One day, when my first baby was just a month old, I was feeding him and talking to my mom who had come for a visit. As I gently rocked the baby and he drifted off to sleep my mom commented wistfully, “No matter how many kids you have, you never get moments quite like this again.”

At the time I had no idea what she meant. ALL of my newborn experiences would be this peaceful and quiet, right? Fast forward not quite 2 years later to when I brought home my second son and another 2 years after that when I brought home my 3rd, and I suddenly knew exactly what she meant. Breastfeeding after your first is still a wonderful, magical, bonding experience….but there is no denying that putting in all the work of breastfeeding AND keeping other tiny humans alive is a wild ride.

Here are the top 5 unexpected, crazy, and humorous ways that breastfeeding is different after that first baby:

Subsequent Babies Get Their Milk To Go

Gone are the days of slow and laid back feedings in the rocking chair, drinking adequate water, reading a book, scrolling social media, and gazing at your sweet babe. Now your baby eats on the go and you get to perfect your football hold while you also play trains, fix snacks, wipe sticky hands, and kiss ouchies. All those wacky and contortionist breastfeeding positions are not just for active babies, they are also for the mama trying to feed her infant while putting her toddler’s shoe back on at the park. Somehow the little ones don’t mind and as long as the milk is flowing, they’ll happily eat in any place and any position, just along for the ride.

Time Loses Its Meaning

While your days likely revolved around feeding schedules with your first-born, time runs differently when you have a toddler to chase or big-kid schedules to stick to and the nursing sessions somehow find a way to happen in the midst of it all. Feedings blend together with meal prep and homework help and you learn to latch your little one on whenever they need, not even paying attention to the clock.

Maybe it’s my permanently frazzled mom brain, but recently when the pediatrician asked me how often my 4 month old was eating, I realized I had no idea. He was latched when I was wiping yogurt off my 2-year-old’s face that morning around 8, and then eating again while I built a block tower before lunch at 11…so Erm, about every 3 hours? As long as those chubby cheeks and thighs are growing, keeping track of the exact timing doesn’t matter that much.

Feeding Time Becomes Question Time

Have you ever heard that preschoolers ask 400 questions a day? Well let me tell you, it doubles if you breastfeed in front of them and blow their little minds with the magic of mommy’s milk. How does the milk come out? Did you put milk from the fridge in there? Do I make milk? Does he have teeth? When can he eat other foods? Did I use to drink your milk too? Take this as a wonderful opportunity to help normalize breastfeeding for your impressionable little ones and build an appreciation for all that a mama’s body can do. Just don’t be surprised if you see them pretending to breastfeed their dolls or trying to use your pump!

Pumping Is A Juggling Act

Speaking of pumping….this already tedious task becomes much more challenging when trying to manage your other children while hooked up to a breast pump. I’m not sure what is so fascinating about it, but they will want to see all the parts, help you set it up, push all the buttons, turn the suction up way higher than you need, and watch in awe as the bottles fill up. Unless you are pumping at work or after everyone else is asleep, this is now a group activity. Being connected to the wall outlet is also kid-code for time to argue, climb things, or take a drink of mommy’s water and set it down just out of reach.

You Have More Confidence

While no two babies and feeding experiences are the same, veteran mamas will usually find that breastfeeding is easier the second (or third or fourth) time around. You have more confidence in yourself and trust in your body, and you know that a few tough feedings will not define your entire experience. You know not to worry so much about how much milk they are getting and if they will ever sleep through the night. You have the beauty of hindsight to show you that every tough phase with your older child did indeed pass and you are better able to savor those quiet, close moments feeding your baby, knowing they’ll be older tomorrow.