thoses of you who bf 2nd babies how the hell do it manage it ?

[robinredbreast]

hi im only 6 and a half weeks into bf baby
and just wondering how the hell do you manage to bf and 2nd baby in a few years time ?
when you have iother children to look after ?
is it even harder then ?

[sweetkitty]

cbeebies and reading stories, DD1 was 18 months when DD2 came along, hardest time was when DD1 was potty training, I would get all ready to feed DD2 and DD1 would say she needed a wee and then DD2 would have to get unlatched, milk spraying everywhere she would cry and I would have to sort DD1 out before feeding DD2 but all in all it wasn't that bad.

[Clary]

No it's fine. With DS2 (no 3) I could bf and do all sorts (recall frying onions for tea more than once).

You get better at it, and the older children will sit and look at books, or TV, or play. It's not like you are doing it for hours at a time.

Honestly! DD in partic was a very quick feeder, 5 mins and done.

Well done for getting this far, it does get easier I promise.

[robinredbreast]

well i certainly take my hat off to you lovely ladies

[fairysnuff]

Someone said a baba sling helped?
Did you just wear it all the time?
Reading to throw DC2 into whenever they shouted?
I have a kari-me (great big piece of fabric, lots of wrapping and tying involved!) I can't imagine doing it quickly!
Have DD 11months and ttc next so interested in the robins question.

I was the same robin.
I was still in hospital trying to get to grips with bf and asking the midwives, 'Will it be easier next time?'
That may have been planning a little too far ahead!!

[robinredbreast]

fairyyour even worse at planning ahead than me !!

and that takes some doing

[tortoiseSHELL]

2nd (dd)was the easiest for me - I knew what I was doing, and ds1 wasn't into a school/playgroup routine.

Ds1 was hard, because of the learning curve, and I found ds2 hard because I was trying to fit feeds into ds1's school day, and dd's playgroup timetable, so ds2 had to feed when I wanted him to, rather than when he happened to be hungry. I remember stopping with ds1 to feed him wherever and whenever he needed to - particularly if shopping. By the time it got to ds2, he didn't really 'need' feeding if out - either he adapted his feeds to our timetable, or just didn't ask for them.

[robinredbreast]

thankyou for all your replies

well the reason i started this thread


was because my mum said to my sister whos pregnant

i might try a bf like nina with this baby [ my sister has two older children 9 and 5 that where ex ff]
and mum turned around to her and said

i dont think so!
in her booming voice !
youve got two other kids to consider!
you havent got the time to sit around all day!
so now i can tell mum to lay off her and pass on your commnts to my sister
im gonna be her number one champion
and give her every encouragement in the world
lol that well really p mum off

im gonna tell sister to
1 take it day by day
2 try at least to do it for one week because then the new baby will at least get the colostrum
3 make sure she feed baby every 2 hours and wakes baby up if ness[ i wish id have know this

any other things/tips i can say to my sister
to help her shes gonna need it with our mum

[choosyfloosy]

ooh your mum what a charmer eh

i was also told by my aunt that it was easier to ff with more than one child

how would she know, she only did ff? though actually it was condensed milk not formula

be a bit careful with talking to your sis though- sure you will be

you're a star

[NoBiggy]

They're 9 and 5?

They should be able to entertain themselves, and won't need taking to the loo.

Shouldn't be a problem. It's not as if she has to ignore them or banish them from the room while it's going on!

Most older kids find it quite interesting, actually.

[robinredbreast]

thanks i will be careful talking to my sister i wont over encourage her iykwim.
i always try to boast her esteem as much as i can as she needs it mith toxic mum lol

i know she really wants to bf this baby
ill tell her even if shes tries that shes a star
and even if its one feed one day one week whatever every drop counts

mums the reason she didnt do it with the older 2
and was they are 9 and 5 years old
and capable of getting themselves dressed etc
another good point ill point out next time mum starts telling her theres no way you and bf if you alrready have
other children
and loopy thats so true

[PigeonPie]

At 9 and 5 they should be able to wait on her hand and foot when she needs things! She'll need to start getting them in training now - the 9 yo can certainly start to learn to make tea, get glasses of water, biscuits etc, and the 5 yo can help

[robinredbreast]

i know the 9 yr old is esp helpful anyway

[determination]

Once the baba sling has been correctly adjusted you just slip it over your head and put baby in it.. takes less than 1 minute. Once baby is latched on i have 2 hands free. Earlier today i was building a sand castle with dd1 whilst dd2 was in the sling feeding herself! Definately a must have for my busy life!

[robinredbreast]

mum seems to think my sister wont be able to take the other 2 2 school!! wtf
it would only take 20mins max to go there and back

shes alwas trying to put her down

well not when im around she wont !!!
im glad im not at work etc i can give my sis all the support she wants
i was working fulltime when she had the other 2
as ive only just had my babe im gonna be arond alot

[fairysnuff]

Doh! Had forgotten about my ring sling!
Well, it was very late a night.

Your mum sounds just awful Robin!!!
Why is your sister getting it all in the neck?
bleugh, horrible people, I don't like them near me. Your poor sis.

Hope she steels her courage and does exactly what she wants
Everyone is right, a 9 year old is a definite help and a 5 year old their able assistant!!

I was swimming yesterday, with DD and others. One had her 9 year old niece in too. I was able to leave DD with her, in the little pool where I could watch and call if at all worried. I only had to call out once when she tried to put DD on a float but it was too near the edge for me. Apart from that, she seemed very capable and actually really good with DD. I even said I would love it if she could come every week!! Hope that helps

[Bubblz]

When dd2 was born, we got dd1 a doll, complete with carry cot, bottles, etc. so while I was bf, dd1 used to pretend to bf her own dolls or she'd try to bottle feed them. She got so good at it, I let her help me bottlefeed dd2.

[Mungarra]

Feeding second time around was much much easier. Your nipples are already like shoe leather for a start and the milk comes in quicker.

DS2 was larger than DS1 and a much more efficient and quicker feeder.

I was worried about feeding number 2, because I felt like I was alway feeding DS1, but it ended up being fine.

Mungarra

[yelnats]

I didnt manage first time round but have been successful second time round. It was really really hard initially but once we got the hang of it it is so much easier that ff. dd1 was 2.10 when dd2 was born and is a great wee helper. 9yo and 5yo will be fab at helping mummy.

[fridayschild]

The age gap between my 2 was 19 months. It was only ever a problem at tea time, when everyone was tired, DS1 was redecorating the walls with tomato sauce DS2 was latched on for dear life trying to get a decent feed and I couldn't stop DS1 as quickly as I would like because there was a baby attached to my boob

Otherwise DS1 did realise that baby wanted feeding, and he got used to reading a story with me while I was feeding his brother

but like others have said SOO much easier than fussing about sterilising - I went back to work when DS2 was 5 months old, so I was cutting down the feeds from 4 months, and the bottles were such a pest

[scienceteacher]

I think subsequent children just fit in. I found it pretty easy to manage the breastfeeding - good excuse to sit down

[ProfYaffle]

Cbeebies and a 3 year age gap!

[MrsFish]

This is a great thread for me to read as I was thinking the same thing. I bf ds1 for 6 months but felt I was tied down forever on the sofa as he fed every 2 hours and could take up to an hour to do some feeds. I am 5 weeks away from having this lo and ds1 is 2+3, I was thinking of bfing this one for a week or two but then going onto bottles, from what I have read IF it is simpler 2nd time round, I may try and give it a bit longer, will see how it goes