Jen- Sounds like your little man is growing like a weed already

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Jen--Sounds like he is doing great! Isnt it amazing how fast they grow? Ely was 9.9 at birth, and is already 10.5 lbs and has grown a half an inch! Geez; can you imagine how big people would be if they grew at that rate forever!

Well, our first outing went great, he slept through the entire thing and I was SO excited to drink my first beer in 10 months!!! Yay! I also ate super spicy indian food, and neither seem to have bothered him in my milk. My doctor told me that as long as I don't have more than two drinks I do not have to "pump and dump", so I figured it wouldnt hurt to have one, but I have to admit, I still felt wierd about it. I dont think I will drink very often while bf.

I was wondering what you all think about pacifiers? We had decided not to use one; we figure he will find his thumb if he wants it bad enough, and that way it is always with him which eliminates the crying when the paci falls out, the paci on the floor, and of course, having to eventually take it away. However, he has such a bad belly ache with this reflux (talked to doctor today, we start prevacid tomorrow), and I think he is nursing extra to soothe himself, but then he overeats and gets a worse belly ache. We are considering giving him a paci to deal with this issue, but I just can't decide if it is worth it. I am just curious how you are all dealing with the paci issue. It is such a hard decision. I have no problem with using one short term, but it just seems like once it is introduced it will be such an easy go-to. Also, he is three weeks tomorrow, so this wouldnt cause nipple confusion, would it? I think that is only in the very beginning, but am unsure. Anyways, everyone does it differently, and I was just curious what everyones thoughts on the paci are.

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Krissy

Almost forgot; Ely slept for 8 HOURS last night!!!! AWESOME!

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Krissy

Krissy- The SIDS guideline that I received said to try putting baby to sleep with a paci to reduce the risk. At first Dominic would suck on one okay but now he hates it! I am kind of relieved that we won't have the problem that my sister has with my nephew. He is going on three and is just now willing to give up his paci's. He says that Dominic is the baby now and he's a big boy and big boys don't use paci's. I didn't have the heart to tell him that Dominic won't use one either. And yay on the 8 hours of sleep. It feels wierd doesn't it?

I forgot: the first few weeks of b/f-ing I would always get SO sleepy! I don't know why but it seemed like it would knock us both out. Strange...

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Dh and I decided to use the paci at 2 day because graham will gnaw at my nipple and not even be hungry. He just wants something to suck. We thought about the nipple confusion thing too but we figure he iss't getting anything out of it so he it should be alright. So far he hasn't had a problem. He knows the difference in some way. We just figure we can't introduce a bottle too soon, and when we do we'll go for a different type nipple(we have soothie paci. As for dependence the paci goes when the boobie goes.

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We use a paci. Ava likes the sucking and isn't always hungry so it helps her to not overeat. I was worried about it at first too since I was b/f but she had no trouble or confusion. I also bottle fed some at 1 month and that is yet again a different nipple. The one downfall of the thumb is you can't take it away when they are 5 and still sucking it. I think whatever works for you but most kids that I've seen really don't use it as much as you would think...like during the day playing. We really only use it for nap/bed time. I forget about it during the day...I guess I would never give it to her just to hang out. The ones that do have it in their mouth all the time it seems to be more comforting for the parents...

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Dana

Anyone have any good ideas on how to keep the baby sleeping on their back or even their side?? Ava immediately rolls over onto her tummy before I get out of the room. Needless to say I don't sleep well knowing that she is on her tummy. I flip her several times a night just to have her flip back over! Not sure how to stop her??

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Dana

I have the book: "Your baby's first year week by week" and I skipped ahead the other day and it said that once baby starts to roll you should continue putting them to bed on their back but they will choose the most comfortable position to sleep in and it's usually on their tummy. I know I'd be a nervous wreck too! Do you have a sleep positioner with the bumpers? That's what we use right now. It keeps Dominic from turning sideways in the bassinet.

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Jo - I don't have anything in her crib right now. I thought about one of the positioners but I'm afraid to put anything in her crib. Are they reccommended for a 6 month old? Seriously, no one ever told me that parenting was going to cause me to be a nervous wreck constantly!!

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Dana

Dana- I think they are 0-6 months. This is the one I have: The First Years Air Flow Sleep Positioner by Learning Curve - Learning Curve - Babies "R" Us

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Dana--I would be scared, too. I read somewhere, though, that once they can turn themselves, it is not really an issue anymore, as long as you PUT them to sleep on their back. Still, I can see your anxiety; I am a nervous wreck about EVERYTHING. I am so excited that Elyas is here, but no one has even seen him because I am so paranoid about having him around people and germs!

Jo--Are you intorducing a bottle yet (or ever?) I am waiting until 5 or 6 weeks to introduce one, and then I am only going to do one or two a week (just so he gets used to taking them as a "just in case" situation) People seem to act like it is really wierd that we aren't pumping or supplementing bottles, but I don't see the point. It takes just as long to pump as to feed him, so why not just feed him?

Thanks for all the paci info. I think that I will offer it to him if he really seems like he needs it, but I am going to try not to let it become a go to item. I agree, sometimes it seems like it is much more for the parents' convenience than for the childs well being.

So, the hospital finally uploaded Ely's first pic's onto their site. You can see them at
More about the Baby
I ordered a few of the one where he is making a kissy face! I can't believe how much he has changed already. That outfit doesnt even fit him anymore! Here is a pic from this morning; he looks so cute in this outfit. http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/n...o/100_2241.jpg He is such a chunk, I am trying to get him into these clothes before they quit fitting!

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Krissy

Our 1 week appointment was this morning. He is up 5 ounces!!!! That puts him at 7pounds 4 ounces(he was down an ounce at 4 days). The doctor said to start feeding on demand since he is eating so well. I'm so happy with my fat lil monster!!! He doesn't need to go back until 1 month.

Krissy-I know what you mean about the germs. Our pediatrician said to wait at least two weeks before letting people hold him or going anywhere. My family is fine with it but DH's family is having a fit because I won't let them pass him around. DH's grandmother gets a visit on Thanksgiving because she doesn't live here so she won't get to see him until Christmas. I'm sure there will be hissy fits, but good lord. He won't even be 2 weeks old! It really sucks but you would think people would get that he has NO immunity.

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I posted a few pics of Graham in my labor thread!

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Krissy- Ely is so cute in all his pictures

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OMG!! I had the biggest scare last night~ Ava was crabby so we laid her down in our bed like we have done several times now...and we all fell asleep. I wasn't planning to go to sleep cuz I wanted to bring her to her crib but I did. Anyway, I woke up at 1:30 and didn't think Ava was breathing!!! I freaked out and lifted her up and she was just like dead weight...she didn't wake up like I expected her to when I moved her around. DH woke up and was panicing along with me! She was just so floppy but breathing...I thought for sure she had died and was going to be brain damaged for ever now that she was breathing again but not opening her eyes! We tried everything to wake her up finally she started to come around. We got a cold cloth and then she started crying! I was so scared I just about passed out myself! I vow to never sleep with her again! It was so terrifying! I couldn't imagine her actually dying!

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. I'm ready for our normal schedule to resume. Ava had her first ear infection last week too...oh what fun!

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Dana

Do you have a sling - that would help support him and cover you for BFing in public - I would recommend it, especially with a big baby and the stitches issue - I know where you are coming from with those, uhg, even though CJ was small, she was a squirmer!!!

Here are a coupld great sling companies I have ones from, that I love both of - you can also get some great simple ones at Target ( the ones with a padded egde wouldnt work for me, I preferred the ones that are just a simple tube of fabric):
Bundle of Love Baby Slings - Welcome to Bundle of Love
The Peanut Shell | Baby Slings, Nursing Covers, and Designer Hospital Gowns


HTH Jess

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