Did anyone find BF harder second time around?

[findingherfeet]

Just out of interest really.

I had great difficulty establishing BF with my DD but did then manage fine BF for seven months.

I sort of assumed this time feeding DS would be easier and it was in some ways - I didn't get mastitis and his latch was better/cracks healed quicker. But I stopped at six weeks, I know in my head that this is the hardest part and it would have got easier but I felt totally stuck looking after 2 yo DD (pretty much on my own from day 1 due to Hb work) and struggled feeding constantly while trying to cook/do laundry/help DD on toilet etc! Feeds took at least an hour and he would still be rooting/unhappy afterwards... Needed to leave house at 830am some mornings and couldn't fit in enough BF so he'd scream in buggy.

DS is a happy lovely baby so I'm not worried about my decision but if (and that's a big if!) we have a third I'd like to BF but can anyone advise how they manage those early days with older children?

Maybe go for a bigger age gap next time? I had 3.5 years between mine so although feeding was a bit harder with the 2nd (mostly due to tongue tie) DC1 could wait, get a drink, use the toilet etc. Plus was at nursery in the day.

I had a ridiculous nonstop feeder second time around (and third, TBH), and the only reason I was able to continue was that I mastered feeding them in the sling. Once you get past the hellish awful bit it makes life SO MUCH EASIER as you can just grab a nappy and run out of the door, there's no stressing about remembering bottles/powder/cartons or whatever.

I only know about the hassle as I actually mix feed, but tend to EBF whenever we're out.

Yes I think for a lot of reasons the gap will be bigger for the (potential) next baby and I hope that would be easier... I bought a stretchy sling but scared myself that I'd suffocate the poor baby, he's a big boy and was all scrunched up!

Right...3rd time lucky! Thank you for the thoughts.

I found ANTICIPATING the latch second time round made it worse than it was. once I relaxed back into it I think it got better.

Dc1 was formula fed, dc2 and 3 were bf... With the caveat that they were both fast and easy feeders bf was, for me, miles easier when dealing with the other children, school runs, timetabling,organisation etc. There is 4y5m between all 3, with a slightly larger gap between the elder two. I would have fed in a sling if I had to but it never happened, that's probably just luck really in that neither of them wanted to spend hours feeding I can totally see how if that had been the case it would all have been much harder.

You do have to be very careful about breastfeeding in a sling. I'm not sure it would be safe with a newborn.

Yes. DS latched on immediately and fed easily. I had no pain or sore nipples. DD (2 years later) also fed easily but I ended up with very sore, cracked nipples and after pains.

My 2 older ones were in a good routine and kept each other entertained pretty well so I had a lot of time for dc3. There was a very small age gap which helped in some ways (they all had an afternoon nap at the same time!).