Not So Yummy Mummy Loves…
New Look Bump Bands
Definitely my best pregnancy purchase, my New Look Bump Bands were fully utilised as my tummy grew and I continued to wear them for months following the arrival of little Miss T.
The bands were perfect for layering under tops and over jeans for extra coverage and during my pregnancy. I also found they kept my tummy warm and cosy while breastfeeding.
Made of a cotton, viscose and lyrca mix, I purchased two packs of three online (each pack consists of a grey, white and black band).
Despite their bargain price New Look’s Bump Bands have proven to be great quality. After many, many washes they still look like new and remain super soft.
£10.00 (pack of three)
Coping with reflux
One night, out of nowhere, when T was 5 weeks old she suffered from a severe bout of vomiting that started during the night.
After a phone call to the midwife the next day and a visit to the GP I made a frantic dash to the hospital, in my pyjamas, to get her checked out. The paediatrician suspected she might be suffering from gastro-oesphogeal reflux.
Reflux is a condition whereby the stomach contents come back up into the gullet or into the mouth and it’s increasingly common among babies. The doctors advised putting T on continuous medication, ranitidine and domperidone, if the symptoms continued.
Fortunately, it turned out T just had a spell of severe nausea that passed after a few days and it wasn’t reflux after all.
Other little ones are not as fortunate. My friend Laura shares her story of coping with a baby with reflux:
How old was your son when you discovered he had reflux?
My son, J, was 8 weeks old when his was formally diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux, although my husband and I suspected this was what he had from about 4 weeks old.
What were the symptoms?
Inconsolable crying, especially after a feed or if J was laid down flat on his back. Sometimes he would also arch his back and throw his head back.
Frequent vomiting was the other main symptom, and not just after a feed, but right through until the next feed. As a result, J’s sleep was very disturbed. If we did get him to sleep he would usually wake up crying after 20 minutes.
How was your son diagnosed?
We took J to the GP who said it was colic. Another GP said she suspected reflux. It was not until we went (privately) to a see a consultant in paediatric gastroenterology who described J’s symptoms as “classic reflux” that we knew for certain.
What treatment options were you offered?
The GP prescribed infant gaviscon but because I was breastfeeding it was a nightmare to administer. We had to try and spoon feed it after each feed. It also made J constipated.
We saw no improvement so we gave up after a few days. The consultant prescribed J ranitidine (which inhibits stomach acid production) and domperidone (used to suppress vomiting), which were given orally three times a day using a syringe.
How did you cope with caring for your son while he had reflux?
It was heartbreaking when J cried and I couldn’t do anything to comfort him. I would end up in tears as well.
Sometimes, the only way to get him to sleep was cradled in my arms, so I would sit on the bed or the sofa during the days for hours at a time, not being able to get up to get a drink or go to the loo!
At night he would sleep on my chest, with me propped up against a pillow. We propped up the head of his changing mat, moses basket and pram by placing a towel underneath so his head would be elevated when he was put down (to try and stop the milk from coming back up).
After feeding we would try and keep him upright for at least 20-30 minutes. This all helped, but it wasn’t until he was prescribed the medication when we saw a real improvement in his symptoms. The crying stopped, and although the vomiting continued, it was a vast improvement and much more manageable.
We weaned him off the medication at around 12 weeks, by which time the reflux had pretty much cleared up. I was quite down and emotional throughout the whole thing. I felt guilty for bringing J into the world when he appeared to be suffering. I was anxious about going out, in case I couldn’t control his crying. Most of all I felt helpless, as I couldn’t comfort my baby.
Is there any advice you’d give to parents who are concerned their baby may have reflux too?
Talk to your GP and health visitor, and don’t be fobbed off if they tell you it is colic. The main point is to remember that you know your child better than a GP who sees them for 10 minutes, so you need to trust your instincts – if you think they may be wrong get another opinion.
Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help. Having another adult at home with you during the day, even for a few hours, is a big comfort. And remember that things will get better. J is now an extremely lively, happy and spirited little baby who sleeps really well, rarely cries and never vomits.
Were there any resources or sources of support that were especially useful to you?
I found lots of helpful information on the internet, such as www.babyreflux.co.uk. I got a lot of comfort from reading about other parents’ experiences of babies with reflux. My family, particularly my husband and mum, were very supportive and without them I don’t know how I would have coped.
Based on Laura’s recommendation I reached out to Jonathan Phillips, founder of babyREFLUX, to find out more about his website. You can read Jonathan’s interview here.
Not So Yummy Mummy Loves…
Tommee Tippee
I discovered the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Breast Pump pretty late, but it really is fantastic.
For months I struggled with an electric pump and boy, do I wish I could turn back time. If I’d known what I know now I would have used a manual pump from the get-go.
The Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature pump is lightweight, effective and crucially, as it consists of just 3 parts, it’s easy to assemble and sterilise. It accompanied me to Paris and I find it faster, simpler and quieter to use than my electric one.
Tommee Tippee makes pretty much anything you need for feeding your baby. I also use their bottles and feeding cups and T seems to like them a lot too.
£25
Not So Yummy Mummy Loves…
M2B Tshirt Nursing Bra
Anyone who’s had to buy a nursing bra knows what a soul-destroying experience it can be.
First of all, the retail options are severely limited. Then, when you do eventually find a stockist, the options are pretty awful.
I didn’t want to be stuck with something a grandma would pass over, so I was over the moon when I discovered the sleek and stylish M2B Tshirt Nursing Bra from Mothercare.
I bought every single one in my size and I haven’t looked back.
£16
The breakthrough
I have the biggest smile on my face.
My husband and I came back from Paris to find a happy, plump, well-fed baby. When I scooped T up for the first time I couldn’t believe how much she’d grown in such a short space of time. T is heavy now!
Thanks to her Nanna, T is now eating three proper meals a day and is drinking happily from a bottle.
My milk came back a little last week and I took my pump to Paris to try and keep it up. I only have enough to give T a small feed in the morning and a full feed at bedtime but I’m no longer concerned now that I know she’s getting the food she needs during the day.
I’m so thrilled, meal time is now fun and something we both look forward to. I can’t express how good that feels!
Photo credit: Maury McCowan
The feeding challenge
So, I spent an hour and a half at the GP surgery yesterday waiting to see a health visitor who finally turned up 65 minutes after my appointment.
I didn’t mind waiting though, as I was worried about T’s feeds and needed some advice.
It turns out my diminished milk supply may be a blessing in disguise. The health visitor weighed T and told me that she’s not gained as much weight as she should over the past two months because she needs to eat more solids.
I felt like a really bad mother when I heard that. T’s been a fussy eater but I realise now I haven’t pushed her to eat as much as I should have.
The health visitor said my milk will probably come back, and I do have a bit more than I did yesterday already, but the main focus has to be getting T on to 3 meals a day.
As soon as we got home I cut 5 slices from a banana, mashed them up and gave some to T. She ate it, slowly, but she ate it all without blowing a single raspberry. I sliced more and she ate that too. I kept slicing until the whole banana was gone. That was the first time she’d done that.
It made me realise that T could eat way more than I assumed. Because she never cries for more baby food I figured she was satisfied. I now suspect she’s just gotten used to being hungry pretty much all the time.
I feel absolutely awful about it. My husband says there’s no point looking back, now we know what we know we just need to look forward and make sure T eats lots and lots!
The health visitor recommended I bring her back in two weeks to get weighed again. I’m hoping by then she’ll be making good progress.
Photo credit: jmbmommy
Drought
I had the misfortune of being knocked sideways by a bout of suspected food poisoning on Thursday night.
It was awful. I’m now feeling much better but sadly my milk supply has disappeared completely.
I’m trying not to panic as I figure as soon as my body has fully recovered it will come back. I’m just hoping it comes back soon.
I feel awful for T. She was distressed when I was ill as she could tell something was wrong. Since then she’s been very patient but I can tell she’s bewildered. She keeps looking at me during my failed attempts to feed her as if to say “what happened??”
T keeps holding out for the milk she’s missing so she’s refusing to take any substitute. She is eating baby food though and drinking a little water, but no more than she usually would. This worries me a bit as she should be eating and drinking more to compensate for the missing milk.
If there’s no improvement tomorrow I think I may call the health visitor.
Photo credit: Kari Burks
Bringing Home the Breastmilk
Shortly after I opened my Not So Yummy Mummy Twitter account I started tweeting with an enterprising lady from Michigan called Heather.
Heather had the genius idea of starting a site that provides advice for mothers who are returning to work but want to continue breastfeeding. The result is Bringing Home the Breastmilk.
After recently attending a business presentation with my breast-pump tucked neatly into my briefcase, I began to question how I would incorporate breastfeeding into a 9-5 work schedule. I don’t know where I’d start and I’m sure there are other first-time mothers who are about to head back to work while trying to figure it out too.
Heather kindly took some time out to share some insights and tell me more about her plans for her site.
Tell me a bit about you, are you a mother who breastfeeds?
I have a little boy who is still breastfeeding and I feel blessed that I’ve never had to supplement with formula. Though I’m not anti-formula I do want to help other moms reach their personal breastfeeding goals, as well as educate new moms and pregnant women as to the benefits of breastfeeding for them and their babies.
I am an active member in my local La Leche League group, the current secretary for the Michigan Breastfeeding Network, and a founding member of our at-work support group for nursing moms, Express Yourself. I’m very passionate about breastfeeding and lactation advocacy as I feel that breastfeeding has made me a better mom in much broader areas than just nutrition.
What was the inspiration for starting Bringing Home the Breastmilk?
I started the site because I wanted to create a resource for moms who wanted to keep breastfeeding but had to go to work or school and were in situations where pumping was difficult or impossible.
There is definitely a lot of information out there for pumping moms. I’m not trying to discredit the information available or say it’s not good enough. However, most of the information I’ve found is for moms in my situation, or in a situation similar to mine.
I work in an office and though I’ve had employers who weren’t the most supportive or who made me do extra work to make up for the time I was pumping, I’d never had my job in jeopardy or been forced to make any tough decisions. I want to create a site that has solutions for moms in lots of different situations, especially moms who work at restaurants, in factories and lower income jobs where pumping can be nearly impossible. I want to challenge the idea that breastfeeding is an all or nothing choice.
When did the site launch and is it only for nursing mothers in the United States?
I just started the site in March. It’s still a little rough in places as I’m working to gather information from several nursing mothers.
I’d like Bringing Home the Breastmilk to be a resource to mothers worldwide. We all have different situations, but I think we can really learn from each other, despite our differences.
Do you feel there are stigmas about working and breastfeeding?
I feel there are stigmas about breastfeeding as it relates to anything and everything. One of the hardest things about being a mom is that people judge you constantly for the decisions you make. That can be overwhelming because every mom’s situation is different and we can’t truly understand someone else’s choices without being in their situation.
The science says that breastfeeding is best, but we don’t always get that message clearly from health care providers, or especially in the US, from society. Until things change enough to make breastfeeding, and more generally, breastfeeding important enough in society to protect and support it, I feel we need to band together, share our knowledge and support each other. The site is my attempt to do that.
Heather is currently looking for stories and solutions for mothers in less-than-ideal situations – the more diverse, different situations, the better. Bringing Home the Breastmilk will categorize each post by job type, so that you can search for the solutions based on occupation.
If you have a story you’d like to share, please email Heather directly at heather@bringinghomethebreastmilk.com.
Not So Yummy Mummy Loves…
Mamascarf
I started looking online for breastfeeding scarves while I was still pregnant and decided to try the Mamascarf after checking out reviews.
When it arrived by post a few days later I was slightly surprised to find it was such a simple, black, triangular piece of cloth. Could it work? Time would tell…
My Mamascarf has proved to be indispensible. Its lightweight so easy to fold and carry in any sized bag and it also means that T doesn’t overheat when I use it.
The Mamascarf is 100% cotton and I love that fact it’s so discreet compared to the large, bulky alternate breastfeeding cover ups I’ve seen other mums use. In contrast, my Mamascarf blends in easily with my clothing. I’d be lost without it.
Mamascarf has kindly shared a 10% discount code available for all Not So Yummy Mummy readers. To redeem the offer type KEIRA01 in discount code box at www.mamascarf.co.uk. The offer is valid until end of May 2010.
£17.99
Babysitters, raspberries and bottle battles
I am thrilled to report that T’s first official babysitter was LOVELY. T took to her straight away and I was so relieved. I have told the agency I’ll happily book her again and again.
Of course, as soon as you fix one baby obstacle there’s always some other new headache that pops up for you to try and figure out how to solve. This can be especially hard when you have zero prior parental experience.
T is refusing outright to feed from a bottle. In truth, this has been brewing for a while but I figured it would correct itself. I was wrong. It’s getting worse, not better. It doesn’t matter whether the bottle is expressed milk or formula, she just won’t take it.
I breastfeed T exclusively and plan to continue to do so until she’s fully weaned. I thought this was fine but it turns out breastfeeding has a flip side that I hadn’t planned for adequately.
As I never give her a bottle when I’m with her, T only has a bottle when I’m not around, which isn’t that often. On Saturday her daddy looked after her for the day and T refused to drink milk from the bottle from 9am until 6.30pm that night. By that point she had capitulated with the realisation that was all there was on offer. Then, I walked in the door. T stopped feeding immediately as she knew I had what she really wanted.
It was the same story with the babysitter. She wouldn’t even try the milk. She ate her solid food but skipped her milk feed before bed.
On top of the battle with the bottle, T is becoming fussy about eating her solid food. Some days she’s fine but I’ve noticed more and more often she’s refusing to co-operate. She doesn’t cry, she just keeps her mouth shut tight and I have to pull out every trick I can think of to get her to smile so I can quickly shove the spoon in.
I thought that was hard enough, but then yesterday she decided to add something new to the mix. T has a tendency to blow raspberries from time to time but now she’s decided she will only blow raspberries when her mouth is full of food. Yesterday this happened with every single mouthful of her lunch and dinner. She didn’t swallow a thing and I ended up covered in broccoli and pear. It was everywhere. In the end I gave up.
I’ve decided she can’t get the better of me on this and I’ll have to persevere. So I’m giving her a bottle every afternoon. Well, at least trying to. I hated the idea of giving her formula but it’s much easier to chuck that away when she’s refused a feed compared to expressed milk which is a precious commodity to me as it’s such hassle to obtain in the first place.
So far T’s taken about 3 sucks of her bottle before pushing it away, screaming. On the flip side, she finds the raspberry food explosions absolutely hilarious. I tell her “No!” firmly over and over. Her laughs subside but she looks at me curiously as if to say, “what does this no thing mean? I don’t get it. Mummy hasn’t said this before…” She then does the raspberry blowing mouthfuls again, and again and again.
This evening there was minor progress in that she managed to eat about half of her dinner in between lots of No! and a sprinkling of muted raspberries. We’ll see what happens moving forward.
If anyone has any tips on how to get a 7 month old to understand “no” and to accept a bottle without a fight I’d love to hear them.
Photo credit: Maury McCowan
