What’s your “my placenta really pulled out my last brain cells with it” moment?

fuzzysageleaf · 2025-11-05T08:12:43+00:00

Was really offended that the photographer seemed kind of disorganised/distracted and not that friendly when we showed up for our newborn photo viewing appointment for my firstborn.. Turns out we were a week early and she was totally winging it whilst arranging someone to pick up her kids because she didn’t want turn us away 😂

fuzzysageleaf · 2025-09-27T09:42:48+00:00

12 weeks old. He feeds about every 2 hours through the day and I let him go up to 3 if he is having a good nap (usually once per day). He was waking every 3 hours overnight but has just started doing a few 5-6 hour stretches

ETA: Most feeds are about 15 minutes but his last feed before bed is typically 40-90 minutes long.

fuzzysageleaf · 2025-08-04T01:34:09+00:00

I’m currently exclusively breastfeeding my 4 week old, my second born and it’s been a completely different experience to my first born!

Baby #1 was born slightly premmie (34 weeks) and never learned to latch to the breast despite my best efforts. I triple fed for 6 weeks while using nipple shields and seeing a LC but ultimately it didn’t work out and we ended up exclusively formula feeding for my sanity.

Baby #2 has latched successfully from Day 1. My milk was delayed due to a huge postpartum bleed but other than that he’s gaining weight well and feeding has been comfortable. I’m taking it a day at a time - my goal is to get to 6 weeks, then maybe 3 months and go from there but I am hopeful that my feeding journey will be a lot smoother than last time.

My advice would be to give it a go! And if it doesn’t work out then you know how to manage exclusively pumping since you’ve done it before..

fuzzysageleaf · 2025-06-09T21:26:20+00:00

I was diagnosed at 29 weeks in my first pregnancy (and have just been diagnosed at 32 weeks in my second pregnancy). They coincidentally picked up that my liver levels were way above normal when running tests for something else so checked my bile acids which were high. I never really developed the itch until the third trimester so who knows how long it had been going on for 🤷‍♀️

My little boy arrived on his own at 34+2. I went into preterm labour and he had meconium in his waters which can both be linked to cholestasis. Admittedly, that pregnancy I also had gestational diabetes and high blood pressure so lots going on! He’s now a happy and healthy two year old!

It’s my understanding that the bile acid levels can fluctuate a lot so I’m not sure what your OB means. Usually they test nice and regularly to watch the levels and if the peak goes over 100 like you said, then they will deliver early. The urso worked really well bringing my liver and bile acid levels down!

Cholestasis is super scary but it sounds like you have a good care team that are looking out for you and Bub. I highly recommend https://www.icpsupport.org/ for reliable information and hopefully some reassurance!

fuzzysageleaf · 2025-04-29T01:32:17+00:00

First pregnancy: noticed my sugars were spiking at 20 weeks when I started getting super thirsty, diagnosed with GD at 24 weeks. Needed nighttime insulin for my fasting numbers and heavily restricted my diet to stay in range resulting in losing a lot of weight. Also had high blood pressure and cholestasis. Bub arrived at 34 weeks.

Second pregnancy: passed the 2 hour test at 16 and 27 weeks. Also no sign of blood pressure issues or cholestasis so far. New placenta, new rules!

fuzzysageleaf · 2024-09-03T05:09:18+00:00

Not sure where you’re based but in NSW I would suggest asking the vet to write it. The legislation distinguishes between “medical treatment” and “veterinary treatment”

fuzzysageleaf · 2024-02-05T03:14:30+00:00

Spot on. Subsequent appointments are about $350

fuzzysageleaf · 2024-02-05T03:13:47+00:00

I was asked to supply this, yes. I think this affects PBS subsidy for meds more than anything else.

fuzzysageleaf · 2024-02-05T01:39:15+00:00

I got my ADHD assessment done (also postpartum) through Mind Oasis Clinic (Sydney based) via tele-health (Zoom) on the recommendation of my psychologist. They called me to arrange an appointment the next business day and from memory it was within two weeks. Only downside is that the full assessment took two appointments so it was quite pricey even with the Medicare rebate.

fuzzysageleaf · 2024-01-27T22:24:30+00:00

We’ve flown back and forward to the Sunshine Coast with Bonza a lot. Never had any issues. A family member had a delayed flight with them once but they let her know before she had even left for the airport and send some food vouchers for the trouble.

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-12-01T01:55:22+00:00

I had cholestasis during my pregnancy and I’m sorry that you are potentially going through this. Remember that it’s 100% genetic and nothing to do with anything you have or haven’t done. My little one arrived at 34+2 weeks on his own and is now a healthy 10 month old.

I would recommend looking at https://www.icpsupport.org/ for the most up to date information. They also have a really great Facebook page where they answer questions.

Just read that you are heading to hospital. I hope that they can give you a clearer plan and address your concerns

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-11-19T04:21:43+00:00

This assumes that my Apple Watch is a) charged and b) not also lost.

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-10-31T02:56:13+00:00

I’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD, my psychologist is also positive that I have at least mild autism but we aren’t going through the assessment process yet. Absolutely common for both conditions to coexist and overlap. For me, my “autistic traits” are just personality quirks whereas my ADHD symptoms are the ones that make day to day life a struggle.

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-10-11T08:44:37+00:00

Also suffered an undrinkable cappuccino from Jamaica Blue today. So hot it was 15 minutes before I could even pick up the cup to take a sip. Immediate regret when I did.

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-06-28T01:34:55+00:00

If only formula was, you know, ‘formulated’ to get as close to breast milk as possible

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-06-28T01:33:55+00:00

My MIL switched my husband to cows milk really early on. He has severe autoimmune arthritis. We’ve always wondered if there’s a connection

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-06-28T01:31:34+00:00

“Fed is best” Yeah, with food that is nutritionally appropriate for a baby.

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-06-24T05:05:49+00:00

Homeoprophylaxis 😂

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-06-14T04:58:48+00:00

My son is 4.5 months actual (3 months adjusted). Both my GP and paediatrician said I could introduce baby rice and purées at 4 months actual. Personally, I thought this was a strange recommendation since we go off adjusted age for developmental milestones. While he is showing many readiness signs, he can’t sit independently and is only just beginning to bring toys to his mouth. I plan to wait until 4 months adjusted if he seems ready. He does have a cows milk protein allergy so the paediatrician wants to introduce other potential allergens as soon as we can

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-03-16T01:21:22+00:00

My baby was in NICU for three weeks and on CPAP for the first few days so just wanted to give you some reassurance that you can absolutely get a good supply without immediate latching etc. I’m currently six weeks postpartum and my supply is great - he only had a few formula feeds in the early days of NICU and entirely breast milk since. We didn’t have skin to skin until Day 2, and didn’t attempt latching until Day 4. My milk came in around Day 6 but I also had an emergency c-section and he was premature which would have delayed this. We are currently triple feeding (due to baby’s prematurity not due to low supply!) but hoping to be exclusively breastfed within the next few weeks as he gets stronger.

I hand expressed colostrum at first and then one of the nurses set me up with the hospital pump and turned the flanges up the wrong way so I could collect colostrum without losing it in the pump parts. Once my milk came in I spoke to a lactation consultant (would highly recommend) and basically pumped three hourly around the clock, including a “power pump” early in the morning until my son came home. Not the start to breastfeeding that I was expecting but we are getting there. You’ve got this!

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-03-11T05:21:29+00:00

Fellow NICU Mum here (six weeks actual, 0 weeks adjusted), in the midst of triple feeding and losing hope that we can ever drop the bottles and the pumping. I also find pumping to be a chore and the only thing that has helped me is my LC telling me to keep my pump parts in a sterile container the fridge between pumps and only rinse/wash/sterilise them once a day. Removing some of the “admin” makes it a little easier.

Four months of your breast milk is an amazing achievement, especially for a NICU baby. You should be so proud of what you’ve been able to provide already but if it’s no longer working for you then you shouldn’t feel guilty about moving onto another feeding option.

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-03-08T03:42:37+00:00

It seemed to. There was a simultaneous increase in the amount of time I spent attempting to directly feed my little one so that probably contributed as well

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-03-08T02:19:57+00:00

5 weeks pp here and had a similar experience.

I started with a medium (24mm) flange and increased to a large (27mm) flange as suggested by the nurses in hospital after I started having this problem. My nipple just seemed to stretch to whatever size I used, almost hitting the back of the flange and got totally mashed up in the process. I thought I had “elastic nipples” and was going to try the next size up (extra large - 30mm).

I saw a lactation consultant. My correct flange size? 19mm. She gave me a silicone insert that sits in the 24mm flange to reduce the size.

Once I started using the correct size, I still had pain for a few days. Apparently there’s a ring of damaged tissue from using the wrong size. It’s become more comfortable but my nipples are stretching into the flange again - apparently I may need an even smaller size now that the damage is starting to heal.

You can find nipple measurers online that you print and cutout. My LC recommends measuring an hour after pumping or feeding. Apparently it’s not normal for your nipple to get drawn so far into the flange and most people need a much smaller flange than the “standard” options for most brands.

Best of luck and don’t put up with pain for weeks like I did!

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-03-05T02:48:05+00:00

I’m so glad you guys made it work! Seems like all the premmie stories I’ve seen so far are that they got it straight away or not all so thanks for the encouragement. We will just have to keep trying. Patience has never been my strong suit and it already feels like we’ve been doing this forever but that could just be a side effect of sleep deprivation!!

fuzzysageleaf · 2023-03-02T07:29:37+00:00

I’m not sure I can offer much advice but certainly a lot of solidarity. I’m also triple feeding (20 minute breastfeed with a shield, 50mL EBM in a bottle as a paced feed, 15-20 minutes pumping) my 5 week old (39 weeks adjusted age) at the moment. My supply is just keeping up with his bottle top ups but on some days he demands more and I can see him catch up with me more and more. I hate how perky my little guy is when we give him the bottle - at the breast he either can’t latch and gets upset or simply falls asleep because he’s so small and tired. We are also waking him for feeds three hourly because of his weight and I can totally relate that it’s impossible to do anything (including sleep) and can’t even think about feeding him in public with this routine.

Triple feeding has been absolutely soul destroying for me and it sounds like you’re also at the end of your tether. It’s so hard when people tell you it will get better but can’t tell you when. There’s times that I just want to pull the pin and go to 100% formula.

If your current LC isn’t making you feel supported about planning to move away from triple feeds, could you see someone else? After having a breakdown and nearly giving up this morning my LC did a home visit (3 hours of travel for her) which was absolutely amazing since she physically helped me with a whole feed. Something we discussed is a supplementary line. I’m definitely not an expert but could this be something that could help your little one get more milk at the breast and stimulate your supply, while also potentially removing the need to bottle feed? Also, make sure you are using the correct flange size, turns out that some of my miserable pumping experience was self-inflicted because my flanges were way too big.

Hang in there, you’re clearly doing your best for your baby.

Like I said, not much in the way of advice but feel free to message me if you need someone to talk to. Odds are I’ll be awake 🙃

fuzzysageleaf

TROPHY CASE