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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Is breastfeeding harder with a second baby?

27 replies

Moonshine160 · 04/03/2022 19:13

Currently pregnant with DC2. I breastfed DC1 and I’m really hoping to do the same again but I was speaking to a friend earlier who said she found it tougher breastfeeding her second than her first because she didn’t have as much time to sit down and relax while baby cluster feeds for hours etc with another child to look after and that she switched to bottle feeding because it was easier and quicker. And that the morning feed was difficult because baby was feeding for a long time and she had the school run etc to do with her eldest DC.
I am going to attempt it regardless but just wondered what other peoples experiences were with this?

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Landedonfeet · 04/03/2022 19:15

Fine for first after bit of initial trouble

Piss easy with second

Felt utterly natural

DockOTheBay · 04/03/2022 19:20

I found it much easier. I guess it depends on the age gap - my eldest was 3 so happy to sit and colouring or watch TV for a bit while I fed the younger one. It would be different with an 18-24month age gap.

icklekid · 04/03/2022 19:24

No much easier because I was more relaxed and comfortable with what I was doing! I didn’t have to do school run as smaller age gap but I think I’d make it work if need be - feed before go or wake baby early if need be… depends how long school run takes I suppose. In the tiny baby stage have you any friends who could help take your oldest to help out perhaps?

User0ne · 04/03/2022 19:27

No it isn't harder. Sometimes the needs of the 2 children will clash but that's a foregone conclusion as soon as you have more than 1.

I had a 16m gap between ds1&2 then a 3yr gap between ds2&3. All 3 bf till past 2 (well dc3 is only 11m but I assume that's what will happen).

Things I found useful: reading books to older DC while bf baby. Feeding baby in the sling so I could do things like walking the older 2 to school/nursery. TV for the kids. Supportive dh.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 04/03/2022 19:27

Much, much easier with number 2! But definitely get help with your older DC for the first few weeks. It’s important for your physical recovery to not be rushed off your feet from the day you get home from hospital. My mum and DH totally looked after the older kid(s) when DC2&3 were born, for about 2 weeks, and it made a giant difference.

stargirl1701 · 04/03/2022 19:28

I found it much easier. No PFB feeding. Even on the midwife unit at 1 day old I unlatched DD2 to eat my own lunch first!

Wheresthisgoing · 04/03/2022 19:29

I found it more difficult but mostly because ds2 was smaller, very sleepy and very difficult to get to latch wide. I ended up in tears after day 6 and ended up pumping to feed a few bottles of breast milk a day to give my nipples a break. We were still able to feed for comfort/on the go when needed but never really hit our stride. Ds1 was a total breeze.

BabyTurtIe · 04/03/2022 19:30

No much easier for me! And I feed all 4 of mine so fed one and had 3 older children. I found it easier

AchillesHeelys · 04/03/2022 19:31

My first was breastfed until she was a toddler but my second only for 3 months. I found that it was much more important for me to be able to share the load with DH/family and get support from them (particularly as DC2 woke hourly through the night for the first 4 months), it’s hard to do that when you’re breastfeeding. Switching to bottles meant that DH could take some shifts to let me sleep.

LightSpeeds · 04/03/2022 19:33

It was easier as I actually had some experience and knew what to do better than the first time. It got easier with each baby.

firstimemamma · 04/03/2022 19:34

I haven't had my second baby yet op (38 weeks now) but 2 of my friends said it was easier breastfeeding the second so I cling to that! Apparently they had better supply and were more confident.

Esspee · 04/03/2022 19:36

I found it much easier with my second. Didn't have to think about breastfeeding as I knew what to expect.
What I did do was plan things to occupy my 2 year old whilst feeding the baby. Card games, reading stories, audio books etc. I made feeding time quiet time with cuddles and he loved it.

istandwithukraine · 04/03/2022 19:38

Nope found it much easier second time around And my "second" was twins

PullingAtTeeth · 04/03/2022 19:38

I found dc2 easier to bf than dc1. Easy enough to stick the telly on for my 2.5 year old or give him a snack/read him a book etc.
Dc 3 though I found bf REALLY hard. With a 3 and 5 year old squabbling and shouting and playing loudly I didn’t get 2 seconds to sit down and concentrate on the feed which in turn led to him being a really poor feeder and he much preferred bottles!

RagzRebooted · 04/03/2022 19:40

Mine were 13 months apart and I didn't find it any harder. 3rd was fine too. Later babies just have to fit in around life.

Koalaslippers · 04/03/2022 19:40

I found it easier with dc2. Dc1 had long feeds but dc2 fed much quicker. Breastfeeding can be quick and portable, I would feed while reading books, doing puzzles etc.

madmumofteens · 04/03/2022 19:41

I found it much easier with 2nd as I was more comfortable and confident to feed on the go! I've just spent time with my niece she is formula feeding I am so glad I didn't have to do that and omg so expensive now £11+ a tin and she said 1.5 tins a week 😳

pastypirate · 04/03/2022 19:45

Not for me. It was easier because I was divorced though!

caringcarer · 04/03/2022 19:48

I found I had more milk with each child. So bf for 4 months with first child, 8 months with second child and over a year with youngest child.

Kendrickspenguin · 04/03/2022 20:28

I breastfed DS1 until he was about 2 and a half, and DS2 until he was about 3. I found it easier to feed DS2 because he was a large, healthy baby.

I have never used formula or a bottle, but isn't making up bottles, sterilizing bottles etc quite time consuming? I found that I could do activities such as reading, playing board games and colouring with DS1 while feeding his little brother. By the time he could walk, DS2 has heard DS1 read so often that he thought it was his job.

xyzandabc · 04/03/2022 20:33

Heck no. Dc1 I went to hell and back for 12 weeks trying to get her to bf. She cracked it in the end but with hindsight I should have given up at 3 or 6 weeks and not endured the utter misery it caused until she did it.
Dc2 bf perfectly from day 1, never caused any problems and just 'knew what to do' which dc1 definitely did not!

HereForTheBiscuits · 04/03/2022 20:45

I have no advice but thank you for posting this. I'm also pregnant with dc2 and was worrying about the same thing. Everyone's comments are really reassuring!

Original poster

Moonshine160 · 04/03/2022 20:58

@HereForTheBiscuits I too am feeling very reassured after these comments :) thanks everyone x

OP posts:

BobbleWobble1 · 05/03/2022 08:27

I have a 3 year gap and am finding breastfeeding much easier second time around. Mostly because I know what I'm doing which I didn't first time when it was very, very hard.

DH took 4 weeks paternity leave this time which helped me focus on getting feeding established. Preschool run etc I just make sure baby is fed in good time and then pop him in a sling. I've always had a forceful letdown so neither of mine have been long feeders. I think you're just forced to be a bit more organised regardless once you have more than one.

Nosleepclub14 · 05/03/2022 09:00

I found feeding my second so much easier. We both took to it so much more naturally. My DD was 2 weeks off of being 2 when I had DS, she quickly learnt to bring toys to me to play with or books to read whilst I was feeding!

Luckily when DS was cluster feeding DP was home to help with DD.

I fed my first until 18 months and planning to do the same for my second who is now (14 months)

Congratulations on your pregnancy

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