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Infant feeding

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

Some advice on bf newborn with very young toddler-not bf

33 replies

littleboyblue · 23/12/2008 18:08

Hope that made a bit of sense.
Ok, so ds2 is due in 7 weeks and I'm not sure what I want to do.
I am aware that breast is best and I am aware of the reasons why.
Won't bore you all with too much detail, but didn't have the best experience in delivering ds and recieved no bf support whilst at hospital either. We got home and I continued to try. Mw told me if I still had trouble in 3 days (it had already been 3 days) she'd come back to help me. Anyway, I felt my baby was suffering as didn't think he was getting any food, so I started ff, and quite honestly I don't regret it at all.
However, I feel a bit guilty when I think that I won't even try with this one as think I owe it to him to do everything I was prepared (at the begginning) to do with ds iyswim.
But ds will only be 18m and at mo is an only child so I am anxious about jealousy issues and would like to include ds as much as poss. I don't want him to see baby latched oonto me all the time and is it likely that ds1 will be intriged(sp?) as to what's happening and want a go? Because I don't want to do that either.
I was so exhausted trying to feed last time, and don't want to go through the feelings of failure again if I can't do it.
Does any of that make sense or am I just trying to find a reason not to bf as deep down that's what I'm thinking?

OP posts:
ChirpyGrinch · 23/12/2008 23:20

I have 18 months between dd's and dd1 was bf until she was 13 months but has never asked for a bf, although she does bf her iggle piggle on occasion

I have no experience of ff but foujnd that I could take DD1 to the park or sit on the floor playing and half the time she wouldnt notice dd2 was bfing at all. I used to keep dd2 in a sling so i could latch ehr on and off without picking her up and down and dd1 didnt bat an eyelid.

PinkPoinsettias · 23/12/2008 23:30

lbb.... i've already stuck my oar in on fab feb but i just wanted to say with regards to your ds wanting to try... dd was 18 months when ds was born and remembered nursing (she stopped at 12 months) but i managed to avoid letting her without any jealousy or tantrums.

once or twice in the first weeks when she was sitting next to me while i fed ds she leaned forward as if she wanted to latch on but she was very slow and uncertain of it and i simply said 'you're a big girl now dd aren't you, you don't want mama milk do you' and she stopped.

oddly enough ds is 29 months now and still bf and i'm preg with dc3 and feel completely differant about tandeming, which is making me feel quite guilty about discouraging dd but i know that the decision was right for us at the time.... she pretty much self weaned so it's not like i forced her to stop and starting to feed a toddler when i had a new born would have been very differant to the slow transition to feeding a toddler that i had with ds. besides, i gave her bm in a cup one day and she spat it out... cheeky monkey!

i do think that this decision has to be based on what you feel is best for you and baby..... there are pros and cons to ds either way but he'll adapt whichever you choose, you need to be hppy with your decision and i've got to say personally i think you may not be able to make this decision til dc2 is born.

feeding ds was a completely differant experiance to feeding dd, your ds had reflux too iirc so i'd imagine the problems we had in the first day with our firstborns were quite similar.... constant feeding, puking, screaming, sore nipples, bleeding nipples, baby screaming on and off the breast, baby not sleeping?

ds was a completely differant child to feed, and your dc2 might be alot easier too.

littleboyblue · 24/12/2008 07:42

Yes PP exactly the same! On day 2 I wanted to give him back haha. (still do on the odd occasion )
Think you're right about not being able to decide until he is here. That's what I pretty much decided on at 3am this morning. I've also got my parents telling me they think I should ff, but lots of eye-rolling going their way anyway!
Thanx all for advice and sharing your personal experience, lots to think about there that hadn't really entered my mind. Thanx again

OP posts:
sasamax · 24/12/2008 10:10

LOL @ chirpy grinch's DD feeding iggle piggle

ChirpyGrinch · 24/12/2008 10:17

(through her bellybutton as well.....I was trying to explain but then gave up!)

VirginBoffinMum · 24/12/2008 10:18

My 3 year old asked what I was doing when I was bf DS2, and asked if he could have some, so I said yes but then he wasn't interested after that. Anyway they lose the ability to work the breast quite soon after you stop bf so I don't think he could have done it.

sasamax · 24/12/2008 10:35

Well she would have been fed through that at some point I suppose LOL

Wisknit · 24/12/2008 12:14

Hullo LLB -

Can I suggest you get in touch with a group like La Lache League or a local support group before you have this baby? They can help you with the basics and maybe avoid the problems you had with ds. If you still have problems it's easier to ask for support and help from someone you already know than to phone a stranger out of the blue.

My first 2 are 17 months apart and I'm now 32 wks w/dc3. DS2 will be 20 months when this one is born. I had no jealousy issues with BF and feel that it helped. My attention wasn't taken by making up bottles etc. One lady I know with an 18 month gap had a 'feeding box'; a box of toys her ds could only play with when she was feeding baby so it was a special time for him too. Maybe something like that would be worth a try.
This time round I'll be tendem-feeding- a whole other story.
HTH and good luck

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