Afraid to get pregnant - support please - Page 2

[sweetpeppers]

I just wanted to say how blessed you were that your mother nursed you that long! And I think it's wonderful that you want the same for your child. I've had several friends that have nursed straight through pregnancy, but you never know. My one friend weaned her son while pregnant, and started nursing him again after the baby was born. I hope everything goes well for you whatever you decide to do.

[purplevega]

[QUOTE=
So, to that end, I have questions.
1. I'd love to hear any positive experiences in which a 2 yr old nursed through a pregnancy and there was a happy tandem nursing experience.

2. If you had a 2 yr old when you got pregnant with your next child, how long did you continue to produce milk? I am confused about milk going away - I started to lactate when I was 5 mo pregnant and leaked for 5 long months, so I'm not sure why it would go away?

3. please share anything that might helpful that I haven't thought of. I've heard so many heart wrenching stories about children weaning abruptly and traumatically through a pregnancy with a sibling because they forget how to nurse or can't stand not getting any milk out.

Help. [/QUOTE]

1. My 2 year old nursed right through my pregnancy and a year after his brothers birth. My mlk went away but I told my son the milk would come back. It did and he was a very happy toddler.

2. Every women is different. Some women will lose thier milk, some will not, others will only see a decrease.

3. Advice...nursing during pregnancy can be uncomfortable.

Kim

[crunchy_mommy]

This thread has me worried now.

We are TTC #2... DS is 10.5 months... he nurses all day and all night with very little solids... now I am terrified he is going to starve if I get (or already am???) pregnant

[sweetpea_119]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy

This thread has me worried now.

We are TTC #2... DS is 10.5 months... he nurses all day and all night with very little solids... now I am terrified he is going to starve if I get (or already am???) pregnant

From my experiences with my little ones, they all just increase their solid intake once I get pregnant & when my milk supply decreases. I've gotten pregnant at 7 months, 8 months, and 13 months postpartum now & each time it's been alright for us Every situation is different, of course, but at 10 1/2 months, your DS would be alright in the end unless your milk completely disappeared overnight...Don't worry until it happens since our bodies all respond so differently...you may never even notice a decrease until far into pregnancy

[ElliesMomma]

DD was 2 and 3/4 yo when i got pregnant with DS. DD told me the milk was "empty" before i even missed my period. since we were TTC, this was my first clue that i was pg. i was shocked and scared, but told her to "just keep nursing anyway, and the milk will come back (eventually)". she did.

i was bound and determined to make it through pregnancy nursing her. i offered *a lot* and she took it. it didn't hurt until the last week or so, and then it hurt somewhat. i nursed her until i was in full on labor (labored at home) and in too much pain to nurse her before she went to sleep that night (wound up delivering three hours later).

so, we made it through! DS is now three months old, DD is almost 3 and 3/4 yo, so we are closing in on nursing a 4 yo!

success story!

[Bluegoat]

I nursed through this pregnancy, and my milk did dry up for a while. It didn't phase dd2 though who is still keen.

One thing I would say - your memories are your own, and it is good that you cherish them. Your children will have their own precious memories, which are not more or less "good". Perhaps memories of nursing with a sibling, or maybe not. Remember, nursing until age 4 is your dream and ideal, not your child's.

And of course there is nothing to say he would still be nursing then anyway - he might give it up on his own next week.

[contactmaya]

My son was 23m when i got pregnant, anmd is now a nursing 4 yo.

First trimester, there was a dip in milk supply, at around 5 weks i guess. My nipples werent really sore, except for a few days on my right side. Ds1 continued to nurse , but dropped dramatically. He was nursing around 8x a day when i got pregnant, and dropped to 5 in my first trimester, by the time we got to to the end, he was at 2-3 times day. He continued this after the birth, and is still at that average.
My tandem experience was great. no problems.
My milk supply dropped in pregnancy, but not enough to stop ds1 nursing. My nipples were not sore. I wonder if the fact that i was nursing him regularly prior to pregnancy, made it easier during. I dont know.

There was a period when my ds started to tantrum more than usual, which i could see was strongly connected to lack of milk. I am so glad that i could continue to nurse for this reason. Up until then, we didnt have the 'terrible twos' (he was my perfect angel, but be prepared for the worst after birth, whether you are tandeming or not)

Just do it. I believe in clw too, and so far, so good. Im so glad i kept nursing ds1, and that he's still nursing at 4
Goodluck
Maya

[1babysmom]

DD1 was actually only 19 months when I got pregnant, so I don't know if my reply counts, but she nursed through the whole pregnancy easily and we went on to tandem nursing without a glitch. I never "lost" my milk or really even suffered a dip in supply (I was really in tune with my milk supply because I was really curious about when it would happen...I expected it to). I got colostrum VERY early on, at like 16 weeks though (I got it at 18 weeks when pregnant with DD1) so of course I had a little less but I still had a lot of that once it did come in. It wasn't really painful until the last month, when it felt painful at first when she'd latch. BUT, when DD2 arrived the pain disappeared instantly and I never felt it again. Anyway, my biggest fear was DD1 losing interest if there was any change in the milk, but even though we nightweaned at the beginning of the pregnancy she still kept nursing like normal (for the middle of the pregnancy she was only nursing a couple times a day but it increased later on). She's almost 4 and still nursing.

This time I'm nursing my 19 month old and my almost 4 year old through the pregnancy. I was more worried about DD2 losing interest this time since she likes food more than DD1 ever did. But I prayed that I'd have plenty of milk to keep her interested for the pregnancy and I have! I had a regular supply until 28 weeks! (I could still squirt it pretty far, too LOL) DD1 is also still nursing, but I wasn't afraid of her losing interest...and honestly I would be surprised if she weaned anytime before the next 6 months at the earliest.

So in March we'll likely have 3 nurslings...4 years, almost 2 years, and a new baby!

[Becken]

I got pregnant when my daughter was about 32 months, and we continued nursing (although, it was already excruciatingly painful dry-sucking!) until the eve of her third birthday. This age is so ritualistic, I thought it would be good to have a major milestone to work up to.

anyway, I was SO heartbroken to give up my nursing with her, but it was simply too unbearable to continue, and she was only nursing once a day for about 4 minutes.

But she did fine with it. Better than me! There was a part of me that hopes that she'll want to nurse again when my milk comes back for the newborn (Dd will be 3.5). But now that I've seen Dd on the other side being a nursling, I can't imagine her going back.

Anyway, what I mainly want to say is that just because the dynamic changes when you add another kid to the equation, it's not a bad thing. Your nursing story is going to be beautiful no matter how different from your preconceived ideal it turns out to be! And if it's time to add someone new to your family, then risking your LO weaning is a small price to pay for that new blessing!

[contactmaya]

wanted to add..i noticed someone said that picutring your child nursing at 4, was for you, not for him. I disagree. I believe clw is for the child, following their cues. My 4yo nursling is still getting plenty of benefits. Not to mention the few times he's has the stomach bug..where he got better quickly and without the use of pedialyte....bf'ing defintely beats that...
Maya

[redpajama]

Originally Posted by contactmaya

wanted to add..i noticed someone said that picutring your child nursing at 4, was for you, not for him. I disagree. I believe clw is for the child, following their cues. My 4yo nursling is still getting plenty of benefits. Not to mention the few times he's has the stomach bug..where he got better quickly and without the use of pedialyte....bf'ing defintely beats that...
Maya

I don't think she was suggesting that it wasn't beneficial to nurse a 4-year-old; she was just saying that the "goal" or "dream" or whatever of nursing a 4-year-old is *her* "goal" or whatever, not her child's. In other words, the child may nurse until he/she is 4, 5, 6, whatever, and that may be what is best for him or her. On the other hand, the child may wean sooner (or his or her own accord) and, in that case, *that* would be the best experience for that child (since it would still be child-led). Make sense?

Or maybe *I* misinterpreted her comment--but that's how I took it.

[lurve]

My DD will be three in January and I am almost 26 weeks pregnant. I have not lost my milk and she still nurses (mainly at night. I don't know how to get a baby to sleep without nursing! LOL!!). I had your same fears but so far it has been great. I plan on tandem nursing and can't wait!