Toddler getting all the next baby's colostrum?

[sunfish21]

I know there are books on tandem nursing and I haven't had time to read any of them yet....I am almost 6 months pregnant and my 20 month old dd still nurses. My milk seemed to dry up when I was maybe three months pregnant and now I get a few drops out if I try. It is clear liquid--not milk--but she happily nurses away now; she was very unhappy several months ago--pulling away from my breasts and asking for the other side or signing 'more'.

This may be a silly question, but is there anyway that she is getting the colostrum that the baby will need? Is there a limited supply? Will all this nursing now "use up" the colostrum and make my milk come in early? I do attend LLL regularly but it is hard to get this many questions answered...

Thanks! I want them both to get what they need!

[pbjmama]

is there anyway that she is getting the colostrum that the baby will need?
your child will not use up the colostrum before the baby is born. clear liquid can be milk, colostrum is generally a darker yellow color.

Kellymom has a good website for the basic questions
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/index.html

Your LLL probably has a library with good books on this subject, I personally don't care for Adventures in Tandem nursing but you may find it helpful. Also, you could call your leader or let her know you have some questions by email, want to talk to someone who has tandem nursed, etc.

[broodymama]

Your body will keep making colostrum until the placenta detaches after birth, then it will begin the gradual changeover to full milk. Your toddler will probably get a lot of colostrum (and a lot of times enough for some messy diapers!) but there will be plenty for your new babe.

[Meredith&Alexander]

You won't run out of colostrum. The transition to mature milk is triggered by the delivery of your placenta, so you'll still have colostrum for a short time after your baby is born until your milk comes in. I did restrict my older nursling from nursing for the first day after his baby brother was born, to make sure he got plenty of colostrum. But just over 24 hours after he was born, I was full of milk and very happy for both of them to nurse their fill.

The look on Alexander's face when he got a great big mouthful of sweet milk was priceless!