[Cat Melodeon]

I have a bit of a problem. My girl is 4 and a half months now. We're going to a wedding at the start of May and we'll be leaving her and her brother with their grandparents overnight. There is no way we can bring them with us, nor can we afford to have the grandparents come with us as stay-over babysitters. For the past 2 weeks I've been expressing and trying to get herself to take a bottle. I've tried every bottle - avent (same as her soother), tommee tippee, dr brown, nuk - you name it, we've tried it. She simply won't suck on anything that isn't me. She has a tongue tie that isn't helping.

We've tried all the tricks I know - different times, different levels of hunger, me doing it, husband doing it. Half an hour of struggle results in about a teaspoonful of ebm taken and she now screams in temper if she as much as sees a bottle. If it wasn't for this wedding, I wouldn't be bothered as I've no intention in weaning her until she's at least a year old. But her gran has to be able to feed her for 36 hrs and she'll only be starting with solids around then.

Any ideas? We could try spoon feeding or using a syringe, but that's a bit unpleasant for her and fiddly for her gran. The 'What to expect' book talks about introducing a cup around now. Has anyone done that this early? I'm at my wits' end, any tips would be much appreciated!

[How Strange]

Would you start with a sippy cup now? The wedding is about 5 weeks away so you've loads of time to get her used to it. You can get starter sippy cups from 4 months. Maybe try getting your husband to feed her with the cup and in a couple of weeks get her gran to give it a go so both of them are used to it.

I started my son on a sippy cup with water at 6 months and by 7.5 months that's what he took his drinks out of in crèche. And they say girls are more advanced at these things so she should be quite good at holding and drinking from it in 5 weeks.

[wmpdd3]

cat what about these from mothercare:

http://www.koziesfromkatie.com/send....gyNTYtMDEuanBn

[Future Baby]

How serious is getting a coldsore while breastfeeding? I'm after getting one in the past 3 hours, prob due to the amount of sun I got in the past 2 days and prob run down from been on the clock 24 /7 breastfeeding, changing nappys, having dinner ready for the other fellow when he comes home for work ect... you know urself men have it so easy sometimes I wonder if I wasnt breastfeeding would be have got up for night feeds anyway!

Google should be banned as Im reading the worst cases about coldsores and babies end up dead, like this story

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...rus-late-.html

I'm going to ring the doctors in the morning and see if I can get an appointment just to be safe!

[implausible]

Originally Posted by How Strange

Would you start with a sippy cup now? The wedding is about 5 weeks away so you've loads of time to get her used to it. You can get starter sippy cups from 4 months. Maybe try getting your husband to feed her with the cup and in a couple of weeks get her gran to give it a go so both of them are used to it.

I started my son on a sippy cup with water at 6 months and by 7.5 months that's what he took his drinks out of in crèche. And they say girls are more advanced at these things so she should be quite good at holding and drinking from it in 5 weeks.

+1 on the sippy cup. My wee man never really had a bottle and took both ebm and formula from a cup. Because it's so different, it might distract her from it not being a boob. Has her gran fed her on her own without you being there? I think that when the wee darlings know that there's a boob in the vicinity, they look for it!

[implausible]

Originally Posted by Future Baby

How serious is getting a coldsore while breastfeeding? I'm after getting one in the past 3 hours, prob due to the amount of sun I got in the past 2 days and prob run down from been on the clock 24 /7 breastfeeding, changing nappys, having dinner ready for the other fellow when he comes home for work ect... you know urself men have it so easy sometimes I wonder if I wasnt breastfeeding would be have got up for night feeds anyway!

It's the Daily Mail that should be banned in my opinion....

That poor baby was a freak incident, the chances are in the millions. Have you had coldsores before? If you haven't, it could be worth going to the doc to put your mind at ease. If you have, then mind yourself, treat the coldsore and avoid passing it onto baby. And I'm sure the other half could manage to do a few dinners for both of ye himself for a few days. You need your strength.

I take Lysine (you get it in health food shops) when I feel one coming on, does the trick and stops it developing.

[Future Baby]

Had one two years ago, my lip blew out like one of them blow fish for 2 weeks!

I dont normally fall for these stories in the Daily Mail, thats why I said Google should be banned. As for my other half making dinners for the next few days, I will tell u a story and it will make u laugh, he had a takeaway Pizza years ago and it was cold, so he said he'd heat it up under the grill for a few mins, he put the pizza in the pizza box under the grill and set the box on fire sometimes you wonder why all the top chefs are MEN!

Prob go home to the Mammys for a few days, get some Mammy dinners and my little fellow will be spoilt rotten! Ah my other half is not really that bad, he did cut the grass and washed the car yesterday, but when it comes to house work, night time nappy changes he get a big fat "F" if you were grading him, but as my own mother said its half my own fault as I let him get away with it, as when I do decided to go on strike for a few days, I always give in and tidy up the place in the end.

Yeah Im going to go to the doctors tomorrow if she is not too busy, if I have to pay 55euros to be told to use Zervix, I'll Scream, but at least its better than worrying about the worst case every!

[Cat Melodeon]

Thanks guys, glad to hear some of you have had success with the cup. I tried again tonight, same drama, she just will not/cannot suck. She takes a soother occasionally but even then she chews more than sucks. I'll check out cups tomorrow. Unfortunately gran lives in the UK so I can't get her to help before the actual day of the wedding. Pressure's on to make little madam independent by then!

[How Strange]

Babies are so clever and intuitive. We went away for our first night when my son was 5 months. We'd come through the sleep regression and I was exhausted. No one had ever minded him for more than a couple of hours never mind overnight and we were cosleeping.

What did he do for his granny? He guzzled his 11pm bottle of ebm, slept through to 6am and cuddled up to her for a few more hours sleep. The next night he was back to his usual routine with me.

[red fraggle]

Originally Posted by How Strange

Red fraggle is the milk flowing freely when you hand express? If so you've probably cleared the blockage if not then its still blocked. If its still blocked get into a hot bath of you have one and keep expressing until the milk is flowing.

My son had terrible wind one day at 10 weeks (caused by me eating hummus!) and I started to feel unwell that evening. I had mastitis in the first week so after the blocked duct I was always on the look out for both. A few times over the next few months I noticed a red patch (always on the same breast) and I'd take my son into bed and feed as much as we could for the night. It can happen so quickly if your little one isn't emptying the breast.

seems to be grand now thanks!!!! and ive noticed any pain is always in the same breast!! wierd

[implausible]

Originally Posted by How Strange

Babies are so clever and intuitive. We went away for our first night when my son was 5 months. We'd come through the sleep regression and I was exhausted. No one had ever minded him for more than a couple of hours never mind overnight and we were cosleeping.

What did he do for his granny? He guzzled his 11pm bottle of ebm, slept through to 6am and cuddled up to her for a few more hours sleep. The next night he was back to his usual routine with me.

I could have written that post How Strange! My wee man was the same with his granny - me worrying away and not a bother on His Highness! Babies will not let themselves starve.

Cat, you're better off getting someone else to try the cup/bottle, while you're not in the area. Babies' boob radar is very strong!

[dublinlady]

Today I was on the train for a long return journey and on the way there I breast fed A no problem as there wasn't many ppl around but on the way back it was really busy and I just really didn't feel comfortable doing it. I couldn't bring expressed milk as was out for too long, I had an emergency carton of sma with me and a sterile bottle just incase - I've never given her formula before. Shes 6&1/2 wks old and for the last few weeks has been puking up ALOT of her feeds . I know she's keeping enough down as is gaining weight consistently. I don't think it's reflux really as its not every feed, just most! I use nipple shields as my nipples are too small and she can't latch on without them - this was advised my lactation consultant in the hosp. I've tried her on several occasions without them - she really just cannot latch on without them and I would have had to give up breast feeding a long time ago without them!
When I gave her the formula she seemed to love it - and seemed so much happier after the feed - did her burps , only spat up a little and was so relaxed and happy afterwards - normally she seems uncomfortable! ( and I've tried gaviscon infant to no avail)
I'm wondering is she getting too much air with the nipple shields? But then we give her a bottle of expressed milk every night and it's the same - lots of puking and wriggling!? So now I'm wondering about the consistency... The formula looked a fair bit thicker/ heavier than the breast milk, could it actually suit her better???
I'm tempted to try formula again to see tho - I don't know what to do!

[How Strange]

dublinlady, you've done such an amazing job to get to 6.5 weeks and any breastfeeding mother knows its a tough 6 weeks but don't doubt yourself now. Honestly there's no way that formula which is mass produced in a factory is better for your baby than the milk your body creates for her. It's her perfect tailor made food.

You're right formula is thicker and heavier so it overfills them and they are just like us after Christmas dinner; stuffed to the gills! Breastmilk is lighter and easier to digest so they need to feed more often.

I think you've hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the nipple shields. That lactation consultant was talking bull when she said your nipples are too small. It's called breastfeeding not nipple feeding. The size of your nipples are not reflective of your ability to breastfeed. When you latch the baby on, as you know, the baby takes the breast into its mouth and the nipple goes to the back of the mouth.

Would you contact a local la Leche league or Cuidiu counsellor? I'm suggesting those organisations because they're so highly trained and they will help you feed without nipple shields but also they're a free resource.

Please don't doubt yourself now because you've done the hard work and you're about to turn a corner where it gets so much easier and it's really like your big reward. I'm 100% pro breastfeeding so I have to remind myself to temper my enthusiasm sometimes but I wouldn't recommend carrying cartons of formula if you intend to continue breastfeeding as slowly but surely you'll start using it more and more.

I know how absolutely nerve wrecking feeding in public is so I'd suggest you look for a breastfeeding mother baby group in your area. It only takes a few times of doing it in public to get the hang of it do you aren't fumbling and once you do you'll be able to go anywhere without restrictions or stressing about feeding. I sy this as someone who'd never go topless on a beach so it's not that I'm especially confident drawing attention to myself.

[annamcmahon]

Dublinlady, if you live near Liffey Valley a group of us meet for coffee and mama to mama support and a chat in Starbucks every Thursday from 11-1pm. It really helped my confidence when feeding in public because I surrounded by other ladies feeding their babies. Feel free to pop along anytime if you like.

[dublinlady]

Thanks how strange for all of your advice! I took it and phoned a cuidiu counsellor who spoke to me for 30 mins or so and was lovely and a great help!! She agrees that it's prob the shields causing so much wind and gave me tips on how to try to stop using them, haven't been brave enough to try yet but will! She gave me loads of advise about feeding in public with examples of where to go which was very helpful! She understood why I didn't feel comfortable in the particular situation yest and advised me to get a bottle cooler so I can bring expressed milk with me for trips where I think I can't brave it and understood that even with all the best intention not everyone has enough strength to brave it in every situation! But she did advise me how to overcome this by bringing expressed milk rather than formula. Don't get me wrong - I intend to breast feed in public discretely and think its good that ppl do - however I will never feel comfortable sitting surrounded by drunk male strangers who even smoke on the train they care so little!! There are times when I will be glad to have my bottle with me but in most cases I'll hopefully be bringing it home full!!
It is tough at this stage - mainly cos my body is now over the surgery and in feeling ready to go out and about but she's feeding so much and for so long each time! But from what she said my baby may never speed up so I'll have to get used to it!!
I do feel if I stopped breast feeding I'd really miss the closeness with my daughter - ESP now that she's becoming more alert and is realising its me attached to the boobs!!!! It's a lovely bond to have - and as you said its so natural it has to be best!
Thanks again for your support - much appreciated

Anna - thanks a mil, Liffey valley a fair bit out of my way but if I will look for a local group and if they aren't nice and friendly I'll be straight out to ya! Thanks again!!