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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Breastfeeding!

15 replies

makeupmum23 · 15/07/2017 19:51

Hello mums,

I am pregnant with my second child and would love to breastfeed again although this time around I really want to take in as much information as I can about every aspect of breastfeeding before I do it again as with my first child I felt I was completely clueless and gave up sooner than I wanted to and I really regretted it.

I was lucky enough to be able to breastfeed quite successfully from day one but found it very demanding and painful but soon learned that babies just want to feed.. A LOT! Smile however I had no idea about breast pumps/expressing/storing milk/how to increase milk flow etc etc. So after 3 weeks of exclusively breastfeeding we gave our son his first bottle of formula. I cried out of guilt but I continued to breastfeed as well as the odd formula bottle. After about 3-4 months my supply was totally gone so we stuck to formula, but this time I'd like to breastfeed much longer.

I just felt very thrown in at the deep end with breastfeeding as I had no idea it would be so demanding and hard going. I thought it would just be a simple few feeds a day with no pain.. haha, very naive. I didn't really do any research before having my son so that was my fault really!

The point of this post is to ask if you breastfeeding mums have any advice on how to make breastfeeding life a bit easier? Maybe tips on breast pumps/the manual/electronic debate? Pillows, positions, tips for night feeds when you're trying to get them to sleep through the night? Anything you found really helped you and so on. Thank you Smile

OP posts:
Biscusting · 15/07/2017 19:54

Kellymom is what your after. The website answered very question I had and was a lifesaver.

Original poster
makeupmum23 · 15/07/2017 19:56

Thank you, will check that out! Smile

OP posts:
Kiwi32 · 15/07/2017 19:58

Second kellymom. Also have a look at Dr Jack Newman on fb. It might also be worth contacting la leche league to see who they have available in your area in case you need some 'in person' help.

OrangeJulius · 15/07/2017 20:06

Personally, I found bed sharing makes night time so much easier. Eventually my baby was big enough to feed lying down, so I barely needed to wake up. Also, I found pumping a pointless waste of time. I wont be bothering again; don't see why'd you do it unless you are planning on leaving your baby.

yikesanotherbooboo · 15/07/2017 20:16

I agree about co-sleeping and , too, can't see the point of pumping unless your baby is away from you. It's an added palaver that you don't need with a newborn and an older DC.
I would( and have) carry on with older DC's routine feeding baby on demand as best you can.
Babies vary in how they take to breast feeding ... my first was an expert from day one ; second never got the hang of it and it was an awful struggle until he lost interest altogether at 7 months , DC3 was a good feeder but big on cluster feeding and good at making his needs known loudly...

yikesanotherbooboo · 15/07/2017 20:17

Sorry.. I just took a day at a time and didn't allow myself to worry about fatigue!
Walks and a sling were a help!!

Original poster
makeupmum23 · 15/07/2017 20:50

Thank you for all the advice :) yeah I see what you mean about pumps! I'm a stay at home mum to my one year old at the moment so would definitely have the baby with me all the time so maybe a pump wouldn't be necessary! I think I will co-sleep again too. ☺️

OP posts:
Bosabosa · 15/07/2017 20:54

I agree with co sleeping, slings and no pumping. Also nipple cream was a complete life saver those early weeks/ I slapped it on very liberally and it did take the edge off until the nipples toughened up! Good luck x

mollyfolk · 15/07/2017 21:01

Totally agree on the pumping. Your supply will usually meet your babies needs if you feed on demand. Pumping early on or introducing formula just complicates things. I think breastfeeding can be a bit of a mountain for the first 8 weeks but once you get there it should be plain sailing. I found learning to feed in a sling was invaluable the second time around.

babynelly2010 · 15/07/2017 22:36

Make sure you are always equipped for breastfeeding comfortably.
I am bf my 3rd now, with last 2 I never had a nursing top used hide in the bathrooms feeding. This time I am got nursing gear plus a stylish nursing cover. When I am out I just go for it anywhere any time, I feed on demand.
Co-sleeping is great, also spend some days in bed just feeding if you can.
I pumped before with my other 2 in preparation to leave to work early. This time it is all easy and relaxed with full year maternity. Although I would love to go on date with dh :-)

Junosmum · 17/07/2017 20:43

DS breastfed every 45 minutes day and night for 4 months and wouldn't take a bottle. It's was back breaking, exhausting and soul destroying. Giving a bottle can really damage your supply in the early weeks.

We're still feeding 18months later! He just won't give it up.

Frequently feeding, cluster feeding, never wanting to be off the boob, are all totally normal and do not mean you have a poor supply.

Badgerbird · 18/07/2017 12:53

Congratulations op :)

I loved the book by La Leche League the womanly art of breastfeeding. Naff name but a good read. As with everything just take what works for you from it.

I'm building up a small stash of breast milk in freezer for when I'd like to go out longer than 2 hrs without baby or incase if emergency and I need some sleep so DH can feed her. I'm not using pump though ( hated that) I'm using a naturebond. You pop it on the boob you are not feeding from and it collects drips/let down. Over a day it can collect up to a bottles worth.

Good luck and enjoy!

helly29 · 18/07/2017 13:32

If there's a large leche league group near you I'd recommend it - I went when I was pregnant and after - I found it really supportive and not judgemental at all.

Also, definitely kellymom website!

oliversmummy26 · 19/07/2017 16:38

Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt, it could be that you might need some help from a breastfeeding counsellor initially with your 2nd to go through different positions which might help you better?

I used to surround myself with pillows and cushions so that I wasn't holding the weight of the baby..Try not to go for formula in those early weeks as it will have an impact on your supply. New babies need to breastfeed at least every 2 hours or so? It doesn't mean that you're not producing enough, it's because breast milk digests quicker than formula so breastfed babies need to feed more often.

I wouldn't bother pumping initially, at least not for the first few months. There will be little point, you'll be feeding and then pumping and it will be a never ending cycle of getting milk out of your boobs! A few months down the line when baby can go a little longer between feeds, maybe pump a little once or twice a day when he's napping if you feel like it. You can build up a supply in the freezer and it can be used if you fancy a night out or DP could help out with feeds.

Definitely second co-sleeping, helps no end! Particularly once baby can feed lying down, as you barely need to wake up! Though be careful with that, I did find that once DS got to around 9 months he seemed to be waking and feeding (was helping himself by that point) just because I was there, not necessarily because he needed it. Once I got him into his own bed, he did start feeding a lot less at night..

Tchoutchou · 19/07/2017 20:46

Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt
Are you a midwife? You sound like the broken record a lot of midwives played after I gave birth Hmm

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