breastfeeding after not???

[OTTMummA]

sorry, didn't know what to put as a title.

Basically, i couldn't breast feed succesfully with DS, ( now 2.2yrs old )
he was EBF through expressing for 4 1/2 months.
I was wondering if anyone who couldn't breastfeed their first, but could then for their 2nd etc allowed their first child to breastfeed if the child wanted to? but at an older age.

is this wrong, i am confused as to what i would choose to do in this position.

i desperatley wanted to BF, not just because of how much better my own milk would be, but the closeness etc. and i think i would feel guilty if i then could do it with DC2,3 etc.

please tell me im overthinking this

I'm not sure an older child would be able to breastfeed to be honest. It's not sucking like a straw, it's a kind of wave motion if that makes sense.

It sounds like you did the absolute best you could for DS, and you'll do the absolute best you can for DC2 and if that's two different things that doesn't mean it's your fault or that you should feel guilty about it.

You are overthinking it.

I only have one child and I was also unable to breastfeed and had to express for her. If I had another and DD1 is the age of your DS, ie. 2.2yrs old, I would not breastfeed her. I think at that age you're probably taking a step backwards as he should soon, if not already, be finished with milk.

Concentrate on bf DC2 and don't feel guilty about closeness etc. I'm sure you are very close and well bonded with DS1 without needing to bf.

I think I know what you mean. DD was FF from 3 months after a big struggle with breastfeeding.

I now breastfeed DS who is 15mo and occasionally DD will ask for 'some of the milk from your tummy' I just say no TBH, she is 3 and not nursed for a very long time. I did feel a bit guilty the first couple of times she asked though, but she just likes to copy him

ok thankyou ladies.

I know quite a few people who BF a second baby after not BFing their first.

My DD1 was BF until she was just over a year, then her sister came along at 18 months, she did ask for a feed now and again when she saw DD2 feeding, I never denied her and allowed her but she had completely lost the ability to latch and suck and that was after 5 months of not BFing. So I don't think an older child could learn to latch.

I did give her EBM when she was poorly though, thought it might not do her any harm and wanted her to have some antibodies.

I am currently BF my 6th dc, my first 5 were FF.

I dont feel guilty for BF this time, although if i knew then what I know now, I may of BF the others.

I tried unsucessfully to bf dd'1,2&3 so
they were all ff. Dd4 arrived when dd3 was 13 months and she took to bf'ing straight away, dd3 tried to aim for my nipple a few times mainly as she was inquisitive to what dd4 was getting but I never let her latch on.