Bf number 2

[Haahoooo]

Sorry if this has been done before...

Expecting DC2 in April when DD will be 20 months. Just wondering:

• Will it be easier? I bf DD for 14 months and really enjoyed it. But we had a rough start with painful cracked nipples, then fast letdown issues. Will it be easier second time in your experience?

• Will DD want to feed again? We've only recently stopped so she may remember. Worried she'll feel left out!

Also any tips for entertaining DD while I'm feeding welcome!

Thanks

Congratulations!

Sorry to say that IME I had to re-learn to bf each time. The challenges were not always the same, and I knew how to access help and from whom, so I'd say the experiences were better.

None of mine remembered bfing. Both dc1 & 2 wanted to taste my milk (I gave them a few drops on my fingertip), but only dc1 ever wanted to try bfing. I didn't make a big deal if it, but said that he could try if he liked but that the baby had to feed first. This was with dc3. He wasnt bothered at all wiith dc2 .

I chaged the way i read to dc1 when i was pg with dc2. I got him used to sitting next to me on the sofa, holding the book for me while I read to him. A cushion in his lap if necessary to support a big book. That way, when I had a baby in my arms I could still read to dc1 and he didn't feel that anything had changed. I could still put my arm around him and cuddle him while bfing dc2.

I stopped BF when DS was 20mo. DD was born when DS was 28 months. DS didn't ask for milk.

Feeding DS was really difficult (I mean really difficult. Bleeding nipples for 6 months, mastitis, hospitalisation for lack of weight gain). Feeding DD was wonderful. She's known from day 1 how to do it. I put lansinoh on every feed for the first few days and it's been wonderful since - she's 15 weeks now.

Happy story here!

DS1 - milk slow to come in, bruised and battered for a few weeks, really frequent feeds of all lengths, fussing, the lot.

DS2 - took to it like a duck to water - short, spaced out feeds, no sore nipples, super, super easy.

Oh, and DS1 (3 now, 2.5 when he stopped) stopped feeding when I was pregnant and the milk dried up. I think by the time the baby actually got here and started feeding he vaguely remembered he used to do something similar, but can't quite remember what it was - for instance in the beginning he came up and snuggled and sucked my arm/my upper chest with an almost confused look on his face.

Really good to hear these stories - best to be prepared for that it may still be hard but hope it will be easier. Like to idea of reading to DD while bf. Bedtime with 2 will be a challenge I'm sure, but millions have managed it before me...

Chunky that is very cute with your DS vaguely remembering and sucking on your arm etc

Really good to hear these stories - best to be prepared for that it may still be hard but hope it will be easier. Like to idea of reading to DD while bf. Bedtime with 2 will be a challenge I'm sure, but millions have managed it before me...

Chunky that is very cute with your DS vaguely remembering and sucking on your arm etc

I have found it much easier second time round, no soreness at all this time.

I wondered if ds1 would want to try latching (he was weaned at 17m and was 2.9 when ds2 was born) but he didn't. He is very interested in it all though.

Lots of books kept ds1 entertained in the early feed all the time days