Feeding your baby

So if you haven’t noticed yet it is Feeding month here at Beyond the Baby. All month Jen will be posting stories and articles and products all related to feeding. There an interesting article posted on the Beyond the Baby  Facebook page this week that you can see HERE regarding the super model Gisele who claims that there should be a law that all women should breastfeed for 6 months. And well did it stir up some controversy !! I cannot believe after all the thousands of years of mothers feeding babies that there is still so much discussion and ridicule and judgement around the topic.

To me is seems as simple as that we all want the best for our children and if that is breastfeeding, combo formula and breastfeeding, expressing or full formula feeding then your are best to embrace what you have and love your babies in every other way possible also. As much as the romantics claim for it to be the most natural thing in the world there are not too many mums I know who  haven’t experienced the myriad of trials that come with that all natural and wonderful experience.

I fed Flynn for just coming up 12 months and had it all, low supply, cracked nipples, tongue tie, mastitis, too much milk, breast refusal and biting, it was not always easy. Depending on the level of support you have around you these trials are not always able to be overcome.  For me it was only through the support of a good GP and pharmacist, wonderful Paediatrician (for the tongue tie), lactation consultant  and many wonderful friends, family and other mums that I was able to get there.

But not everyone has that support and breastfeeding does not work for everyone. Simple as that. There need be no judgement or controversy surrounding that as we are all doing the very best we can to grow beautiful  and healthy babies. In my opinion formula is there for a reason and there should be no judgement surrounding the use of that.

And feeding your second baby? Well I have found that to be a totally different ball game to my first. For starters you are a lot busier and you have a lot less time to be able to just sit down and get the feed or attachment just right. For me the full 5 days in hospital really helped with that as I could really concentrate and devote the time to getting it right before we left. I would encourage anyone having a second baby to spend as much time in there as you can.

I have also found that having an activity out for feed time helps, a puzzle, train set some colouring etc. I also often feed Oliver up at the kitchen table whilst Flynn is eating. I have also heard of people having a special box of toys that just comes out at feeding time- we didn’t seem to need this as Flynn is a little older and at 3 he can play on his own really well.

Afternoon feeds can look something like this in our home with Flynn having quiet time, watching a movie whilst I feed sweet Oliver- best way to keep them both together !!

What works for me is this (and both of my babies have been the same)-

I breastfeed for the first 6-8 weeks exclusively. Then they seem to start to get SO hungry and no matter what I do to increase my supply they will not be satisfied so this is when we start a top up feed of formula- normally the last feed of the night. Oliver started about a week ago and is currently having an extra feed every 2nd or 3rd night.

The routine I use for both of mine at night is below-

5pm dinner is served for Flynn

5.10pm (ish) once Flynn is settled I sit down at the table too and feed Oliver.

5.25pm Oliver finishes

5.30pm Flynn finished and is cleaned up.

5.35pm straight into the bath or shower for Flynn which is done by Daddy.

5.35pm I clean up the table from Flynns  dinner

5.40pm I bath Oliver in the laundry

5:45pm Flynn is out of the shower and having teeth brushed and pyjamas on.

5:50pm Stories are read for Flynn

5:55pm Oliver is fed a bottle and even though I have only fed him an hour before he scoffs the whole 120ml. Some nights he doesn’t seem hungry and so he just gets wrapped and put in bed for the night. Either way he sleeps through until about 6am.

P.S After posting this last night Oliver decided to show me just who is really boss and had a part in his crib until 9pm LOL oh well – we try.

Obviously every family is different and this schedule above changes as frequently as we need it too. In summer we all go to bed later and some nights we eat all together etc but for the most part in winter this is what we do.  I hope this help some of you that are struggling with newborns.

I have found a solid routine later at night of a bath/baby massage and 2 feeds has been the catalyst for mine both sleeping through.