* Pictures are from last weekend when my parents came to visit Jackson for the day---they really love him and he was very excited to see them
I have recently given some advice to some new moms so I thought I would share:
1. Bottles The top three bottles I have found to be are:
a) Platex drop in bottles that I use or anything by Platex that is a slow flow nipple
b) Nuby bottles
c) Dr. Brown bottles if you can figure them out
The key is for your baby not to drink to fast, and I have found that advent bottles are too fast and babies drink it too fast and get sick…but yet again every baby is different
Thought on Breastfeeding
*Breast-feeding was the hardest thing I have ever had to do! It is different for everyone and for some it comes very easy… You are NOT A BAD MOM IF BREAST-FEEDING IS NOT WORKING! Please do not let your babies have to go to the hospital because you will not supplement. They have come a long way with formula
When you breast feed at first, I used a timer and did 15 minutes per side. The breast milk usually does not come in for 3-5 days (mine day 7) and you need to eat really well and 500 more calories a day. You probably do not want to eat any salads. The milk will come in based on how long you breast feed for so if you only breast feed for 5 minutes at a time do not expect to have a lot of milk.
* Every different doctor I went to seemed to say something different. Some said I should breast feed every 2 hours others said to wait. Since you do not know how many ozs you are getting I am not sure what new moms should do. I would try to still wait for 2 ½ hours from the beginning of the first feeding.
* Using a breast pump is good but you need to sterilize the pump every time you use it. I used Medla microwave bags for this. You will only be able to get half of the milk that you really have in your breasts
* It was the hardest when I was both breast feeding and supplementing. If you do this you need to breast feed for like 15 minutes each side and then right after feed you baby anywhere from 2-4 ozs of milk at first. I only did this for like 3 weeks and when you finally pick either breast feeding or bottle feeding it becomes so much easier! Babies need a minimum of 24 oz of formula in 24 hours and a max of 32. Every since
* Be aware that if you strictly breast feed though, you baby might not ever take a bottle
* Be aware that jaundice is caused by breastfeeding so if you baby has a high level of jaundice you probably want to supplement formula.
* Go to a breastfeeding class if at all possible
* I will not even attempt to breastfeed my future blessed children (for many personal reasons) But I would recommend all new moms to at least attempt it.
* At the end of every day I put all 5 bottles in the dishwasher and wash them every night
* I wash the pacifiers in that contraption you can get at Walmart for $2. Pacifiers are not evil!
* I am also washing my top of the high chair in the dishwasher once a week.
2. What type of formula do I use?
- I have always used Similac Lactose free but now they have changed the name to Similac Senstive (it is the only similac that is has an orange label). This works really well with gassy babies and for new babies with sensitive stomachs
- If you use the powder kind you need to make it very exact and just make it a bottle at a time. Either boil your water to make the formula or use nursery water (in pink container) found at Walmart
- Jackson has gotten use to the ready feed and he was waken up in the middle of the night when we were using powder so we have had to go back to the $6 a day ready made
- Make sure your baby gets at least 27 ozs in during the day even if you have to feed him for like 15 minutes and then wait a little bit and then go back to feeding him---if you want him to sleep through the night. After you have heated the formula up (I put very hot water in a plastic cup) You can use the formula for 1 hour, then you need to throw it away! If you try and put it back in the refrig and then give it to them later---IT WILL MAKE THEM SICK
3. What type of diapers did I use?
- I used the Swaddler Diaper at first and all the way to size 2. I like Pampers Diapers the most and Huggies are good too. Luvs only worked for him when he was at the end weight of the certain size
- I use Pamper Senstive Wipes because
4. Schedule of a new born (
7am Diaper Change, Eat
8:30-10 Nap
10 Diaper Change Eat
2:30-4ish Nap
8:30-10ish Nap
10 Diaper Change Eat
Hope this helps!
