Is it possible to be able to breastfeed sometimes, but not others?

[amberskyfire]

My mother had me first and she said that her milk never did come in and she waited almost a week. She told me she had to bottle feed me because she couldn't make milk.

My brother, on the other hand, who was born five years later was breastfed until he was about a year old and she did perfectly fine - like nothing at all was wrong.

As far as she knows, there's no reason why she wouldn't be able to breastfeed with one baby, but could with another.

How does that work? Thoughts?

[Mrs-Mama]

I'm sure it is possible, although rare of course. Growing up, we had a cat that had two litters of kittens. Her milk never came in with her first litter, and sadly, all the kittens died. No problems with her second litter, though.

[ColwynsMommy]

I know that sometimes there can be things that happen during birth that cause low/no supply. It might not even be something she was aware of (if the OB didn't find it important to mention). But if it was something that happened with her first birth but not her second, I could see something like that happening.

[NaomiMcC]

A friend of mine's milk never came in. At all. Of course, the week her son was born she discovered her husband and her brand new sister in law of one week were having an affair. In fact, that sent her into labour. So, apparently, stress can affect things.

[GISDiva]

Subsequent pregnancies are supposed to build even more milk-producing tissue, so I've heard. If you talk to some of the low-supply moms here, they can see improvement with later pregnancies (but not always).

[Ruthla]

It's not clear from the way you described it whether she let you nurse on demand for a week, then gave up and used bottles, or if she was bottlefeeding and nursing from the get-go, then gave up on BF after a week because it appeared she had no milk.

It's possible there was some physical problem after your birth that inhibited milk production, but it's also possible that she *could have* BF you but wasn't able to do so due to lack of support/bad advice.

[maliceinwonderland]

My two were the opposite. I bf'ed my first perfectly fine, and could never make enough milk for ds. I'm hoping whatever caused my low supply with ds won't be an issue this time around.

[Wabi Sabi]

I nursed my older ds for almost 3 years with no real problems once we got past those first few months of learning how to BF. Now with my 2nd child, who is now 6 months old, I've had really frustrating low-supply issues. I've finally found medication that really helps and I've got plenty of supply now, but I really rely on the medication to make it possible.

[aussiemum]

FOr me personally, I had a lot of difficulties with my first child, & somewhat fewer difficulties with breastfeeding my second. However, I don't think that is the normal experience.

I know of a mum who breastfed her first three without any problems, yet her fourth baby had a lot of problems. I know she supplemented with a bottle for a few months, but do not know if she has gone back to exclusive ebf.

My point is, it is not a first or second time mum problem, low supply/ftt can happen with any pregnancy & birth.