5 Things That Make Breastfeeding Easier The Second Time
I am so relieved and happy that breastfeeding is working with my second child.
It is hard for me to articulate the pain and sadness that I felt when breastfeeding didn’t work with my first baby, and I am really glad that I chose to give it another try in spite of my fear of failure.
There are definitely some reasons for our breastfeeding success this time, and I really wish that I had the knowledge and confidence with my first baby that I have now.
Here are the top 5 reasons breastfeeding my second child has been easier!
1. Vaginal delivery — I had a c-section due to breech presentation with my son in 2009, and the pain that followed my surgery was a major deterrent when it came to trying to focus on successfully breastfeeding. It was all I could do to function, much less devote the time and effort to breastfeeding. This time I had a VBAC, and the quick recovery has allowed me to spend more quality time with my baby and our breastfeeding relationship.
2. Experience — EVERYTHING was new when I had my first baby, and breastfeeding wasn’t the only learning curve that I faced. This time, I had plenty of practice, so I was able to jump into caring for a newborn with experience.
3. Confidence — While I still have moments of breastfeeding insecurity, I generally trust now that if my baby is gaining weight, she is getting enough milk, and therefore she is FINE. I was really obsessed with worry about whether or not I was producing enough milk with my first baby, but this time, I more confident that things are on track.
4. Support from my husband — He was on board with breastfeeding our first child too, but again, our lack of experience and confidence made us both question the decision to press on. This time, he is my biggest cheerleader.
5. Luck — Some babies just take to breastfeeding with more ease than others, and I am simply lucky that Kara seems to have a better grip on the whole thing than Evan did. Knock on wood!
Did you find success with breastfeeding subsequent children? What made it easier for you?
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So happy for you that breastfeeding is going well. I tell all my friends now that breastfeeding can actually be more difficult than the birth. It took me and my little man Luke exactly 8 weeks to properly breastfeed…we went from cup feeding to bottle feeding to breastfeeding, but only with nipple shields, and his tongue tie being fixed. It was so worth it. He’s nearly a year old and I’m still breastfeeding him! Good for you!
I couldn’t breastfeed my first, I tried and she just didn’t latch. That was 8 years ago, and to this day I KNOW that if I had stuck to it, if I had more help, then I would have been successful. With my 4-month, he’s been a pro since the beginning. I was super scared that things wouldn’t work and it wouldn’t happen, but he and I are going great with it.
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I am very excited to BF when I have a second child. Although My daughter is now 8months & still getting BM, i’m exclusivly Pumping and have been since she was 3 months old. Those 3 months on the breast were very hard and Avery had swollowing issues, although her latch was mighty good. I wont give up or give in the next child. I want to work really hard at it, pumping is NO fun. Also, the funny thing the comment about about when you said BF was worse than labor. I’m not sure if its worse, but I dont remember labor like I remember the BF pain!!!
Absolutely finding it easier the second time around! I breastfed my daughter exclusively for 4 months — but it was a struggle. Along with what you said, I also found myself under an immense amount of family related stress during my pregnancy and after my daughter’s birth. My Dad was very ill with Leukemia, and so I spent most days either visiting the hospital after work (during pregnancy) or at my parents house during the day (after my daughter was born.) I know that contributed to her not being able to relax during a feed, and to my milk supply issues. I also just didn’t have the confidence to nurse in public, or even in front of family. Thankfully, things are very different this time! My son is 4 months old and the nursing is going very, very well. I’m relaxed and so is he, he’s great at nursing and I am much more confident about it. I’ve done the research I needed to feel good about it. We spent the first few weeks of his life snuggled up on the couch just figuring things out – and it’s going great!
My 1st born (she is now 12) was in the hospital and I was really young so I didn’t even try to BF her a desition I regret to this day but I was 18 and it was 12yrs ago and there wasn’t as much help. I tryed with my 2nd (Iwho is now 4) I had a Csection with her the nurse put her on my breast during recovery and I had ivs and all on that side I asked her to help me move her to the other side, when she did she just grabed her (without letting me unlatch her) which caused her to rip my nipple, I continued for 2 or 3 months to BF her but my nipplle never healed cause she was still feeding so I stoped so I could heal so I fed her 2 or 3 months, my 3rd (she is now 3) I fed her 3 months but she had projectile vomitting so we switch her to a speical formula that is for milk allergies… I am BFing once again my son is 4.5 months and is a great nurser he was a pro from the beginning I plan on nursing him until he is 1yr old or until he is done….. It helps I had the other trial and error and it don’t hurt that I’m 30 now and alot more relaxed with the whole raising a baby thing!!!
I did find BFing easier the second time. Unfortunately, the third one is proving to be harder for me. I am currently weaning my 5 week old because I just determined that she has a milk protein intolerance. Both my others did too, and I nursed them by cutting out dairy from my diet. However, with #2 he was extremely gassy no matter what I cut from my diet. It wasn’t until I put him on special formula at 9 months that he suddenly was fine – no gas, much better sleep, etc. I just can’t bear going through that with another child, and since I have 2 others (one only 20 months old) I can’t handle a baby who is always screaming from discomfort while I figure it out. She is already doing so much better now that she is on mostly formula. So it is with much sadness that I wean her, but I know it is best for her.
Throughout my pregnancy, labor and delivery I really relied on my doula. I may give her too much credit, and maybe my delivery was just fast and easy … 2hr labor 15 min delivery… But I really am so happy I had her. I just wonder why it’s almost taboo or something to hire a doula. She helped while i was in labour, get me in position to deliver, almost had to catch my baby because I went so fast that my dr was not there until 2 sec before baby came out … She insisted on everything in my birth plan and the best was baby on my chest right after delivery, nothing else… Everything and everyone waited. Sh guided me and the baby into breastfeeding and was insistent on us having that binding feed … Baby nursed 2 1/2 hrs right after he came out of me.
Also, the la leche league book is great and so is mothering.com for all the questions!