Moms w/1 or more...BF ?

cafedisco · November 2016

I was lurking over on another board and they had a thread going for advice for FTMs.

One was about how much breastfeeding hurts for the first weeks or so....somehow my brain "forgot" this lovely piece of info. Is it as bad the second time around? I haven't nursed for 1.5 years and it'll be over 2 by the time this baby comes.

chelle087 · November 2016

I do remember it being painful for the first few days, but I guess once my nipples "toughened up" a bit it wasn't as bad. I also remember it being painful when my uterus was shrinking back to normal size, which I really only felt when bfing. I would imagine this happens to non bfing moms at some point too, just not sure if it hurts more in combination with nursing?

Magheeta · November 2016

My friend assured me that the second time around isn't as bad as the first. There's definitely an adjustment period, but it comes quicker than before. I feel like it took me almost 6 weeks to finally get the hang of things with DS, so I'm hoping it's a lot less this time!

allybadry · November 2016

I read an article not too long ago (I couldn't find it again) that did mention its a bit easier the second time around. The first kiddo "builds the factory" if that makes sense, so the second one is really just turning it back on. Obviously every baby latches differently so that changes things but you know what your doing this time, whereas last time neither of you did, so you should be able to work through those initial discomforts a bit faster.

M&Max · November 2016

A tip a friend told me the first time around was to start using lanolin or nipple cream around 2-3 weeks before your due date. I did it with DS and never had cracking or any substantial pain really. Just a small amount of pain when he latched but that was due to DS being difficult with his latch... let's hope this kid isn't as difficult!

shaunessa · November 2016

i failed the first time around, but I think its because I didn't try hard enough. I was like "oh, he's not taking it...oh well". So I just pumped. With this one, I really really really want to breastfeed and bond with my baby.

twistsandturnsto2 · November 2016

@shaunessa I ended up EPing too the last time. I'm planning on starting to talk to my OB now about getting more support this time and being about to actually see a LC before we leave the hospital.

chelle087 · November 2016

I also ended up "having" to EP after a few weeks with my first. I am definitely going to do everything in my power to avoid that this time. It was such a pain to have to wash all of those pump parts and bottles (which I know I will still be doing some of once I go back to work, but hopefully not in the same quantities as last time). I can't imagine having to EP with a toddler this time around. I keep telling myself that I will make breastfeeding work this time around!

cafedisco · November 2016

You mamas who EP are rock stars. It is so much work!

pammasu0909 · November 2016

It hurt more the first time, but I think DS may have had a tongue tie. I ended up EPing after he lost too much weight. I was able to EBF DD so I guess that means it didn't hurt as much

Beckyf321 · November 2016

Yes, it was painful the second time around, but only lasted about a week.

rachelmiller03 · November 2016

I'm still BF-ing my 14th month old once a day- just before bed. I am desperate to wean from this before bed feeding because it hurts like hell! It feels like the new-born latch again.

MWoodside · November 2016

I truly think it depends on the baby and their latch. DD1- soooo rough for like 8 wks. Bad. DD2- never once painful or uncomfortable. Both have ties.

pinkshades05 · November 2016

My second baby was worse because she had a terrible tongue tie and lip tie. Once that was resolved and she had some craniosacral therapy to help readjust her suck, it got loads better. She nursed all the way until last month (just after 2yo) when I've finally had to wean her.

lovelongdog06 · November 2016

For me, nipple pain was directly related to a bad latch. If latch is good, breastfeeding really shouldn't be inherently painful. Definitely not weeks. I think it always smarts a little when you're getting started, but I think a lot of women psych themselves up for it hurting and think they have to put up with cracked, bleeding nipples and awful pain because it's just part of the game...It isn't. I plan on having a list of lactation consultants on speed dial this time. I wasn't impressed with ours long term and we ultimately failed to exclusively breastfeed due to some bad advice.

jennielynn+ · November 2016

Still BFing my 1st at morning and before bed.

I figured why wean her the rest of the way when her days are numbered already. I'm not going to tandem feed.

Cook3133 · November 2016

Baby #4 took 2 months to adjust to nursing without any pain and me not having to hold my dam boob in his mouth! Nursing is work and some babies get it right away and some need work. There was days I wanted to give up but then I remember why I'm doing it and I really do love nursing my babies

herewegrow · November 2016

I didn't have too much issue with either, but #2 was much easier. My milk came in so much quicker and she didn't have weight issues like my first. I only had about 3/4 months "off" from nursing between them and I'm happy to have more like 6 months off between these two since DD2 already weaned! I think your body just remembers what to do after the first go round, just like with pregnancy

cafedisco · November 2016

It sounds like most had an easier time - hooray! I had a lot of breastfeeding issues and her latch hurt for about a year. But those first 5-6 weeks were torture. I just remember tensing up every time she would want to eat. Really hoping for an easier time this go-round but I plan to be gentler on myself if not.

rachelmiller03 · November 2016

@jennielynn+
I feel ya! I want to wean so bad. DS is 14 months, and WILL NOT go to sleep at night without either a bottle or nursing (naps are fine). I have read all about tandem feeding, and while I'm sure it works for some, I really don't have any desire. I want that one-on-one time with my new LO, like I did with DS.

KirstinH88 · November 2016

I have a breastfeeding question, that I obviously need to talk with my OB or a lactation consultant about, but was wondering if any of you super knowledgeable ladies could answer. With DS I breastfeed for 6 weeks before getting insane mastitis and had to have surgery to cut my boob open and let everything leak out. I was told after that I could not breastfeed DS (obvious open wound that had to heal from the inside out). But I was wondering if I could still attempt to breastfeed this one? Did the surgery affect my ability to produce milk?

chelle087 · November 2016

@KirstinH88 I don't have an answer to your question, but I hope that it works out if that's what you want. Mastitis is bad enough, I can't even imagine having it so bad that surgery was needed!

KirstinH88 · November 2016

@chelle087 I would love nothing more than to breastfeed and actually have a successful breastfeeding story.

MWoodside · November 2016

Oh my gosh that sounds awful. Yes, you can still BF! This happened to a friend and she didn't stop BFing after surgery. She did not BF off that side until the wound had healed, then was able to nurse in that side again although it produced less milk. The other breast made up the slack though.

cafedisco · November 2016

@KirstinH88 that sounds terrible! I can't imagine why you couldn't BF again though. I think there are things you can do to prevent mastitis if you are worried about that...might be helpful to look into!

doozenberg · November 2016

@KirstinH88, I agree with @MWoodside, you should be able to BF this time around, you just might notice that boob doesn't produce as much milk as the other one. Definetly ask your OB, but I don't see why a previous infection/surgery that has healed would prevent you from BFing this time.

smallanimal · November 2016

At first I thought the title said - moms with more than one BOYFRIENDS. I was wondering what I'd find here

Cook3133 · November 2016

So I had no problems with baby 1 and 2, but #3 & #4 brought new challenges. I highly recommend seeing a lactation consultant right away once baby is born and then again to follow up either in a month or two, or sooner if needed. We had weight issues with #4 and our pedi just said go to formula where I went and saw a LC and we needed to do some mouth massages and a few other things. My pedi was so happy that we saw her and wasn't even thinking of suggesting that route. My son refused formula so we had to nurse

NurseLaLa · November 2016

It was like night and day; so much easier the second time around.

Want a personalized experience?

Moms w/1 or more...BF ?

Re: Moms w/1 or more...BF ?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards