Breastfeeding: it is worth trying with the second baby

Mothers who experience breastfeeding difficulties with their first babies a nd give up breastfeeding are less likely to breastfeed subsequent babies th an mothers who do not experience such difficulties. We carried out a longit udinal study of 22 mothers in which milk output was measured at I week and 4 weeks after giving birth to their first and second babies. Significantly more breast milk was produced at I week for the second lactation (an increa se of 31% [95% CI 11-51%]) and the net increase was greatest for those with the lowest milk output on the first occasion (90% [30-149%]). They spent l ess time feeding their second baby (a decrease of 20% [-34 to -5%]). This i ncreased efficiency of milk transfer was also evident at 4 weeks. Health pr ofessionals should encourage women to breastfeed all their children, whatev er their experience with their first child.