[karen13]

Hello all,

After my DD was born 1 year ago, I had real problems with breastfeeding.My milk didn't start to come in until the second week and to increase my levels to a mildly acceptable level (at best I could only provide half a feed and was always topping up with formula) I had to take medication and regularly pump. It was a tiring, upsetting and stressful process, until my GP wouldn't allow any more medication and I dried up.
I have just discovered that i am pregnant again and am concerned about how the breastfeeding may go the second time around, especially as I will not have as much time to pump with a toddler to run after. I would love to hear some stories from people who have attempted to BF after problems the first time, particularly from those with supply issues.

p.s. I had much support from midwives and lactation consultants; in the end my problems were put down to a low supply.

Thank you!

This post has been edited by karen13: 09/02/2013, 08:59 PM

[~Mintie~]

I've moved this to the breastfeeding area for you

[Feelin' Groovy]

I had a lot of support from lactation consultants, turns out DS had a high palate which made BF difficult. I expressed like no tomorrow, took motilium but just couldn't get much of a supply.

DS2, it was hard in the beginning and I had little support but I managed to BF my second child. At night I too thought I was unable to satisfy him so gave him a formula top up. When I mentioned this to the community nurse she advised that I kept at it and stopped offering formula. After a couple on nights our baby got the hang of it and we blissfully breastfed for many months with no need for formula (but still expressed regularly to keep a supply just in case!).

I have heard time and time again that each child is different.

I have had friends who have 'hired' private lactation consultants, if your hospital runs BF clinics perhaps you can go along before your baby is born (my sister was hospitalised with pre-eclampsia so did this a few times before her DD was born)

Good luck, don't go into it thinking it wont or can't work again

Ed to add - your first post! Welcome to EB. Am sure you will get lost of advice and reassurance here

This post has been edited by Two Sunflowers: 09/02/2013, 09:29 PM

[challice]

I had lots of difficulty breast feeding my first. He lost lots of weight, we then has to comp feed expressed milk or formula when I wasn't getting much milk. Saw lactation specialist, end up with some rare nipple shields imported from Israel because others were no good...honestly it was just ridiculous! Struggled on for months. Finally gave up and just fed him formula and he grew up 2 clothes sizes in a couple of weeks!
Imagine my surprise when number 2 latched on first go and fed with zero problems! Both number 2 and number 3 both breast fed for over a year each and never ever had a bottle!
I didn't do anything differently, just different babies!

This post has been edited by challice: 09/02/2013, 09:38 PM

[belindarama]

For me number 1 was a horrible experience and it almost broke me. No need to go into the details but he pretty much only fed from a bottle once we left hospital and nothing I tried made it better. I was exhausted from pumping and feeding and we were both unhappy. Switched to formula at 8 weeks and things improved.

I kept an open mind about number 2. Second time around things went perfectly from the first feed. Just perfectly. I never had a moment's discomfort. Not one single problem for the year we breastfed.

By the time we started going out and about at a week or two old I could confidently feed in public without even looking to make sure he was attaching. I could feed walking around, I could feed in bed, I could have fed him standing on my head. It was that easy. It was amazing and I appreciated it all the more for the struggles I had the first time round.

Good luck OP, I hope you have the same experience the second time around that I did.

[zogee]

Yes...I had a horrible experience with DD and only weaned DS about a week ago, aged 11 months I can understand your anxiety, I was really concerned about trying (and 'failing') again. I made contact with the LC in my antenatal visits and asked for their help a lot during my hospital stay. I also went to their bf clinic when DS was about 10 days old due to cracked nipples and poor attachment. Good luck, hope it works out

[karen13]

Wow, thanks ladies for your responses! It sounds as though the second can be quite different to the first.

Challice, I'm curious with your story, was it a latching issue for your first that was causing the low milk? My DD's latch was perfect, just a problem with me! If I tried to go without comping she'd be screaming by the second feed and would be so distressed she couldn't sleep.

[lucky 2]

Breasts often will grow a bit more in the next pregnancy and have the potential to make more milk.
Did your breasts grow/change in your first pregnancy?

[karen13]

Hi lucky2,

They seemed to grow a tad, but not too much. I always joked that I missed out on the good part. I'm quite small to start. It was quite unusual, I rarely had leaking, didn't have to wear breast pads except at night, and didn't have the 'let down' feeling. I did have large blue veins running along my chest though, suggesting good blood flow! So, I can produce more ducts this time around? That gives me hope

[lucky 2]

Hi, it tends to work that way with most women and it is a good sign, ie to have some breast changes as it shows the breasts are responding to the hormones of pregnancy and once again preparing for lactation.
So yes women often have a higher milk production with subsequent pregnancies (to varying degrees though).

eta, but the proof is always in the pudding so to speak, consider your breasts "innocent until proven guilty" and see what happens after the birth.
Seeing a LC prior to the birth can be very helpful as pp's have said.
All the best.