B/feeding number 2

I had the opposite - success with # 1, disaster second time round. Which may not be hugely inspiring, but it is proof that every baby is different so your next wee bub may just take to the breast from day one

Great, thanks. That would be really neat thanks Becks. Good to hear you're having better success with Josh.

I am the same as Emma, fed easily first time round but couldn't do it second time!

You need to talk to caraMel.... (Mel, where ARE you?!)

I had a terrible terrible time with Paris (have written it all down in the PND thread).

With ayja, i was determined that this time IT WOULD WORK!   once she was born, it was skin to skin, with plenty of warmed towels over us both to keep her snuggly warm, and left her there till she initiated first feed, i think she had everything done while i was holding her. I was less stressed this time cos i knew how to hold her, and went to the breastfeeding talks they hold every morning at our postnatal ward.. took her with me, and also meant i met with the lactation consultant there who came and checked on a me a few times during my stay.   Ayja fed constantly and i was sure she couldn't possibly be getting enough as she was cluster feeding, but it must have worked, i got milk in really well and she didn't loose weight but went up in half and full pounds some weeks. I had great support and didn't stress too much because i knew that it was ok if she wouldn't take it then there was always the bottle but that never happened, only had bottles when i couldn't be there to feed her.

I think alot of suport helped me, but also, my sheer stubborness at making sur ei had every little bit of information i could possibly have.. helped me make it through till 15 mths with her.

With the cracked nipples etc and low milk supply. Just get someone to check baby is latched a few times while you are still in hospital with next one, whenever that is, if they aren't quite on that can make sore nipples, but also breast isn't stimulated as well so milk supply can be less. worth double checking.

so, yes, when is the next one? lol

Edited by mum2paris

Here I am, although you've been given lots of good advice already

I had an awful time trying to feed Ella. She couldn't latch properly and I was positive I was doing something wrong as the midwives at birthcare kept telling me 'if it hurts, she's not on properly' which is true, but it is also normal for breastfeeding to hurt for the first few weeks as your nipples get used to having someone madly sucking on them every few hours!
Anyway, by week 3 my poor nipples felt like they'd been grated and bled with every feed, so I gave up and expressed all of her feeds till she was 9 months old.
Second time round, I didn't feel very confident about doing it, but I knew more having talked to recently experienced mums and I made sure I let my midwife know about my troubles last time.
Skin to skin straight after birth is important, and I let Benjy find his own way to the nipple. (It was amazing!!) I got the hospital midwives to come in to watch his feeds and see if there was anything I was doing wrong, and my own midwife came each day for 3 days after we got home and stayed each time to watch a full feed so she could help if I needed it.
Purelan after each feed really helped, but a tip my midwife gave me was to use it sparingly, so bubs doesn't slip off when they try to latch.
My boobs were still raw for the first 3 weeks, but not all grated and bleeding like first time round. I did what I think it was Annie? (sorry if I'm wrong!!) suggested in another thread as well. Gave myself 1 month to try it, and when I got to one month told myself I'd keep going till 3 months, and then at 3 months said well I'll keep going till 6 months... I'm still going at nearly 9 months!
Just take it day by day at first and remember you're both learning what works for you. Good luck chick!

Jacob wouldn't feed at all off me, and coupled with no milk supply at all, we were off to a bad start. However, I went onto some milk producing medicine and expressed and bottlefed until Jake FINALLY gave in and fed off me at 6 weeks. I was on tablets for my milk the whole time, and had numerous problems in the beginning. The forst 6 weeks are the hardest, just keep aking fo rhelp till you get it. Your midwife and a lactation consultant should help you. Cracks, bleeding and pain are usually becasue baby isn't latching on properly. you have to take them off straight away and relatch. I am glad I perservered, though, I t was worth it. Feeding #2 has been a real breeze, no problems, no drugs. I'm a real breastfeeding nerd, so feel free to flick any q's my way.

I found Blessed Thistle fantastic for naturally boosting my supply. It worked in a matter of hours and boy did it boost!
There is also 'Milk Flow' spray by Naturopharm (I think) which is a natural oral spray.
Drs can also prescribe medications which help if neccessary.

Milk flow spray worked for me, supply wasn't an issue

I was on Domperidone, it rocks its ass off.

Kirst have you thought about seeing about finding a M/W  that way you have the same person right through till the end.  Maybe there is one you can have that is willing to do share care with you Specialgest not sure how this would work, but it could be worth a shot.  Oh and no gossip here not even mentioned this to DH.