[KELLIF4]

Nice, My husband is a teacher also and has made the same comments about kids coming to school sick !! That just drives me crazy !!

I understand you being on the fence - that's how I was until recently ..

When are you guy's going to start introducing cereal ? Some say 4 months, 5 months and even 6 months ... We have an appt with our pedia. in 2 weeks so Im hoping she'll say to go ahead

[praying4peanut]

Thanks ladies for the advice! I'm still on the fence but for the most part am thinking I'm not going to get it. Since I don't work and Payton isn't in daycare, if I'm exposed then so is he regardless of the shot. So for now I'm probably going to wait it out a little longer to see what's safe and necessary.

Kelli, as far as rice cereal is concerned, payton's got his 4 month appt on Monday and I was going to talk to the pedi then about it. I was gung ho about it but have backed down until I feel he's ready for it. Which he may be. I just want him to have EBF for as long as he needs to without solids getting in the way. However for the past few days he's been hungry a lot and doesn't seem satisfied with the lady lumps alone, which is either a sign for solids or a growth spurt, so we'll see what his pedi says!

[kirstyloo]

Rosie – It is interesting that Olivia’s gas has been stinky lately. Emily has had gas since she was born, but the smell has been so much worse the last few days.

Emilie – The flu shot shouldn’t weaken your immune system. If you were getting sick before the shot, you’ll still get sick. I don’t know about the bumps. Do the white bumps rub off or are they part of his skin?

History – Good luck on the formula! Emily doesn’t have a problem switching back and forth, but she does get a funny quizzical look on her face if we flip flop in a single meal.

H1N1 – I got the H1N1 and I’m trying to get it for my DH. I'm hoping that my immune response to the virus and my breast milk will help to protect Emily should she come into contact with it. Let me clarify one issue. H1N1 does make healthy children very sick. According to the CDC, just over 1/2 of the children who have died had an underlying health concern. This would mean that nearly half of them were healthy. Just this morning, we were discussing the case of healthy 14-year-old who died of H1N1 across the river. Healthy 14-yo don’t usually die of the flu. What was particularly alarming was that he appeared to be sick for less than 24 hours prior to his death. This short time frame made medical intervention very difficult. The CDC expects that up to 50% of the population will have it by the end of this winter. I did have a soapbox moment on my treatment thread where I laid out my concerns and address some of the myths surrounding the vaccine. I don’t want to dwell on it here, but if you’d to see it, here is the link.

Ok...here is a really stupid question. When different groups describe milestones how do they divide them? If they say it a 3-month milestone, should the child reach it by their 3-month birthday or do they have their entire 3rd month to reach the milestone. For example, Emily has been here for 3 months today. Should she have reached the month 3 or month 4 milestones as this is her 4th month?

[amberjoy]

Hi everyone! I would love to join this thread...I've been reading your posts here and there, but just haven't gotten around to sitting down and introducing myself to everyone.

My name is Amber and I had a little girl, Gretel, in June and we are doing great! It is amazing how quickly time goes by. It's hard to believe that she's almost 4.5 months already!

All the Halloween costumes were adorable! Gretel went as a snowman. I decided on that costume because we thought it would be perfect to do our Christmas cards with!

On the feeding front--we had our 4 month appt a couple weeks ago and my doctor did not mention starting solids at all. That was a question I meant to ask her, but of course at the time I spaced and totally forgot. But what I've discovered from doing a little research on my own is that what is most recommended is for babies to EBF for 6 months if that is possible and still providing the baby with a full tummy. Recommendation is the same for formula-fed, but obviously if baby in either category seems hungry and ready to eat, then starting early won't hurt anything. The reasoning for waiting is just that baby doesn't actually "need" the nourishment of solids when they are getting it in milk. Actually, all solids are basically just supplemental until 1 year. We plan to start at 6 months unless of course I see signs that she needs food earlier.

That leads to my biggest problem. I have an overabundance of milk. Now, I know that in itself is a good problem to have, but hear me out. I have had to pump ever since she was born because I just have too much milk for her and I have to relieve myself and also there are times when I have to pump before I feed her or she will choke on the milk because there is so much coming out so fast! The problem is that I live in an apartment in NYC and I do not have a deep freeze so the milk is only good for 3 months. I'm a stay at home mom and Gretel won't take a bottle. Needless to say, the milk is not getting used, and I will have to start throwing it out, which just kills me. So, I have been trying to reduce the amount that I have to pump and I do it only when absolutely necessary, but I'm still freezing anywhere from 9-13oz a day. Even if I could get her to take a bottle, I'd be in the same spot because I'd just have to pump more when she isn't nursing. I've looked into donating it, but you have to prove you've had a blood test before the milk was pumped or they won't take it...and it has to be in the milkbank's containers and everything, too. So, anybody want any milk? Haha...seriously, suggestions would be helpful. I do have two sisters who also had babies at the same time and when I've been back home (Wisconsin) to visit I've left them what I pump while I'm there, but neither of them are in a position to need it enough to have me ship it to them. I just hate the thought of throwing it out...

Other than that, everything in babyland is going wonderfully! She's working on her rolling, her sitting and her teeth.

[AdaRuts]

Amber - I will try not to be bitter about your overproduction, but I am green with envy. I had to stop BF b/c I was getting about an oz a day.... pumping all the freaking time!!! Regardless, check out this link. You will have to have the blood test done, but not until after the initial donation. Mothers' Milk Bank of New England

[praying4peanut]

Jamie - how did Lyla do with the formula??? I'm thinking great thoughts for you and her!

Kirsty - i'm thinking that because Emily has been here for 3 months, she should have hit the 3 month milestones. My book What to Expect the First Year explains what they should be hitting by the 'end of such and such month'. For example, Payton turned 4 months today. So then if I want to know what he accomplished, I have to go back to the beginning of the fourth month chapter to read what he should have accomplished. Does that make sense? Thanks for the h1n1 info, I guess I just am still concerned when I hear doctors and nurses around my area that are refusing it. Makes me curious, ya know? I probably won't know if I want to get it or not until I'm at the doctor's office with the needle in my arm! LOL!

Amber - to you and Gretel!!! I too had the overproduction issue early on (until my son's pedi made me switch him to formula for a day and pumping messed me up good). Now I'm on Fenugreek to keep things normal but it's tricky...either way, overproduction can be super sucky. I have to get up in the middle of every single night even though my little one sleeps straight through and pump or I'll get mastitis. I got it three times from clogged ducts and that bites! :P I also had a massive amount of pumped milk and about half of it had dairy in it and we figured out about 2 months ago that my son couldn't handle dairy, so it was never going to be of use to him. I actually called my local hospital's lactation consultant and she had some people who were in need of my milk so I met up with them and donated it all I think last week. It was a great feeling - I highly recommend it! The only thing I had to provide the mommy with was my pregnancy lab test copy to show I wasn't HIV positive, so don't be too offended if they ask you for that - can you blame em with everything else going around?!?!?! Good luck!

With the solids, I think what we might try if the pedi says ok is to give him one spoon or sippy cup full of boob milk in the early evening, that's when the lady lumps kinda crap out. And I can't be sure that he's getting what he needs, but he is peeing like a racehorse a ton. I keep a notebook and keep track of his meals and pees and poos every day. And then maybe a little bit of rice cereal once he's taking plain milk in the spoon for a while...only if the pedi agrees!

Payton is FINALLY napping today - yay! Almost 3 hours, thank goodness! I cleaned the house and reorganized his room - I keep tellin him, all I need is a nap from you buddy! So now I'm starting to suck it up cuz DH and my dad are leaving tomorrow for the weekend for Chicago to go to a Bears game...must be nice to relax, eh? LOL!

[colleen]

Amber and Gretel! Just popping in to tell you that if you didn't want to donate the milk (or all of the milk), you could try Gretel drinking it out of a cup or spoon if you're interested. My LO will also refuse a bottle and has since birth. We've recently started giving it to her out of a cup occasionally, and she will take it then. I'm happy about it since it means that I can sometimes leave her without having to be back in like 2 hours to feed her.

[amberjoy]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! The New England milk bank does look like a good option, Ada. I will look into that, and I am sorry that breastfeeding didn't work out the way you'd hoped. I do feel guilty about the overproduction problem...I don't understand why some of us have too much and others not enough. I thought our bodies were supposed to work as a supply and demand when it came to nursing. I do want to keep some of my frozen milk, as I'm always worried that if I give it all away then all of a sudden my production will decrease and I'll wish I had it. Also, I plan to use it to mix with cereal when I do start that. I will try a cup, colleen. She thinks it's the greatest thing in the world to take a sip of water out of my cup, so she might really like that. However, if she takes a cup for a feeding then I will have to pump. I just fill up too quickly! It's crazy! At least that would allow me to sneak away for a little bit here and there. I, too, get up in the night to pump, Emilie. Gretel sleeps through the night, and I can't! Lately, I've been able to make it until about 5am, and then I give in and can't take it anymore.

[historyteach]

happy sunday ladies, i hope that you all had a wonderful weekend. mine was great! Lyla and i have started a tradition of taking a nap together on saturday afternoons, i hope that we keep the tradition, it is wonderful.

we started forumla mixture on friday when she gets the bottle and it seems that things are going well. Lyla wont pass up a meal! she will soon be able to compete against the michelen man!

right now i am trying to avoid housework...i really hate washing floors. but i guess i should get used to it because when Lyla starts crawling i am going to have to do it every day

hope that you all have a great week

[praying4peanut]

Jamie - that nap sounds like a wonderful tradition! It was gorgeous here this weekend. DH and my dad went up to watch the Bears game and so I got to stay home all weekend with just me and my little prince - he was fabulous! It went very well

He's got his four month pedi appt tomorrow for some shots and measurements - I can't wait to see what's happening with him! And I spoon fed him some boobie milk last night - he was highly intrigued! Something so tasty but not from the boob - what gives? LOL! So I'm hoping to work on the sippy cup this week so hopefully I can get an extra meal into him and get him spoon and sippy cup trained for a few weeks and then maybe start some rice cereal. But we'll see what the doc says. Either way, I'm good to go but this little guy is suckin me dry! And he's got 8-12 soaking diapers a day and is sleeping well so I know he's not starving, I think he's just growing quicker than my body can catch up!

Have a great week ladies - I'll post my 'little' man's update post-shots! And Jamie, you crack me up with your Michelin baby! Is she getting any longer or just wider? PJ's getting wider but his length is growing twice as fast! I daringly put him into his stroller facing forward today without the carseat insert...he didn't like it too much, he loves looking at mommy!

[AdaRuts]

I'm glad everyone had such a good weekend!! The weather was nice here and we went to look at some new houses, so we had a productive weekend.

Oh, so BIG news.... Austin rolled over!!! He was laying on his back playing in his Hippo gym thing and.. bang! right onto his belly. He of course got pissed and started screaming once he got there... b/c he HATES tummy time, but I'll be d*mned if he didn't do it again as soon as I turned him back over.

I can't beleive how big and old these little babies are getting already. Austin will be 4 months tomorrow... wow.

[praying4peanut]

Yay! Congrats Amanda, that's awesome! And happy early four months little man!!!

Well we had payton's four month appt today-he did great with the shots, better than me. I was so nervous taking him without dh that I managed to get a giant speeding ticket on our way there-blah! But she said to start him on the rice cereal since he's sitting on his own(kinda) and is a hungry man even with every boob he gets, so I'll let ya know how it turns out! He was 16 lbs, 9 oz and 26 1/4 inches long. Yay!!!

[kirstyloo]

Colleen – You wee one is drinking out of a cup! I can’t imagine our babies are growing up so quickly! It’s so sweet that he wanted to look at you while in the stroller.

AdaRuts – Your little Austin turned himself over from his back? Again, all I can say is that these babies are growing so quickly! Emily hasn’t gone from front to back since week 4 when she was much lighter. Now, she just gets tired during tummy time or she starts to scream and someone flips her.

Emilie – Thanks for clarifying the month issue. I thought that was the way it would be, but I was worried because Emily seemed to be a month behind…if it was the other way. Just a small question, how do you like the spelling of your name? We were going to name Emily Emilie because we really preferred it. We ended up switching it back to Emily the day I filled out her birth certificate because we wound up with too many Es. Her middle name Elaine also started and ended with an E. We would have like to use the other spelling!

I also get up in the middle of night to pump...out need. Emily usually gets up at 5 am (and often 1 am) to eat. We think that she's about 11 lbs so she usually only eats 2-3oz at a feeding. Regretfully, because she is an entirely a pump fed baby, these are usually separate events...so both my DH and I need some additional sleep.

Solid foods – We’ll probably wait until 6 months to introduce solid foods unless circumstances change. That being said, I was amused to note that I was introduced to solid food at 6 weeks. My mom gave me her baby notes, and my ped wrote that I should take 2 tsp of meat, 2 tsp of veg and 2 tsp of rice cereal at 6 weeks. The list included the specific meats and veg and it variety of foods increased with each appointment.

[MoniqueD]

Ladies, this is going to be a sad post. Garrett had a checkup today at the doctor and she has ordered an urgent head ultrasound due to a bugling fontanelle. She told me not to worry about anything and would not discuss things until she gets results but of course had to come home and google it. Looks like it could be Hydrocephalus, fluid on the brain. Is there anything else that can be thrown at me?? WTF? Have I not been through enough yet?? I am so flippen angry. I know it has not been diagnosed but it would explain him not reaching certain milestones and his sleepiness. To make matters worse, the day started off horrible as it was with DH telling me he may want a divorce!!! We have been having some troubles and we are not sure where to turn next. I was going to book a ticket to go to my hometown for a while with Garrett (across the country) but now I will stay until we find out if Garrett is okay. Oh God please let him be alright. I have to talk to you guys because I don't want to alarm anyone in my family, or my friends and I really don't need them asking all sorts of questions. Just when I thought we were in the clear...every friggen time I think everything is good something happens. I love my little angel more than anyone could imagine (I know you girls know how I feel) and want everything to be smooth sailing for him...I know, every mother wants that for their children. Oh God....I wish I had not googled what could cause a bulging fontanelle.....

His head is in the 75th percentile (another symptom), his weight is average at 50% (15lbs) and of course he is still at the bottom of the scale for height, poor little man is only 23 inches long at 4 months. It took his daddy a long time to find someone (due to his height for sure)...maybe Garrett will be a momma's boy forever???....

Thanks for listening.

[KELLIF4]

Monique, Im so sorry to hear about your little guy. Try not to get to upset yet - So, even if he does have hydrocephalus, its treatable. It may be just another bump in the road.

Having the twins has definitly been hard on DH and I also - Granted, we havent talked about divorce. It's so stressful and its the biggest life changing event that's ever happened to either one of us. Have you thought about marriage counceling ? It's crossed my mind a time or two.