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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Breast feeding or bottle feeding second one

56 replies

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 20:36

I am 20 weeks pregnant with number 2 and thinking about feeding options. With my first I breastfed for 2 weeks but she lost a little bit of weight and i was never sure i was doing it right. I was so relieved she was drinking formula i never worried. She has always slept well and she is happy and healthy. Soooo with number 2 on his way i dunno weather to just formula feed from the beg. That way my partner can help and maybe the baby might sleep better or i could try breast again and hope it goes better. I have friends that breastfeed now and no where i can go for support. Do u generally think that breastfed babies dont sleep so well? I had so much milk last time as well. What are ppls experiences? Thanks x

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M0RVEN · 14/04/2018 20:41

Well it’s what you think and feel that’s important here . Would you like to try Bf your baby this time ? Most mums are more confident second time around. And even if you decided to stop after a few weeks, there are still health benefits to your baby.

As for your partner, there are lots of ways that dads can care for and bond with their baby apart from BF, so don’t worry about that.

RaindropsOnRoses2 · 14/04/2018 20:44

I BF DS until he turned 1 and he has always been a terrible sleeper (feeding every 2 hours during the night). We night weaned at 9 months and his sleep has only just started to get better at 12/13 months.
I'm now expecting no 2 and will be giving 2 bottles in the evening for a number of reasons -
DS is still so little he needs me to put him to bed instead of being stuck to the sofa with a cluster feeding newborn all evening and way into the night
I don't think I can cope doing it all on my own again
DS was a bottle refuser and still won't take any sort of milk (breast/formula/cows) from any sort of cup/beaker/bottle

I will probably exclusively BF for the first 2 weeks while DH is on paternity leave to establish my supply but after that I will start with 2 bottles a day.

Sorry, this may not help but just my personal experience!

RaindropsOnRoses2 · 14/04/2018 20:46

Just to add (because my post sounds a little negative)I don't regret BF at all. I just didn't realise how hard it was going to be and I think I got completely caught up in the whole 'breast is best' thing a bit too much! I have no doubt that I would have an amazing bond with my DS whichever way he was fed!

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 20:59

Thanks for ur responses. I think i want to try it as i no i had so much milk before. I am a bit confused coz i thought i was doing it right but mid wifes said about getting areola in the mouth as well. Since then my friends have said nonits just nipple. Maybe i might try bottles in evening to. I dont no if i could cope with being the sole feeder all through the night as well. I was quite hormonal and low the first few weeks.

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Popadoodledoo · 14/04/2018 21:03

I've breastfed both my ds. Still breastfeeding ds2 he's 8 month. Both of them are brilliant sleepers. Ds1 was in his own room from 7 month, and slept through until the morning and still does.

Ds2 who I still breastfeed, goes to bed at 9, wakes up for 1 feed at 4 then back to sleep until about 10.

I love breastfeeding. But everyone's diffent.

Good luck.

ShackUp · 14/04/2018 21:06

Breastfed both mine until 2.8 years (DS1) and still going with nearly 2yo DS2.

The advice on here is great, but you can also dispel myths by checking this website:

Www.kellymom.com

It's really helpful. Good luck

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 21:06

Wow pop thanks for that. A my friends that breastfeed seem to have babies that cant settle and dont sleep well. Thanks for ur response

OP posts:

Tinkobell · 14/04/2018 21:13

Every baby is different and every feeding experience can very. I had one bad latcher & a puker, next one was a dream! Keep an open mind, don't plan too hard. Your DD could feed your milk from an expressed bottle.

MrsChaffinch · 14/04/2018 21:14

I have bf both mine. First DC slept and napped HORRIBLY until he was 2.5. He woke hourly until he was well over one, and his napping was all over the place.

My second one sleeps really well, she did right from the start. It was such a relief after my first!

I do love bf, although I’ve been very lucky and had no problems which I appreciate isn’t the case for everyone. As a PP mentioned, the Kellymom website is brilliant.

Congrats and good luck!

BakedBeeeen · 14/04/2018 21:19

OP, the nipple has to go right to the back in your baby's mouth. Otherwise it will hurt like hell!!
I breastfed 2 children, one was a good sleeper, the other not so good. I don't think it makes a difference to their sleep!

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 21:38

So u dont need to put whole areola in just the nipple? My lo was def getting some milk i just had so much. Thanks for website advice and sleep x

OP posts:

SoyDora · 14/04/2018 21:41

Was your first gaining weight? That’s the best way to know if they’re getting enough. And to just keep feeding!
With regards to sleep, my BF DD1 didn’t sleep through the night until 3.5. My BF DD1 was a dream sleeper.

SoyDora · 14/04/2018 21:41

Sorry, BF DD2 was a dream sleeper.

DrWhy · 14/04/2018 21:42

There is some good advice on kellymom, the nipple needs to go at the back of the mouth so they get some areola in too, you want less showing below the bottom lip than above the top lip if I remember correctly.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 21:44

She lost a little bit hensmce why i went straight onto formula i was so stressed with it

OP posts:

bettydraper31 · 14/04/2018 21:47

You need to make sure baby has a good mouthful of breast so the nipple gets to the back of the mouth. If you just offer the nipple it will hurt and pull.

I am planning on bf dc2 (due any day now) as i can’t be arsed with the faff of formula and bottles whilst out and about this time. Dc1 was premature and too weak to BF for any longer than a few weeks unfortunately. Good luck Op.

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 21:52

Thats what also thought with the second might be easier to just breastfeed if it works as it might be quicker with a toddler in tow. I would like like to experience the closeness to

OP posts:

Waitingonasmiley42 · 14/04/2018 21:54

Babies losing weight after birth is really normal, so don't let that panic you if you decide to bf. I think up to 10% loss is ok. Mine lost more and there were concerns but he gained quickly when my milk came in around day 5.

Hedgehog80 · 14/04/2018 21:57

I’ve bf all 5 of my children
First four never slept or settled well but number 5 has surprised us he will have a feed around 11pm then wakes around 4 feeds and straight back to sleep till around 630/7 am!

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 21:59

She lost 12%. I was anaemic and didnt cope with the first few weeks well. All mid wives made me feel i was doing it wrong but she was latching and feeding. Every time i thought i was doing it right a mifwofe would say it was wrong abd try abd stuff more areola in her tiny mouth it was so stressful :(

OP posts:

yellowmellw · 14/04/2018 22:19

Why don't you exclusively pump then your getting the best of both works.

I done it with my first and I'll be doing it with my second on the way

Original poster

SnowWhite26 · 14/04/2018 22:31

I feel like if my nxt one wont latch or itbisnt working i will firmula feed. If they latch then i want the closeness. My lo is happy and healthy and mainly formula fed so i no its ok. I just hope for a sleepy one again although maybe my hormones won't be si raging if breast does work

OP posts:

MrsChaffinch · 14/04/2018 22:42

There’s usually great support on Facebook or bf mums, La Leche League and the like, where you can get help with latching and things if needed. And YouTube videos! Even after I bf my son, it was still nice to go over the basics when my daughter came along.

BertieBotts · 14/04/2018 22:46

You might have had an oversupply issue, if this is a problem you can express a bit off so that baby has a softer breast to latch onto and a slower flow of milk. It should settle down as your milk supply settles after the first few weeks.

Baby defo needs a nice big open mouth to latch, this might be all of your areola or just part of it - people have different sized areolas, mine got bigger after pregnancy. But midwives should not be manhandling either your breast or your baby, this does happen but it shouldn't and you can ask them not to touch you. If they only take your nipple in then they won't be able to stimulate the milk flow properly and you'll get sore and they'll be frustrated.

I would just try it and see - it sounds like you aren't too bothered either way so it's worth a go and if you don't like it, just switch to formula :)

Floralnomad · 14/04/2018 22:51

I was medically unable to breastfeed and my second baby ,who was therefore formula fed , slept well until she was about 2 weeks old and then was a complete and utter pain until she was about 5/6 years old . I don’t think we had a completely uninterrupted night until she was about 7 . So don’t make the assumption that all bottle fed babies settle well .

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