New Mommy... Intro and some questions.. added pics

Hi everyone, I am so happy to finally get on the computer and join the mommy's. I am a new mom with a 9 week old son, Michael. I was on the pregnancy board but was really sick after i had the baby and overwhelemed.
I am nursing so it takes up a lot of my time and working a little from home. I love my son and every single moment with him even when he is screaming.

Michael has colic and reflux and is taking prevacid, which seems to be helping and as time passes the colic is getting better.

Even with his issues he is so cute so I wanted to add some proud pics!!

Is anyone else having trouble getting their baby to sleep more then a 4-5 hour stretch at night and for those who arent does anyone have suggestions? I was told with nursing they dont sleep as long. I am going back to work in 3 weeks and I am so scared I will never sleep.

Is anyone thats nursing thinking about or is already supplementing one or two bottles of formula a day? Mr dr is saying i should add a Nutrmagin formula bottle or 2 a day to help with the Colic and reflux.

What is the earliest that you have heard a baby started teething? Mr dr says my son might teeth early bc he drools a ton and sucks on his hand and when he suggested we try the teething toys he loves them.

What good questions did you ask of prospective nanny's and babysitters before you went back to work?

Any suggestions on where to get interesting and unique mommy necklaces? My Huby wants to get me one for Valntines Day

Sorry so many questions but its my first time on since I was pregnant and I have so much to ask.

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Message edited 1/6/2010 5:22:27 PM.

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions..

Congratulations & welcome! I hope you're feeling better after being sick. We all know how overwhelming taking care of a newborn is; the best advice I have on that is to just follow his lead & let other things slide if you have to.

Is anyone else having trouble getting their baby to sleep more then a 4-5 hour stretch at night and for those who arent does anyone have suggestions? At 8 weeks, DD slept through the night (and stopped at 13 weeks), but we were told she was an exception. I would have still been happy with 4-5 hour stretches. What we would do though, is give her one last bottle around 10:30 or 11 while she was still asleep and that would get her through the night.

I don't nurse, so I can't answer your next question.

What is the earliest that you have heard a baby started teething? Mr dr says my son might teeth early bc he drools a ton and sucks on his hand and when he suggested we try the teething toys he loves them. I've heard of babies having teeth at 3 or 4 months. Everyone swore my DD was teething over Christmas because she is constantly drooling & putting things in her mouth. We went to the dr. & she said we had a ways to go before teething started. Babies drool & put things in their mouth. But it IS possible that yours could be - it's been known to happen.

I don't have answers to your other questions, but I'm sure plenty of other mommies will.

Again, welcome!

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions..

Congratulations!!

Is anyone else having trouble getting their baby to sleep more then a 4-5 hour stretch at night and for those who arent does anyone have suggestions?
I BF my 4 m/o son exclusively & at this point still consider a 4-5 hour stretch a night a good one! He's only gone 6 hours maybe 3 or 4 times so far & it's usually a long stretch between when it happens. I believe that 6 hours is considered sleeping through the night (even if it's from 10pm-4am), so if you're getting a 5 hour run at 9w I think that's probably pretty good and 6+ hours is in sight!

Is anyone thats nursing thinking about or is already supplementing one or two bottles of formula a day?
I don't supplement at all. It's hard & sometimes I still feel like my life revolves around nursing & pumping, but it's gotten easier...I won't supplement unless I have to for some reason (future supply issues, etc)

What is the earliest that you have heard a baby started teething?
My son just started to teethe the past 2 weeks...he drooled & sucked on his fingers before, but he is a faucet now & somehow manages to get his whole hand in his mouth! I've heard of some kids starting at 3 months...but they often don't cut their 1st tooth for months after that.

Any suggestions on where to get interesting and unique mommy necklaces?
My dh got mine (which I LOVE) from Things Remembered. I just checked their site & don't see it on there anymore, but they still have a ton of mommy necklaces.

Hope that helps! Lots of luck to you

Message edited 1/5/2010 7:37:57 AM.

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions..

Is anyone else having trouble getting their baby to sleep more then a 4-5 hour stretch at night and for those who arent does anyone have suggestions?
4-5 hours is actually a pretty good stretch. It should increase a little bit. DD is 11 months and sleeps for 12 1/2 hours a night, but she still wakes up once. You'll get used to the night wakings and it should gradually get better.


Is anyone thats nursing thinking about or is already supplementing one or two bottles of formula a day?
We didn't supplement with formula, but DD didn't have colic or reflux. If Ped thinks it will help, I say go for it! I have a lot of family and friends that have supplemented and it always went well.

What is the earliest that you have heard a baby started teething? Our ped said the same thing at DD's 3 month appt when she was sucking on her hands. She just got her first tooth a few weeks ago (she is now 11 months). The earliest I have heard is 3 months, the avg being 6 months I think

What good questions did you ask of prospective nanny's and babysitters before you went back to work?
we visited several day care centers. I worked at one when I was in college, so I am pretty familiar. I remember there being some great lists of questions on here... sorry, im not the helpful here.. i can't remember!

Any suggestions on where to get interesting and unique mommy necklaces?

Etsy has really unique ones. My dad got me a letter charm from Helen Fikalora

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions..

Thank you this all really helps.

We are seeing the Dr tomorrow morning so I am going to see if he really thinks a bottle or 2 of formula a day will really help because I feel really good about the BF although some days it would be nice to just get away a couple of hours without worrying.

Its good to know that a 5 hour stretch is ok because I have 4 good friends who have had babies recently and they are all getting anywhere from 6 to 10 hours straight (the one getting 6 gets him back down after an hour for another 3-4) and I was wondering what i was doing wrong. (the ones with the longest are not BF though and I am told that has a big effect)

I dont think he is teething because it seems so early I guess he just loves chewing things and drooling.. LOL

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions.. added pics

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions.. added pics

That' sounds like a pretty good stretch at 9 weeks. DS was waking several times per night until 6 months when he dropped down to waking once per night. At 7 months, he began STTN. I didn't supplement and dealt with the lack of sleep. I eventually got used to it. If you do supplement, it will probably affect your supply unless you pump at those times.

DS had reflux and no one ever suggested to supplement. I'm not really sure how supplementing would help. I'd think BM is easier on the stomach than formula.

The drooling and putting things in their mouth are completely normal parts of a baby's development and not necessarily related to teething. DS did those things at that age and has had swollen gums since he was 4 months old. He's almost 13 months and still doesn't have any teeth.

Re: New Mommy... Intro and some questions.. added pics