Breastfeeding?
Was just wondering if anyone had problems breastfeeding 1st baby but then managed to sucessfully breastfeed 2nd time around? I couldn't breastfeed my 1st baby and am in 2 minds whether to try with this one. Any advice gratefully recieved!
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this time i hope to try properly from the start. so i am wondering the same as you.
when you say you had probs doing it first time do you mean that baby didnt take to it? i kind of felt like i had no milk!!! but im not sure if thats poss.?cause she was sucking as such but nothing seemed to be coming out,
this is my first baby and i really wanta breast feed but im really worried i wont be able 2 for sum reason. is there any reason i wont be able 2?
I struggled BF for the first 6 or so weeks but then it just sort of clicked and suddenly it became almost easy. I continued to BF until my LO was 19 weeks old when I chose to stop.
It is worth persevering if you can.
Your LO is only born with a rooting instinct and doesn't know how to latch on properly, its something they learn. As the weeks go by it gets better and better because you both get used to it. Just make sure that you're eating and drinking enough and your milk supply shouldn't be a problem.
Be prepared for sore nipples, engorgement and leaking, its all part and parcel of BF but once you've got the hang of it its just the most wonderful experience.
Tori G - As far as I'm aware, there are only something like 10% of women that physically cannot BF. As long as you're healthy, well-nourished and patient there shouldn't be a reason why you can't BF.
Hope some of my waffle is useful, good luck with BF x
It probably wasn't a physical problem as such, she just seemed to hate trying to latch on and there wasn't much for her to get hold of. I didn't mean to cause anyone else to worry, sorry! I don't think there are many women who actually can't bf but I didn't have the right support in hospital as every mw was telling me to do different things and both me and Lily were miserable.
My mw says every baby is different and this one might be really good at breastfeeding, I guess you never know until your lo is here and you try .
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Crochetmom, I have to admit I would probably look twice if I saw someone bf-ing in public, as it is unusual to see, but I wouldn't be disgusted or anything...then again I hate it when people breastfeeding do it until their kids are 4 or whatever. Did anyone see that programme a few years ago about extended breastfeeding, and there was a little girl of 7 who still had a feed at the boobs? Lol...so weird!!!
You can try expressing a tiny amount of milk before latching LO on cos the suction from the machine (either battery or hand pump will work) will draw nipple out & make it easier for LO to feed.
I BF'd for 19 weeks and by the end my LO would happily feed from both sides. LO's are so adaptable that they will find way to feed.
On flat/inverted nipples, I had it explained to me like this: Imagine that your skin is made up of hooks. When your nipples are flat/inverted the hooks are really tightly held together which prevents the nipple from getting erect and popping out. The baby needs to stretch these hooks and loosen their grasp, once this is done the nipple will come out much more easily.
Hope that makes sense and some of it helps x
This time I won't feel guilty if I can't bf but I'm going to try. If I can't I will prob try and express again. I was allowed to borrow an electric pump from the health visitor which was really good- though not a lot came out! Don't think I ever got to the proper milk but at least she had the colostrum.
For something that's meant to be natural it seemed awfully difficult to me! Plus not helped by the fact that my family are full of wise sayings such as...if you were in the jungle you'd have to breastfeed...even though most of them never did!
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Thanks Lara, it makes me feel better to know that sometimes people can bf their second baby even if they couldn't first time around.xxx