 2012 - 10:50

Hi mahawish I didn't want one but in the end the Obs advised it. I was not managing my pain well enough on the gas. The epidural saved me from an emergency caesar, they actually prepped me for the caesar just in case but the epidural gave me that chance to relax and get through the last two cm. It was my first pregnancy and I wanted to experience the labour in full, but bubs was at risk because the labour was so drawn out and i stopped making progress. You might not want to do it like me, but in the end I was very ready to take the injection. Next time I would also try to go without but let Dr know that an epidural is ok if I got to the same point of lack of progress and near to fetal distress again. So actually, I had a natural birth because of the epidural. HTH! edited by sparkly on 19/07/2012 <em>edited by sparkly on 19/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 15 July 2012 - 19:31

Oh angel joy, it sucks doesn't it! Why us!? Well, for me the good feeling didn't last long!! I really suspect that hormones are affecting my milk supply and I think my DD is frustrated. It happened last month too but it is worse this time around. She is crying out to me that she is hungry but will not feed for long enough. Usually she pulls off after let down and then she's off and on until she just gives up. I don't feel my b**bs are as full at all today. It's the same behaviour I have noticed when I have low supply, like when I'm really tired. Such a contrast to a few days ago when she was feeding so well and taking alot at each feed. Last night she was v fussy and so unlike her usual self. She woke a lot at night but stopped feeding after only a few moments and all day today I have had to slip the b**b in just as she is nodding off, vigourously sucking on her dummy!, just to get her fed. I do not want to top up with a bottle of EBM as I would prefer she bfed and we avoided bottles altogether, but it feels like it's my only option right now. I googled, of course, and think it might be worth pumping extra to get my supply up on the first day of my period as a precaution. This sucks!

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Latest post on 15 July 2012 - 12:43

Great, thanks for the replies ladies! Feeling better about it already!

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Latest post on 11 July 2012 - 14:01

Hi Aussiepup, I went through a phase of this with DD a couple of weeks ago, it was taking so long to settle her. Swaddling her again made an enormous difference. Now if I don't swaddle her the effort I have to go through to get her to sleep is enormous and she gets overtired like you said. Another Aussie EW (sydneygal) said she used Woombie swaddles and so I have ordered some because she does break out of the blanket I use now.. I'll let you know how they go. My LO still needs her dummy during swaddling but relies on it less and just today I took it out while she was drowsy, she opened her eyes and I thought 'oh no' but she drifted off again without a peep. I have been doing the Pantley pull out and I think it might be working (touch wood)...

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Latest post on 10 July 2012 - 16:45

CitronKB, They were in every bathroom I went into, not just the food court ones. Some are slightly larger than the others but all still possible to bring the pram or stroller in. If it wasn't so far for me to get there I would shop there rather than DM due to the nursing rooms. Hope you find them ok.

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Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 12:34

I have seen a number of ladies feeding in public here, with covers of course. I have done this also but bubs is rather distractible right now so I feed in nursing rooms only. I like only the MOE nursing room in the new section (next to Mashreq bank) as it has a private loo and change room and chair all behind a locked door and also Dubai Mall nursing rooms are ok but a bit warm at times. Mirdif city Centre has great nursing rooms also and they are nice and cool. No sweaty baby issues there yet. I have fed bubs at cafes before just like all other posts say, in a corner or in a booth or facing a wall. No complaints.

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Latest post on 09 July 2012 - 12:26

Great suggestions thanks. I'll steer clear of the Ikea one as I have had experience with one and tray keeps falling off under a small amount of weight. Thanks for the idea of the ones that clip into the dining table/chair, think I might investigate them. JPS1- do you have the phil and teds lobster that clips to the table? Where did you get it from, in the UAE? <em>edited by sparkly on 09/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 08 July 2012 - 21:00

Sounds like you are still lactating!

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Latest post on 08 July 2012 - 19:19

Lol no, I wouldn't survive on that little sleep.. she sleeps a lot but not more than 4 hours at a time. It's not too bad as I only have to wake at 3am, I feed her before I sleep and then again at 7am. Bubs also sleeps much much better with me too. It's white and thick like a paste I guess.. x

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Latest post on 08 July 2012 - 16:35

Hi Pingu! That's good news that you managed to get at least some of it out. When I had it checked out, the Dr took a lot of the milk solids out but it has come back again, so it is still blocked. And yes, Plain-Jane, I was shocked that the Lactation Dr referred me on for such costly investigation. Seeing as how lovely she was I did not want to believe that she would overinvestigate as many Dr's do. Because of that it got me worried that maybe it was not related to BFing, so I went with it... but in the end... just milk solids!!! geez! And bubs is great, doing very well. Possibly hit the 4 mth sleep regression... she's down to sleeping 4 hours max a night from 7 about a fortnight ago.. :( How's your little guy? x

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Latest post on 08 July 2012 - 14:38

That sounds like the best solution, thanks SO much Sydneygal!! I'll get some family to bring them over otherwise x Also nice to hear you swaddled till 6 months, she is now 4 months and her naps are getting so good that I want to keep it up for as long as possible.

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Latest post on 08 July 2012 - 14:02

Thanks so much duddym, i think I will go there tomorrow and try it out. I'm from Oz, but I'm rather impatient and want a new one :) Bit concerned that it is still too hot to use that, possibly only suited to the really cool AC in Dubai Mall, bit definitely not MOE. I also have the maya wrap, I bought it from an online store here, can't think of the name. Does anyone know of another wrap that is cooler and suited to 4+ months?

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Latest post on 07 July 2012 - 22:15

Hi Pingu! I had a hard lump on one side which was also the same side we had lots of issues w at the start of BFing. I went to the Dr after I could not get rid of it with warm compresses, warm showers, massage during feeds (bubs hated that) and expressing, baby positioning during feedings. It was not painful at any stage either. TBH i felt like it was over-investigated just a little (ref to a breast surgeon, sample taken for lab testing and it was only milk solids- cost me a fortune as I have no insurance!), but I went with it for peace of mind. It is likely that it is milk solid seeing the circumstances in which it appeared for you but these things are definitely best to get checked. I am not sure what else might work apart from the warm shower, warm compress and massage? Mine was very far down, isolated and not in a line like you described so you might be able to get it out. Good luck x

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Latest post on 07 July 2012 - 21:28

Hi All, I have the baby bjorn and don't think i will keep using it. I don't have any problems with shoulder pain as I searched online on how to carry it low so the weight is on the waist rather than the shoulders. But due to the hip issues, I would like to look around and see what else might work better. I was wondering where to purchase an ergo carrier from?? Anywhere in Dubai? TIA

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Latest post on 05 July 2012 - 13:19

Hi Flydiver11, I also read that cutting the end off is a good one and cutting progressively more off each week. I also read that poking pinholes in the end of the dummy will help to wean, and you add progressively more holes over time. Sterilisation might become an issue though? *ETA oh an another one is to not buy the size up.. I was considering putting some pinholes in a dummy or two, though our LO is only 4 months and I think it is too soon?? Or perhaps better now than later? What do you all think? <em>edited by sparkly on 05/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 04 July 2012 - 17:22

Hi Aussiepup, I almost wrote a very similar post! Only a few differences, our LO is 4 months and she has not been sick but I suspect teething might have started so dummy was used more lately to settle her... Though I noticed she was getting addicted a while back and reduced use, the dependency has reared it's ugly head this week and only yesterday we had such a crappy napping day that I was about to write a similar post this evening.. Last night was also terrible as she woke up often. Perhaps it is a growth spurt but the dummy is involved for sure. She has been so difficult to settle for sleep both day and night lately, sometimes taking in excess of 40 to 60 minutes to settle from when she showed her tired signs and reasons why are that she just loves to use her hands. Both to suck on (but not to sleep) and at this age she has started to realise hands are very useful things. She plays with her comforter (near, far, near, far) when I put her down and if I take that away she plays with the dummy (in, out, in, out) drops it then yells that she wants it back. Ugh. This morning I held her tight and she drifted off nicely. So then I read some posts on here and decided to swaddle for the next cycle. I swaddled her arms and kept her legs out as she is a big kicker and she slept like a baby, literally. Her morning nap has never been so good (touch wood) and her afternoon nap was 2.5 hours WOW. She took the dummy to settle but she spits it out as usual after about 15 minutes, just before she drifts into a deep sleep for the first cycle. Only thing is now how do we deal with the dummy issue if it starts to interfere with each cycle. Maybe she will continue to spit it out but problem is she refuses to begin her sleep without it right now. I am in the same boat as Kiwispiers as she settles so well with it and plus I need it to settle her in the car sometimes (as she hates sitting in the back rear facing alone) but I don't want to wake up anymore than I did last night. So I have decided that while we are swaddling to try the pull out method so she does the last bit of settling without it. Perhaps this is a good way to keep it for the settling but reduce the risk of the dependency to sleep. I think taking it away is not as easy as it is made out to be. If they are very oral like yours and mine, then I imagine it would be a terrible and very trying time for all if we went cold turkey. I'll let you know how it goes tonight! x

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Latest post on 04 July 2012 - 13:48

Hi duddym It might be a bit late but in answer to your Q, we put her down when fast asleep at first and then progressively more awake each week. Great news on the sleep last night though, fantastic to hear such a massive change has taken place already.

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Latest post on 02 July 2012 - 15:09

Thanks Kiwispiers, this is one of the primary reason for my concerns. Just curious if anyone has experienced this issue and what they did to overcome it? I went to the mall on a busy Friday afternoon and the nursing rooms were busy, screaming kids and all. If I can't feed there then I have no other quieter option. The only other quiet option would be in the car in the parking lot but that is not ideal! Should I nurse in progressively noisier surroundings at home to get her used to it? Nursing necklaces are something else I am considering.. Any other advice and does anyone have any experience on whether this behaviour lessens or stops? TIA x <em>edited by sparkly on 02/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 01 July 2012 - 23:20

Hi duddym We had the same thing with our LO and though the cuddles are lovely it does get to that point doesn't it! I think it was till around 8 weeks too actually then it slowly became easier and easier to put her down. First for 10 minutes, then 20 then she started the full 45 minute sleep cycle in her bassinet or cott. Sometimes 90 minutes now.. And an occasional 2hr plus. We were just persistent but also very responsive when she woke up or cried, picked her up, settled her for a bit longer and tried again. I remember some days she woke up too much and ended up being a bit behind on her sleep so I stopped and tried again the next day. WELL! Now she prefers the cott and sometimes arches her back looking around for her bed while we hold her because she WANTS the cott. I never thought this would happen!! It just did and she loves to lie down and go to sleep alone. It broke my heart at first because she didn't want cuddles at all but after a couple of weeks she has started a little more if a 'cuddle till drowsy then put down' routine. It was such a turnaround. So I would suggest the same, be responsive and sensitive if your LO wakes or is not happy about being put down but keep it up, eventually your LO will learn to like their bed and trust that when they wake you will be there to say good morning (or good afternoon!) and cuddle them all they like when they're awake. HTH x <em>edited by sparkly on 01/07/2012</em>

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Latest post on 01 July 2012 - 23:06

Hi Ladies, Just now that we are hitting the 4 month mark my LO has proved all those books right and has become very distractible during feeds! During day if I do not feed her right after a nap she will skip a feed (she feeds often during day, approx every 2 hours so skipping is sometimes ok and maybe she is not truly really hungry?). What did your babies do at this age? She takes one breast during day and two at night, is this a sign that I am feeding her too frequently during day and could go longer so she will take two breasts at each day feed? So since we feed after each nap, when we go out to the mall she refuses to feed, so today I had to take my pump just in case. Id offer her the breast first and she would turn away as if not hungry. But then i expressed in the nursing room so as to keep us on the move! I hoped that if she was 'starving' she might breastfeed in the nursing rooms but didnt want it to get far do perhaps this is just me worrying too much? Each time I expressed she drank the whole lot so she was hungry.. She has only started doing this in the past couple of weeks. I wonder can she go a lot longer during the day and I am just freaking out unnecessarily, or is this quite common to be too distracted to feed in public. What are the solutions or do they grow out of it and how soon! I don't want her to go hungry obviously but also as she dislikes the car rides I need to make sure she is not in the least bit hungry before we get in the car so feeding in public is a must. Also expressing under that kind of pressure sucks and if I take a bottle of EBM then we are limited to three hourly outings as I must get home to feed or express again... TIA!! X

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Latest post on 20 June 2012 - 20:43

Hi Pingu!! I work also and find that my LO (who is the same age) never sleeps as well when I have not looked after her for the day, this definitely plays a part in their sleeping patterns for sure. She often sleeps 5-6 hours for her first stretch but when I work it is usually 3 hours. Also, when I have a busy day with her such as going to the mall or visitors, then her sleeps are also shorter and less organized. Esp. If her windown and bed routine is skipped. My LO wakes in the morning often, sometimes every two hours. I am just being patient plus also ensure she stays on the breast for long enough without falling back to sleep so that she gets enough hind milk (the fat) so she can sleep for longer. When she wakes every two hours, it is usually because I have been too tired to persevere and make her finish the breast, which sets off a vicious little cycle as she wakes sooner than if I stayed awake a little longer myself!! So for you it might be as Kiwispiers said. It is very admirable what you are doing, working all that much, and though I don't work as much as you it is extremely tough keeping up with the expressing!!!! I am falling behind alot and the only way to reduce that stress is to pump ahead when your supply is best and keep a stock if you can. Keep at it, bubs is lucky to have such a caring mama! Also, I know it's hard because I can't help it sometimes too but try not to compare babies as they are all so different!! X <em>edited by sparkly on 20/06/2012</em>

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Latest post on 07 June 2012 - 16:12

Thanks so much for the PDF Kiwispiers. The Baby book by Dr Sears is in Kinokinuya, Manubhaduaria. I read that from front to back in a flash as I found it so interesting and totally makes sense. It also has a lot of practical info for weaning, starting in solids and medical conditions etc. I also bought Sears' the Fussy baby book. Even if you don't classify your LO as fussy or high need, it is still a great book to read. My LO one wakes at 12:30, then 2:30 and 4:30 and 6:30 in the early mornings but sleeps for 5 hours from 7/7:30 pm. I was considering just putting her back to sleep at either 2:30 or 4:30, probably 2:30. But maybe I will wait until she is 4 months old. Her weight gain is good but I am so cautious, I'll just keep feeding until she either drops a feed or I am more comfy w her weight gain. Overstimulation is an issue were with all the visitors. Bubs has not been herself at all lately. I have even been finding it difficult to get her to feed in the mornings between 7am and 12pm. Sometimes i have to trick her into feeding or just give a bottle of EBM to get her fed. But mostly, she has been crying a lot more than usual and quite badly too, especially when I have had to leave bubs with mum n mil. It makes it tough to leave her knowing it will happen. Then of course they have has trouble getting her to sleep. But once I am home, things get better... Until I have to leave again!

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Latest post on 06 June 2012 - 10:57

Hi Kiwispiers, Love that you are an AP!!! Our LO refused swaddling her arms from about 3-4 weeks (she used to rip through about 6 strips of velcro on our cocoon wrap!) but we started using the grobag from that time, which has become a fantastic sleep cue for her. She also scratches her face with short nails even now so she has mittens, sleeping bag and dummy! It's adorable... but it also works! I read her cues to know when her nap time is and she settles within a few minutes, so I know we have the timings right and feel good that we are making good progress in this regard. I don't however see that she will learn to self settle anytime soon so it is comforting to know that you also had to resettle until 12 months. She does knock out the dummy a lot with her little mitten hands and asks for it a few times at the start of each nap session, when she ready she often spits it out and goes into a deep sleep. Other times, we do take it out so that she does not have it when she drifts off. This does risk waking her up though if we choose the wrong moment. just now I put her down sleepy, and patted her for a while, and this is becoming the usual way we put her down. Cuddles are usually called for to get her to catnap at 4:30-5:30, as she usually refuses to be put down then. But I love that time of day for that very reason. It's encouraging to see that your LO learnt to join the sleep cycles together as this is what I am aiming for, without any intervention. I just aim on letting her learn how as time goes on and of course, never develop a fear for sleep. Bed time is such a fun time for us, we talk softly and cuddle and smile at each other as she drifts off. I think this is really important for LO to never develop that negative association of crying or being left to settle alone. Cry 'what' out, as Dr Sears says. I can understand why you decided not to resettle after each 45. Sometimes bubs seems ready to get up so I get her up then within 15-20 min she is done. Her cues for sleep are non existent after a replenishing 45! I also think that i will not even have dummies for the next baby, but it has been such a comfort for bubs this time around, so it's not so clear cut is it? Also when other careers are involved, they often need to dummy to replace the comfort mum can give, so then it makes it hard for me not to give the dummy when she is already accustomed to it. Tizzie Hall (not that I follow her at all) quotes that almost 90% of sleep problems she observes are because of dummies, so I know what we are getting into but I have already tried to limit dummy use during the day and you know what happened?... She stopped settling well at night even with the dummy, she would wake after the first hour around 8pm. It was really bizarre. Dummy back as required during day (wihtin reason as she was becoming obsessed by it!) and no more night waking issues. Oh and, another AP dummy issue.. Her hungry cry is the same as dummy cry 'I just want to suck on something' so each time I have to offer her the boob, then dummy. Ugh. I WISH one of the mums was AP minded, both don't know where I am coming from and it makes it so freaking hard. And there are still awkward moments here too... Kill me now! I just wish there was someone in this house who understood what I wanted and lived it. Hubby does but he works so much that it is not easy to get that back up from him. Thanks Kiwi, I feel your support x PS we have a heartbeat sound in the room for sleep also, I have no idea if it works but I sleep well with it on! <em>edited by sparkly on 06/06/2012</em>

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Latest post on 04 June 2012 - 21:26

We all hope bubs will sleep well! I don't mind getting up 2-3 times a night to her even if I have to work the next day, I just go to bed early alot and nap with her on my day off. And I love doing that. Patiently waiting for bubs to drop a feed at night. About expressing- No I don't think so, but more importantly it's about keeping up your supply. Expressing regularly means your supply will not be impacted when away from bubs. If you don't express you don't produce more as the body assumes you don't need it. Ladies who did this would be feeding a combination of breast milk and formula I guess as they would not produce enough breast milk to keep up with bubs. Not to mention engorgement issues. I'd suggest you read up on breastfeeding and expressing, there's a world of info out there. Good luck. <em>edited by sparkly on 04/06/2012</em>

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Latest post on 04 June 2012 - 21:16

Hi ladies, yes I delivered at CH and the birth notification was given while I was still there and that was only two days. It is done online, just like attested sick leave certificates. the only thing holding it up would be a qualified person to sign it, such as a physician or medical director.

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Latest post on 04 June 2012 - 21:12

Hi samie10 Using the pump I have, I express twice as much as bubs feeds, so I would say you would not be able to pretend to pump in two 30 minute sessions. Someone else might be able to offer advice on the double pump. Having said that, all it would take was another mother who had done the whole expressing thing to realize what you were (or rather, were not) doing in those breaks. <em>edited by sparkly on 04/06/2012</em>

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Latest post on 04 June 2012 - 15:48

Hi little zuzu At CH they give you the birth cert before discharge n this is written up based on info you have completed on a form. For this u also need to provide marriage cert and passport copies of mum n dad. After this I gave the documents to baby steps. They do all the PRO work for u and the fees for this part (English n Arabic cert, attested at MOH n MOFA) is very reasonable. I got duplicates of everything too n think the fees amounted to approx 700 AED. It's v convenient when u have a newborn to use a company like this. The whole process took around 3-4 days. Maybe someone else has done it themselves? edited by sparkly on 04/06/2012 <em>edited by sparkly on 04/06/2012</em>

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Latest post on 04 June 2012 - 15:42

Hi samie10, I went back after 45 days. It was tough, and still is as bubs is now 3 mths, to leave the house every time. I work 2-3 shifts at the moment, and i am fortunate to be able to work flexible timings. Working even a small amount does make coming home an absolute delight and the days at home just wonderful as you are entirely devoted to bubs in that time, having had some time out to continue to be 'you'. Part of me never wants to work again but I think I am the type that needs to do something. I agree w Kiwispiers about buying a good pump if you plan on expressing and feeding breast milk. I express every two hours at work even though bubs feeds about every 3-4 at home just to keep up with the volumes. I have the avent electric/ manual (prefer manual actually) and chose not to get a hospital grade yet as expressing is going ok as it is right now. I have been considering a double though just to ensure that I can continue to keep up w bubs as the volumes she consumes goes up n up and express quicker. I am also fortunate to have my MIL here. If I had to hire someone to care for bubs I would resign, but that is just me and my beliefs I guess. I can't lend any advice on hiring help. My advice would be to work up to full time and ease back into it if possible. It will make it easier on you and bubs. At night the sleeping is an issue but I think easing back into it will help w that too. I am still up 2-3 times a night but I find that starting work a bit later is working well. 11am works well for me. All the best

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 25 May 2012 - 11:09

Hi Ladies, So I missed out on the catch up. Is anyone up for another meetup? Aussiepup- I am the same with bf'ing in public, but I see lots of ladies at cafes with a cover, I'd love to be able to relax and do the same. Delphine was great also, I'd recommend her to anyone in a similar situation, she is truly a great resource! Anyway, hope to hear back and meet you all soon

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 11:34

how do you know which thickness to get them? assuming they are in an airconditioned room? Hi Mols, i bought the gro bags and a small brochure inside told me what temp and type of bag and clothing to use for bubs. The same info is available in the mothercare catalogue on the sleeping bag pages, for free. I could not find it anywhere on the internet when i starting researching which one to buy.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 May 2012 - 21:42

I'd also be interested in the Babywearing group! Hope someone knows how to contact them?

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 May 2012 - 21:37

I had a small stint of this with bubs yesterday and it was breaking my heart, not to mention stressful. Thankfully I picked up on it and stopped it fast. It was due to a dietary change that I think changed the smell of my skin and probably my milk. I read this can also happen if you change lotions, deodorant or clothes detergent. Look back and see whether something has changed for you? Or are you stressed about something, as bubs might be picking up on the tension. All the best and hope things settle soon.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 May 2012 - 21:29

It's possible she likes the sound. If you block your ears while eating or drinking or talking the sound is louder. Maybe she did it once and now she likes it. Interesting all the same!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 May 2012 - 17:25

FMC was good for us and Dr Mirza is very knowledgeable. I thought he was okay to talk to and shared a few jokes with him actually. I guess the only comment i would have is he said he knew what *** the baby was at the 12 wk scan (was 13w2d actually) and chose not to tell me until the 20 wk. the waiting times at FMC are sometimes hideous but I used them for the 20 and 32 wk scan too and would go back should there be a next time. <em>edited by sparkly on 22/05/2012</em>

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 22 May 2012 - 17:16

Our LO is only 11 weeks old so i cant answer the question entirely but we have a gro bag and a sleeping bag from Mothercare, I think it's 1 or 1.5 tog. Based on some of the other posts below though... The mothercare one zips the opposite way to a gro bag so you could possibly get your LO into it and keep the feet open as a start. Worth a try, given the Ikea ones were recalled in Aus. I think we paid around 120 AED for it but I can't recall. Good luck.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2012 - 14:49

Just adding my vote, absolutely NO. I have spent a lot of time googling since I am glued to the couch with a newborn on my chest ;-) and I would also recommend you check out the Dr Sears website and literature.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2012 - 14:28

Thanks Aussiepup, We are making some progress this week, which makes me feel a lot better about BFing. I also made an appt with Dr Delphine next week. Looking forward to getting some help. And thank you to everyone else regarding the BF support, it just seems so easy and I completely expected it to just come naturally for both of us, how naive! I think attending the support group would help me a lot. (I am totally clueless, do you take your bubs to these groups :-/ ) <em>edited by sparkly on 04/04/2012</em>

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2012 - 14:20

TanyaR and Nams, Thank you so much for your thoughts and experiences. I can't tell you how much I needed It! I totally agree with everything you said. whilst I was using expressing to avoid stress during BFing, I can now see how stressed expressing was making me! Oh so much thought, calculating and planning, sterilizing... And the time taken to express after bubs has fed, that is when I could put her down.... I had to fight my inner dialogue of is bubs really hungry and hesitating to warm up the next bottle of EBM to avoid wastage. It really is liquid gold here too! I do have good news, since I wrote to message I bit the bullet and said 'no more bottles!'. It meant a few stressful feeds and also convincing DH and myself that bubs was getting enough from the breast. I could easily express 80 ml, sometimes more from each breast at alternative feeds and this was exactly how much she would take, give or take). Every time bubs cried at the breast it took my every strength not to go to the fridge and get some EBM but now I realize these were sometimes other cues in addition to the flow being too fast, like that she was finished or tired or just wanted a rest. A few days prior, in desperation, I tried bubs on a faster flow test and as she grew accustomed to that she started to tolerate my fast flow at the breast better. We have now gone two days without a bottle. I expressed yesterday once and this went to storage for when I have to leave bubs w family in a few weeks for work. Bubs is not latching well on the left so I have booked an appt with Dr Delphine next week to work this out. Right now I don't feel it changes the level of bonding as bubs is so new and she seems to just mean business when she is feeding, in fact bottle feeding meant we could make eye contact etc and did also allow others to bond with her liek you said. For sure though I am more at ease, which will have many unseen benefits. We are not out of the woods due to the latching issue and I still feel pressure to ensure she has had enough since losing that control from giving up the bottle. I am a bit scared to leave the house without either EBM, formula as back up and have even considered taking the pump with me in case we do not feed well but this confidence will improve every day and I think once we have seen Dr Delphine things will get better and better. and of course this introduces a new issue that bottle feeding did not have and that is will there be somewhere I can feed her while we are out (new thread perhaps). Currently I am only comfy going to Dubai mall! I am so much happier and even though we still have a way to go, I think definitely we are going to get there! Thank you a thousand times for sharing!

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 April 2012 - 14:57

Hi ladies, I'm having some BFing issues as a first time mum; flat nipple w poor latch on one side, possible nipple confusion after having to feed EBM out of necessity at birth. I also have painful letdown and fast flow if bubs does not nurse often, such as when she sleeps at night for 5 hours on occasions. I am afraid this might lead to rejection if it continues. I have an electrical pump and more so to avoid stress at nursing time for bubs and myself, I have been expressing and feeding bubs by bottle a lot more than BFing over the past few weeks. It's a long story with many factors involved but i am trying to BF more and more to replace the bottle when I can because I do actually want to BF exclusively when I am with bubs and express only when I have to leave her with family. Despite all the issues, we can actually BF for a full feed, but night times are a bit of a struggle when she is tired. If problems do continue with BFing, I wonder whether anyone else has ended up exclusively feeding EBM to bubs and how long for? Did you have problems with supply due to the different type of nipple stimulation that BF and expressing? This is just a hypothetical question for now and arose after reading up online. Any experience shared would be appreciated!! :-) <em>edited by sparkly on 01/04/2012</em>

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 01 April 2012 - 12:56

Hi CitronKB, I also delivered at CH recently. Just to compare experiences, I think it absolutely was due to how busy they were as I had a wonderful experience and joke that I can't wait to go back next time ;-) - I spoke w a Canadian nurse when I called an she was great, FYI I was 3 days early and pregnancy was unremarkable. She was lovely and was the same nurse I met upon admission. I arrived at 4am and she left at 7am. The new midwife was possibly Iranian and though I didn't like the change to a new staff member she was wonderful in the end and stayed with me until delivery. The first midwife explained everything I expected and I felt at ease. - I am shocked that it took so long for them to get you the epidural! Terrible, I would have died before then quite literally!!! I asked for one at 8-9cm and after 12 hours. It then took a maximum of 30 minutes to get it. (as my first birth I realized I should have had that epi a lot sooner!!!!!!) - we had a VIP suite and everything was great. Even when the VIP suite was not yet ready, the service we received in the standard rooms was faultless. In fact we got extra meals by mistake. - I had to ask for a whole day to get the darn cannula out of my hand as it was not required anymore, but otherwise I didnt have to ask for anything else, we got drinks n food ahead of time. I must admit it did take a whole 24 hours to get bubs a bath after birth, which although there are benefits to delaying the first bath, they planned it after 6 hours and then kept delaying it, unsure why. - I had two visits from the lactation consultant but wish I had one more before I left. Reason for this is that the consulting Paediatrician gave me advice to top up by bottle with EBM or formula for mild jaundice and now I have issues with BFing. The LC, in hindsight, would have been a better person to discuss this with as the paeds advice has led to nipple confusion, breast rejection and so on. I wish the LC could chat to the paed and tell him to advise cup feeding before recommending bottle. - I had a visit from the physio but requested it due to a sore back. - I didn't get a goodie bag either but didn't want one as I had two nappy bags already (gifts). They did give me some formula and bottles and a few other little things before I left (pads, expressing equip, formula and teats). - I haven't a bad word to say about Dr Ibrahim! Not an exact match to my birth plan by any means but he was fabulous and I trusted him totally. They broke my waters at 6cm and being a first timer I didn't refuse this, I might not allow that next time but I wasn't really bothered by it. My only complaint would be that they kept giving oxytocin to move things along and it was so intense. I think I entrusted a lot more to the staff with the birth than I planned but was so overwhelmed with pain that I couldn't have done it any other way. Quite a comparison! It is a shame that your experience was in some ways disappointing, but glad to hear that all is well now :-) Hope others find this useful! ETA the birth ball was given to me without requesting it and within 1-2 hours of my admission. Maybe as they were so busy theyre was a shortage? It would be a shame if ppl had to start bringing their own. <em>edited by sparkly on 01/04/2012</em>

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Latest post on 31 March 2012 - 11:05

Hi Ladies, it's lovely to read that many of you have welcomed your little bundles of joy into this world safely. This is the first time I have logged on since I gave birth almost 4 weeks ago now! Bubs is going well, she's just perfect. We are having some issues w BFing which I hope we are going to get through sooner rather than later. Argh, it seems so simple, I never expected to have BF issues :-/ So I really hope I haven't missed out on the get together, I will send an email and hope to get the details on where and when the meet up is. Look forward to meeting you all and sharing experiences!

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