Hi all! My name is Jenni, and I am the proud mommy to a 12 day old baby girl!!! I have 2 boys... and bfing did not go well with them. So I am extremely excited that bfing is going so well this time around!!!!

I've read a couple of threads on here... esp the ones related to how time-consuming bfing is. I am definitely right there with them! It seems like she only wants to eat, eat, eat! It wouldn't bother me if I felt I could accomplish other tasks... such as grocery shopping! I have a 19month old, who is also a full-time job, and I don't know how to feed her and tend to him, and go out in public!!!

How do you ladies do it... esp you with older kids? How can I take to school/pick up from school and not have her screaming in the car? (My house is 20 min from school, so it's a good hour ride... and she is NOT happy by the end of it!) I feed her right before, but it's not good enough! And how do you grocery shop?

If the answer is a sling, which is the best... esp from a nursing standpoint? I really want to be able to function out of the house! I don't have an issue with nursing in public.. as long as nobody's going to see my goods!!! (I live in a small town, and don't want to be the talk of the town!!)

I would love any and all advice that you are willing to give!!! I'm just looking for some answers... and I don't have any!

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Jenni
Matthew, Joshua, and Samantha

Congrats on your baby girl and early success with BF! I too was blessed with a baby girl after 2 boys (although mine are a little older). As far as BF totally consuming your time, expect it to be crazy for at least the first 6 weeks....that seems to be a magic number for establishing BF - it'll usually start to get easier after that (but it can be crazy getting there!). I don't remember what I did with my boys (17 mths apart) but I did manage a young toddler while nursing and still managed to get stuff done (probably not in the earliest weeks though). I did nurse in a carrier but have no experience with slings.....they sound waaaay better - me personally, I always used my double stroller. There was no way I could be chasing a toddler with a baby in tow - the carrier or sling would work well in the grocery store though so you could put your little guy in the cart.

As for the long car ride, have you considered taking her out and nursing her in the car (even if she's not asking for it) after you drop off your son but before leaving the school for home? She will be able to last longer and longer as she grows bigger and stronger but that could help for now.....

As far as nursing in public, I highly suggest investing in a couple of nursing tops - they keep "the goods" hidden and make BF a breeze.....it can be expensive to buy a wardrobe of them but a couple to wear just when you're going out might be the answer for you - otherwise, a good old fashioned blankie never hurt, lol.......

Good Luck with everything and don't hesitate to pop in if you have any problems along the way....the women who stop in here and answer questions are a very nice bunch. Congrats again!

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Ha, my boys are 20 months apart, so I have been in your shoes.

The first 6-8 weeks are the hardest, the bootcamp portion of BFing.

I had a nursing box for my oldest. Had books and toys in it that he only got to play with while the baby was nursing. It was put away when the baby wasn't nursing. It is easy to read books while nursing a baby. Also(not ideal), but I would put in a video or on a show that he liked sometimes on those nursing marathon days when the toys and books were boring.

I wore my little guy in a sling, he loved it.

I second the nurse the baby before leaving for school and then in the car before returning home, regardless if she is asking. Give her a little something to tide her over until you get home.

Hang in there, you can do it!!!!! We made and and never a drop of formula or a bottle of EBM!

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Nancy

Ditto.

I have only have 1 older child and he's 4 so much more independent than a 19 month old, but I encourage him to help me while I'm bfing. Although I have gotten pretty good at one handed bfing while I'm doing something else. I've fed my son many times in the car while running errands.

As for slings, I have one from www.luckybaby.com I've never nursed in it so I don't know how well it works that way, but my baby loves it! I normally put him in the sling while at the store. And he almost always falls asleep.

I think it just takes some patience, everything will fall into place.

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