B/feeding number 2
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7236
Printed Date: 19 December 2025 at 7:53pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: B/feeding number 2
Posted By: baalamb
Subject: B/feeding number 2
Date Posted: 03 May 2007 at 8:53pm
|
Has anyone had trouble breastfeeding their first child and gone on to be successful with the second child?
I breastfed Ashlee for 6 weeks and stopped due to issues with cracked, bleeding nipples and an unhappy baby (and I also tend to think low supply as well). I always wonder if I'll be in for that same trauma with baby #2. Success stories hugely welcomed 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 May 2007 at 8:56pm
|
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 -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 03 May 2007 at 9:56pm
|
Yes I did. I had a terrible time with Andrew, low supply and high demand for him. I ended up comping him with formula and tried to kid myself with still feeding him first and then giving him a bottle when I knew he wasn't getting much from me. However Josh I made sure the first feed he had was when he wanted it an hour and a half after he was born. I asked that he wasn't put onto his back after he was out as once he came out he was on his tummy on me and then went to get weighed and jabbed on his tummy/side. I have now been feeding his for 11 weeks and apart from about 50mls of water all has been from me. I am going to feed him for as long as I can or when teeth appear. I got so really good advice from Annie i'll see if I still have it and PM it to you if you want. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 03 May 2007 at 10:05pm
| Great, thanks. That would be really neat thanks Becks. Good to hear you're having better success with Josh. |
Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 9:06am
|
Baalamb is there someting you note tell us? I had a bit of trouble with Alan and gave up after a noth with Mikey i did 2 month's its a personal choice chick if you are up to giving it a go then try if not DON'T LET ANYONE PUSH YOU INTO SOMETHING YOU ARE NOT HAPPY WITH. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
|
.Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 9:16am
|
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?!) ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 9:17am
|
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?!) ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 9:35am
|
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 ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
|
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 9:43am
|
I had no problems with number one, but that was back in the days when you stayed in hospital for 6 days after you'd had the baby and feeding was properly established by then. I had loads of support from the midwives on the ward and felt really confident when I left. With number 2 I had HUGE issues, though there had been a ten year gap between kiddies, I'd been shuffled out of the hospital within 24 hours of giving birth and my midwife was useless. She didn't come home to do a visit after I left the hospital for almost a week, by which time my nipples were raw. With number 3, I had great postnatal support with a very smart midwife. I was ready to pack it all in and go for the bottle, but Connor had an allergic reaction to the formula so there was no choice but to boob feed. I think the having no choice made all the difference. I boob fed Connor successfully for 7 months.
In any case, get lots and lots of support. Just because you've done it once, doesn't mean you don't need the help with doing it again. ------------- |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 11:24am
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!  ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
|
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 2:00pm
I was wondering the same thing!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Deborah wrote:
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 2:05pm
|
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. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 4:31pm
|
Haha! Good to see the gossip and rumour mill working hard but nothing to report. And while we're not TTC yet, it'll be sooner rather than later. I just often wonder about it, that's all.
Thank you everyone for your advice/input/opinions. When I had Ashlee, there was a shortage in staff and no-one was available to come down to the OR after my c-section to help with the skin-to-skin. That upset me. She did go up to DH for skin-to-skin but it's not the same. I felt like I was on my own with feeding, and my midwife was absolutely shocking beyond words. There were a select few midwives at the hospital that were gems, but a few too many that were a bit rough in their taking care of a new mum! I think my pride got in the way also with me thinking this is meant to be a natural thing, so I should be able to work it out on my own. I won't be so stubborn next time! But it was just too overwhelming, and emotional being a 'first timer' and I felt like a failure having to ask for help (I know, I absolutely should have asked and it's not failure! But, silly me.). Those baby blues lasted a lot longer than just a few days. I'll definitely be telling my specialist/midwife (whoever I have) the things I want done differently with my care, labour and support next time. It's great to hear some success stories and I'll be doing my research and homework when the time comes to prep me for what might be ahead The 'drugs' to increase supply - are they natural? Or are there a range of them out there?
|
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 4:48pm
|
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. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
|
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 6:10pm
|
I got the milk flow tablets (naturopharm range) and haven't had to use them yet with Josh. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 8:44pm
|
Milk flow spray worked for me, supply wasn't an issue ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
|
Posted By: Anna
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 8:51pm
|
At the moment I am trying to get my supply going again, I am taking blessed thistle, fennel and fenugreek. You can also get domperidone from the doc, it is an anti nausea drug that can enhance milk production. ------------- Anna http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 9:09pm
|
I was on Domperidone, it rocks its ass off. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 04 May 2007 at 10:13pm
|
When you have your first baby your boobs make a certain amount of those wee milk things (have no idea what they are called but they look kinda like bunches of grapes in your boobs?) and when you have each next baby your boobs make a whole nother set and so you should have more milk if you can understand that.
So thats what I'm hoping for even if I get the carcks and pain again hopefully baby won't feed for as long at each feed so less pain. |
Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 05 May 2007 at 8:40am
|
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. ------------- Deborah Mum to:
|
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 05 May 2007 at 10:06am
|
I had major problems with Conor, but I stuck with it till he was 9 months old; had Mastitis(sp) a couple of times and cracked nipples the works.
With Nyah it was easy peasy; I loved feeding her, I was more aware of what I was doing, and when I got the symptons of lumps etc, I'd feed and feed until they went down. I feed her till she was 13 months. I'm hoping number 3 is just as easy. ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
|
Posted By: baalamb
Date Posted: 06 May 2007 at 11:36am
|
Wow Mel, good on you for your persistence!!
Deb, I had shared care with a specialist and his midwife, so I didn't really have a say in the midwife I got. I'll be taking Ashlee to see him this week so I might ask him what are my options for next time (seeing as I had a c-sect last time around, I'm likely to have another one next time) and in that case, I'll be asking for another midwife!!! |
Posted By: kezplanet
Date Posted: 06 May 2007 at 11:12pm
It sooo helps to have a good m/w, I had an uphill battle with Ashlyn - emerg csect so she was tired, couldn't get the latch right, wasn't told that after sect milk can take a bit longer to come in, lack of information from nurses/mw & lack of confidence/knowlege on my part for not asking although on day 3 when all she was doing was screaming & me telling different nurses that she was starving & dehydrated still no help (I used to put a drop of water on her toung & even that stopped her from screaming for a while but couldn't tell anyone that !!) then I got an infection had to be on iv antibiotics for days etc all went to custard. Had great m/w 2nd time round whom I could talk to about lots of things that led to complications for me & she was the best support I could have hoped for, & I am still breast feeding now!
Do watch out for nurses tho that 'expect' you know what you are doing 2nd time round, I did have to explain more than once to different nurses that we had problems 1st time round so this was all new to me & after that they were all very supportive - sorry about the novel but I hope it all makes sense ------------- Kerryn, Mum to Ashlyn(29/3/04), Anastasia(1/11/05) & Abigail (24/02/09) |