Breastfeeding a boy?

Lilliana - posted on 07/11/2011

Nope, I've breastfed my son for the past 3 years!

Melissa - posted on 07/11/2011

Never heard that one before I have nursed three boys and a girl and never had a problem with any of them....

Maria - posted on 06/18/2011

My son (2nd baby) nursed well from the start. i too had a daughter first. He was still almost exclusively BFing at 12months because I wanted to nurse longer and keep my supply up. He wan't a chubby baby, but he has always been healthy looking.

KAZ - posted on 06/18/2011

I breastfed my boy and there was no problem. My sister-in-law has twins - boy and girl - and the boy definitely drinks more, but not more often, just longer. No you should not have a problem. I did experience though that it takes longer to get their winds out. What you will also find with the boy, they love being cuddled more. Enjoy

Cristina - posted on 06/18/2011

breastfeed a boy is i think easier than feeding a girl - its true that you feed on demand when they are just babies...my son is nearly 2 and i am still breastfeeding him but now i have him doing it only at night...but every boy is different and every feed is different... let the baby lead you and tell you how much he wants... take care and good luck... cristina

Jennifer - posted on 06/14/2011

I have two boys - one is two years old and he breastfed well until he was 13 months - no problems. The second one is 2 months old - all good so far. Now, I've never breastfed a girl, but I wouldn't say that breastfeeding a boy is hard - no problems keeping up with enough milk or having them eat too often or anything like that.

Best wishes to you! No worries - you'll all do great, I'm sure!

Noreen - posted on 06/13/2011

The only time it can be difficult to nurse a boy compared to a girl is IF you get him circumcised because he will go into a deep sleep to deal with all the pain.

Katrina - posted on 06/12/2011

My first 2 are boys and my third is a girl. I have found no difference whatsoever between the 3 based on gender at all. I easily nursed them all. I have found a lot of those "boys are different from girls" to be false. I sat on the couch just as many hours with my girl during growth spurts as I did the boys. Sometimes my girl seems to eat more then they did, mostly because she got good at eating more during the day and slept better at night than the boys LOL
Don't let people scare you with all those wives tales!

TealRose - posted on 06/08/2011

I had a girl and boy and both were easy enough bar the first day or two. I have heard and, please dont' think I am wanting to cause hassle here, but that baby boys in the States sometimes do have problems breast feeding - and this is linked to them being circumcised and having been traumatised so badly by it, and then having to live with the pain for days... not conducive to suckling !

Bonnie - posted on 06/08/2011

I had three girls and then three boys, they all nursed successfully, two of them were big and hungry, but its all supply and demand. So if you let them nurse as they want to during growth spurts (which happen every few days for the first six weeks), your milk will keep up to their need. Gender doesn't dictate their nursing, personality does, though! Their is a really nice chapter on "nursing personalities" in LLL's Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" which might assuage your concerns, it just talks about the differences in nursing styles, so if this baby nurses differently, you might be better prepared. Many blessings to you and your family!

Schmoopy - posted on 06/08/2011

It wasn't harder for me. My boy nursed like a champ! He did want to eat often in the beginning - every 1.5 hrs. But I kept up with it without a problem.

Kirti - posted on 06/08/2011

I haven't noticed or heard that it is difficult to breastfeed a boy. It was my first I do had a little problem. Even my son have a little problem to latch properly. But slowly we both learnt.

A new baby don't know how to feed himself, so here comes the mom who feed him or her. Even if you are a 3rd time mom you are a new mom as everything is new with each baby. So take it easy.

I was a first time mom and everyone around me used to tell me what to do or what not to. I live with my mom-in-law and husband. But I listen to my heart. I noticed how often my son felt hungry and I made a timetable to feed him at the same time. Slowly the same habit developed and he started having milk or solid food [after 6 months] at the exact times. Till now his eating habit have a time interval and he don't eat every now and than.

So be calm and don't feel anxious. Just think of the good times you would have with your new baby and enjoy your pregnancy.

Like your first daughter you [first] son will also learn to breastfeed easily.

Happy pregnancy and parenting....

Mel - posted on 06/08/2011

Not sure where you found that out but its untrue!!! My 2 year old son can agree with me!!! He was 4.5 kg when he was born and didn't start eating solid food until he was 6 months old. He is on the 97th centile with his height and 75th with his weight. He still enjoys his "TA" even now!!! Good luck with baby and I hope he too is a very happy breast fed baby.

Theresa - posted on 06/07/2011

My first two were girls and both were difficult to nurse at the beginning. My first ended up nursing for 3.5 years, when she self-weaned. My second is still nursing. My third is a boy and he was my easiest by far! He latched on right after birth and nursed like a champ. In fact, he nursed so much that when they bathed him, he pooped 5 times. He is 5 months old now and growing like a weed!

Rebecca - posted on 06/07/2011

I haven't had a daughter, so I don't know what to compare it to....but my son is 5 months old and he latched on right away after giving birth. He does great with breastfeeding. I feed him every 3 hours....but its been a sucess for me right from the start! Hope all goes well for you with your pregnancy and breastfeeding you son! :)

Jessica - posted on 06/07/2011

my son came out and latched on no problem but my daughter needed a little more work but they both feed like pros.

Natalie - posted on 06/07/2011

I've BF'd 2 boys now, but no girls yet so I can't really compare. However, I would not call it hard by any means. It seemed like they both just knew what to do. They are both big eaters, but my body seemed to adjust just fine as long as I was drinking enough.

Angela - posted on 06/07/2011

I successfully breastfed my boy! i felt like i wasnt producing enough, because sometimes they(myboobs) would stay kinda flat. but he was always satisfied. I weaned him at 14 months. i gave him milk in a sippy cup and told him it was "boo". he threw fits that only lasted a week.

Linda - posted on 06/07/2011

mine was the opposite the girls were the piggies and my son was a four or more hour feeder which was worse because i ended up with mastitis a bunch of times because he wasnt emptying me enough so every baby is different so just go with the flow

Nicole - posted on 06/06/2011

Like everyone said, each baby is different, whether boy or girl. I've nursed two boys and one girl. The hardest for me was my first boy as he nursed all the time. Every hour on the hour and he would take 45 minutes. It was exhausting. Of course if I knew then what I know now, I could have made it easier for him (he had reflux though I really had no idea). My second boy also nursed more frequently but he was an extremely quick nurser (less than 10 minutes).

The one thing I never really experienced was a huge gap between feedings. All my kids nursed frequently and even more frequently around growth spurts, especially 4, 6, and 9 months. I even tried holding out on food with my third until 6 months+ but had to start on solids at 5 1/2 months. I made plenty of milk; I was just exhausted with all the nursing. But today all are healthy and sitll have ravenous appetites!

You'll be fine. You've nursed two babies. That'll help you so much!

Betty H - posted on 06/06/2011

Hi Valerie,
As a Lactation Consultant, I have not seen a difference. It depends on the size of the baby, I think and the baby's growth spirts.Have a great day. Betty H Greenman BS,CLC,IBCLC

Kristine - posted on 06/06/2011

i'm now BF my 3rd boy and all 3 have been easier than my first child who is a girl. congrats on being pregnant and have no worries. all babies have a learning curve, and growth spurts, none are any worse than another.

Jane - posted on 06/06/2011

Breastfed 2 girls and 2 boys. My boys were wigglier than my girls, but otherwise no difference for me. :-)

Brandy - posted on 06/06/2011

I have a 2yrd old boy... I breastfeed until he was 9months because he learned how to use his teeth... but I made plenty to keep him full and he only nursed every 4 hours from day 1.

Angela - posted on 06/06/2011

All babies are made to breastfeed (barring physical anomalies of course). The sex of the child doesn't matter. Every child is different and the breastfeeding relationship from one child to the next will be different, but it will hopefully be based on the child's feeding needs.

Boys may need to eat MORE than girls due to the fact that they are generally bigger than girls. So this may mean that you need to get extra nutrition or hydration, and may need to nurse more frequently in the beginning.

Follow your baby's cues and everything will be fine.

Bernadette - posted on 06/05/2011

I have had no troubles (so far anyway, my boy is only 8 weeks) with either of my children. My daughter was a really good eater, and breastfed until she was 17 months old. My boy latched on properly for his very first feed, which I was very impressed with! The next few after that weren't quite as easy, but he did manage to do it properly after a few goes. The only trouble we really had was that for the first few weeks he would only snack feed, where he would feed for a couple of minutes and then fall asleep, then wake up again a short time later realising he was still hungry - and then do the same thing again several more times! He has got the hang of it now though, and will continue to feed even after he has fallen asleep so he is getting full feeds and staying asleep for longer. As for boys eating more, it's really a supply and demand thing - your body should produce as much the baby needs. If not, as is the case with some people, then you can always supplement with formula. If you didn't have any trouble with your supply with your girls though, I don't see why it would be any different this time.

Christine - posted on 06/05/2011

My son is almost 11 months and we are still EBF fine. When he was born we had a few problems with him latching on but once he did, thats all he wants, it took forever for us to get him to even take a bottle of breast milk (round 5 months) I thought i was going to have a problem keeping my supply, but nursing often helped, it got frustraiting having him nurse every hour on the hour day and night for 3 days, but it was what had to be done to help increase my supply so I could meet his needs. Think about it this way, most men are boob men any ways, he'll learn and both of you will do great !

Amanda - posted on 06/05/2011

I have a 14 month old boy and I never had any problems with him breastfeeding

Valerie - posted on 06/05/2011

never heard that before...nope i think you will be fine...sounds like you are a pro...dont worry be happy!!!

Rachael - posted on 06/05/2011

I have a son who is now 26 months. he breastfed until 18 months without supply issues. do not set yourself up by getting concerned with what you have heard through the grapevine. If you set you mind to being able to breastfeed successfully you have a HUGE part of the battle won! Good luck!

Heather - posted on 06/05/2011

It should be the same way, no differences. I have heard that it's easier to BF a boy then a girl. I have had luck with both of mine, one boy, he was first, and then our daughter. She was a better nurser than him, but there is a long story dealing with some moron who fed him a 4oz. bottle when he was 6 hrs. old, and he had nursed 2 hours before that. So he wouldn't nurse for almost 24 hours after that because he was in such pain from his stomach hurting and just really uncomfortable. That was almost 4 years ago. He did stop nursing though when he was just shy of being 11 months old. He was way to active to sit still and nurse. So it can happen. I was ok with it. But I nursed our baby girl till a few nights ago! She is 22 1/2 months old!

Nicole - posted on 06/05/2011

Just a an old wive's tale or an old pediatric/labor and delivery nurses' tale. ;o) The way a baby eats is more likely due to personality not gender. I've only had boys. Four of them and they all have had different nursing/eating habits. I have had no major problems that I could blame on my sons because of their gender. ;o)

Melissa - posted on 06/05/2011

As with most of the other mommies posted on here, I have a young son who will be two in four months. Breastfeeding him was a pleasure and we still enjoy nursing for naps and bedtime. It's a quiet, close bonding time for him and I.

As for it being hard, that depends on the child, not the sex of said child.

Some kids take to it right away like mine did. He latched on really well a few hours after he was born and was a champ at it from the get go. I have friends that had a more difficult time, and subsequently no longer nurse.

So, it depends on mommy and baby. :) Good luck!

Katrina - posted on 06/05/2011

I only have a boy and we had no problems with breastfeeding - didn't stop until he was 4 years. At 4 months I went back to work and had to pump for a few months. No problems. We were very successful. Every baby is different.

Jessica - posted on 06/05/2011

I have a girl and a boy the boy came first he did fine but he was a big hungry boy and we had to give him cereal early and I didn't make it a yr with him I couldn't keep up with him so about 9 month we switched and he was on full baby food by then. but they have both nursed the same not one was hard than the other.

Michelle - posted on 06/04/2011

I have 2 girls and a boy. I've never heard that and I didn't have any trouble breastfeeding him for a year. As a matter of fact he was easier in one respect because he didn't get any teeth until 10 months where as my daughters both teethed at 6 months.

Janice - posted on 06/04/2011

Although I only have 1 daughter, her demand for feeds varied depending on growth spurts. There were time when she wanted to eat non-stop for days-weeks and others where she ate on a regular schedule. My body adjust just fine to whatever her needs were and I'm sure yours will adjust to this baby too. I personally have never heard that. Good luck with your new little one! :)

Teresa - posted on 06/04/2011

My son turned 3 at the end of March, so I'm going w/.... no. ;)

I will say that nursing him has definitely been a different experience than when I nursed his twin sisters.... but I would consider either experience harder or easier (except the first few months learning to handle twins was WAY harder in every single possible way).

Bianca - posted on 06/04/2011

I have 2 boys and a girl all successfully breastfed. Same old thing, they are all different in how quickly they pick it up but yo have plenty of experience so you'll be fine. My eldest (boy) did eat more than the other two but it increased gradually. He didn't come out wanting more, he did like to feed more often though. Congratulations btw.

Kathy - posted on 06/03/2011

Not true.

Jen - posted on 06/03/2011

I only have a little boy and he breastfed great for over a year. No problems at all.

Kristina - posted on 06/03/2011

every child is different. do remember that. my son took the the breast right off the bat, breastfeed fine and chose himself to take himself off the breast at 9 months. my daughter on the other hand didnt take well to the breast well at first it took her about a week before she would latch on right. now she is a very healthy feeder, every 3 to 4 hours. i wouldnt worrie to much about it, both of you will do great and if he chooses to take from a bottle better you can still pump and bottle feed. good luck with everything and enjoy it.

Mary - posted on 06/03/2011

I had my son Feb. of this year and he was my first child and I had zero experience what so ever and he latched right on right after I gave birth to him. He never once had a problem:) it's funny because you will hear so many stories and opinions...everyone has a completely diff. experience. I was so nervous to breast feed but it all is such a natural thing.

Minnie - posted on 06/03/2011

I've never heard that. The vast majority of women can satisfy triplets. You make as much milk as your baby is taking- you don't have a cap on it. .

Amy - posted on 06/03/2011

I am curently feeding my little guy and its not much diffrent to me. He in all is a diffrent baby but that has nothing to do with feeding.

Georgia - posted on 06/03/2011

I've never heard it's harder to bf a boy before. I have 2 boys (4 & 2) who were both bf successfully. My eldest was a breeze! It's like he popped out knowing what to do, shuffled himself from my chest to the boob and latched on. It was so easy that it lulled me into a false sense of security with #2, who had to learn how to suck properly over the course of the first three days. He'd latch, but just not sucking properly. It was a bumpy ride for the first couple weeks with him,but we got there.

As for supply, I can't imagine it's any different between boys and girls. Babies are different, so this one will be different to your girls, but it would be if it were a girl too. You'll really start noticing the difference once he's a bit older. Boys are louder and don't sit still as much as girls from what my friend has said about my boys compared to her girls.

If you've already bf 2 babies successfully, I'm sure you'll be fine with this one too.

Good luck!