Is breastfeeding 2nd time/subsequent times still painful initially?

[Speckledfrogonlog]

Hello, this may seem like a stupid question, but I remember the initial curl toeing pain when initially breastfeeding my first until my nipples toughened up. Does your body go through the same process again subsequent times round? Or because you’ve done it before it’s not the same?

For me, it still hurt a lot the second time and for a good 8 weeks or so but you will probably have a better idea of what a good latch is so that’s something....

I had my second a few months ago, and I had pain while getting breastfeeding established (sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear). Although I did find it easier, although that mIght have been because I knew eventually it would ease and get better, plus I knew to keep a supply of lanolin cream handy

Much easier than first and established loads quicker. But still painful for a few weeks.

Yes for me, I gave up after a couple of weeks on my first 2 because of it and it was as bad on number 3 or worse but I persevered. It is a real shame when it happens.

For me it was much easier and not painful at all second time around.

Much easier and just had that wince on let-down for a second, for a couple weeks, and a little soreness for a few days. Nothing like my saga of problems first time round for about 8 weeks.

I am 12 weeks in with dc3 and it still hurts

Getting there though!

I've a two week old and stopped feeding my first 6 months ago (she was 10 months).
I still found it painful for the first week but it's settled. Take a look at (and invest in) hydrogel breast pads as they're miracle workers!

From my limited experience I think it's totally baby dependent.
First time round DD had tongue tie and it was the most miserable experience ever... nipples bleeding profusely, thrush, the works... I ended up expressing exclusively for 6mo. I was preparing myself for the worst as assumed I was in some way inadequate/unable to bf.
I had my second 3 weeks ago and thus far the feeding is going well. Some pain on latching in the first week but totally manageable and has now passed... minimal (3%) weight loss 5 days in and within 10 days back over birth weight. I'm elated!

Yes, it actually was worse for me second time around. Stuck with it and breastfed DC2 much longer than DC1 though.

Yes it was just as hard.

Hi, for me it was still painful 2nd time but I knew what to expect, what to do and that it wouldn't last forever so that made it easier.x

I found it so much easier second time round. A bad crack from just a couple of feeds where baby was poorly latched caused toe curdling pain and took 8 weeks to heal first time round but no such issues with no 2. Obviously it is quite baby dependent but the experience of your first - including knowing what a good latch is - makes all the difference in my experience.

It actually was so much easier, like if I had never stopped but TBF I did be dd1 for 2.5 years so maybe it did help,
For ds3 it has also been easy but I stopped bf dd2 6 months before ds3 was born.

Had the same sore nips and painful letdowns with all three.

Afterpains were absolute agony the second and third time though!

I think depends on your baby. My 2nd had a perfect latch (after a lot of problems with my first) and it was only painful the first 2 weeks and then settled.

It didn't really hurt either time for me nipplewise. But I didn't get as much of hard as rock painful swollen breasts the second time.

Elgin78 are you me?! I could have written your post and has exactly the same experience with dd1 (undiagnosed tongue tie, then two rounds of nipple thrush, bleeding nipples etc, then went onto exclusively pump for 6 months)

DD2 was totally different and fed so easily with no pain at all- it's definitely baby dependant imo. I've recently weaned her as going back to work next month but planning on keeping two feeds a day as we enjoy it but not the gazillion nightfeeds they can go fuck themselves!

Just as bad for subsequent 2 babies however my milk supply was much better & I was more confident as I knew I could do it!

It is just as painful and tough but you know it gets better after 6/8 weeks so it doesn't feel as eternal. Found it heaps easier than bottles with a one year old in tow

Oh yes it’s still every bit as painful unfortunately . I found it less painful the third time but that was because DC3 was a genius baby and just understood how to latch from the off . DC1&2 were terrible at latching so I ended up with painful bleeding nipples.

It's been absolutely pain free for me 2nd time around (12 weeks in), but my SIL was in excruciating pain for first few months with her 2nd (possible undiagnosed tongue tie we think).

Yep it still hurts. I found it awful for the first 3 weeks, a solid 8/10 on the pain scale, but completely fine by 5.

Only for a couple of days the 2nd time. I got much better at positioning the baby before latching which I think was the main difference.

Hmmm so it seems the general consensus is to expect some degree of pain but also child dependent! I better get stocked up on lanolin! I never had any after pains with my 1st so not sure what to expect there