Is breastfeeding automatically easier the 2nd time round?

[JJandbump]

I had a really tough couple of months getting breastfeeding established with DS1, very almost gave up but stuck with it and am very happy to still be going at 8 months.

Just wondering if it will automatically be easier with a second baby, because i've had 8 months' practice, or is it like pregnancy - every one is different?

it's just that I've managed to scare myself by looking at some of the breastfeeding sites I was scouring back when I was first learning. All the stuff about latching on... all I do now is put ds's face next to my boob and off he goes, I don't think about latching on or anything!! Will I need to re-learn the latching all over again with a newborn (and get all the pain that goes with it) or will it all be natural next time?!

I was thinking of posting the same thing. Really struggled for the first couple of months last time. Due next month and not sure I can remember what to do. Really hoping it's easier as I can't go through the same again with a toddler in tow.

Will watch this one with interest.

IME, yes. A billion times easier.

For me, it was much much easier. I did have to remember how to latch a nb on again but it came to me very naturally and quickly, I think because I had done it before. Compared to 10 weeks of extreme pain with DD1, I had only 2 or so days of slight nipple tenderness with DD2. Above all, I felt more confident and relaxed the second time round

Put it like this, at the start latch is everything, but you know what constitutes a good latch now so if you next one isn't latching properly you will know about it. Also you have latched a baby on hundreds of times, you do know what you are doing!

Lastly, you know that your boobs are capable of feeding a baby that knowledge alone is worth loads it wipes out the whole "am I producing enough milk " question.

Lots of things are much more instinctive 2nd time round and you will trust your instincts more too, stress less.

Much easier for me too!

I don't think it's necessary to re-learn latching on, just be careful you're not being complacent and assuming you have a good latch when you don't iyswim

For me yes it was a lot easier.

Don't know if it was a combination of me being more clued up and relaxed but more that DD2 was incubated 4 weeks longer than DD1 so was a lot bigger and stronger, she came out found a boob and never let go. DD1 was hard to latch, cracked bleeding nipples etc.

Still get a few days of uncomfortable nipples at the start but some Lansinoh put paid to that.

By the 4th time you won't even be thinking about it

I fall into the "different with every baby" school of thought.
My DD1 was amazingly easy from the off, so I wondered what other women were complaining about. DD2 was terrible, between us both having thrush and her having a mouth like a steel trap it was really unpleasant for the first few months.

I do think for most people it is going to be easier second time, though - practice and confidence counts for a lot.

I have four children and have breastfed all of them, and yes in general I'd say it gets easier. I also think it depends a lot on the baby though. I've had very different experiences with my dds and dss (don't know if that is normal or not!) Dds both took ages to feed and would always fall aslepp half way though but I never had any real pain with either of them. The Dss were both real guzzlers and I found it very painful for the first few weeks with both of them but after that it was much quicker and easier. I'm still feeding my youngest DS (14 months) and don't want to stop tbh!

I've never found the latching on thing to be a big issue, just remember the 'tummy to mummy, nose to nipple' thing and you'll be fine! I wouldn't look at too much info to be honest just try to do it naturally and look for help if you have problems.

One thing I should mention is the afterpains, I definitely found those hardest with DC2 but at least they only last for a few days...

Hmm, thing is I'm not convinced I do actually know what a good latch is - all I know is I was in agony for about 8 weeks and then slowly things started getting easier, it wasn't like I figured out what I was doing wrong. More like nipples just got used to it?

But very pleased to hear all your encouraging second-time-round stories.

At least I know that whatever happens, if I can get through the first painful weeks then it WILL get easier eventually, which I was never quite convinced about the first time round, until it happened.

(KAQueen - lol, had hard enough time convinced DH to have one more, think i'd be pushing my luck to broach the subject of 4!!)

I found the initial few weeks much much easier. Although it did take me a day or so to get the latch really sorted, having forgotten quite how it should be. I did have a real wobble about 2 months in, as DS was much less keen on feeding than DD had been. I got stressed, he got stressed and we had a bit of a nursing strike, but some wise words from Mears, some skin to skin and relaxing got us through it. Still feeding now at 13 months (got to 2.5 years with DD).

Gulp... afterpains?!! Blimey, did Mother Nature not make this whole childbirth palava painful enough?!!!

I have to say that my first DS breastfed like a dream and my second was a nightmare! I definitely think it's down to the individual baby although I also think that being more relaxed with the second baby does make (all) things much easier.

ds1 was a breeze, ds2 was slightly tricky for a couple of weeks but i suspect i'd been spoiled by ds1, dd was even breezier than ds1.

but the AFTERPAINS, god, they were bloody appalling with dd...

I know what you mean JJ - that's what I thought! Afterpains are apparently the reverse of contractions, your uterus 'sucking itself back' into shape!! Feeding your baby is what stimulates the uterus to do that so unfortunately it does tend to hurt a bit for the first few days ( like early to mid labour pains in my experience). For some reason you don't get them with first DCs, I had them badly for my 2nd and 3rd but hardly at all for my 4th (or perhaps I just have no pain sensors left now...) Paracetamol helps, and remember you'll be cuddling your new baby whilst experiencing them... and in that situation nothing seems too bad really.

Afterpain Gah! Empty your bladder before every feed and take painkillers! I prefer labour to afterpains anyday! Mine were worse each time.

As for 4? you never know how many you may end up with

Dc1 was a dream to breastfeed and did it for 9 months, 4.5.of them exclusively. Dc2 was really difficult. From day one and had to go onto mixed feeding after only couple of weeks. Made me realise a lot is down to baby. Dc2 was a few weeks early and emergency c-section so not sure if that was the difference.

JJandbump I hope it is easier for you second time round...before DC2 I was really worried that I would find BF as hard as I found it first time round. I bought a "my breast friend" feeding cushion (£15 second hand off eBay as I wasn't convinced it would be any use - it is - makes feeding soo much easier).
Also, its not just the latch. Knowing that for the first month, you pretty much feed most of the day (first time round this was a bit of a shock). Also knowing which clothes to wear to make feeding in public easier IYSWIM.
Also, you can get v good support on MN. good luck & hope it goes well

I don't know if it is physically easier but it is a hell of a lot less worrying.

I don't have time work out what is wrong with DS2 so I offer the boob, works 99.9% of the time.

I am not weighing him because I can tell just by looking at him that he is in good health. It all seems to be happening a lot more "naturally" than with DS1, mostly because I jst don't have the time to worry too much.

I second everything here really. It was definitely a much better experience.

I had an awful time with DD1 but second time it was so different. Like KickAssQueen says you know what a good latch is and that's the root to it so and you'll be popping your second on there without a thought in no time.

I do have to say that I still had painful nipples second time around so I do think that maybe that's just how it goes while you get used to it. I just covered myself in nipple cream - that was definitely my saviour.

Also, as Morloth says to know that you've done it before is important because even if it is hard to start with you will have that confidence. I certainly held onto that thought in those early days.

Good luck!

My experience wasn't that it was easier (DD didn't regain birthweight for 5-6 weeks and no one could work out why), but I had so much more confidence that it was fixable, and just kept going until she did start gaining weight (changed position, kept checking latch etc) rather than listening to my GP who, at 2 weeks, told me that "It's much more difficult with the 2nd as you don't have the time to feed them- you've done 2 weeks, nothing wrong with giving her formula now

Experience, confidence and stubbornness got me through with DD - she's 10 months now, and still going strong.

The first couple of weeks are hard because you need to figure out how manage the feeding demands of a newborn, as well as looking after your first child, but you soon get used to it.

The one thing I would say is to remind yourself of how frequent a newborn needs to feed, and prepare yourself for that.

You'll be fine

The first time around, an alarmingly large percentage of mothers stop breastfeeding in the first few weeks.

But for second (and later) children, for mothers who have breastfed for at least six weeks, many fewer stop in the first few weeks - I think many more manage to breastfeed for as long as they want to.