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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Feeding 2nd time round

11 replies

bunnyfrance · 23/03/2011 13:45

Hello ladies,

Would like to hear about your experiences breastfeeding second and subsequent children. Is it easier, or not necessarily?

I'm expecting my second (am 20 weeks), my DS is 18 months, I fed him for 15 months. I had a really easy time feeding him (except right at the end when I got an abscess, but that's a different story) , absolutely loved it - is it likely to be the same again, or could I face problems I never had before with the next one? Could I struggle with the latch? Should I cover myself in lansinoh for the first while, like I did with him, or am I toughened up by now?? So many questions!

Thanks for any tips!

OP posts:
strandednomore · 23/03/2011 14:46

Hi - I had just as hard a time the 2nd time as the 1st - which hopefully means you will have as easy a time! I thought I would know what I was doing the 2nd time. But of course it's a different baby, and I was probably too laissez fare. In the end got some really good advice from bf'ing counsellor at the hospital, which helped enormously. So don't assume it will be the same as the first time!
I certainly hadn't toughened up....

notso · 23/03/2011 15:04

DD fed really well with no latch problems, had dreadful advice from HV which lead to me mix feeding from 4 weeks and eventually stopping breast feeding around 5 months which I have always regretted, as she would have been perfectly fine if I had EBF.

DS1 struggled to latch at first particularly on left side, was always really sick after BF and used to scream and get v. frustrated during feeds, HV advised bottle feeding hungrier baby formula and as he wasn't sick or upset by this phased out BF, again I regretted this.

DS2 15 weeks feeding at the moment, latched on immediately after birth and although had similar latch probs to DS1 have a new lovely HV and also discovered MN/ Kellymom, so finally feel I have cracked it!

5DollarShake · 23/03/2011 20:57

I really struggled to get breastfeeding established with DS - I'd say it took a good 6 weeks. I went on to feed him until he was 13 months.

With DD, she took to it like a duck to water from the moment she was born. Plus, since she was feeding so well, my milk came in really quickly and we had no problems at all.

I'm sure it had something to do with DS not feeding for hours when he was born, and us not having skin-to-skin contact after the birth. DD on the other hand fed straight away, and we had skin-to-skin. Could just be a coincidence of course.

littlemisslozza · 23/03/2011 21:00

I found it easier second time round but DS2 had a much better birth than DS1 so I think that definitely helped. I also found it easier because I knew what I was doing and it was also not a big deal learning to feed out and about like it had been the first time. I found that my nipples were still tender for the first few weeks though, certainly not toughened up already unfortunately!

WoTmania · 24/03/2011 09:51

I had a really easy time at first with DS1 - I have oversupply so at about 3 months tings were a bit more difficult. He nursed til 12 months. DS2 was born while I was in teh middle of PS training and he was the difficult one. But, I got through it. DD was really easy.

LakeFlyPie · 24/03/2011 09:56

DS2 was much better at it than DS1 (latched on straight away) but it still took me about 9 - 10 weeks until it was easy and pain free.
I found the discomfort much less stressful second time though as I knew what to expect and that it would get better.

Was much more liberal with the Lansinoh too which helped.

Good luck Smile

Original poster
bunnyfrance · 25/03/2011 13:50

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

So I'll keep on with the Lansinoh and hope that I have an easy birth with good latching on afterwards! Smile

OP posts:
MummyElk · 25/03/2011 19:25

i would think the thing to remember is that you will be feeding a newborn, not a toddler/older baby. I forgot this and tried to get DD2 to latch on with her head at a right angle...Blush.
So just bear that in mind and if you have any problems keep going back to basics - is baby's spine straight, is baby's tummy to your tummy, is the gape wide, is the jaw working well etc. It WILL come back to you. Smile And if in doubt - ASK!!! Grin I had way more help this time around and everyone was great.
I've also trained as a peer supporter because of that help - so also don't be afraid to drop into any breastfeeding cafes/clinics nearby, they are a great source of help and I wish I'd gone.

Aaannnddd...... i found breastmilk worked better than lansinoh....Blush and this is cheaper anyway and works just as well

anyway! good luck!!

LakeFlyPie · 25/03/2011 20:44

Interesting, I didn't know there were other lanolin creams available.

My GP prescribed Lansinoh so it was free Smile

crikeybadger · 25/03/2011 20:52

LakeFlyPie- I wonder if you didn't know there were other lanolin creams available because the mws always hand out lansinoh sachets like sweeties.

Is it just me, or is this not a just a leetle bit Hmm?

LakeFlyPie · 26/03/2011 09:45

Good point crikeybadger.

Think I'm surprised I've never heard of any other preparations mentioned on here, other bf sites or at bf groups.

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