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February 2025 Babies
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Baby feeding plans/experiences?

noortlenoortle member
in February 2025 Babies
Hi all! I had my first baby a year and a half ago and was all gung-ho for breastfeeding, and then my baby just could not nurse. I ended up with awful nipple damage and had to pump like mad to regain my supply, we went to the lactation consultant for 6 months, and eventually at 9 months I stopped pumping and just switched to formula. I am so curious as to what feeding my next baby will be like, and I feel like I have much more realistic expectations going into it again!

I’m curious, what are your plans/expectations going into it if you’re a FTM? For second+ time moms, how have your baby feeding experiences been, and do you plan to change anything for the new baby?
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Re: Baby feeding plans/experiences?

  • luckyduck42luckyduck42 member
    Nursing my first was SO. MuCh. WORK. I saw a lactation consultant, which helped, and I pumped a lot starting a couple weeks before I went back to work. It was stressful, but we did it. It was important to me, but my husband supported my decision either was. I ended up nursing forb27.5 months.

    For this little guy, I am planning on nursing. But I'm also planning to take the rest of the school year off, and won't go back to work until mid August. I'm hoping that will reduce the stress, since I won't HAVE to also pump.
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  • lolamcarrlolamcarr member
    FTM - I am planning to breastfeed as long as possible! I’m aware there can be many challenges, though, & it may not be entirely successful. If everything goes to plan, I will breastfeed & pump, & I won’t introduce bottles until breastfeeding is established for the first month or so. Totally open to tips & tricks!
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  • taknpgmnntaknpgmnn member
    I breastfed both of my first two babies and plan to for the 3rd. I will say even though the breastfeeding went well from the start with both, I had wildly different experiences with supply. My first I was able to stop breastfeeding at 6 months and had enough milk to get her through until her first bday. With my second I had to switch to formula at 5 months because he could not handle going back and forth between me and the bottle, and my freezer stash was basically nothing. 

    As an upcoming 3rd time mom, this is my best advice for those who want to breastfeed. 1. Do not put too much pressure on yourself or have any expectations for you/baby. 2. Follow baby’s lead and remember fed is best! 3. Your nipples will hurt, crack, and be very sore in that first week - so expect nothing less!! 4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, having the right support from the very start is critical. Many moms who say breastfeeding didn’t work I personally believe (just my 2 cents) gave up too soon because they didn’t have the right guidance from people with experience (a nurse who has never breastfed will not give you the same advice as a nurse who has breastfed many times). I also think some of the “tools” hospitals often suggest like nipple shields and whatnot don’t always help and often do the opposite. Moms are designed to breastfeed and baby’s are wired to figure it out. Just takes time, patience and a lot of bonding in that first 48 hrs to get the hang of it - for both you and baby! Oh, and lots and lots of nipple cream!!! 😩
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  • knottie74beb80d3d33a415knottie74beb80d3d33a415 member
    @lolamcarr That’s such a wonderful plan! Breastfeeding can come with its challenges, but it’s so rewarding too. When I started breastfeeding, I had a similar goal, and one thing that helped me was having a good electric breast pump on hand. It gave me the flexibility to store milk and made the whole process smoother, especially during those times when my baby needed a bottle after breastfeeding was well-established.

    If you're looking for a great pump, I’d recommend checking out this collection of electric breast pumps https://www.macklems.com/collections/electric-breast-pumps. They’re lifesavers for busy moms and can really make pumping easier. Wishing you all the best on your breastfeeding journey—you’ve got this!
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  • noortlenoortle member
    A note on nipple soreness and cracking — Even though this is normal, STILL get help and support! I thought it was normal and pushed through for 2 weeks, and then the lactation consultant said I had some of the worst nipple damage she had ever seen. I am definitely planning to schedule an appointment around baby’s due date to get support and help ASAP this time!
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  • knottie74beb80d3d33a415knottie74beb80d3d33a415 member
    Oh wow, that sounds so tough! It’s such a good idea to schedule an appointment with a lactation consultant ahead of time—they can make such a difference. You’re so right that soreness isn’t something to just push through. I’m sure things will go so much smoother for you this time!
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  • tamara-mtamara-m member
    edited November 2024
    I strongly believe in the benefits of breastfeeding, but I was only able to do so for a short time with my first child. I had to return to work shortly after she's born and had to resort to pumping and bottle-feeding. Then our next problem was she rejected the many bottles we've tried. Thankfully my dear friend suggested Pigeon baby bottles, we tried it and I'm so glad we did! It was such a relief finally finding a bottle that suits her.
    I did the with my second child. Now, with my third child (who's turning 2 months), I’m working from home and aiming to breastfeed for as long as possible. And when the time comes to introduce her to bottle feeding, I'd go with Pigeon again, knowing it worked well for my older children.
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  • noortlenoortle member
    I used Pigeon bottles too!
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  • allfacestheoaksallfacestheoaks member
    tknpmn said:

    As an upcoming 3rd time mom, this is my best advice for those who want to breastfeed. 1. Do not put too much pressure on yourself or have any expectations for you/baby. 2. Follow baby’s lead and remember fed is best! 3. Your nipples will hurt, crack, and be very sore in that first week - so expect nothing less!! 4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, having the right support from the very start is critical.
    I want to emphasize the wonderful points! ☝️

    My first baby, the pain was really bad while we were still in the hospital. I asked the lactation consultant and nurses and they all said the latch was great and that "discomfort" is normal but "it shouldn't be like toe-curling pain." So they asked me "How much does it hurt?" I had just given birth, nothing compared to that! So I was like, "We'll, it's not *that* bad." Breastfeeding my baby hurt me for months, the LC wasn't helpful, she said there wasn't anything visibly wrong. I used a pump to get a break from breastfeeding and my baby happily drank from bottles. As my baby got older the pain went away and I continued to nurse her until her 1st birthday.

    My second baby was so comfortable! The first couple weeks my nipples were sore but we were enjoying his mealtimes. When he was born the midwife said "he has a strong lip and tongue tie and a high palette and it might affect his feeding." He ate great, I left his ties intact, and I breastfed him until he was eating enough solids that he didnt need my milk anymore.

    My third baby didn't have any ties and her latch was comfortable and she latched great without help from the start. She ate so much that she would spit up large amounts of milk to the point that she and me or my husband needed to change our clothes. She didn't & doesn't have anything wrong with her systems, it's truly one of her characteristics. I breastfed her until she was 7 months old because she was eating so much solid food by that point and she had 3 teeth! I learned to cut her off when I knew she had had enough when she was an infant and make her wait a while before giving her more so that she would spit up little if at all. Around 9-12 months old she would drink a lot of water and then spit up, just like she did with my milk. Family would let her drink an entire sippy cup of water and I was the one taking it away from her when I decided she had had a reasonable amount. She needed me to regulate her intake and it was frustrating with family, trying to get them to understand that although she still wants to eat or drink I'm telling them she needed a break. When I'd get caught up in conversation while breastfeeding and she'd spit up so much whoever was holding her after she ate needed to change, my family would say "Wow, that's a lot!". When she was a few months old I had enough and let my in-laws know that I prefer they not say anything about it in front of me. I know it's a lot and people needed to change clothes with her and it's concerning, but the comments were hard for me to hear. But she's almost 2 years old now so that's behind us and she can keep all her fluids down. And now the comments are "Wow, she's such a good eater. She's not picky at all!" I'm ok with that.

    My fourth baby, I'll see what he's like. I had a comfortable tie-baby, I pushed through one that was really painful and probably had ties we didn't know about, and one that was easy-breezy but I had to really pay attention to her intake. I think I'll do the same as my last 2 kids and breastfeed him until he wants the solid food rather than my milk, but keep in mind he's a unique individual and could have wildcard qualities that change up my plans or expectations.
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  • _beckywhite__beckywhite_ member
    @noortle For first-time moms, it’s essential to remain flexible and open-minded about feeding choices, as every baby is unique. As for those who have already navigated this path, reflecting on past experiences can definitely guide adjustments for the next baby. Whether it’s trying different breastfeeding techniques, exploring formula options sooner, or even combining both methods, there are countless ways to ensure a positive feeding experience this time around. Sharing insights and plans within this community can foster support and encouragement for everyone involved!
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  • mariannie_mariannie_ member
    edited December 2024
    When I had my first child, I was so eager to breastfeed because I wanted to give her the best start in life. However, I was unprepared for the challenges of my milk supply not coming in right away. As a first-time parent (FTP), I felt completely in the dark and unsure of what to do. Thankfully, my mum, mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law stepped in to help and gave invaluable tips and suggestions.

    So I fed my baby formula temporarily while continuing to let her latch regularly to stimulate milk production.
    My baby also struggled with colic during this time, which made things even more challenging. After experimenting with different formulas, we found one that her tummy liked, and I switched to air-vented baby bottles (I used ones from Pigeon), which helped make her colic more manageable.

    If you ever need to bottle-feed, you might find this quick guide helpful in finding the right baby bottle for your little one: https://www.pigeonbaby.com.au/blogs/baby-hub/finding-the-right-bottle-for-you-and-your-bub
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  • mariannie_mariannie_ member
    When I had my first child, I was so eager to breastfeed because I wanted to give her the best start in life. However, I was unprepared for the challenges of my milk supply not coming in right away. As a first-time parent (FTP), I felt completely in the dark and unsure of what to do. Thankfully, my mum, mother-in-law, and sisters-in-law stepped in to help and gave invaluable tips and suggestions.

    So I fed my baby with formula temporarily while continuing to let her latch regularly to stimulate my milk production. My baby also struggled with colic during this time, which made things even more challenging. After experimenting with different formulas, we found one that her tummy liked, and I switched to air-vented baby bottles (I used ones from Pigeon), which helped make her colic more manageable.

    If you ever need to bottle-feed your baby, this guide could be helpful for you: https://www.pigeonbaby.com.au/blogs/baby-hub/finding-the-right-bottle-for-you-and-your-bub
    Report Reply
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