If you breastfed dc1, did you breastfed dc2?

[ICantGoOverItICantGoUnderIt]

If not, can you tell me why not please?

And if you did, can you tell me whether you found it different or similar to feeding dc1?

I've just switched dd to formula at 9mo (she was only feeding twice a day and I've gone back to work so I was missing the morning one anyway). I'm very pleased about how breast feeding has gone and I would like to give this to dc2 (I'm 4 months pregnant). However, I never put a lot of pressure on myself to bf and I decided I'd just keep going as long as I could. I was also lucky that dd's latch was good from day one and I never experienced cracked nipples or mastitis. I am worried that I will put myself under pressure to bf dc2 and this will have a detrimental affect and I wonder how I would cope with lots of pain. I also wonder how I will cope with 1hour long+ feeds with a toddler?!

Just looking for different experiences so I can try to prepare myself.

[ICantGoOverItICantGoUnderIt]

Ugh sorry obviously second breastfed in title should be breastfeed.

[PoppyWearer]

I did also bf DC2, and actually for longer than DC1 (fed DC1 for 14months, DC2 for 15months, had to stop for my medical reasons or would have carried on).

What I did with DC2 was to introduce one bottle a day from early on, about a week old, to give us flexibility. DH could take the last feed of the day, usually. We didn't experience any nipple confusion and I would say it enabled me to continue feeding DC2 for longer. It felt like a good balance for us.

But yes, a toddler and a bf'ing baby is hard work. You need to have stuff for the toddler to do ready before you sit down to feed.

[HPsauceonbaconbuttiesmmm]

I bf DS to 7.5 months, gave up when I went back to work. Didn't occur to me that I'd have any issue with DD (now 4m) but I actually didn't concentrate enough to start with and ended up with an ulcer (ouch!). We're still ebf now though so got there in the end.

My advice would be to get the basics right and don't assume that just because you've done it before, it'll be the same again. Different baby, different bf experience.

DS would take an hour to feed, stop for 10 mins and then back on. DD can manage a full feed in less than 10 mins which is v v v useful!

2 is great fun, if knackering. Congratulations on your pg.

[miffybun73]

I breastfed both DCs. Both very similar, 5-10 mins each side every couple of hours or so and then hourly in the evening. From birth it was 7am to 11pm and then once or twice in the night.

From 12 weeks it was more like 7am to 7pm.

[fruitpastille]

Friends of mine have usually found it easier second time. I had the same difficulties but at least I knew how to deal with them.

[SauvignonBlanche]

I did, it was harder in some ways but easier in others as you know what you're doing.
I didn't last as long second time round and introduced a bottle for the post Nursery feed when DS wanted my attention but managed to BF for all the others.

[KittyOSullivanKrauss]

Yes, I've done this, both DC ebf.

DC2 is 6 months old now and bf has gone very well. She latched and fed straight away and seemed to know exactly what to do. As a newborn, she was also a much quicker feeder than DC1 was which was very helpful. I have no idea whether these things are down to her, or down to me being more experienced second time around, probably a mixture of both.

I have a bigger gap than you're going to have though (3.5 years), so DC1's understanding is very good, and he's independent in lots of things. I agree with other posters, don't put pressure on yourself. One day at a time and do whatever keeps you the most sane!

[Sheilathegreat]

I bf both of mine until about the same age- around 12 months. I found second time round much much easier! He latched on instantly and we didn't suffer any of the horrors I did with DD! Like you feeding both my DC could take while and DD had to learn to give us some space when I was feeding DS, but the age gap was wider and so a bit easier for us- I could put some CBeebies on, read a book to her or get her to do a jigsaw. I've read on here some nice advice about having a box of special toys you get out whenever you need to feed the baby. I could imagine that might work well.

[Sheilathegreat]

I bf both of mine until about the same age- around 12 months. I found second time round much much easier! He latched on instantly and we didn't suffer any of the horrors I did with DD! Like you feeding both my DC could take while and DD had to learn to give us some space when I was feeding DS, but the age gap was wider and so a bit easier for us- I could put some CBeebies on, read a book to her or get her to do a jigsaw. I've read on here some nice advice about having a box of special toys you get out whenever you need to feed the baby. I could imagine that might work well.

[PoppyWearer]

Oh and BTW, I had a friend who happily bf her first two DCs and was floored when she failed to do so with her DC3, for several reasons. She was a real bf advocate. She was gutted at first, then came to terms with it.

So, don't beat yourself up if for whatever reason it doesn't happen.

Good luck!

[SignoraStronza]

I bf dc1 until 2.5. She refused to touch a bottle and never had a drop of formula, although started f/t nursery at 13 months.

Have no intention of bf dc2 (14 months) for quite so long. Am not quite so much of a 'lactivist' as I was then - she'll accept formula from a sippy cup. Am not alone and miserable in foreign country either and actually rather like my dh So we're working on leaving her with the mil so we can go out together sometimes.v Am hoping she'll wean by 2 and stop feeding to sleep

[ICantGoOverItICantGoUnderIt]

Thanks everyone for the really useful replies. I wasn't expecting so many responses!

It seems I shouldn't set myself up for success or failure, which is good because this is the attitude I took with dd. I feel less anxious about this baby already, so that might rub off on the baby a bit too - in a good way! It is good for me to read all these different experiences as they are a reminder that I can't predict the future, I've got to go with the flow (no pun intended!).

[LyraSilvertongue]

Fed DS1 for 16 months. Only stopped because I got flu and was incapable.
Fed DS2 for 20 months.

Both were pretty easy and just one bout of mastitis. Only difference between the two was DS2 had a preference for one boob so the other would get engorged because he refused to feed from it but it resolved itself soon enough.

[zgaze]

Yes, fed both children, I have been very lucky to find it easy throughout. I fed through the second pregnancy and then tandem fed for 17 months, gave elder a tiny nudge to wean at 3.6, still feeding younger at 20m. No plans to stop any time soon. Both latched within minutes of csection births, no insurmountable problems - cracked nipples with first & a bout of mastitis but nothing at all with second. Having an easy ride (after the initial minor settling in problems) the first time probably made me more determined to make it work the second time maybe? But in the end thankfully it was all fine.

I never set out to do it this way, for such a long time - I got to 6 then 12 months and saw no reason to stop. I didn't even realise you could keep feeding beyond a year really until I became a Tiktok fan on here!

[Lawabidingmama]

I bf DD1 for 9 odd months had no problems found it very easy even though she had a noticeable tongue tie which we didn't get corrected. DD2 arrived when DD1 was just about to turn 2 I bf her for 7 odd months was disappointed not to do it longer but had a very different experience she was a fussy feeder refused all bottles until 6 months when I decided for a combination of reasons including how hard I found it good luck x

[pongping]

I am tandem-feeding my 2.10yo and 6mo. It has been far easier second time round.

I suspect many will disagree with me but I believe that if you have breastfed your first and subscribe to the health benefits, then you owe it to your second to feed them too. I understand of course that there may be situations where even with the best will in the world this is not possible (like that described by PoppyWearer above) - but I think that if you can, you should.

[MrsCakesPremonition]

I BF both my DCs. DC2 was easier in the sense that I didn't get the painful, cracked nipples which I'd had first time round. I was also more confident with co-sleeping, which made life easier. I also took the decision to turf DH into the spare room until DS moved into his own room - so we both had as much sleep as we could.

[MichaelBubleBath]

DC1 bf to 2 yrs+ no mastitis, two sore nipples - lots of cream, cluster feeding then fine

DC2 bf to 2 yrs+ no mastitis, milk longer to come in, v.sore nipples, swine flu, bought nipple shields - did not use them (can cause confusion) breastfeeding tea with fenugreek nipple cream then fine

DC3 bf currently plus DC2 nearly 3 no mastitis, no sore nipples, no cream necessary, still use fenugreek tea, milk supply slow at first - aided by DC2
but tandem feeding not working for me due to differences in latch, size of head, hormones...DC3 fine, fed on demand but DC2 gets bf separately
down to once or twice when shattered/poorly/injured as is out of habit/comfort/jealousy rather than need.

See how it goes and pardon the pun, go with the flow
Good Luck and do what you want to without putting yourself under stress xx

[RoadToTuapeka]

I did with DS1 til he was 15 months (was down to evening feed by then having cut down when I went back to work when he was 1). I introduced a bottle at 6 weeks for occasional feeds which was just as well as I ended up having quite a few medical apts that year and a few 2/3 night hospital stays. So he wad fine being bottle fed when needed and I expressed to keep supply up.

I was overly anxious about feeding with DS1, has he taken enough, putting enough weight on etc. Was also dreadful at times feeding due to reflux that was diagnosed only at about 4 months, and tongue tie not treated til 9 weeks.

With DS2, now nearly 8 months old, bf has seemed much easier. I got the tongue tie snipped privately when he was 5 days old, reflux was looked at when it struck at 6 weeks. Had emc birth, he was in scbu for 4 days & due to hospital stetched staff I had very little bf support. I worried we'd never get it going. But was fine after a few days.

Although he was bottle fed in scbu I never gave a bottle again - too lazy really to sterilise bottles etc what with DS1 needing attention too. I should have really as would love occasional time out, will try a bottle soon!

Feeding second baby miles easier all round. But dS1 (2 year age gap) was fine while I was feeding til DS2 was about 6 weeks old, then it was hell til DS2 about 5 months old, as DS1 climbed all over me, wanted books, toys, playing with. Was in tears about it more than once! But not sure that bottle or bf would have changed that. Is all fine now & DS1 even went as far as 'feeding' a doll baby when I fed the baby. Now that DS2 takes no time to feed it is all really easy.

I did get mastitis once with DS2 at 10 weeks whereas never had it with the first; on plus side though that nightmare of painful nipples from about day 5 for 2 weeks and using gallons of Lansinoh just never happened 2nd time around. And I was using dozens of breast pads 1st time around, several changes a day. Barely need them this time.

Best of luck with it all!

[RoadToTuapeka]

Oh yes and 2nd time I have been taking fenugreek or fennel teas or tablets and making lots of 'breastfeeding biscuits' or lactation cookies which you can find on bellybelly.au website 'sorry on phone so can't link; full of oats, sugar etc and I add banana & coconut so they will keep you going! Are loads in early days when you can barely find time/energy to pop a toaster let alone cook real food.

[Pinebarrens]

yes.

DD (DC1) was difficult as she had a tongue tie but manged until she was 13mo with some mixed feedung at the start.

DS was much much easier no pain at all. still feeding him at 11 months but he's become a biter so his days might be numbered

[ProfYaffle]

Yes, bf both dd1 and 2 for about a year each. Dd1 was a dream but I had a cracked nipple with dd2. However by then, I was much more confident and was able to find my own solution from kellymom (wet healing, lansinoh and nipple shells) I worried a lot about bf with dd1 but with dd2 I just kind of assumed it'd be OK.

I don't remember any particular problems in bf dd2 while dd1 was a toddler but then we're not shy about CBBC in this house