Did you/would you breastfeed again with 2nd babies?
I am curious as to whether women who breastfed their first baby did so again with their second babies. I tried to breastfeed Isaac and all in all managed 3 weeks of combination feeding. I don't think I will even try to breastfeed if I have any more babies. Just wondered how people felt about this?

hi hels i really struggled to BF with Edie. i have large boobs so dont know if this is why, or just that its not for me, but Edie had reflux so i had to feed and feed and feed as i'd fill her then it would come back out. Anyway, ramble over, next time i would try to BF but i certainly wouldnt struggle as long as i did with Edie and would swap to a bottle if i needed to without guilt.

If I am honest, my attempts to BF Andrew were half hearted. After the hassles I had with Ryan I really didn't want to do it and felt a bit bullied (even though I had told the MW in hospital that I wanted to I think I reached that decision cos I thought that was the right answer they were looking for IYSWIM). I don't mind admitting it's just not for me. I hated the scratching, faffing and uncomfortable feeling I had. So, no, I didn't BF my second for longer than a day and no, if I had anymore I wouldn't even attempt it.

I had hell of a time Breastfeeding Elliot, largely due to the fact that I didn't start until day 5 as he was in Special care and I was on a blood transfusion! I managed to feed him until 7 months (although this was combined with bottle feeding from 3 months old due to all the problems we had). However, despite the difficulties, I would definately try again but this time I would not beat myself up over it like I did last time! Em xXx

I would definately, probably because my memories of BF are good! It was rough at the time though, i stopped after 8 weeks (but carried on the odd feed until about 8/9 months) because I was tired, run down, had flu, Alfie was going through a growth spurt and constantly feeding, i just couldn't do it anymore. If I had another (and thats a big IF lol) I would definately give it a go, I often think back and miss that closeness. I would try to hold out a bit longer but if it doesn't work out, wouldn't beat myself up about it.

I would definately BF again. Mostly positive experience for me, sore nipples in the early days and toe curling pain, Jess getting teeth early and biting etc, but still really glad that I managed for 8 mths! I think it has to be your decision, like B says, some nurses try and bully people into it, and it really shouldnt be like that. Noone can deny the health benefits, so of course you are gonna try if you can or really want to, but it certainly does not make you any less of a mother if it doesnt work out.

I voted no. I fed DD for 5 months, didn't BF DS1 and tried in vain for 5 days with Ben but it wasn't to be. But why am I even answering this?? There aren't going to be anymore babies for me LOL!!

I'm definitely going to try and BF this LO the same I did with Henry. I found it a real struggle to begin with and had I not have been kept in hospital (due to emerg c-section) I don't think I would have BF at all. The help I got from the MW in getting Henry to suck once he latched on made all the difference. I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope I will as succesful BF this next time round. x

Absolutely. I would definitely BF again. But then I had a very good experience with C (he made it easy, and I only stopped the last feed at 14 months - his choice), a very helpful NCT breastfeeding counsellor who gave us lots of useful advice and information before birth, happened to pop round while I was in hospital after having C and was available on the phone whenever I needed help in the months that followed, a very helpful midwife in the hospital (trained by said counsellor), and 99.9% good experiences with feeding in public etc. TBH I loved being able to feed C and it was so much easier not having to cart bottles and formula around with us everywhere. April

I second that about the easiness April! Am just finding out what a hassle bottles are! And the whole supply thing you have to take with you! Not to mention the cost! I reckon that I have saved us at least $1000 on formula for BF for 8 months! I cant believe how expensive that stuff is!!!

As you know Rachel and Isaac had similar starts in relation to breast feeding so I too asked the same question nearly every day for 19 months until the day Brandon was born. I changed my mind so often that I didn't know what I was doing, I really didn't know if I could go through all the worry and guilt again so decided that I would see how I felt that 1st hour . My Dh was dead against me BF but said he would respect my decision. Brandon took to BF so easily and I lasted for 5 weeks solely on breast milk. At that point however he started showing that I was not meeting his needs and I stopped straight away as it all got way too scary. I'm extremely proud that I got the guts to try and lasted that long, I don't regret it at all, but also know that if I had bottle fed from day 1 I would have been ok with that decision. Sharon

I'm more inclined to try it this time but with Hana I didn't really want to if i'm honest but I did give it a go although hana wasn't interested and I felt bullied into it by the midwifes at the hospital. They wouldn't let us go home because Hana wasn't feeding properly, on day 3 we gave in and asked for formula which they made us give her in a cup not a bottle because this was more 'like breast feeding' and she had to 'lap it up like a cat' then they wouldn't let us go home because she was drinking from a cup and not a bottle WTF!, anyway we'd had enough by then and they eventually got sick of us and discharged us so as soon as we got home hana went straight onto the bottle. Actually thinking about it now has got me quite cross! I think i'd give it ago 2nd time but wouldn't put too much pressure on myself to do it. Sorry for the long rant! Cx

this isn't relevant I don't think but wanted to add: I ummed and ahhed for weeks prior to Emma whether to BF - I didn't want to, I really didn't but something kept telling me I was a bad mummy for not even 100% trying BUt at about 32 weeks after deep discussion with DH we decided it wasn't for me and I never tried. This time round I haven't even thought about it! I hope and don't think that makes me a bad mummy but gives a different perspective. x

Yes, definately would BF again.....what am i saying!! 'No dolly, no more babies for you!!!' *has word with herself!* I love having booby babies :0) dolly x ds x 4

I've voted unsure because I really don't know! Alex is bottle fed as I have inverted nipples and she is a very lazy sucker so we were a very bad combination together for BF. However if (and again a big IF) I have another I may try it again and another baby might not be quite so lazy and may sort my nipples out! Who knows...! On the other hand, Alex is doing fantastically well on the bottle, DH gets to be involved which he has loved so swings and roundabouts!