How Did You Have Time Breastfeed Baby #3? - Chicago,IL

I didn't breast feed my first two for longer then a month...and my third I went over a year...so, so much easier after you get over the first few challenging months...so wish I would have worked harder with my first two to last longer!

Bottle feeding takes way more time the breastfeeding... at least for me...and I can't put in words how wonderful it was to have the milk ready to go at any point in time...so convenient but I also had to issues with taking out the breast to feed anywhere!

UPDATE I did pump in the middle of the night for the first 4 months cause I had an over supply (I know why I had an oversupply but still had to pump) anyhow I would pump around 6-10oz at night and it would go into the freezer and when I pumped my hubby would feed the baby a bottle of breast milk...I couldn't go the whole night without a feeding ro pumping well into 4 months and by that time my little one could go much longer them my breasts could :) by 6 months I was done pumping and my supply was spot on for her needs

I never pumped regularly, I don't even understand that. How social are you that you have to have a huge supply for when you are out? When we went out the last thing I did was fed them. There was one bottle pumped from that day just in case and then the first thing I did when I returned was feed the little dear.

I had no trouble nursing all four of them and that was with a busy and somewhat crazy soccer schedule my daughter had. Heck nursing made it easier. Tinted windows in the back of my van coupled with AC, perfect place to nurse while she practiced or played a game. Not sure how I could have done it with bottles to deal with.

I would suggest you take a look at your social schedule because that seems to be the problem, not nursing a third child.

God gave most of us 2 arms for a reason (granted, I'd love an extra pair, but whatever). By baby #3, it wasn't the bonding it was with 1 and 2, it was stricly, 'alright kid, feeding time'. I would literally walk around my house nursing most of the time, or be sitting on the couch typing out work with the other hand.

Pumping and freezer bags will be your friend. Get your older kids to be your helpers. After every nursing session, I'd pump. Sometimes, nothing came out, but the more demand the more your body will supply, and you'll start producing more so you have a nice stock pile. Formula is not evil; use it when need be.

It's work, but SO rewarding! I actually nursed #3 longer than the first 2!! It's not impossible, good luck :)

Baby gates!! Fence him in!! Seriously- these have been life savers for me. Create a large enough space that he has room to roam and play but small enough to eliminate hazards and stairs. We bought 3 so we can fence off our famliy room entirely as needed. I could sit on the couch and nurse the baby while my 3 year old played.
Also, do not be too proud to use the TV. I have blessed Elmo's furry little butt many a time for buying me a few minutes to nurse in peace!

I never pumped, my kids are only 11 mos apart. I nursed the youngest till he was 2.
I made the oldest fit into my new schedule.
You are the captain of your ship.
You will figure it out.
If you feel that breastfeeding is more of chore than a bottle is, I find that confusing.... I thought it was so much easier. I had to put my oldest on bottles at 6mos since I was pregnant, and the bottle thing was a pain in the neck. Baby number 2 never touched a bottle.
Moms with infants are not expected to have a normal life for awhile, so don't put too much pressure on yourself. There will be plenty of time to get back on the social wagon.

My twins were 2.5 when my daughter was born this past June. First of all, do not pump after every feeding. That's part of the stress. I, too, wanted to build up a store in the freezer. I pumped every morning right after the first feeding of the day, and that's it. By doing that each morning, I built up enough milk for when I would eventually return to work at 12 weeks.

Have a basket of special activities and toys for your two-year-old to play with while you breastfeed. I would actually read books to my twins while I breastfed my daughter. And, TV is something I'll admit to using. As long as it's educational, your son will be fine. I also would take them outside in the backyard to play while I nursed.

If you are determined enough, you'll find ways to make it work. And, if it doesn't, don't beat yourself up. Do what's best for everyone. Good luck!

it can be accomplished with time, effort, & patience. & the time will fly!

there is also nothing wrong with having to supplement. I had a baby in my daycare who was breastfed at home, but did formula only with me. Mom continued to pump, even at work.....& the baby did get breast milk for about 9 months. The reason for all of this....Mom's supply just couldn't cover 24 hours/day!

So to help you feel better about your worries, I have a story. One of my childhood friends is 46 (or so). She has 6 kids between 1 & 5....

I did not have 3 children, but I would like to encourage you to nurse, it actually takes less time than dealing with preparing bottles and washing them. I would skip trying to pump for a while, them maybe pump once at night. If you don't have enough milk pumped, you could supplement with formula when you want to be away.

If your 2 year old can't be trusted long enough for you to sit down and nurse, just prep a place that is child proofed and contain him. Either a playpen or a room with a gate. It's a good idea to do that now for periods of time. He is old enough to understand that you must have him secure when you are not able to be with him and it is his choice. Explain that you will be busy for 15 minutes and he will be in a safe place and when he is ready to be trusted for a while, you won't have to do that. Be matter of fact about this being his choice. I had a 2 year old that would just open the door to the outside and leave. I put chains up high on the doors and explained that they would be used until she was old enough to ask to go outside and wait for permission. After a while she told me I didn't need to use them anymore. She completely understood but it took her a few months to gain control.

The best advice my friend with four children gave me when I had my second was...use the tv and do not feel guilty about it.

Just find shows or dvds that are acceptable to you and tuck the toddler under your other arm to watch the tv while you nurse.

My son got so excited when it was time to feed sister...he would run to turn on the tv and then snuggle up to cuddle while I fed baby. It was a win win win.

I'm an on-the-go nurser! I'd be lost without a sling that I can pop DS3 in and nurse him while I'm cooking, reading, taking care of the house, pushing swings on the playground, and everything else.

Good luck with your new arrival!

I didn't pump at all, until I went back to work PT and it was necessary for my comfort to pump once a day. I guess I didn't expect to have a social life while nursing. If we went out, baby went with us and nursed as necessary.

"Back to Basics Discipline" by Janet Campbell Matson. You do not have to give chase all day to your 2 year old. Now's the time to get him in check before #3 arrives. My third was BEYOND spirited, but by two, even she knew the rules. Two year olds are spirited and difficult, but they are also EXTREMELY fast learners if you are clear and firm. You CAN take a few minutes to nurse or pump without your two-year-old burning down the house. Try not to worry! I nursed all three of mine, two years apart. My husband is NEVER home. What momma says goes. When you need to nurse or pump, you do. Nursing and feedings were "Welcome breaks" in which the kids knew momma was feeding the baby and that was that.

If you don't want to discipline firmly enough to effectively enforce boundaries, then employ a playpen for nursing times and let him scream if he has to. Honest, you can do this!

Just want to say hang in there - you can do it. Rachel has a very good post for you. I too actually nursed the youngest one much longer, # 4 for one year. In the bigger picture it will become easier with time and be So much better for you and baby. Plus, at # 3 you are so much more confident as a mother and this makes a big difference.

Get some help with the 2 year old, maybe a sister, neighbor, etc. Maybe someone can take him for an outing to their house a couple times a week, this may help a lot. Get him to be a helper and have him join in with the whole life of it.

The best to you and your's and your sweet new one sent from Heaven

I have 3 kids and actually I had my third baby while my hubby was still serving in Iraq! yes for the first 6 months of my 3rd baby's life I was a single parent and I nursed her. Never supplemented and never pumped. If I went out with my girl friends to dinner or shopping or something I just got a sitter for my older two kids (who were 4 and 2 at the time) and that baby came with me. I just fed her when she was hungry. Yes you do have make time to nurse your baby and take care of your house and other kiddos but it's doable. I wouldn't pump so much. Maybe just pump once a day...like when your other 2 are in bed for the night. Do that and you would gain a small supply of milk for those times you really want to get out without any kids. But you'll make it work. Try turning on a movie for your 2 year old when the baby needs to nurse. Or you can have a special toy basket filled with books, puzzles, toy cars, coloring books etc. that your 2 year old can only play with while you are nursing your baby. Also if you are worried about your son running to other parts of the house while you are nursing then get a baby gate to keep him down stairs. Or get the child proof locks and put that on any doors you don't want him getting into like the bathrooms, kitchen cupboards etc. Really it's not that hard. You'll figure it out. :) If I can do it alone with a 4 year old, 2 year old and infant and have to have c-sections! Then anyone can do it! :)

I had my third child last May. So all 3 home with me. Very little help as my husband and i seperated shortly before baby was born. The baby was in NICU for 2 weeks. I pumped every 2 to 3 hours night and day those first 2 weeks. I also spent 5 to 8 hours at the hospital.
I had a 2 1/2 yr old and a 7 yr old at the time. Yes it was very difficult specially with my baby not knowing how to nurse, but i was dedicated to him catching on and he did. I have pictures of me with the baby nursing and my 2 yr old on my lap. It can be done. Even though i didnt like it my 2 yr old was occupied by the TV for the half hr nursing sessions. Not ideal but i did what i had to. Put up baby gates. GIve the 2 yr old snacks while you nurse. I'm still breastfeeding and still have frozen milk from pumping so much. I had to send bottles with his dad when he took him. I did pump sometimes if e desiced to sleep a little longer, but usually i was too exausted.
You can do it!

You've gotten a lot of great advice. I am probably going to reiterate some of the tips already but I am in the same boat you are in - a 6 y/o daughter, a soon-to-be 3 y/o we affectionately nickname Dennis the Menace because he does get into everything, and my third is due in August. I too am committed to nursing, and knowing how things went with my son, I know it can be challenging but worth it. Forget about pumping the first 6 wks - let your body adjust and establish a good supply and demand. I work part time so I started pumping once a day during whatever was the "longest" stretch of naps/sleep my baby would give. I agree that bottles are more of a pain so we used them sparingly in the beginning. As for during the day nursing, I read books with my oldest and she did often watch a little bit of TV - mainly the Spanish-language PBS station V-me so I felt it was educational and cultural, haha. Most of all, don't put so much pressure on yourself to "do it all." You'll go back to date nights soon enough - though for me, we probably didn't start that up again until my baby was 12 wks. Just remember they're only little for so long. Good luck! I know it will turn out well for you!!

Well, it's that or wash bottles all the time--heh heh. (Honestly, I agree with my mother when she said one of the reasons she nursed was because getting up in the middle of the night to prep a bottle was exhausting just to think about). I didn't start pumping until the babies were 6weeks old, so I could establish a regular supply based on their demand.
I always had the toddler sit with me while I was nursing if they were up and about. I also let them do things like pull every tissue out of a box, or other things they weren't normally allowed to do except under certain circumstances (the tissue box game was great for when I was sick, too). The toddlers also watched a lot of tv while I was nursing, but I only allowed PBS shows to alleviate some of my guilt about that lol.

Dh and I spent many of our "date nights" at home, we are both night owls and stay up way past the kids' bedtime, always have. But I sympathize with your plan to have a social life again. Good for you for not forgetting your own needs in all of this, you can't fill anyone else's needs if you are on empty :)

When my third boy was born I had a 0 year old, 1 year old, and two year old. I actually breast fed my third for longer than the other two. I never bothered pumping and freezing. I found it much easier and more convenient just to straight feed.

You'll get used to it quickly, and you might even find that sitting down to feed will give you a welcome break from all the running around. I just created a childproof area in our house so my older two could play etc while I fed. Sometimes the older two would be taking their naps too.

I didn't breast feed all of my children due to different circumstances for each I didn't. One was a preemie and they didn't let you breast feed them back then, one they claimed was allergic to my milk ( not ), etc. but some I did breast feed for some time and the last two until 12 months old. I didn't find the other kids an issue at all. They played or sat by me and looked at books or whatever. I made sure I could see them though and if you need to put a gate up do that. Some of mine were closer than 2 years apart and then I used a gate or sat in their room to breast feed, etc. It's so easy if you just make it part of your day and not a burden. Bottles are a pain, take time to wash, etc. and I think unless there is a huge issue or problem there is no need for them. However make sure the baby will take a bottle as babysitting them will be impossible if they don't. I have watched grandchildren who refuse a bottle and that is not good. It has to be short times left and you get no time ever away but then if that's not an issue it won't bother you either. I never pumped while breast feeding and unless you plan to leave the baby a lot I would not do that. You can pump just ahead of going out or save just a little for social life. Just my experience and all went well and no problems if you just make it part of life and the kids will adjust if you do.