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Feeling guilty- BFing 3rd baby but not 1st or 2nd

So my LO is almost 5 months old and I have been 100% nursing from the moment she was born. I also have a 6 year old DS and 4 year old DD. When DS was born, he could never latch so I pumped and bottle fed for about 3 weeks before getting a horrible case of mastitis and calling it quits. DD was had an awesome latch from the get go but I had to start pumping to go back to work when she was 5 weeks old and ended up getting mastitis in the exact same spot! Again I quit at about 5 weeks! Now I have baby #3 and have nursed her much longer than my other 2. I have been able to stay home with her (sadly going back to.work in 2 weeks) and the experience has been awesome. I plan to continue until at least 1 year. Now I feel.bad though that I didn't BF my older ones longer :( my mom made a comment (joking) that LO must be my favorite since i have nursed her so long and now I am freaking out that my older two will think the same thing! :/

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Permalink Reply by Maggie on August 7, 2012 at 8:02pm

I think it's great that you kept trying with each baby and finally had success. Don't be so hard on yourself. The truth is all mothers learn as we go along and do things differently as a result. You tried to nurse each of your children, but the circumstances were different in each case. Don't let your guilt rob baby number 3 and you of a wonderful experience. Chances are your other kids will never even think about it, but if they do, just tell them the truth--that you wish you had nursed them longer, but circumstances got in the way, but that you love them all just the same.

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Permalink Reply by samanths hines on August 7, 2012 at 9:09pm

Good for you! Its ok they wont notice the diference alot of moms i know who bf fed the 1st the longest and 3rd the least! It took a few trys to perfect it ok be proud of what your accomplishing now. I had mastitis and i probably woulda quit but i had a great lactaion consultant that was free and they told me to nurse through it baby help draw out the infection the first few week were harder than giving birth but now i have been breastfeeding for 24 1/2 months! Be proud of the gift you have gave all 3 babies!