Feb/Mar Chatty thread

[2moms2be]

jenette- which avent bottles did you use? I got a butt load for baby shower and they all leak all over the place. Made me crazy. I just tried the playtex drop ins and the vent air. Neither of those leaked and the girls seem to like the nipple, but it could have been the taste of the milk they were apposing now that i know my milk breaks down quicker then it should.

Its so wrong that your country is even farther behind the US...I always assumed we were the worst for gay rights

[Care75]

Thanks for the advice. Next weekend we'll try some of the yellow nipples because the ones we have from the hospital are yellow- I think they're made of latex vs. silicone? so that could be the problem. The yellow ones are softer so maybe that's what they are responding to. I did see the yellow ones at the store so we'll try them. The pediatrician said we could move up to level 2, but they are only 2 1/2 weeks old. I'm still the worried new mommy KWIM?

I'm willing to try other bottles but DP really wants to stay with the BPA free. She's not willing to pay for the Born Free bottles which have the wider nipples, so the only other ones we've found are the Evenflo which have the smaller nipples.

Jeanette- It's hard to believe how backwards both of our countries can be. I'm crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly with our adoption because a judge could easily block it...

[2moms2be]

I understand Care. I was lucky(?) enough to have a brother born when I was nine to my step mother so I ended up being the live in Nanny so I am a pretty laid back mom because of the that. Ok, so tell me what is BPA free?

[Care75]

BPA (Biosphenol A) is a chemical that's used in the manufacturing of many plastics including most baby bottles. They say that with repeated washings it could leach from the plastic and cause problems possibly such as cancers, diabetes, hyperactivity, and other things. Apparently, people are started to get more worried about it.

I'm not overly worried about it because so many kids use bottles with no problems. However, Susan is really on this bandwagon now so... Of course, I should be the one worried about it- I'm usually the one to drink the organic milk, etc. We did find some Evenflo's that are really inexpensive that are BPA free.

I wish I was more laid back right now. I know I'll get better, but I'm so worried about everything now. I guess especially because they're still so little!!

[2moms2be]

Oh ok, I know what your talking about. Is it the washing or the hot water that makes it leach? I know you should NEVER microwave any plastics due to this, didn't know that washing could make it happpen too.

They may be small, but it is SHOCKING at how tough those little guys really are! Nature is a amazing thing! Try not to worry too much and sit back and enjoy them some.

[Care75]

Apparently, hot water and excessive washing COULD do this (cause the chemicals to break down). However, I think it would have to be for a really long time- KWIM? I think a few months of using bottles wouldn't make this happen. Maybe if they were used for years in like a setting a huge hospital or orphanage- maybe... I think it's more of one of those things that they make a really big deal of lately in the media- KWIM? But, if DP wants to obsess about this- that's fine too! Just find me some nipples that will work!!!

[LauraH]

I'm glad to hear you aren't too worried about the plastic bottle issue. We have a cabinet full of Avent & Playtex bottles but our pedi just told us she recommends glass. It would be a waste to switch and like Jen said, so many kids have used them and are fine. I guess we all pick our battles. I am a really laid back mom, so far. Bottles, germs, paci or no paci...whatever works. EXCEPT when DP's family tells us to let Caleb "cry it out". They are always making fun of us for picking him up when he cries or taking him out of the bassinet. We worked way too hard for this kid - I'm going to coddle & comfort him every chance I get!



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[AussieJenn]

Patty, we ended up using just about all of the Avent bottles and teats....right up to his final sippy/straw cup! It was the airflex bottles and teats which were recomended to us for Mason's reflux, that got us hooked. We washed them all in warm soapy water and used a bottle brush, then steamed in the Avent microwave sterilizer. We were extremely happy with all the Avent products - and certainly had no leaking. I wonder if products the same in both our countries? Sometimes they aren't (we usually get far less choice than the States). Here is a link to the Avent Aussie site if you want to see what we used when Mason was a newborn....and upwards
Philips Avent: Bottle Feeding: Feeding Bottles & Teats

[AussieJenn]

Laura - I totally relate on the picking up when crying. I don't think I could have stood listening to Mason cry for more than a minute without attending to him. Specially in the first months of his life.

[Care75]

Laura- They always say that you can't spoil a baby by holding them too much, so I'm sure it's fine. We're always quick to pick them up at the first cry too- mostly because we don't want to wake the other one up! But I'm slowly learning that they don't always wake each other up which surprises me!

[A Squared]

Hi everyone. I know it has been a while since I've written. I've been following the posts but don't have much time to write. I'm glad everyone is doing well. Both of the babies started smiling last week and are making their first coos. Today Áine is smiling away. She also seems to be cooing every time I turn my back. Lachlan is definitely a high needs baby so it keeps me away from the computer a lot. He gets so easily upset and can be hard to calm down. Swaddling definitely helps but he has some rough days, which means my days are rough, too. I go back to work in 3 short weeks. I can't believe it's coming so soon. It figures that now that I am finally getting the hang of them I have to go back. I'm worried about the level of sleep deprivation I will have when I go back. For now, we can sleep late and make up for a very interrupted night's sleep.

Jen, How has it been since you went back to work?

[WannaBMom74]

care- I know how you feel about the nipple/bottle situation we tried so many types(Advent, Evenflo, Soothie, Gerber, Playtex Etc. we ended up with the vent aire bottles but those nipples were awful way to slow so we use those bottles with the Dr Browns nipples.

A- Good luck with returning to work leave did seem to go by so fast on one hand it is good to get away and on the other I do miss being with her. I do get to sleep because DP takes the night shift during the week so I can get sleep for work and I take the night shift on the weekend I still find even though I am not the one up with her that my sleep is still interrupted and I have to be at work by 6am. I am still very tired after a day of work but my job is pretty physical I am on my feet all day standing or walking and also lifting boxes but I am sure it will get better as she starts to sleep better at night right now she has good nights and bad.

Well it's official Amy is Kaitlyn's mom we went to our court date today. since Illinois recognizes co-parent adoptions it went very smoothly. first Amy needed to be fingerprinted. after that we had to go have Kaitlyn officialy served which just meet that someone from the sheriffs dept came over to the baby with the paperwork and said you are served and gave Kaitlyn a little plastic junior deputy star for a keep sake. then we went before the judge which only took about 5 mins and was more like a little conversation. she asked how we were doing and if we were getting any sleep and set a date of june 4th which means that right now Amy has been awarded temporary custody and it will be made official June 4th basically it just takes time to do all the paperwork and run a back ground check so unless Amy has done something I don't know about everything is set.

[2moms2b]

Congrats, Jen... that is awesome.

Ok... so here is the low down from my appointments yesterday. (Don't worry... this one is more positive than the last... I PROMISE!)

The perinatologist measured her... she is about 7 pounds and 4 ounces... a good size for being born AND for waiting for a few days past her date to see if she will come on her own. The NST was good, too.. it was so funny, she kept kicking the monitor REALLY hard.

Based on the fact that Olivia DID move down... we are now at a -2 instead of a -3... the OB has now decided that we will see what happens this weekend, then if she doesn't come we will have another appointment on Monday. Regardless, they have already scheduled me for an induction on March 14 (next Friday) if she doesn't come before then. Ob thinks it is worth waiting since she has moved down, and although not dilated really any more, my cervix is MUCH softer and starting to thin out a bit which means I am now "favorable." So... things are looking up and we WILL have a baby no later than the 14th! Yea!

Dawn

[LauraH]

Jen, Amy & Kaitlyn - Congrats on being a legal family!!! That is wonderful!

Alita - I can't wait until Caleb starts smiling! I get a little grin of recognigion about once a day but I can't wait for the big open mouth smile. It must melt your heart!

Dawn - glad to hear you are "favorable". That cracked me up! You have progressed more than Carolyn did on the day of her induction! Little Olivia might just come on her own any time


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[Care75]

Congrats, Jen, on the adoption! That's great news!

Dawn- Wow! You'll be a mommy soon!!

Laura- It's good to hear that you are getting smiles of recognition. Both of mine smile- but I don't think it's deliberate yet. Hopefully, it will be soon!!

A- I'm sorry that Lachlan is high needs. I know that it makes it even more stressful. Will the twins go to daycare when you go back to work? 3 weeks seems so soon.

Well because of all the snow days we've had, I will get to be home with the twins until they are 10 weeks old which is really great because all of this time is paid. Then, Susan will spend the next month with them. I think we'll have about 4 days to cover at the end of the school year when one of us won't be here.

I'm nervous about next week. I only have one day with a helper scheduled so far. I know one of my helpers can't do it next week at all, and the other one I'm sure would prefer not to. My mom is pressuring me to have somebody here every day which is nice, but I also need to learn to do it by myself. Spring break is the week after next so Susan will be home then. Hopefully, we can get the babies out to do some things, but it's hard to be away from home when I have to pump so often.

[2moms2b]

Laura - YOU are funny! Interesting that I am further along than Carolyn was... poor thing... she must have been soooo frustrated! OY!

Care - I know it must be nerve wracking to know that your helper won't be there next week... but have faith... you can do it. It sounds like it will be fun to get out when DP is home for Spring Break!

So... all you seasoned mommies. How long did the pediatrician tell you it would be before you could take the baby out in public?

Dawn

[A Squared]

Dawn, My ped said to keep the babies mostly home for a couple months or until flu season ended. Part of this was b/c the twins were preterm though. We are still really careful and have only been out a few times--and even then we use purell like crazy.

[2moms2be]

A- 3 short wks!

Dawn- we werent told to keep them out of public place. Julie actually caught the flu when they were tiny and she kept away from them as much as possible for a few days (It killed her not to be able to cuddle them) then she caught a really bad cold that I also caught but the girls just had a little bit of congestion for a few days.

Care- You will be fine without your helper. Just follow you instincts.

Jen- to the adoption!!!

We have our date set for the adoption on April 4th their grandma and tanta debbie will be making the journey with us to san antonio tx to enjoy the occasion. We are all very excited!