Is breastfeeding like riding a bike?

[Surprisethird]

I ask because I am currently 31 weeks pregnant with my third child, however, I bf the other two no problems as all, but my first is 15 in September and my youngest is 9 in June, so it feels like light years ago! I am taking it for granted that I will have no problems, but then I keep dreaming it will go wrong or I can't do it! It's a huge part of having a baby for me and one of the things I most look forward too, but just panicking a bit that I will struggle as it's been so long? So is it like riding a bike and you never forget?
Xx

[DoItTooJulia]

It was for me, with a 7 year gap too.

I had forgotten how tiring it was and how long it all took (cluster feeding) but yes, I knew exactly what to do!

Good luck!

[thecakeisalie]

I only had 18 months between ds1 & ds2 so can't say after a big age gap but it did fall into place fairly easily with ds2. Also I had an idea of what to expect which helped, the cluster feeding was a shock first time round!

The bit I found odd was remembering how to bf a newborn rather than an 11 month old as the newborn needed more help latching.

I'm due in just over a week with dc3 with a 3 year age gap this time and hoping bf'ing clicks into place again.

Good luck I'm sure it'll all come flooding back when your little one is here.

[Surprisethird]

Hi thanks for your replies, it's really appreciated , sounds like I should be ok!

[UriGeller]

All babies are different. I bfed my first at 18, no problems, good feeder until he was 2yo.

11 years later I had dc2, good feeder, no problems. Bfed til 2yo.

10 years later (!) dc3 had tongue tie, it was excruciating but it got snipped and we soldiered on and I bfed til he was 14mo when he had a nursing strike as it turned out I was pregnant with dc4!

Dc4 has never really taken to it, feeding every hour until she was about 12 weeks, then with no visible pattern to it, I was night feeding 3-4 times up til she was 7 mo. finished sadly at her behest at 10 months . She just wasn't interested.

It is like riding a bike in that you have more realistic expectations than a first time bfer I think but they are separate human beings with their own minds.

[evertonmint]

As thecakeisalie says, the hardest bit is remembering that newborns need a little extra help/support as your last memory of feeding is an older, bigger child with good head control who knows exactly what to do.

I suspect you yourself will be fine and you'll just need to teach your newborn to do it right. If you want to do a bit of revision remind yourself what good positioning and attachment looks like beforehand so you can spot and correct any issues before they arise, and maybe get together a list of local breast feeding support so you know where to turn to if you have questions or concerns.

I'm 28wks pregnant with DC3 with a nearly 4 year age gap and feeling like I have the experience and assertiveness now that I didn't with DC1 so that even if it doesn't go smoothly I know where and how to get help.