Pregnant, Pumping, Panic!

[FnkyGreenMama]

Not sure if this is the right forum and I know that there are similar threads so apologies in advance if I've made a mistake.

I got a + today - not unplanned or unexpected but the reality is setting in. DS is 22 months. I still pump 4 days/week so that he has a bottle for daycare on my work days. I usually pump about 3 oz - yesterday it was 2, today just under 2.5 – I ate oatmeal this morning – will that even help at this point?

He has soy and dairy sensitivities so I cannot send cow or soy milk, though he is showing signs of "growing out" of these intolerances. I know there are other options that I will consider if necessary.

I am going to a conference in 2 weeks for 3 days/2 nights. DS will stay home with DH. I have a decent amount of frozen bm that should hold him over while I am gone. I was planning to bring my pump and try to keep up my supply but I wonder if it will be a losing battle. I'm also nervous about pumping too much if it could be dangerous for the pregnancy (I'm pretty sure there is no evidence of this but somehow I have it in my head). Not sure it will matter – maybe there’ll be nothing left Is it worth trying to find a way to bring him along?

I thought that I'd be tandem nursing someday and hoped that I would be one of the lucky ones who kept a supply throughout.

I know we'll be fine eventually if this is the beginning of the end. Knowing that doesn't make this panic-y feeling go away I guess I'm looking for some stories of hope or maybe not - I think I know what to expect here and maybe I need more reality to help me accept it Thanks for reading.

[SilverFish]

no advice on the pumping, sorry, but many of my vegan friends have had great success with almond and hemp milks for their toddlers when soy was a concern. if you do find that your supply is quickly going, i'd suggest slowly adding whatever milk you do decide to transition to in small quantities to your milk so he can adjust to the taste.

i hope you find a solution!

[doubledutch]

i think the output will decrease due to the pregnancy hormones but probably would even if you hadn't conceived - continuing to get 3oz when your child is almost 2yo is great! lots of women who still have a good milk supply when nursing a toddler will not really be able to pump much. so you've done really well.

i guess on whether to continue pumping or quit, you should do the thing you will feel better about. if it will make you feel good to pump whatever you can get, then do that. if it will stress you out to see the output continuing to decrease, and stopping would avoid that stress, then quit. eta: because i agree - it will be okay, he will be okay, and you can continue to nurse regardless of what happens with your milk supply.

[FnkyGreenMama]

Originally Posted by SilverFish

no advice on the pumping, sorry, but many of my vegan friends have had great success with almond and hemp milks for their toddlers when soy was a concern. if you do find that your supply is quickly going, i'd suggest slowly adding whatever milk you do decide to transition to in small quantities to your milk so he can adjust to the taste.

i hope you find a solution!

Thanks, SilverFish. That's a great idea.

Originally Posted by doubledutch

i think the output will decrease due to the pregnancy hormones but probably would even if you hadn't conceived - continuing to get 3oz when your child is almost 2yo is great! lots of women who still have a good milk supply when nursing a toddler will not really be able to pump much. so you've done really well.

i guess on whether to continue pumping or quit, you should do the thing you will feel better about. if it will make you feel good to pump whatever you can get, then do that. if it will stress you out to see the output continuing to decrease, and stopping would avoid that stress, then quit. eta: because i agree - it will be okay, he will be okay, and you can continue to nurse regardless of what happens with your milk supply.

Thanks, doubledutch. I appreciate the advice and support. I think I need to do a bit more research on nursing through pregnancy. Unfortunately I have heard mostly discouraging things from what I have read/heard, but your post gives me hope.

[detroitgirl77]

You can still pump, but your supply is probably decreasing, so you wouldn't get much. I'm 18 weeks and while I still do have some milk, I know its almost gone since my youngest is getting frustrated trying to squeeze to get more out.