Pregnant mama and nursing toddler

[Chloe'sMama]

my 18 month old dd nurses several times a day and night and suddenly my millk dried up, the test came back positive, but at most I am 5 weeks along. DD seems to be getting mad at night because there is not very much milk. I don't want her to wean and I would love to tandem when the next one comes. How can I preserve our relationship and is there anything I can do to help increase my supply? I drink lots of water and do nursing mama tea.

It took me 2.5 years to get pregnant with DD and I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. I am a bit shocked and sad (about the milk thing), but very excited.

Any suggestions?

[ellesmom]

My dd was about that age, and she continued to nurse despite the lack of supply! I have not personally tried this, but I have heard about a supplement called more milk 2. It is for pregnant moms who are still breastfeeding:
http://www.motherlove.com/product_mo..._glycerite.php

Also, make sure you are getting enough to eat. I know I felt like I ate a TON throughout my whole second pregnany, but in the end gained a normal amount of weight and had a normal size baby... I guess my body just needed the extra energy for the pregnancy and the breastfeeding!

[Peony]

Nursing mothers tea should be avoided during pg, it contains fenugreek which can cause uterine stimulation. More milk 2 works for some moms, never did a thing for me though. Really there is nothing else you can do to increase milk supply during pg, none of the normal tricks work because it is a hormonal driven supply decrease. You can just continue offering to nurse.

[Cersha]

I was worried about my DS weaning when I became pregnant also. I'm pretty sure my milk dried up before the end of the first trimester (I couldn't even express a drop) but, it certaintly didn't stop my DS from nursing. I'm 26 weeks now, and he's still going strong. I think I'm getting in some colostrum (I was able to express a drop or two of clearish fluid) He has insisted the WHOLE time that there is milk though. I suppose he's just better at it that I am. Oh, btw, my DS just turned 2.5.

[Surfacing]

[Chloe'sMama]

Well shoot. I was looking for something to give me hope.

I guess I have to give up the tea.

Thanks ladies for your advice.

[kalamos23]

Welll.... this is solely anecdotal. I have been dairy free from when DD was 6weeks-7 mo and then from 15mo-the last few weeks. I know I am sensitive to milk, but I also figured out that because of the histamine effect (think runny nose with allergies) when I eat stuff with milk in it, it ups my supply. I ate some cheese last night and had more supply last night as well. So I don't know if that would work for you or not - if you are already not avoiding dairy, you probably won't see a difference, but thought I'd throw that out there.

I also eat a ton of protein and good fats which seems to help - the days I don't eat as much or as well, my supply isn't as good.

[Chloe'sMama]

Kalamos- we are due the same time! And our other children are almost the same age (DD was 6/08).

I know I need to eat more food (especially protein).

Thanks for the reminder.

[Chloe'sMama]

I went ahead and bought some More Milk Two, so I will let you all know if it helps me at all. I will also be focusing more on getting enough to eat and drink.

Thanks

[sunfish21]

No help with milk supply--mine seemed to be gone by the end of the first trimester. But DD (now 21 mos), after getting mad for a few weeks, just kept nursing, and now I know there is colostrum+ coming out (I am 31 weeks pregnant). The comfort nursing was enough to keep her hanging in there--and I can't wait until there is milk again for her! Good luck.

[kalamos23]

Ok, I spoke too soon - my supply took a total nosedive over the last couple of days. She's still swallowing and I can still express but it's definitely WAY less. Plus, my nips now hurt like they are sunburned x 100. *hugs* to you Chloe'smama - I guess we are in teh same boat here.

[Mzjelybely]

Eat oatmeal!!

Oatmeal will help you a little with your supply but you wont be able to keep your milk for long. Mine dried up by the third month and I didn't get colostrum until the 7th month. All that time my toddler kept nursing.

For the night thing what I did was I took a bottle of almond milk (we dont do dairy) with me to bed and when he woke up and wanted to nurse in the middle of the night I offered that instead. He hated it at first but after a while he got used to it, decided he didn't want it, and slept through the night.

[kalamos23]

My milk has come back quite a bit - it's not anywhere near before pregnancy but is doing good enough -she's still swallowing a bunch. I got colostrum between 16-20 weeks with DD, so I'm hoping tehre is no big gap between milk and colostrum. Oh, and my nipples stopped hurting!