https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 21:46:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2335008 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 06:51:39 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2335008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had different issues, and then a whole new set of health issues and circumstances this time around that caused me to choose to bottle feed. But honestly based on the bf'ing we did in the hospital/first week I'm pretty sure if I really wanted to I could have. But due to things that happened during pregnancy and my system going a little crazy after birth, plus the job I'll be going into (and classes) and dealing with lo1, and splitting nights with dh attempting to avoid the severe ppd and ppa I had last time, I just chose not to. Ds had a much better, less painful latch though! So my nipples were much less sore even in the first few days. If my body/situation was different right now I honestly don't even think it would have been a big deal. That's not to say it would be easy but just even based on that first week I realize it could be a way different experience than I had with lo1. It can be done. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334952 Tue, 27 Oct 2015 04:39:20 +0000 mrsvdv 2334952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all, congrats with your pregnancy!!!<br /> DS1 and I had a very rocky BF relationship that left me with a lot of guilt, stress and anxiety, and when I got pregnant again, I was really worried about how breastfeeding would go. We've had our struggles but DS2 is now 15 weeks and we're still going strong! So, yes, it's definitely possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334832 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 22:46:34 +0000 Anagram 2334832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I always had a good supply, but LO 1 had a terrible latch due to a lot of issues, so I was pumping early on and EPing by the time she was 2 months or so.</p> <p>This time, LO 2 also has a crappy latch (pretty sure she's tongue and lip tied) but we are nursing successfully so far at 2.5 months with the help of a nipple shield.</p> <p>If you really want to give Bfing a go, I would bring a hand pump or something to the hospital and start pumping immediately as soon as you are well enough after birth, AND putting baby to the breast as much as possible. Both times I've pumped right from the beginning because both of my girls were jaundiced and the hospital wanted to "push fluids" and I didn't want to give formula. The time around, the LC came and helped me hand express too (I suck at it). She actually came twice to help and then my husband started helping me after (embarrassing, but whatever). I think that really helped my milk come in full force both times.</p> <p>Also, if you feel your LO has a painful latch, use a shield right from the beginning so your nipples aren't mangled. My LC doesn't recommend them, but it has save my BFing relationship, because it's just too painful without it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334766 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 21:40:03 +0000 Mama Bird 2334766@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Congrats on #2!</p> <p>My goodness, you've had an awful experience! I'd be too traumatized to try breastfeeding again after that. So if it doesn't work out, don't be hard on yourself. </p> <p>It could be much better the second time though, depending on what the problem was! Another positive story here - I barely made half the milk my oldest needed no matter what I tried, but am feeding this baby with no supplementing. My breasts didn't grow much before either baby was born, but it didn't matter. I think I made a bunch of rookie mistakes the first time, and there was also a freak reaction to fenugreek tea that made me really sick for a long time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334397 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 17:36:19 +0000 Ginabean3 2334397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did not have enough milk for my first and had to supplement quite a bit. Part of the problem was she was in NICU for almost 2 months and my supply never really got established with the pump (even though I was pumping every three hours...my boobs are just not very pump-compatible). I was so worried about breastfeeding my second one and we have had great success! She is 99% EBF with just the odd bottle of formula here or there when I am away. I do not pump because it's very discouraging for me to see barely anything in the bottle when I know she can get what she needs directly from the breast.</p> <p>Good luck! Talk to a lactation consultant! I did prior to #2's birth as well as afterwards and it really boosted my confidence. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334367 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 17:00:24 +0000 Cherrybee 2334367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Yes, it was pretty extreme! No sleep for 6 nights! I'm sure it would have contributed. </p> <p>Thanks everyone. This is really encouraging. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334315 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:55:10 +0000 LuLu Mom 2334315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep! I pumped with DD for a few weeks but switched to formula, this time I was able to actually breastfeed successfully (honestly almost too successfully due to her only wanting the breast and not taking a bottle.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334299 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 15:50:26 +0000 daniellemybelle 2334299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KatieBklyn: @littlejoy: Agreed. That group saved me.</p> <p>Tongue ties WILL absolutely affect supply even if they look like they have a good latch from the outside. Some LCs are not well trained in that. My LO has a tie and we didn't get it diagnosed until she was 10 weeks and by then I didn't want to put her through a revision. If future LOs have ties we will 100% revise right away.</p> <p>I also had a traumatic delivery and recovery which I believe contributed too.</p> <p>I know the blogger Mrs. Rabbit had low supply the first time and produced enough the second time! It's definitely possible. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334204 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:37:39 +0000 MamaBehr 2334204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Easy time nursing my first, terrible time nursing my second, ok time nursing my third. So it's possible. </p> <p>My biggest piece of advice would be to talk to your lactation consultant in the hospital. They were awesome to help me be comfortable about nursing and getting my supply up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334184 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:27:26 +0000 littlejoy 2334184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KatieBklyn: I completely agree about joining the FB group. It helped give me so much perspective on my breastfeeding failure. </p> <p>There are so many reasons why milk might not come in ... underlying hormonal issues are a big part of it. There are also issues of the proper tissue not developing during puberty. Most women in our situation have a mix of the two. I do. </p> <p>Working with an IBCLC BEFORE baby comes can help a ton. I know there are some herbal solutions to encourage breast tissue growth. </p> <p>Even though I know so much about BFing failure, and some solutions, I'll still meet with my LC before the next baby ... really, to be sure I have a plan of action for each situation (no milk, some milk, lots of milk, etc.). </p> <p>Lastly, my LC did encourage me that most women do make more milk with consecutive pregnancies, which I found a bit helpful when thinking about going through all of that again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334114 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:37:18 +0000 Kemma 2334114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: retained placenta will definitely screw with your milk supply (it's the delivery of the placenta that signals the body to start lactating) and GD can also interfere with the hormones required for bf'ing.</p> <p>Have you thought about meeting with an IBCLC before you give birth? I met with one in my last trimester and it was really comforting and confidence-building to be able to talk through the issues A and I had, and to build a plan for Felix. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334040 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:09:33 +0000 birdofafeather 2334040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: if I recall correctly, you had a long, drawn out induction with E too, right? I wonder if all that trauma to your body coupled with what sounds like a possible retained placenta and infection just added up to not being able to produce milk. Really hoping that you don't have the crazy labor and delivery this time around! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2334015 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:52:51 +0000 SproutBee 2334015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first LO, I had chronic low supply and had to supplement with formula from pretty early on until we weaned to cows milk at 1 yo. I blame it on a combo of blood loss during delivery, mild PPD, rapid postpartum weight loss (I had zero appetite for awhile, I think due to my high stress levels), and a "weak suck" per the lactation consultant. I was never able to boost my supply despite supplements and pumping.</p> <p>So far with LO #2 (5.5 weeks old), we've been going strong with good supply and good baby weight gain. I use a bottle of EBM every couple days when LO is in a cluster feeding frenzy and my nipples need a break. And he's gotten a few bottles of formula here and there when I've needed a break (when your first was fed 50% formula, the fear of formula lessens)... but so far my milk supply and everything seem fine this time around. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333997 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:39:57 +0000 Golden 2333997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had to stop Bfing my first due to a serious MPSI. Really loving being able to BF LO2 without stressing out about what I ate/how it will affect him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333985 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:35:31 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2333985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My sister was able to with her second, she still had a somewhat low supply so had to pump a bit and supplement toward the end, by it was a million times better than number one. She noticed a lot more breast growth during pregnancy and after... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333959 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:23:14 +0000 .twist. 2333959@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not me but one of my girlfriends couldn't with her first and was wildly successful with her second. Good luck! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333956 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:20:47 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2333956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yea to be honest it sounds like you maybe had some unique situations going on (placenta/infection,etc). Hopefully those are 1 time issues that if you don't have again you can have success. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333933 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:09:41 +0000 yellowbird 2333933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I have no idea!!! That is just so weird. I really hope you have a better experience with #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333921 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 12:02:21 +0000 Cherrybee 2333921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yellowbird: The doctor diagnosed mastitis and prescribed antibiotics. It took two courses to get rid of it. I continued to pump and, honestly, I promise, huge beads of sticky, yellow pus would come out of the holes in the nipple (I had about three per breast, not the multiple little holes you would expect) and I would have to wipe it off. I gave up pumping about a week after the infection cleared up when I was pumping nothing at all.</p> <p>Maybe it was a different infection?? And mastitis was an incorrect diagnosis? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333914 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:57:37 +0000 Charm54 2333914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I EP, but with DD1 I only ever made about 1/2 of her daily intake - and that was with taking domperidone to boost my supply. This time, with DD2, I make more than she eats in a day, and I'm not taking anything for supply. I actually have a freezer stash this time!! Fx your milk comes in this time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333904 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:51:50 +0000 yellowbird 2333904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I read that when you get mastitis it is actually an infection of the breast tissue and you will never actually get the infection into the "milk" so you should not have been able to pump "pus." Not saying you didn't, but that was my understanding! Sounds like maybe your milk came in and you got mastitis at the same time to me. </p> <p>When my milk came in both times my boobs were huge rock hard bowling balls. Super painful but never infected. </p> <p>Did you keep trying to pump during that bout of mastitis or did you stop? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333895 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:45:33 +0000 blackbird 2333895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Oh that's totally different then!!! I find this time, that it's basically like being a brand new total noob with breastfeeding, heh. I kept texting friends for the first few months IS THIS NORMAL, AM I DOING THIS RIGHT. Try not to stress too much! Only so much is in our hands :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333890 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:42:25 +0000 Cherrybee 2333890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I'm convinced I had some retained placenta because i passed a huge fleshy lump (light pink and like gristle) 2 weeks postpartum. I should have kept it and insisted they tested it but I didn't. When I went to the doctor, he said it was impossible because they check the placenta thoroughly after birth and would have noticed if some was missing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333882 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:38:09 +0000 blackbird 2333882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was unable to with E, but have with T. </p> <p>But i would think if you didn't produce milk AT ALL that there might be an underlying medical condition. I wonder if you could get a scan of your breasts done or something to have the tissue looked at? No idea </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333881 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:37:49 +0000 Cherrybee 2333881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: I have no idea. I was putting E to breast regularly and pumping every 3 hrs but I never saw even a drop of milk, never became engorged, never felt anything that resembled "let down". Then one day, I had chills, followed by horrific fever. Both breasts swelled into bowling balls and red patches spread until they were both red and shiny. Pus seeped from the nipples. But no milk. </p> <p>I would really love to know why. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333847 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:15:04 +0000 catlady 2333847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have direct experience with this but my SIL didn't breastfeed her first baby at all (she tried for a day or two but I know he was 100% FF within less than a week) and then she ended up BFing her second for 9 months. She said she was surprised at how easy it was the second time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333845 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:14:41 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2333845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: just curious, how do you get mastitis without the production of milk? I guess it makes me wonder if there was milk there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333843 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:12:53 +0000 KatieBklyn 2333843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd suggest joining the "IGT and Low Milk Supply Support" group on Facebook - they have a lot of resources for helping you figure out why you're not making milk and some suggestions for maximizing whatever amount you're able to produce. For instance, some women's low supply is caused by a hormonal issue that might be helped by some off-label prescription medications, or an insulin resistance issue that can be helped with a lower-carb diet. If you have insufficient glandular tissue, some people think taking different supplements (like goat's rue or alfalfa, or using natural progesterone cream) at various times during pregnancy might help. </p> <p>If you can get in touch with a doctor who specializes in breastfeeding challenges, that would be a great idea. It's so hard to find medical professionals who are educated about micro-supply, though. Dr. Jack Newman in Toronto has a lot of great resources on his website! <a href="http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/" rel="nofollow">http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333826 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 11:01:08 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 2333826@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I had a hard time nursing my oldest. I had low output, a horrible clogged duct and my milk dried up quickly and easily even with nursing and pumping. It was sad &amp; not at all what I had hoped for! We bottle fed her exclusively by the time she was 6 or 8 weeks, I'd say. I remember never being engorged or leaking.</p> <p>My youngest is almost 14 months and we are still nursing. I didn't do anything different with her. Both kids were c-section babies and both kids were immediately put to breast. Both girls were expert latches &amp; neither had any problems, but I just didn't produce milk for one! </p> <p>So, there's hope for the second time around! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/was-anyone-unable-to-breastfeed-their-first-but-successful-with-2#post-2333770 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 10:34:44 +0000 shellio 2333770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on #2!! I hope BFing works out for you!</p> <p>My issues were different - I made milk but my first DS was not able to get any of it, despite being full term and a large baby. Did not have any problems with #2 or 3 FWIW. Good luck! </p>