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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Is breastfeeding as painful second time?

80 replies

PastaandCheese · 25/02/2014 06:53

Due my second this week. I fed DD for a year and naively assumed this meant my nipples might have 'toughened up' a bit but they are so sore already before I've even fed the baby I think I might be a bit deluded.

What was your experience second time please? I'm assuming I'll feel a bit less clueless but other than that is the very sore start inevitable again?

OP posts:

elvislives2012 · 25/02/2014 06:56

No advice but shameless place marking as am due second DC in 4 months. Successfully fed DD for 15 months but can't understand how I will be able to dedicate as much time to bfing as I did last time!

MakeTeaNotWar · 25/02/2014 06:57

It was painful for me second time round but not for as long. We got to grips with it all much more quickly and it helped to know what to expect & to work on a good latch from the very first feed. How exciting! Good luck x

MakeTeaNotWar · 25/02/2014 06:58

Elivis were you on my August 2010 thread? Congrats at no 2!

elvislives2012 · 25/02/2014 06:59

No October 2012 but your name is familiar maketea

SwayingBranches · 25/02/2014 07:00

Excruciating first time around, absolutely fine the second time.

mamij · 25/02/2014 07:05

Same as Branches. Awful start first time but easy second time (think I was more relaxed and "in charge").

elvislives2012 · 25/02/2014 07:06

What the bloody hell do u do with the toddler when you're feeding for hours and hours?!

georgesdino · 25/02/2014 07:07

Breastfeeding has never hurt for me. I thought if it hurt it meant your doing it wrong?

atthestrokeoftwelve · 25/02/2014 07:21

elvislives- get a sling and learn how to breastfeed hands free. Can be a lifesaver, so you can stand, walk around, play with a toddler, do a puzzle, fix a snack I have even hung laundry out on the line while breastfeeding!

lanbro · 25/02/2014 07:25

Painful but not for as long. Dd2 got the hang of it much quicker. I'm probably in the minority but never used a sling and I'm still feeding her at nearly 6 months with an almost 2yo.

Original poster

PastaandCheese · 25/02/2014 07:34

Ooo! This is encouraging. Mind you I am still clinging to the fact 'they' all say second labours are easier and quicker too.

elvis I obviously have no experience of what to do with a toddler whilst feeding but I have ebayed the hated Baby Bjorn and got a stretchy Moby wrap instead and I've made an effort to teach my two year old to do some trickier jigsaws, play snap and dominoes etc. I've bought a little table and chairs from Ikea which is right by the sofa so I can help her colour and stick etc whilst feeding and invested in a number of Disney DVDs

I expect I'm going to look really naive to everyone on this thread who has already made the jump from one child but hey ho.

I don't know grorgesdino but I know all my friends and I experienced pain from the friction and the nipple being pulled on rather than a bad latch per say? Perhaps pain is the wrong word.... Sore would describe it better I guess.

OP posts:

elvislives2012 · 25/02/2014 07:42

Tried feeding in a sling last time but I think I was a bit scared and PFB about it. Good idea about the little table and chairs though. Think I'll get a little bag of extra special play things for my DD to have when I'm feeding so it's special for her too.
I didn't have pain as such but soreness from the letdown which went by about10 seconds

georgesdino · 25/02/2014 07:42

georgesdino · 25/02/2014 07:43

my phones gone crazy sorry. It isnt suppoded to feel of anything if the latch is right, and shouldnt be sore.

MakeTeaNotWar · 25/02/2014 07:46

Ah elvis yes Oct 12. Quite likely we're in the same FB group too then har har. Anyway pasta DD was 2 when DS was born and we read a bit while feeding but mostly reverted to cbeebies Or we went to toddler groups so DD could rampage around and I could feed DS at leisure

Lazytoad · 25/02/2014 07:48

Hi. I bf my first for about 13 months, to begin with it was agony - bleeding nipples, mastitis and just generally painful. I had my second just before my youngest turned two and not a hint of pain or problems at all.

As for birth, I was in labour for 5 days with my first (no problems, just long and exhausting) but my second popped out in just four hours.

I know we're all different but it's worth hanging on to the positives! Good luck.

LeonieDeSainteVire · 25/02/2014 07:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Eletheomel · 25/02/2014 08:20

Painful with both for different reasons - but in both cases by 4 weeks it was absolutely fine, and I'd say the level of pain was much less second time around (they say if its sore you're not doing it right - however, in my experience that's bollocks, DS1 had a perfect latch, but I had a vicious let down which led to sudden onset tourettes for the first few weeks).

Remember though whilst this might be second time round for you, it's still first time round for your baby, so you both need to learn the ropes.

ZenNudist · 25/02/2014 08:25

Ds1 took 6 weeks before I was pain free, no cracks, just red and sore.

Ds2 now 4wo bf v.sore for 2weeks cracks & bleeding due to tongue tie so bad latch. He's getting better but its not hurting me as much.

Monkeyandanimal · 25/02/2014 08:28

My first baby never caused me one moment of pain when bf, while the second and third resulted in bleeding nipples for about a week, and then got a bit better, but then had a tendency to nibble rather than suck, not good as they had teeth early!

So i think it depends on the baby! BUT, second time round i was more relaxed about it, and more confident in my own abilities and less stressed about baby feeding too little, or parking on the breast for days on end! So my state of mind was easier and better, which makes a big difference to how 'easy' feeding was.

MotherOfInsomniacToddlers · 25/02/2014 08:35

Second was less painful for me, you have the knowledge and skills to not allow a bad latch
Good luck :-)

Original poster

PastaandCheese · 25/02/2014 09:14

Yes, I think there is definitely something in the fact there are two people involved and the little person is less predictable and can't read the book.

Last time I had some issues with tiny baby who was exhausted after a hard labour requiring resuscitation, massive norks with flat nipples, PPH and lots of stitches for me etc. We got there but it was so hard to begin with and we had to start with expressing for a couple of days using a hospital pump I now know was much more forceful on brand new mum nipples than my own pump with variable suction!

I didn't even have the good sense to sit on a pillow for the benefit of my tapestry when leaning forward on the edge of the bed to catch the few drips. What an idiot!

You live and learn I guess!

OP posts:

sheeplikessleep · 25/02/2014 09:18

Agony first time.
Pain free second time.
Painful third time (but due to tongue tie).

Timpani · 25/02/2014 09:25

Agony for months first time! Pretty much pain free second time (slight slight sting for a day getting used to new baby's latch).

Second labour much faster and easier though just as painful!

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