Is nursing a newborn going to be different?

[paphia]

Lately dd's nursing has been driving me up a wall unless she does it perfectly. If there is any funny business at all I get major creepy crawlies or just need to take her off. I know part of this is normal, but the thought of having a newborn on me 20 hours a day again like dd was when she was a newborn is kind of freaking me out.

Like, to deal with the nervousness I think about somehow getting this new baby "trained" to come off the breast and not need any comfort nursing. Yeah, right, I know that is silly, but I am having trouble dealing with the anticipation.

Are my hormones going to make it so I enjoy nursing again? It's slowly been fading as dd has gotten older and it's hard to remember how enjoyable it was. Is a toddler latch that much different than a newborn latch?

Any BTDT mamas want to help me out and lend me some reassurance? I was actually considering bottles on more than one occasion just to relieve my nervousness about nursing a newborn. DD *never* had a bottle even once in her life. I feel like I don't know myself.

[limette]

I haven't btdt but I'm assuming so. I stopped comfort nursing dd after a couple of months of no milk (she was around 20 months) because I couldn't stand to have her anywhere near my nipples. I still get irritated if either my dd or dh touch them. I did not have this problem when nursing a newborn so I'm assuming it's purely hormonal and will go away when I give birth...hopefully!

[rubyeta]

I think that a newborns suck is much stronger than a toddlers. That is what my midwife says anyway. Sometimes i feel totally "touched out" at the end of the day. It is not easy.

[paphia]

My dd is being really sweet - kissing my nipples and stuff instead of nursing sometimes. But I don't see how it would irritate me when she nurses and feel good like it did when she was a baby when I have the newborn on. It's weird. I have Adventures in Tandem Nursing and it makes it seem like only the toddler will get on my nerves (other than being generally touched out) if I have that problem at all. Part of me hopes that when the real milk comes back she will do a better job nursing and it will be a pleasure to nurse both of them.

[celestialdreamer]

Well my dd "weaned" a few months before ds was born but then started back up after he was born. I had been fine with her weaning the first time because of how touched out it made me feel. I was very worried that maybe I just didn't like nursing or something. I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed nursing my ds when he was a newborn. All those happy hormones really do a number on you When my dd started nursing again I found it slightly irritating but tolerable. I definitely still felt fine about nursing my ds though. I had a few friends IRL that tandem nursed I think this is a universal feeling.

[treehuggermama]

Before ds weaned himself I wasn't enjoying it as much anymore and did feel touched out by the end of the day. Now with my brand new baby I am loving every minute of it and experiencing that whole oxytocin hormone lovey dovey can't get enough feeling again I hope that you have a similar experience.

[sarahmck]

I'm nursing my 34 month old DD and am definitely not enjoying it any more. I am totally counting on all the hormonal changes making it good again after the baby is born. I'm hoping that I will even be able to enjoy nursing DD, not just the new baby.

I think I might go into labor today or tomorrow. I started getting painful contractions last night and now this morning one of my boobs started dripping. That hasn't happened in years.

[counterGOPI]

i brough this up at my LLL meeting last month and the leader told me that it will eb A LOT different with the NB. toddlers don't tkae as much of your nipple in and plus they have their teeth.
my dd is driving me a bit nuts too but im stickign with it, i was told too the pai nand creepy crawlies will go away very soon.

[schreiberwriter]

Toddler to newborn -- my experience

I had my baby (DD) almost 2 weeks ago. I weaned my toddler DS about 8 weeks ago.

My nipples were still sensitive when my DD started nursing. My nipple seemed really large compared to her small mouth (confirmed by 2 lactation consultant). Her suck is definitely more intense.

But with a proper latch, it hasn't been uncomfortable.

Plus, how else would I feed my little one? :

[pixiepunk]

it is soooo different nursing a newborn. and honestly, it's different nursing your older nursling once baby comes too. though i did find it funny how gigantically huge my toddler became suddenly - especially her head - after nursing a wee baby it was weird!

i haven't really minded nursing DS much during this pregnancy, until just here lately. and it's been driving me nuts. but i'm looking forward to getting into a routine with the little one and him that i can live with. i know it will be better once the baby is here, so that makes it easier to get through the time now. i did find it very important last time to set limits for my older nursling, though, as she did suddenly want to nurse constantly because she saw the baby nursing constantly. we had our moments, but all in all i was so glad i stuck it out - it was so easy for DD to stop nursing when she was ready.