BF Issue - Moms of 2+

jillybean222

HELP!!!!

DD #2 is having some trouble gaining weight and I think it's my fault.  At night or when #1 (Ellie) is napping during the day, #2 (Abbie) latches well, feeds efficiently and life is good.  When #2 is around, I am trying to juggle 2 kids - picking up the book that Ellie dropped, opening the Play-Doh, making a sandwich for Ellie, etc. and Abbie never seems to get a good feeding in.  She gets frustrated and quits and is usually crying for food 20 minutes later, which starts the whole process all over again.  It's not fair that Abbie has to go hungry b/c Ellie needs something, but Ellie is at the age (20 months) where she doesn't quite understand hold on a minute - she still thinks the world revolves around her.  I feel like if I were FF'ing, I could quickly feed Abbie a bottle and move on with the day.   I tried pumping and bottle feeding but that is more time consuming than actually BF'ing so that didn't work. 

Any ideas from moms who have been through this?  Should I quit BF'ing all together?  Should I lock myself in a room far, far away from Ellie while I feed Abbie?  Should I do formula when Ellie is awake and BF the rest of the time?  HELP!

JARbaby

I am SO in your shoes Sister. C is 19.5 months.

I SO hate BFing this time. I try to BF Julia, sadly I let the baby cry while I make Carolines food/snack and drink. I put her at the table and sit with her and BF while she eats. Or I put on Sesame Street or music, and she loves to color. I can BF hands free in my Moby but it takes some practice and Julia is not that great of a Bfer. I have to pump after a feeding and still get 6 oz. Or sadly I do the sin and prop a bottle and focus on BFing nights and weekends when DH can deal with C.

I did do  Boob-cation where I spent an entire day in bed with Julia letting her just suck and suck all day and I got 10oz at my morning pumping and my supply has been better since.

I am also doing a formula bottle in the middle of the night on occation so she sleeps an extra hour, then I pump. 

Trying to get her on the breast 90% of the time but in reality pumping and bottle is easier. We will see, I will BF until I go back to work in April...I refuse to give up before then.

 

JARbaby

So funny how ours are the EXACT age difference minus 5 days.

C is 6/1/07 and J is 12/20/08.

HarrietNJMommy

Hang in there - it DOES get better, I promise. I'm going through this again now, only I have 2 toddlers and a newborn......

I make sure that I get B and E situated, and then nurse L. The girls are really great about playing together and letting me nurse.

When I had E, B was really great and we would do storytime while I nursed. If it was during one of her meals, then I would nurse and feed her. It took a little practice but I was able to do it.

I am not able to nurse and move around (using a wrap, sling, etc.) - I am so not coordinated for that.

GL ladies!!!!?

howleyshell

17 months differece here.

Another vote for getting the toddler settled first.

I'd get Dylan set up with mega blocks (large leggos), blocks, on the sofa with me and a book, ABC's on magnadoodle etc prior to starting.

If he got restless I'd play a lot of verbal games with him.  I'd sing to him, make him do "head, shoulders, knees and toes", etc.

IF that didn't work I'd play "London Bridge" and use my legs with my feet up on the coffee table to "lock him up" and shake him back and forth.  (also a great ab work out)

When all else failed we'd play soccer in the living/dining room while I nursed.

I promise you'll get the hang of this!  Before you know it you're gonna be an expert at entertaining your toddler with just your voice.

Another tip is to put a basket of non-noise making toys in the baby's room so you can nurse prior to nap time with the toddler locked in the room with you.

It just became part of our routine and eventually Dylan would even look up and me and make the "shhh" sign if I was coughing or making noise some how.

Oddly enough he would play with shoes forEVER in Jace's room.

GL to you!  It gets easier.

But... if you feel like FF is the way to go.... go for it and don't look back.