second time mum - couldnt bf with 1st - tips and advice

[Mrs Doddy]

Hi girls

Wonder if you could help I couldn't bf with dd as she wouldn't take despite 6 weeks of trying - I really want to this time and hope this baby will be willing.

Please can you give me some tips ie how long to feed for on each side

and how do I do all this for the 1st time while looking after a 3 1/2 year old and going out

 

[lauraairving]

I'm not an expert but I usually let baby feed on each side until he comes off himself. I burp him in between x

 

[Hayley90]

Just feed on demand, and wait till baby comes off themself as long as their latch is fine it shouldnt hurt or anything x

 

[New2Bumps]

You know what, it's all in the baby! My first wouldn't latch and I gave ebm in the end (long story, many inns and outs). 2nd baby - just latched on when I put him near boob about 40 mins after birth! He seemed to have an instinct.
I put too much pressure on myself and timed everything which I think made me stress more. I went to a local bf support group which was fab (no one minds if you discuss that wierd little problem that only bf-ers would get) and also had a buddy on here who was bf a similar age baby which was no end of support!) x

 

[krysb]

i feed on demand until baby comes off himself - NO TIMING. my son will only eat on one side at a time and has been this way since birth. i have a very robust supply.

now that baby is 4mo and better at latching/feeding i can feed him anywhere i take my 18 month old. i recommend getting an ergo carrier because once baby is around 3.5 months old (has good head control) you can feed in the carrier! i can chase my son around the children's museum or park while breastfeeding...it's amazing. i try to travel with tons of snacks and preferred toys....whenever #2 gets hungry i can then stick the 18 month old in the stroller or a high chair depending on where i am and feed the baby while #2 eats his snack/drinks a sippie of milk/etc.

 

[krysb]

also, the time it has taken sam to eat has really dwindled. now at 4mo he eats about 5 minutes total! but when he was born it might take 30 minutes, sometimes even longer. just keep offering the breast...you will need help with #1 when #2 is born because you will spend hours and hours and hours feeding. but that time will pay off when you have a great supply and a baby who knows how to eat!

 

[history_girls]

I ff dd1 and I'm bf dd2.

A lot was in the baby. I had a tough birth with dd1 and was exhausted after 4 days of no sleep. This meant I couldn't think straight when it came to looking after her. I managed 3 days of bf. dd2 was a three hour labour from start to finish and I was really well rested. I was ready for all night feeding sessions. I had drinks, snacks, loads of recorded tv and I knew a lot more about it from research.

Each feed could last 50 minutes in the early days. So I made a special box of bits for my almost 4 year old. She could only have it when I was busy with the baby. She loved the new colouring, stickers, cheap toys etc... I must admit she had a lot of tv for a few weeks. I also got my oh to be my slave! Fetching me stuff, dinners, entertaining dd1, doing the nursery run but i only had in for two weeks.

Out and about - didn't go far at all in first fortnight. Then I'd go to the in laws or my mums where I could feed for 50 mins without issue. This doesn't last long - last week we managed toys r us and mcdonalds both an hour away! I just fed her in mcdonalds - she takes about 10 mins now.

Just take each day at a time and don't put pressure on yourself. My first goal was one week, then two, then six and now it's six months. And read loads about it!