Is b/fing the second time easier?

[andreag]

I b/f Charlotte fairly successfully once we had got the hang of it, and she was not a particularly demanding baby. I really enjoyed it.
I was interested in peoples experiences of b/fing their second child. One nurse said it would be a toddle second time round, but I don't want to assume this and then have problems. Assuming I have a straight forward delivery, I would be planning on an early discharge so hopefully I won't be in hospital for long, but the downside is that if I need help I will be relying on the mw to come to the house.

Thanks in advance
Andrea

 

[mum's the word]

I had problem after problem feeding my 1st and gave in after 6 weeks, second time around wasn't a breeze, but lesss complicated, he seemed to latch on first time and I didn't have any of the problems with cracked nipples or such severe engorgement as first time. I DID get mastitis both times, not as bad 2nd time cos I realised earlier what was wrong. My nipples seemed 'tougher' 2nd time, my feet used to curl with the pain every time I fed Liam (1st son).
I carried on for 13 months second time so that proves I found it easier, I'm worried about how I'll be 3rd time now, I'll feel guilty if I don't feed for as long but on the other hand I'm not sure how stressful it's going to be unless I get into an expressing routine (which I haven't before) as it'll be all down to me morning noon and night, with 2 other (3 if you include OH!) kids wanting my attention.

Good luck hun!

 

[Squiglet]

I had many issues feeding Tia... There wasn't any support 9 years ago... there was very much this "bottle" feeding culture and a great lack of education among health workers as to what breast fed babies were really like (although I've been reading other stories and apparently not much has changed in the UK... ) I was told I should top up because she was a big hungry baby, which messed with my supply.. we were told to wean between 3/4 months... no one really knew much about breastfeeding in general but mix feeding was encouraged and... I persevered and successfully fed Tia until she was 9 months old...

I knew the moment I got pregnant the second time round that I was breastfeeding. There was no way I would even consider feeding lil miss artificially. I remember the closeness and bonding... despite the initial pain,it was worth it all to have that with my child.

So when I had lil miss I found myself in a worse position... with wholly uneducated medical professionals pushing formula all the way, barring me from breastfeeding and giving formula without my permission, so in actuality it was harder to feed lil miss than Tia. I had to really fight to keep breastfeeding and drop all formula in those first few weeks... but... the practicalities meant that this time round I did find it easier. My nipples hurt for less time... I was much more skilled at getting the latch, more confident in my holds.

Breastfeeding is a skill... Like riding a tandem bike though both people need to be skilled in it for it to work correctly... If both of you are trying for the first time, you will fall off and hurt yourself... but if one of you have had a lot of practice... getting on it with someone who hasn't (such as your second time breastfeeding), you fall off less times..

You might have issues....but only one of you is learning this time round

 

[mamichuli]

You will find it easier the second time...as Squig says, you know what you are doing!



Lisa

 

[beanie]

Yes and no. I had a 'mare with Seren and there were so many times I wanted to stop but didn't. I was worried I would have to go through it all again. Cally had problems latching on, which made me very sore and I used nipple shields for a few feeds but the she decided she didn't want to feed without them so I had to stop using them and help her to latch on ll over again. Add to the mix a toddler wanting attention, lack of sleep through baby waking at noght and then having to getn up with toddler etc etc I found it pretty tough. However I knew that the benefits of breastfeeding far outweighed the early weeks and no matter how hellish it was, it would get so much better and easier. I also had bonding issues with Seren as a result of PND and felt that the only things that helped me to bond with her when she was a baby was baby wearing and breastfeeding so I really wanted to stick at it. I had also trained as a peer support breastfeeding counseller and knew more about how breastfeeding worked, what was normal and I was so much more confident. Therefore I was happier breastfeeding the second time. It took about 3 weeks to get the feeding sorted with Cally whereas it was 5 months with Seren before it became straightforward and easy.

 

[lisa282]

Personally I have found it a breeze second time around compared to the first! Ive had none of the cracked nipple, sore boobs or bad latch problems, and so it has made the whole thing really easy on me. I guess it also helps that she feeds fairly regularly too, around every 3-4 hours during the day, whereas my first baby would feed every 2 hours without fail and sometimes take an hour over a feed so I was snatching an hours sleep here and there, but this time am having big chunks of 5-6 hours at night between feeds. It defo makes a difference without a doubt, if you are getting rest in between. Plus second time around you know what you are doing so can tell if the latch is wrong or the let-down is a bit fast etc, and rectify any problems before they become big issues iykwim. I found breastfeeding a bit of a chore to begin with on my first baby tbh, but this time it is nothing but a pleasure and I love feed times with her Im already dreading the day we have to wean her off

 

[dannii87]

Oooh this is really interesting!! Thanks for posting this hun! x

 

[andreag]

Thanks for the replies - thats great stuff!

 

[Terrie]

the hardest thing i found breastfeeding number two is that my toddler got very jealous and is naughty every time i sit down to feed.