Breastfeeding/nursing

[MissKimberley95]

Did anyone find breastfeeding was easier the second time around? I breastfed my son until he was 8 months old and enjoyed every minute of it and feel as though I remember the basics ie latching, positioning ect however I have a feeling it seems easier in my head than it actually was and wondered what others experienced the second time around, was it much easier when you had experience or was it a similar experience to the first time round? ☺️

Easy both times. First time it took about 3 days till we cracked it and I felt confident getting DC latched without having to try loads of different positions. DC2 took 15 minutes.

Unfortunately found it to be two hugely experiences! First time was wonderful and really easy, second time was much more difficult due to tongue tie etc. I think reminding yourself that they are two different babies is helpful, so if second time round is more tricky then you don’t get too bogged down by comparing both experiences. Good luck though!

First time round I really struggled. Second time round we struggled a bit to begin with, but then managed to feed until 22 months. No idea what made it easier other than temperament of my babies to be honest! My first was a very angry, impatient baby and my second was a lot more chilled.

Easy peasy! Latched on straight after birth, no issues at all, I felt like a pro 😄

I didn’t have any massive issues BF DC1 but it was definitely a learning curve in the first couple of weeks (despite, at the time, being a midwife who taught a breastfeeding class). DC2 was easier though. Didn’t have the same engorgement and oversupply the second time around. It was like my boobs had got it all figured out. And as a result of not having ‘porn star boobs’, DC2 found it easier to latch.

2nd was so much easier in every way. No issues getting baby into position for a good latch. No pain, no engorgement, no mastitis, not even much leaking at the beginning.

My second was slightly easier. Still really difficult to get a good deep latch in the first few weeks though. I thought it would be a piece of piss since I'd fed my first til he was 2 but no, horrific again for the second (just not for as long!). The main difference was that I had a lot more confidence in myself that I could do it.

Definitely easier second time round, didn’t have those first time worries - am I suffocating her?!… is she getting enough etc… I just felt more confident in myself feeding her. Although, first time I’d breastfed, I would sit down and just relax while I fed her.. second time round I had to learn to multi task! Distinctly remember DH walking in as I was feeding baby, doing DDs hair for school and on the phone to my MIL!

Much harder 2nd time unfortunately (and surprisingly) for me.

First baby latched easily and BF with no issues for 2 years.

Second baby struggled to latch and it was a real battle. Had to express and bottle feed plus give formula when she wasn't gaining enough weight in the first few weeks. However, I was adamant I'd crack it as I knew how easy BF could be and I hated pumping, sterilising etc.
Thankfully by 8 weeks she was bigger and it all clicked.