Question for Breastfeeding Moms Only Please (2Nd Time Around)

A.
You will still have some discomfort at the begining but no where near as bad as the first time. good luck :)

You have a ton of responses, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents anyway. Unfortunately, the answer for me was a giant NO, it was like the first time all over again. Cracked, bleeding, scabbing nipples. But, it only lasted a couple weeks like the 1st time. Good luck!!

It was soooo much easier the second time around and by the third it was pain free. My 3 kids are 15 months and 24 months apart.

If your nipple crack and bleed, the latch is wrong. If that even begins to happen again, contact a lactation consultant immediately. If you can't find one, contact the La Leche League.
Tender nipples are normal. When you go to the hospital, make sure you make it VERY clear that you want to speak to the lactation consultant on staff. Ask the lactation consultant for Gel Pads. They are AMAZING. You put them in the fridge and then stick them inside of your bra after nursing. AMAZING! :D Lanolin also helps with the sore nipples.
Definitely talk to a lactation consultant though.

Ugh, I know the pain all to well. I only have my son, but I know the Lanolin really helps and I've read to start putting it on even before the baby is born (before you start nursing). I also, put wet washcloths with saline solution on them after nursing. It really soothed the pain. Good luck and congrats on the new baby

I breastfed both of my daughters but they were two years apart so I had a break in there where I was not breastfeeding at all. What I can tell you is that I found the second time around to be way better than the first and also much different. My first time nursing was rough. I produced enough milk to feed a thrid-world country and was constantly engorged and sore. I too, had the cracked nipples and cringed each time I was feeding until things got better. The second time around my milk was much more even-keeled and I started putting Lansinoh (lanolin cream) on during my pregnancy to soften the skin and prevent cracking. I continued to use it throughout my breastfeeding as well and it worked. You need to soften the skin of the nipple but toughen it at the same time. Stay hydrated and make sure you are only nursing 10-15 minutes per side and then switch. Don't let the baby use you as a pacifier and you are not the human dairy bar....time your feedings and get a schedule down. I usually fed about every 2 1/2 hours and then eventually took it to three hours later on. It gave me a break and also taught my kids to sleep and eat in a pattern. Don't give up. I loved breastfeeding my girls and they were happy and healthy babies because of it. I also supplemented with formula around 3 months and pumped breast milk to have my husband help out with feedings for our second child. it was easier that way and less exhausting. Good luck and I hope this helps.

They now sell a cannot live without product at almost all chain stores like Target, walmart, BabysRUs called Lansinoh( I think) it was in a tube and it was so soothing. I nursed all three of my kiddos.

You know I breastfed my first and got the dry cracked nipples, This scared me out of doing it with my second. Well I took classes and was determined to do it with my third. Here we are nearly 8 months later and still going strong. Not a single day of strawberry milk.

The class told me if that ever happened you are doing something wrong. The baby isn't latching proper, the tongue isn't in the proper place, the baby is tongue tied, the list went on and on. If you do get dry nipples you should wipe the breast milk when you are done feeding on the nipple that is a great thing to do. Make sure your breasts stay dry between feedings. Wear nice pads and keep them dry. Otherwise letting the ladies air is great. Putting Lanolin cream on them and again letting the ladies air.

If you ever get dry cracked bleeding nipples go to a local La Leche League meeting and let the ladies help. They are amazing! Those ladies will bend over backwards to help. Otherwise go to a lactation consultant and they'll help!

But you can make this work. :) I'm so happy I attended all those classes I've kept it working perfectly since day one and I've actually helped alot of my friends!

Hi A.,
For me the second time was like the first, and I was shocked. I thought my breasts would be "ok, I know what to do!" not the case! Same painful engorgement, inverted nipples, pain, cracked, bleeding skin. But like the first time, it only lasted a couple weeks and it was like it never hurt at all. Just hang in there like you did the first time.

I didn't have any cracking or bleeding the second time around. I think it was because the second time, I knew what improper latching on felt like and was able to correct it immediately. The first time around, I just didn't know! So yes, a lot of things are easier the second time around, and breastfeeding (thankfully) is one of them! Congrats on your pregnancy!

My nipples were sore with baby #2 (as with #1) but I used the Lansinoh Lanolin after each feeding to keep from getting cracked. And I did one visit to the lactation consultant to make sure the baby's latch was correct. A few weeks later I was golden. Good Luck and Congratulations!

Be sure to see a lactation consultant in the hospital. Bleeding, cracked nipples usually only happen if baby is not latching properly. Also, try applying lanolin a few weeks before baby arrives to start to soften. Congrats!

I delivered my second about 2 months before my first turned 3 and for me, it was just as "bad" as the first time around. A lot of cracking, bleeding, and sore nips for the first few weeks. Here's hoping your experience is different!

your 2nd breastfeeding experience is not going to be like your first. one of the best reasons is because you will find support, help and encouragement this time!!! i dont know what you had the first time around, but this time you need to make sure that from day one you have someone supporting you, someone who would be able to help you solve this kind of problem before it leads to bleeding! no mom should have to bleed while nursing! this is not normal.. usually its a positional thing, not getting the nipple far enough into baby's mouth, or baby being tongue tied, something like that. this is common in the first few weeks because both you and baby were getting used to breastfeeding. its hard for babies to do sometimes when they are just born. normal, proper breastfeeding doesnt cause pain or bleeding!!

i admire your strength and perserverance to continue nursing after going through that!! :) :) you will be better prepared this time. contact your local or nearby la leche league for help. :) www.llli.org. - you have to look through a list of cities that have meetings; please dont limit your search to the town you live in if there isnt a group meeting in your town. search surrounding cities too. if nothing else, contact a leader and ask if she could assist you shortly after your baby is born. most lll leaders would LOVE to assist you; even if they can just come over and do some chores for you!!

anyway, good luck and thank you for being a dedicated breastfeeder!

It still hurt second time around but it was a lot better for me. I got cracked and bloody nipples the first time but not the second. I still had pain for about a month but they never bled. So yes it was better.

I had horrible bleeding and was so sore with my 2nd. She had a lazy latch and I wasn't diligent about correcting it right away (I guess I got a little cocky about nursing b/c my 1st had done it successfully). I had a LC come and help me correct her latch and I wore a nipple shield to let my nipples heal. (I knew that my supply was adequate and that the baby was getting enough milk which are concerns when using nipple shields)

The 3rd time around I applied Lansinoh after every feeding and when I started getting sore, I put the nipple shields on to prevent from bleeding. They were a pain to put on every time but they helped protect my nipples as the baby got better at feeding which took a few weeks but I didn't have any bleeding.

Good luck.

Did you try Lansinol ointment (it's in a purple bottle with the other nursing supplies)? You don't even have to clean it off before the baby nurses. It worked so well for me that I STILL keep it around to use on cracked finger tips or cracked heals. Don't tell anyone, but my husband has even used it on his cracked heals! Wouldn't his fellow Marine co-workers get a kick out of hearing that?

It was much easier for me when I started nursing our second. I still had a little bit of pain when I first started but not nearly like the pain I had with our first. Started putting lanolin on your nipples before your baby is born. That helped me.

I breastfed all three of my children and each time it was a totally different experience. The first time, my milk did not come in for two weeks but after that the baby and I did very well. The second time, the milk came in faster but I developed a clog duct. After that was solved, everything was good again. The third baby, the milk came in fast but I did have painful bleeding cracked nipples. So, it all depends. Good luck...speak up immediately if you get in trouble. In each case, I found that the sooner I spoke up, the sooner my problem was solved.
Congratulations!

Let me say first off that I am sorry that you had to go through that! I suggest you request to speak with a lactation consultant while you are up at the hospital, or even before the birth of your child. They have great tips on how to avoid, or deal with, these types of issues. I had the same problem with my twins last year, and thankfully had a great LC to help me out. She had suggested that I use lanolin between every feed, and also suggested hydrogel pads, which were great. I would leave a bit of breastmilk on my nipple, then apply the pad right from the refrigerator. I healed within a couple of days and no longer had a problem. Make sure she comes in to check your baby's latch also, as it may just be that baby doesn't latch properly. My son, Garrett, was tongue-tied, and I was cracked and bleeding within a day. Once we knew what was going on, we had his frenulum clipped (quick and relatively painless procedure), and things have been going wonderfully since. I was doing nothing wrong, it was just that he was unable to properly latch on. A good LC can do wonders for you!

Good luck!

My two sons, 3 y, 3m apart, breastfed completely differently. My first didn't latch (too much engorgement) for the first two days, dropped over a pound, and we had to hand express milk. When he got the hang of it, about day 4, we had a great time. He nursed constantly, like every two hours, for his first four months. No pain. My second latched on immediately and sucked so hard he gave me bleeding blisters. He nursed every hour in the hospital, all night, the first night of his life--less than 8 hours after delivery. I finally had the nurses give him sugar water (THEY were sure he needed to nurse; I was pretty sure he just liked sucking) so my boobs could get a break! He has been a hard sucker ever since--when he got teeth, I had to rotate him around my nipple, not because he bit, but because he sucked so hard his teeth scraped. Anyway...every child, I think, is different; if it hurts, make sure you're proactive and get help! Talk to your doc ahead of time this time; I know they used to recommend "toughening up" your nipples; I don't know if they'd still recommend that to certain women or not.

I breast feed both my sons for the first year. I was a little sore with cracked nipples with my first and no problem with the second ( I might have been a little sore but no bleeding or cracking) I really worked with a Lactation Consultant with my first because he wasn't latching on right. For the second I prepared myself. I starting putting lanolin on every night 2 months before I was due with my second. It helped keep my nipples soft (plus my second was born in Dec) I really think this helped make a difference and make sure they latch on correctly. I used Lansinoh brand. Can't hurt.
Good luck,
M.

I would not use the nipple cream prior to giving birth. I did that with my first at someone's recommendation and I had an experience like you had with your first. Both of my children had a tongue tie but with my second I had no problems with breastfeeding. I was a tiny bit sore the first couple days but I had no cracking or any sort of visible trauma. I breastfed until my first child was 21 months old and I was pregnant with my second child. I had him when she was 27 months old so there was only 6 months between so that may be why it was easier the second time.

I still had some bleeding the second time around, however it was much easier than the first time and seemed to go away faster. The first time it took almost 6 weeks for the pain to go away. The second time it was less than two weeks. Best of luck to you!

I had my kids 3 years apart. I don't remember much cracking or pain with my first. But with my 2nd there was. She didn't latch well, and we ended up calling it quits after just a few weeks. My first nursed for 6 months, before he got teeth, was eating too many solids for b.c. to be reliable without the pill, and then I dried up.

In my experience, each nursing experience can be very different, as they are two different babies.
:) GL

I don't know who these ridiculously lucky moms are, but I certainly was cracked and bleeding at first. It wasn't as bad this time. I was armed and using ointment pretty quickly and I had some soothies (though I barely used them, they're wonderful if you've never used them), which they gave me in the hospital the first time around. As I'm sure you felt with your first, the initial pain is totally worth it in the end. It goes by quickly and your boobs will adapt! Good luck!

Bleeding and cracked nipples generally results from poor latch or 'popping' the baby off the nipple when they are done. You have already had practice and worked around the nursing. You are experience now :) With that said, consider a lactation specialist just to get things started. She may have a few tricks and tips that will help you out and make sure you don't have a repeat.
Congrats!

I am currently nursing my 7th baby and the painful nipples only lasted for a couple of days. I have found that if you use the lanolin cream it really helps with the cracked and bleeding nipples.(you can get it at Walmart and the kind I use comes in a purple tube). For me this time around I am only using it like twice a day, right after the shower in the morning and then right before bed. You may still get them, but it shouldn't be that bad this time around. Good luck.

it should go a lot better this time. congrats!

i think youll be prepared, the bleeding and the cracking is really the metamorphosis of the breast.

At least thats how it was with me.

It is so much better the second time around. Your nipples are still roughened up enough-- don't worry! Happy breastfeeding to you!

Don't know what the other mamas said...didn't read their responses. But, when I had my second I still went through the painful, suck in air every time he latched on breastfeeding for the first couple of weeks (maybe even a month!) BUT, my children are three years apart. So, I don't know if that would have made a difference. I will be breastfeeding my third (due in January) and there is a 5 year gap...so I am SURE my boobs will be hurting!
Am interested in reading what others say! Good luck to you
L.

I just had my fifth and it was just as bad as the others. Hang in there!! It'll get better!

I had cracked & bleeding nipples the first time around too - I think my son was almost a month old when I looked at my husband while I was feeding my son & said, "It doesn't hurt!!!" With my 2nd, I was a little smarter & started trying to fix his latch right away when it hurt. I didn't end up so sore, but it took us a good 6 weeks to really get in a groove. Lanolin ahead of time will certainly not hurt!

I decided to go the route of tandem breastfeeding -- and, even though I never stopped nursing from the time my daughter was born until my son arrived 18 months and 25 days later (but who's counting), it STILL hurt. I'm talking Spanish Inquisition hurt. This is primarily due to the pregnancy hormones leaving the body, and not the toughness of the nipples.

That said, I had had an excruciating time nursing my daughter, but when my son was born, I was a total badass breastfeeding expert. And this made nursing so much easier because I knew how to help him latch, etc...

So, I suspect that YOU -- and your boobies -- will have an easier time THIS time :)

my girls were 10 1/2 years apart...but my nipples were horrible the 2nd time! ask for the lacation nurse right away and they also prescribed me "Triple Nipple" on about day 3, after the rx ran out the lansinoh lanolin nipple cream was fine. Good luck!

Hi there! I just wanted to share a suggestion for dealing with cracked and painful nipples if that ends up happening. I had sooooooooooo many problems with breastfeeding but have powered through and am still breastfeeding my 16 mont old. The ONLY thing (and I tried it all - believe me) that helped heal the cracking quickly and prevent more cracking was OLIVE OIL! Put some olive oil on a cotton ball, heat it in the microwave for 5 seconds, and use some surgical tape and secure it over your nipple area. Leave it for an hour so the olive oil can really soak it. Do this after you nurse your baby, every single time. Trust me - it works better than any cream, lotion, or other potion. Olive oil has natural antibacterial agents in it so it prevents and clears infection. It is safe for baby and safe for mom. It also acts as a tenderizer, making the nipple more soft and supple which helps prevent the cracking. I would actually start applying the olive oil about three weeks before your due date, maybe two times a day. This will help get your nipples prepared for the big event! :) Good luck and congrats mama!

Nope, they are already prepared.

Get with a lactation consultant at the hospital. If you were bleeding he wasnt latching on right for at least a few feedings. My 7 week old latched on wrong one time and I was sore with a blister for a week, so it doesnt take much to hurt your nipples. A nurse can help you until a lactation consultant can get to you. Also I have 3 kids, my oldest didnt nurse well at all, after 6 weeks I couldnt take it anymore. Nothing I did helped, my youngest daughter latched on wrong 1 time and fixed herself before I could, we nursed for 1 yr with no serious issues, my 7 week old son latched on wrong once and that was it too! So every baby is different! Good luck!

I nursed all 3 of my babies and the first was the worst. With the other two I did not crack or bleed at all...my babies are 22 and 23 months apart. Good luck!

I didn't read any of the other posts, but you can't compare your first breastfeeding experience to the second. Nor, can you think it will be easier b/c it's the second time around. I'm sorry you were so sore the first time, it may be completely different this time. I actually had more trouble with my second time around, and the first time I had minor issues but never very long lasting. Noone (lactation consultants, breast surgeon, ob/gyn) could pinpoint what the problem was this time but I was in constant pain for the first 6-8 weeks. The Lansinoh works wonders and also soaking your nipples in salt water heals them quickly and soothes cracked nipples. I also was even resorting to putting olive oil on my nipples b/c someone recommended that...and it works! LOL I also felt my daughter was much rougher nursing than my son and maybe that caused some of it, or I also heard hormones can cause the breastpain. All I know is that I tried to reach out to alot of people for support, including posting questions on here. Kept trying different things and hoping it would get better and it did. About 7 weeks everything just clicked and came together....maybe my daughter started doing something differently but pain totally went away and I haven't had one issue since then. All I can tell you, is never assume it will be the same experience...but if you're committed to it, use the resources out there if/when you start to experience problems. And think of it this way, maybe your second experience will be much better given all the pain you went through the first time. :) Good luck!!

The second time around for me was simple. No pain at all. I experienced cracked nipples and discomfort with our first son for a week or two. I nursed my first son for 15 months. They are 29 months apart, and I felt like I just picked up where my other son left off when we had our second. We had no issues initiating the nursing relationship. Of course, it all depends on you and your babies. I know I was much more relaxed with our younger son, so that may have helped.