2nd time + mums - how did you find bf second/third etc time round?

[insywinsyspider]

I bf ds with no problem - very proud of myself to ex bf till 7 mo and I only gave up because I wanted to get pg again
expecting no 2 and had assumed would be even easier than last time because I would have more idea about how to get started until 2nd time mum told me she had just given up feeding ds at 6 wks because it was so much more difficult - she bf ds1 till 8mo...

whats your experience? am I just being ambivilant or will it be ok? I'd never really thought about it but I couldn't imagine not bf this baby I really enjoyed it with ds.... I guess I just need some honest feedback as I don't know many bfeeding mums and those I do only have 1 dc

not due till dec but am trying to give myself some time to think about new baby in between looking after ds and working (and trying to sleep as much as poss!)

x

pretty candles comment about the cuddling is bang on though, is really nice.

Forgot to say that it will all really depend on your 1st DC and how the new bubba is as well.

My gf just had 2nd DD and managed to BF DD2 for a few months only because her DD2 was feeding every 2 hours 24 hours a day until her very last BF last week. Gf also has a DD1 who is not bad but a handful and was just too tired to do both. She switched to FF and is more relaxed, gets DH to so some 3am feeds to get some rest and so on.

BUT my other gf has 2DS and DS1 is very calm for a 2 yr old, watches CBeebies nicely whilst she BF and she is excl BF her DS2 (4 months now). DS2 feeds textbook (30 min max every 3-4 hours now - of course more frequent in early weeks and during growth spurts but no all pretty settled). She is finding it very very easy.

Much easier with dd than with ds.

Ds used to feed for up to an hour at a time, dd was on and off in about 15 mins.

Ds would watch cbeebies at feed times - worth the licence fee alone

B/f ds for 17 months and dd for 23 mths. Now pg with no 3 and hope to get to a nice round 2 years

I fed DS for 18 mths. You just have to have your strategies for feeding lined up. DD was 3 when he was born, so a bit easier than a 20 mth old. But DS fed every 2 hrs for 45 min in the beginning. So we did the following:

• read a book
• watched Cbeebies
• did puzzles
• DD fed her "baby" doll (excl. bf too )
• rolling ball back and forth
• timing how fast she could run around the house (we helpfully have a circular route in ours)
• i spy
• finding things, using hot & cold method

Just remembered another thing: I never refused any of the older children if they asked for a feed. I would say "Yes, of course you can. As soon as the baby has finished you come up on my lap and have a taste." As it happens they never did (except for my then 6yo, who once or twice had a couple of licks), but just knowing that they could if they wanted seemed to be very comforting for them.

ds1 who is now 6 was bf till 6 months, had problems with sore nipples for first few weeks but then settled and was great.

dd was also bf till 6 months and was a nightmare until exactly 12 weeks, came fairly close to giving up but didn't want to "fail" by not giving her the same good start as her brother.
looking back think i probably had mastitis but didn't have any support from midwife and hv, got through it by gritting teeth and expressing when it got to much. glad i did and was great after that.

with ds2 who is 2 months tomorrow it was a doddle, i had the positioning sorted from the start and the sore nipples only lasted a couple of weeks, which was bliss compared to dd. downside however is that he's not put on any weight on for the last couple of weeks and he's getting weighed at the baby clinic tomorrow, hopefully he's put some weight on, (have been feeding him up all week) as I would be distraught if i had to go to formula feeding. my other 2 children are hale and hearty which i've always related to being breastfed.

In a nutshell all babies are different so go for the breastfeeding, good luck and get help as soon as you have any problems or potential issues

Hello - I've found bf has got much easier with each one, I've got three. I got less self-conscious, more confident and have bf for longer each time. You do get feeds interrupted by toddler of course, but if you're confident enough you can get up, walk around, etc with lo still attached!

easier each time am on no3 now! bf until 16 mths with ds1 and dd... will see how long ds2 wants to feed for...

One of my friends told me that she b/f her 1st for 7 weeks but her 2nd for 7 months. She said she really enjoyed it and found it much easier.

I found it harder to feed dd2 and cursed my friend as I didn't find it enjoyable. Then, all of a sudden, it all fell into place and I am still b/f.

What I am trying to say is, have no expectations. And get support as you need it, use MN, I found it a godsend when I found b/f painful.

Far easier second time round - ds 1 had colic and I fed constantly on demand (with hindsight making it worse instead of comforting him). Lasted 10 weeks, and went back to work when he was 13 weeks (10 years ago). ds 2 b/f for 8 months. But I was a happier mum second time round too, had more support and was far more relaxed.