37 weeks pg now, still want to bf but am worried about 19mo dd...

[mama2moo]

The more I think about it the more I worry about how I am going to cope breast feeding dc2.

I bottle fed dd as I just didnt want to breast feed. I cant explain why I just didnt want to.

She is a good girl but when she is bored she gets very naughty!

How do you do it? Dp will be home with me for 2 weeks after the birth but I am already dreading being on my own.

Help!

I had DS2 when DS1 was 18 months. I think eveyone who has a toddler worries how they will cope and tbh looking after DS2 was so much easier so most of the hard work was involved in keeping DS1 happy.

Some things that worked for us:

• Box of toys (some new) that only cane out during feeds.
• Books to hand to read during feeds. It might take a little while before you can hold easily but try to get DD to do page turning etc.
• Remote control - DS1 never watched TV until DH went back to work after birth of DS2. Used it quite a lot for a few weeks but only watched specific progs on cbeebies rather than having it on all the time so it was easy to cut back down when we were able to get out and about more easily.

Will be hard work at first but your DD is very young and will just adapt. Good luck.

DVD's and Cbeebies

Snacks and juice too...

Yup, cbeebies and snacks. Never watched it before, but after DD2 arrived, DD1 (21 months) suddenly got the treat of her life! We'd already recorded some shorter progs onto the sky+ box as well, so you could do that if you want to limit it to 10 mins or whatever (optimistic for a feed...!). To be honest, if she's 19 months, she probably won't have much concept of entire programmes, so you can just turn it off half way through if you want.

Whether you BF or FF I think you'll need these tricks up your sleeve regardless, its all part of learning how to juggle two different needs (well, three, if you count yours as well, but I'm not sure that my needs count anymore )

(whisper.... I also have a good routine (on a good day) so DD2's big feeds were usually when DD1 was asleep.....)

PS If you do BF, it is sooooo sweet when the older one starts to mimic you. DD1 now sits beside me on the sofa with a cushion and her dolly, which she 'feeds' when I feed DD2. Awwww.

Thanks. I will get her some new toys, DVDs and snacks in ready.

Fingers crossed dc2 will be good