Pregnant and Nursing Questions

[KristinaMarie]

Hello all! I just found out I am pregnant I am still nursing our 10 m.o. DS.
He nurses alot still as any 10 m.o. would.

-When does the nipple pain go away?
-What tactics did your Dr. use to try to get you to wean?
-Did you notice any changes in your LO's nursing pattern?

The pain for me is very similar to when my DS was first born. It does not last the entire time, just the first 15-30 seconds after he latches on.

I have done lots of reading online that suggest weaning is not nessecary, so I would love to go to my appt informed.

My DS has been nursing more frequently, and he does not unlatch anymore. He will stay on the boob 24/7 if I would let him.

[Tresa]

The nipple pain that lasts while he latches on is very normal. I got pregnant when my oldest was 9mos old and nursed him through my entire second pregnancy. It was SO worth it to be able to nurse him when his little sister arrived, that they could share nursing as a way to bond, especially since they're so close in age together.

I ended up setting nursing boundaries, creating more of a routine, at some point during the pregnancy when my belly got to be so big it was physcially uncomfortable for me to sit and contort and let him nurse on demand. But at that point, I later found with my second baby (I didn't get pregnant again while she was nursing) I was naturally wanting to cut back on the nursing anyway when baby started eating more solids, had more teeth, was physically bigger in size.

Do what feels right to you, nursing is a two-way relationship. It is NOT harmful to your growing baby to nurse your child during pregnancy. You have to be careful to get enough calorie intake and drink enough fluids because it is easy to get depleted. I hope your visit with your doc goes well. There's lots of info on MDC about nursing while pregnant if you need more advice or BTDT.

[westcoastlady]

I'm 20 weeks pregnant right now and my DS is 16 mos. He is pretty much weaned now but that was totally led by him... as my milk dried up (there is nothing left now) he just showed less and less interest in it. Also.. once he was dry nursing he got a really lazy latch and was doing some serious damage to my nipples so then I said enough.

But I just wanted to say that weaning is totally a personal decision and your doctor doesn't really have a say in it at all. All my doctor said when I told her I was still nursing was to remind me to eat lots of good food and make sure I take care of myself because now I was eating for three

I think there are two ways you can approach it if your doctor suggests weaning
a. say "I'll consider it' but then just ignore them and keep on nursing.
b. say "I've done the research and I've decided that the risk is extremely low but the benefits are high so we are going to continue for as long as possible throughout the pregnancy. " I would just be matter of fact and decisive about it being your choice.

But I would also echo what my doctor said to me... Make sure you take care of yourself... when I was still nursing and pregnant in the first trimester then I found I needed lots of rest and I just ate whenever I was hungry. I also found I occasionally needed some 'space' as I got touched out more quickly... so don't hesitate to ask someone for help.

[fyrwmn]

i'm currently 20 wks and still nursing my 12 month old. i'll be honest with you, the initial pain upon latching is still there. ds still nurses a couple times a day. he was nursing more frequently but my supply is very low now. i'm praying that he'll continue to nurse so i can tandem him with the new lo. i agree with the other poster who mentioned it being a good way for them to bond, especially being so close in age. i was lucky and the dr i've seen for every appt so far is an older man. not only did he not bat an eye abotu me still nursing, but he was the one who mentioned it. i had brought the kids with me to an appt, and he asked how ds was doing with nursing and having so many teeth (he has 17 at this point). it was such a relief to not only have the dr be supportive of nusing, but that he just naturally expected that we would still be nursing. i did get alot of flack for nursing during the pg's that resulted in losses from a different dr at another practice. she wen tas far as telling me that i was causing the losses because i was nursing. hopefully you have a supportive dr, but i would also educate yourself about nursing while pg in case they aren't. "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" is a great book with lots of helpful info. good luck and congrats on your pg!

[Angela512]

Some babies wean themselves when they can no longer get breastmilk (when your body stops producing it). Some babies will continue to nurse, more for the bond/nuturing, than for the milk.

I was pregnant with my 3rd when my 2nd was 8 months old. My 2nd nursed the entire pregnancy. I thought for sure he'd wean, but he didn't...and it was actually a blessing when I had my 3rd because I've had massive engorgement with all my babies. Instead of having to pump to relieve the pain, my 2nd would nurse contentedly. It was win-win for everyone.

I'm now pregnant with my 4th and my 3rd is still nursing (at 2 years) usually first thing in the morning and before bed/nap.

Breastfeeding is more than just nutritional sustenance and so keep that in mind. I think allowing my 2nd to nurse after having my 3rd made the transition a bit easier for him...he didn't feel like he was being "replaced", and it made everything seem to transition just more smoothly (not as much jealousy, I thought).

But, you have to do what is right for you...and unless you're high risk or have had issues with pre-mature labor in the past...breastfeeding throughout pregnancy is completely fine.

[~Demeter~]

I'll be 21 weeks tomorrow, I am still nursing my almost 3 year old. The early days weren't so bad. Sometimes I felt more irritated with the nursing but it was all good until my milk dried up... it happened all of a sudden, though my supply did drop and then level out and then drop and then level out until about 18ish weeks. When my milk went away the sensations were hellacious for me. I was very annoyed with nursing, couldn't stand her latch, etc. Things seem a little better now.. the best advice I would give to someone thinking about nursing while pregnant is that some days will be REALLY bad. Some days not as much. It's important to set up boundaries when you really can't deal anymore. Take it one day at a time.. try not to look at the big picture. Be open to anything that comes your way.

I do want to continue nursing my daughter hopefully through the end and on to tandem. I think both of us will benefit from continuing... some days are rough though.

[etsdtm99]

I am 28 wks and my ds is 25 months.. I also nursed dd through my pregnancy with ds.. In my experience the nipple pain never went away and for me it got worsen when my milk dried up around 12-14 weeks .. My ds was still nursing a lot when I got pg but now it's just morning and bedtime , he choose to stop during the day and I choose to nightwean him back in April because I could no longer sleep through his all night nursing .
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[rparker]

-When does the nipple pain go away?

At 24 weeks it hasn't gone away completely, but it was never very bad for me to begin with. It's mostly only present when she's tired and her latch gets off.

-What tactics did your Dr. use to try to get you to wean?

None. He's totally fine with me nursing.

-Did you notice any changes in your LO's nursing pattern?

She's nursing less but she's also approaching an age when many children naturally wean. I night weaned her for a few months in the beginning. Now I "let" her nurse at night but she's mostly interested in STTN. She drinks a lot of water during her one "long" nursing session. My milk supply has fluctuated... to the point where if she were a "baby" (under 18-24 months) I'd probably be supplementing her with formula.

[KristinaMarie]

Thank you ladies for all you words of advice and encouragment. I am hoping to be able to nurse through this pregnancy, but I will take it one day at a time. I have tried giving bottles and sippy cups of pumped milk and he doesn't want it. I don't know if it is because I am giving it to him and he knows there is something better or he just doesn't like anything but water in his sippycup. I have around 100oz of milk frozen at the moment.

I go in Tuesday to see the Dr for my first u/s to make sure it isn't an ectopic again, and I am sure it will come up in conversation.

Thanks again.

[zjande]

Congratulations!

I am not pregnant now but have nursed through 2 pregnancies. I became pregnant with baby #4 when my nursling was 16mos old. I allowed him to nurse as much as always, which was a ton, through out my pregnancy. I only had nipple pain (bad!) during the last trimester. My milk dried up at 15 weeks along.

I became pregnant with baby #5 when my nursling was 13 mos old. That time I had very little extreme nipple pain. My milk dried up at 18 weeks along. He nursed many times a day anyway. He is 2.5 now & I'm still nursing him & his 8 mo old brother.

It was never suggested to me that I wean during either pregnancy, but I was seeing a midwife. There isn't any reason to wean during a normal pregnancy, besides your own emotional or physical discomfort. I second the recommendation for the book Adventures in Tandem Nursing.

Personally, I like my kids to end up getting as close to 2 years worth of breastmilk as I can manage. So, I like to tandem nurse to make up for the time my nursling wasn't getting any milk during my pregnancy. Although, saying that "I like" tandem nursing isn't exactly true.... . I can barely stand it. But that's a different thread!

[honeybee]

This will be the third pregnancy I've nursed through. For a few months after ds3 was born, I was nursing three children.

I personally have not had any pain while nursing during pg, as I don't completely lose milk, so I can't help you with that. I have nursed a child through very painful thrush issues w/ open sores, though, when he was about the same age as your lo and barely eating any solids, so I know how difficult it can be to stick it out when it hurts.

When I was tandeming my first, I just decided to take it one day and one week at a time. For us, it was always easier to continue than to try to wean him. Now nursing through a pg is just business as usual at our house.

I will say my boys are all very close. I think tandem nursing is one factor. But I would not get too tied up in expecting the tandem nursing. I have quite a few friends who have nursed all the way through a pg because the lo really seemed to need it, and then have the child suddenly decide they were done once the baby arrived and there was actually milk available again! My first two have clung to their nursing through thick and thin, no matter what, and I've chosen to set the limits and eventually wean my oldest eventually (I cut them off at age 5).

Other children just decide they're done somewhere during pg, no matter what you do. I am dealing with that now, as ds3 has cut WAY back on his nursing. It was very sad for me to think he might wean before his second birthday... I was sobbing just at the thought. So far, he is still nursing, but I think I've come to terms with the idea that he is just different and has different needs than my other two... and that's okay. So, it is a very individual thing, depending on the nursling and on the mother's reactions. It can be very natural for a mother to suddenly get a nursing aversion... and how she chooses to deal with that.... continuing to nurse or weaning gently are very personal decisions.

I have always preferred to nurse each child in turns when I can. Nursing two at once makes my skin crawl, for some reason. And, I have pretty strict limits and boundaries with the older nurslings. It is the only way I have survived nursing three at once!

[poetgirl]

Just want to say CONGRATULATIONS to you, Kristina Marie. Having a surprise pregnancy after IVF is such a blessing. I remember you from the IF boards. All the best for you, your ds and your new little one.

[zjande]

Originally Posted by honeybee

I have always preferred to nurse each child in turns when I can. Nursing two at once makes my skin crawl, for some reason. And, I have pretty strict limits and boundaries with the older nurslings. It is the only way I have survived nursing three at once!

I just wanted to mention how relieved I was to read this! Nursing 2 at once also makes my skin crawl. I mean really C R A W L. To the point that I feel disgust. It's always been very bizarre to me. But nursing one at a time is fine & dandy. I'm so glad to hear I'm not alone!

[Wendlynnn]

I am preg with #2 and still nursing my 27 mo old. No nipple pain, but supply is dropping.

Anyway, I just want to say that the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" by LLL is the BEST! It covers lots of issues during pregnancy and beyond. You can see more about it on Amazon.

[KristinaMarie]

Thanks everyone for the great tips. I think I will go to the library and see if they have Adventures in Tandem Nursing.

I don't know if my milk is starting to change, but Jackson has started clamping with his jaw and pulling off. With 2 teeth and already sore nipples all I can saw is OWWWWIE.

I have tried thawing some of my stash but everyone I have given his tastes sour, I mean like spitup sour. I don't know what the deal is with it. I pump, put it in the bag, then put it in the chest freezer, so it isn't like it sits out at all. I will try a few more and see what they taste like.

Again thanks for all your words of wisdom!!

[porcelina]

I am also bfing during pg. Milk dried up at 14 weeks, a tiny bit of colostrum started coming in at 26-27 weeks. DS (2.5) is still going strong (2-3 times a day). The nipple pain comes and goes for me, so taking it one day at a time is good advice. Sometimes, I can't take it anymore and have to stop. Other times, I can last a lot longer. However, the more I nurse, the more it hurts! I went to a traditional medical practice at the beginning of the pg, and they never suggested weaning - just said to know that it could cause contractions. If one had a history of pre-term labor, I assume they might suggest it if that were to happen a lot, but not sure.

Just a quick point on the breastmilk -- it starts breaking down as soon as it leaves your breast, and even if you pumped it today and tasted it an hour later, it would probably still taste sour. Apparently, they "don't mind" that it tastes that way. Point being, don't assume all your milk is bad, but I totally know what you're talking about. Just use the 3 month rule -- breastmilk is supposed to be good in a tightly closed freezer for up to 3 months.

One thing that worked for us when DS wouldn't take the bottle at 8 months was to put the Born Free sippy suction on top of a Born Free bottle. He was resistant to everything else, but eventually took that. I think in the end he just wanted me, so might have eventually taken a more traditional bottle, because that's when I went back to school FT.

[ein328]

Originally Posted by KristinaMarie

Thanks everyone for the great tips. I think I will go to the library and see if they have Adventures in Tandem Nursing.

I don't know if my milk is starting to change, but Jackson has started clamping with his jaw and pulling off. With 2 teeth and already sore nipples all I can saw is OWWWWIE.

I have tried thawing some of my stash but everyone I have given his tastes sour, I mean like spitup sour. I don't know what the deal is with it. I pump, put it in the bag, then put it in the chest freezer, so it isn't like it sits out at all. I will try a few more and see what they taste like.

Again thanks for all your words of wisdom!!

Probably lactase- it breaks down the milk in the bag just like it does it baby's digestive system. You can try gently heating it first (prior to freezing it)- should help.

[ein328]

Originally Posted by porcelina

Just a quick point on the breastmilk -- it starts breaking down as soon as it leaves your breast, and even if you pumped it today and tasted it an hour later, it would probably still taste sour. Apparently, they "don't mind" that it tastes that way. Point being, don't assume all your milk is bad, but I totally know what you're talking about. Just use the 3 month rule -- breastmilk is supposed to be good in a tightly closed freezer for up to 3 months.

If it's a separate chest freezer, it's good for much longer- 6 months to a year.

[Angela512]

Originally Posted by KristinaMarie

Thank you ladies for all you words of advice and encouragment. I am hoping to be able to nurse through this pregnancy, but I will take it one day at a time. I have tried giving bottles and sippy cups of pumped milk and he doesn't want it. I don't know if it is because I am giving it to him and he knows there is something better or he just doesn't like anything but water in his sippycup. I have around 100oz of milk frozen at the moment.

I go in Tuesday to see the Dr for my first u/s to make sure it isn't an ectopic again, and I am sure it will come up in conversation.

Thanks again.

Just wanted to remind you that nursing is as much about comfort and feeling safe/bonding as it is about nutrition. He's probably sensing a change happening and is nursing to reassure himself. Totally what my 2nd did when I was pregnant with my 3rd.

[rightkindofme]

I'm 33 weeks pregnant with a 25 month old boobieholic. On a really slow day she only nurses 5 or 6 times. I nightweaned her at 18 months because I thought I would lose my mind. She has wanted my nipple in her mouth pretty much constantly from birth. I don't think I'm going to get an early child lead weaning out of her.

I have days when my nipples get sore and I had two or three days when I could tell that the milk disappeared but the colustrum came in right away--those were somewhat miserable. Other than that it hasn't been much different from nursing pre-pregnancy. I'm crankier about her positioning and I strictly enforce our version of nursing manners because this *has* to work for me or I can't keep doing it.

I had one doctor try to tell me I had to wean, but I told her she was wrong. That doctors office also couldn't get any test results to me in a timely fashion so I fired them. I don't need ignorance or shoddy work from a doctor, thanks. I went back to my midwife and have been great since.