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Breastfeeding
dodgerfantobe
member
Expect same challenges second time around?
dodgerfantobe
member
Expecting #2 in October - for those with 2+ LOs......did you have the same challenges the second time around? I had a low-ish supply the first time around, took Fenugreek the whole time (until LO was12+ months), had a week of 'nurse in' during LO's first month, pumped after feedings, etc. to get off supplementing. I'm guessing that having done it all once before, I will have a better idea how to handle things and get off to a better start. I just wonder if supply is something that is a constant across LOs.
Thanks for sharing any experiences!
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Re: Expect same challenges second time around?
I had huge troubles the first time- DS never latched and lost a ton of weight. I wound up EPing for 11+ mos. This time around, my milk came in less than 48 hours after delivery, DD took to BFing easily, and other than a little bit of supplementing at the beginning to make sure she gained weight and I could rest, we've had no issues. DD was above birth weight at 6 days and over 10 lbs at 3 weeks. (She was 8.11 at birth)
I do think every baby is different, but this time around is SOOOOO much easier. Easier delivery, I'm so much more relaxed, and I am just more comfortable.
ETA: The best thing I did this time around was let go of my fear of the bottle and formula. We sent DD to the nursery while in the hospital, and had them feed her for 8+ hours. We slept. Even with a decent amount of bottle feeding at the beginning, girly is attached to the boob.... but will take a bottle if I'm not around.
I have to disagree with pp's advice. Formula and the nursery are NOT how to get off to a good start - it just illustrates that some babies are much more willing to breastfeed despite challenges in the first few days.
Remember that it's a 2 person relationship and 1 of them has changed. Things usually go smoother the second time, largely because mom knows what's going on. The best thing you can do is nurse very frequently (no more than 3 hours from start to start, but probably more than that) in the first month. Try to set yourself up with lots of help and lower your standards on everything else (cooking and cleaning and TV as a parenting tool) for a bit.
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I realize some may disagree with my advice- but this is what worked for us. With DS, I was so fearful of giving a bottle the first few days for fear of nipple confusion. This is what is advised too by every BFing advocate. However, because DS never latched correctly yet appeared to be doing so, and had the required output of diapers, I did not notice the other signs of dehydration and he lost enough weight to send us to the NICU for 3 days at 1 week of age. At that point he had to be bottle fed, and my supply took a huge hit. This time, I rested at night and nursed during the day, and my milk came in less than 48 hours after delivery. DD is now EBFing and I have no supply issues- in fact, with 1 pump session/day, I am outproducing her. I NEVER outproduced DS, so this is a huge feat. For me, this is what worked and she has no nipple confusion issues.
I might add that because of DS's history, this was also the advice of the LCs, and even they said it goes against their 'normal' advice.
ETA: I should clarify- I rested at night while in the hospital... we were there for 2 nights. Once home, I got up.
I had a rough go of it with DD1. She was a bad nurser, I had to force her to the breast from day 1, I never really felt my milk come in as I feel that she wasn't signaling my body that she needed it as she wouldn't suck. I pumped but never was able to produce enough not to supplement. Regardless I pumped until 9 months what little I could and supplemented formula for the rest. I tried everything under the sun too (power pumping sessions, pumping after every feeding, fenugreek, domperidone, mothers milk tea, lactation cookies, oatmeal, etc).
This time around I have a good nurser and haven't had any problems. Gained birth weight + 1 pound in 2 weeks. Up from 8 lbs 2 oz to 13 lbs 3.5 oz at 2 months. Only BM. Have 350+ oz frozen. Completely different experience this time around. I think it really depends on the baby.
It's like night and day - DS came out dying to nurse, he couldn't wait to latch on. I don't think DD had a good nursing session until almost 24 hours after birth. My milk came in less than 48 hours this time vs the 6 days first time around, which had contributed to jaundice and weight loss issues. It has been very very different.
Hoping it continues that way and I can skip the mastitis/thrush loop we got stuck in 1st time around. I haven't tried pumping yet, but I'm also hoping to have a little more luck in that dept.