BFing with 2 other children to 'entertain' - doable?

[Dysgu]

I have just been reading the threads about what to buy if you plan to BF and it got me thinking: so many people talk about the amount of time BFing is going to take to get started and for the baby to bond with the breast.

Both DDs (aged 6 and 4 now) were preemies and in NICU for some time. They were very quick births and I struggled with my milk supply; took domperidone and borrowed HUGE milking machine fro NICU and still only managed to BF until due dates - and they were fed the milk through their NG tubes in the beginning.

I am now 31 weeks with DC3 and planning to BF - as I planned to before. I am comfortable with the likelihood that this baby will also come early and that I may struggle with BFing and am happy to FF if that is what works best.

However, hoping for the best and imagining what would happen if the baby stays in until term and can come home promptly, what is the likelihood of successful breast feeding if I have 2DDs around too? DD1 is in school full-time and DD2 is in pre-school 3 days a week and will be with me the other two. DP will take his 2 weeks paternity.

I have only ever really succeeded in latching either of the DDs on a handful of times (and that is added together) as the focus in their early days was not BFing. In fact, with DD2 even though I was wanting to persevere with breast feeding I eventually gave up as it seemed the only way to get her out of the hospital was to use a bottle to ensure she was getting enough and was thriving.

So, any thoughts or advice on successful breast feeding (third time round) when I will have the school run and DDs around - and DD2 is not into watching TV which will work with DD1!

It is doable but like anything it does have its moments.

I am on number four and have managed to BF them all (so far).

It's it question of timings with the school run etc and I do try to wake the baby for a feed before each school run (even if its a top up and then a proper feed when I get back home).

As for entertaining the others, playing games, sticker books (very good in the first few weeks), reading stories, jigsaws, colouring. I spend a lot of time sat on the floor while feeding so have a stash of pillows to make me more comfortable. I have a bottle of drink made up for me and the others, so if one is required I don't have to move.

It starts of tricky but gets easier in my experience week on week. I do imagine a lot of the problems would still be issues if you were FF.

Good luck with everything.

Thanks for your thoughts Nicknamegrief obviously it is doable but it was something I had not considered. I think I will have to get myself a special box or something that DD2 especially can keep her bits and pieces in so that we can play together whilst the baby is feeding. If she is not kept busy she will happily take herself off and we will then have to go and find out what chaos she is causing, usually at a great height as she does love to climb!

Think I will have to move the furniture around in the living room; I have already moved by BFing chair to DDs' room so I can feed in there whilst they play - will just have to cope with sitting in bed if I want to feed in our room.

It's do able, my DS1&2 are 6 and 2.5, thankfully both are quite into watching TV but I try to not relay on it. During the day it's just DS2, baby and I, 3 mornings we do toddlers activities that are baby compatible, toddlers, music groups, tumble tots - some are easier than other! It helps to tire DS2 out so then home for lunch, nap and by then DS1 is home, he is my saviour :) :) my boys play happily together outside for ho

Oops sent too soon! They play inside/outside in the garden for hours.

DS2 and I do lots of counting, colours, drawing activities whilst I'm feeding, that's the best thing about BF compared with bottles, your hands are freer. Also games on iPad are good!!

Yes absolutely doable

I have bf all six of mine with varying age gaps. Some distractions at hand are helpful, books, toys, snacks etc but I think what really helps is doing whatever it takes (even if that's lots of tv) to get through the first few weeks until the feeding is well established and then you can feed wherever whenever. Once things are going well you can learn to feed in a sling or walking around or pop the baby on and off if needsbe, it soon becomes routine and easier to fit in ( baring any additional difficulties of course)

I had a situation which was more like the opposite of yours, my first two were full term normal deliveries and feeding was pretty straightforward but my third was a premmie and I had to learn to express lots, hand feed, tube feed and then learn how to latch on a premmie. What it taught me was that each baby and each situation really can be so different and to just take things as they come and deal with them as best you can

Good luck dysgu, I hope baby stays put till it's cooked and things go well for you

Thank you to everyone else for your advice - obviously I knew it is possible to breast feed a bay with other children around, or otherwise how would women have coped before formula...

But the advice is really helpful as I have never actually succeeded with breast feeding before but am hopeful for DC3. I think we will have to accept that the first two weeks whilst DP is home will be very focused on BFing and then we will see how far we have come.

Of course, this is all on the assumption that things go well - each day the baby stays inside feels like we are almost on borrowed time and I am just increasingly aware of all the stuff we have yet to sort out - but then, we have never been terribly organised before and we have coped.

Thanks again.