Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

Was how was your breastfeeding experience the second time round?

21 replies

rosebery · 09/02/2012 13:06

I was very lucky the first time round - ds took to bf brilliantly and we didn't have any problems at all. He was exclusively bf for 6 months, and then morning / evening feeds until he was a year old.

Dc2 is due in 3 weeks, and I'm wondering if we'll have a similarly positive experience. All babies are different of course!

I'm curious: how was it for you the second time round, and did you have any difficulties?

Thanks!

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 09/02/2012 13:15

My two were very different, DC1 was what I would know call a high needs baby, although I didn't know that term then. DC2 was very easy and bfing was a dream, although she did like to be near me all the time so I would recommend getting a sling.

What is different with DC2 is that you will probably know where to go if you need help, you know you won't give up easily, you'll know what a growth spurt is and won't doubt yourself and you'll know to ignore all the Bfing Bingo comments .

Original poster

rosebery · 10/02/2012 08:14

Thanks jilted, am going to keep positive as there's no reason at the moment to do anything else! I just keep on reminding myself that if we do have problems, at least I know what a good latch should look / feel like.

Love the bf bingo - haven't seen that before!

OP posts:

mawbroon · 10/02/2012 09:32

First time round was tricky with undiagnosed tongue tie, but we got there in the end.

Second time round was textbook. Not even a sore nipple!

Original poster

rosebery · 10/02/2012 09:54

mawbroon - no sore / cracked nipples for me with dc1 either. I'm just hoping that we have a similar experience next time. If it doesn't happen, at least I know where to go and what to do to make it better

OP posts:

flowerfairy · 10/02/2012 11:43

DC1 was particularly difficult bfing took 8 weeks after very sore nipples and latch problems and very little support (was 8 years ago and didn't find mumsnet til we had finished feeding). DC2 much easier (year ago ) had some difficulties for first 2 weeks with having a fussy madam who would only feed on one side, but then was a breeze. All the best.

Nevercan · 10/02/2012 11:47

Sore nips both times but much easier second time and milk seemed to come on quicker

Original poster

rosebery · 10/02/2012 12:12

So far, so positive. Thanks everyone!

OP posts:

Limelight · 10/02/2012 21:47

Cracked sore nipples both times, the difference with No.2 being that I knew it would get better and it did. DD is also a much less frequent feeder than DS, but she's proving harder to wean (she's 13 months now).

The only thing I'd say is don't be complacent. I'm sure I had cracked nipples this time because I just assumed I knew what I was doing because I'd done it before. Remember that the last time you fed, your baby was older, more efficient, and frankly had a bigger mouth than a newborn! I really wish I'd taken some time to think about what I was doing a re-learn.

Ultimately though, a much easier experience.

MooncupandPizza · 10/02/2012 21:50

10 weeks with quite a lot of pain and bleeding nipples etc. the first time (yes, I am stubborn and I stuck it out)

Much easier with my second. I don't actually remember if I had pain - I think I did but nothing significant and he fed well, put on weight well etc.

I had only stopped feeding no. 1 about 6 months before, though so my boobs probably still knew what to do.
I know my mum - who had 4 of us - found that she had to get used to it all over again each time and, as far as I know, she fed each of us for 9 months or so.

Hope you have an easy time of it this time too.

Wigeon · 10/02/2012 21:53

First time round - pretty good actually. No sore / cracked nipples. Baby latched on no problem, grew fine, never had any worries about having no milk etc etc. Got mastitis twice though.

Second time round (so far - DD2 now 8 months and still BF) - no problems at all. No mastitis so far (fingers crossed) - I do wonder whether this is because I am more in tune with the demand feeding in the early days then moving to a sort of schedule now (although I was also demand feeding, moving onto a relaxed schedule with DD1). Also am feeding lying down as much as poss in order to prevent awful back / neck / shoulders ache I got with DD1, which is helping a bit.

Hope you have a similarly positive experience with your DC2!

ShowOfUmblestAnds · 10/02/2012 21:53

First time round was a nightmare with cracked, bleeding nipples, mastitis, crying through latching her on etc. Persevered though and fed till 3.4.

DS is 23 weeks old and it's been completely straightforward. No problems at all.

Meglet · 10/02/2012 22:03

First time round, EMCS and a DS who took 3 weeks to latch on. Even then it was pretty grim until I threw in the towel at 3mo.

Second time round. ELCS. Easy peasy, no brainer with DD. Not a problem, short feeds, chunky weight gain. And me having a huff at 3mo as she wouldn't take expressed in a bottle. In the end she was mixed fed for month 5 then I stopped.

Never got sore either time, I must have weirdy tough nipples.

Wigeon · 10/02/2012 22:07

at Meglet's tough nipples. DH fondly call mine "working nipples" which I think is rather sweet.

TerrysNo2 · 10/02/2012 22:18

I've been very luck as both babies have taken to it very well both times although this time (2nd) I have been much fuller and leaked more.

finsophmum · 10/02/2012 22:37

First time round...son never latched on properly, ended up de~hydrated in hospital for days on a drip and lead to bottlefeeding.
Second time round...just told midwife not wanting to go thru all of that again, and went straight to bottle, then my boobs ended up hugeand I ended up with more milk than Wisemans dairies! But still bottle fed as I was by myself with a 3 year old as well!

Original poster

rosebery · 11/02/2012 02:30

Good advice limelight, it's 2.5 years since my ds was a newborn, so probably best to assume that I need to start from scratch too! No complacency from this corner :)

meglet: short feeds and chunky weight gain pretty much describes my first experience. Ds put on a pound a week in the first 3 weeks. Still a bruiser now.

Good to read all your experiences. Right, enough of mn by moonlight and back to bed ... :)

OP posts:

twolittlebundles · 11/02/2012 02:47

first time was crap for first 12 weeks and then fab, second time was easier, partly due to my recognising that I needed help and got in early- lactation consultant was great.
I also went in with a bit more understanding the second time and didn't assume it would be easy and all happen without any fuss or difficulty

heliumballoon · 11/02/2012 04:36

First time- sleepy baby, 3 weeks early, overbearing mw forced formula in hospital, readmitted with jaundice, mixed fed after that. Massive stress, misery and disappoirment.
Second time- only 2 weeks in but so far- 39 week baby, did skin to skin properly this time, co sleeping, barely any visitors, private mw engaged postnatally to advise on latch. Not a dream and still bloody hard work, but better experience so far.
Good luck op!

mamaesi · 11/02/2012 11:09

1st time. No problems at all...feeding was a dream.

2nd time. Baby was 4 weeks premature, slow to feed, bit of jaundice. Then very fussy...problems with oversupply and fast let down. Baby always vomiting and unsettled.

Its actually been very difficult feeding my second. I am still powering on at 13 weeks but only with the lovely help of a local breastfeeding drop in/counsellor.
Don't expect them to be the same...I was quite shocked at how hard its been this time..but seeking help was easy and it is getting better.

jocie · 11/02/2012 11:43

ds1 emcs took a while to get it right but then was a breeze, fed til 1yr bf with 1 ff a day from 1 month old. took long feeds with a nice gap imbetween
ds2 vbac started ok but then realised he was a short frequent feeder unlike ds1 and so was particulalry more tired! and then had a horrendous week or so at bout 3/4 months where he would just scream every feed. Thankfully i found mumsnet at this point and got some support/advice. I was determined not to give up! We fed til 1 yr. Again with 1 ff/ebm per day from 1 month old.

tricksybaby200 · 11/02/2012 13:16

first time was really easy. only issue was not enough milk so fed round the clock until weaned. still was breast fed at 15 months as he was so effient.

2nd wouldn't feed. very sleepy baby, had to wake for feeds so not over 5 hours and still wouldn't feed then. looked all over for advice noone knew what to do. he then got very ill, unrelated, but was too weak to feed so fed on a tube. I expressed but he was only 2 weeks old so milk not established enough so had to do formula top ups. still hardly fed so went to complete bottles. Really regret this now as still poor to feed on this and he was happy enough on breast, didn't put on weight but didn't lose so guess just him. the hospital thing just scared me so quit.

Was expecting it to be hard with second due to time as first on me constantly didn't occur to me he wouldn't want to feed. if i have a third will try and remember all babies are different. I know you say it alot but i obviously didn't believe it deep down as hes now three months and i've only just accepted there's nothing wrong with him he's just not overly hungry.

Hope you have a positive experience x

Flip