Advice needed PLEASE

[Kmama2]

My son turns 10 months old on August 10th. He eats about 10 % solids. I just found out of I am almost 5 weeks pregnant. ( shock of my life...) Anyways... what can I do if my supply tanks?? He only has 1 tooth and is already super small. At 9 months he was 16 lbs 12 oz and about 26 inches. I think thats 2nd and 5%. He is developmentally fine and very mobile and active. He has been crawling since before 6 months, pulling up since 7 months, he climbs stairs and anything really..... I think he will be walking soon. He is just really small.
I got pregnant with him when my dd was 18 months old and was only nursing 2-3 times a day. I weaned her by the time I was 10 weeks as there wasn't much left. My son still nurses 6-8 times a day. Can he drink raw milk before 12 months? Would I have to do some formula before 12 months if my supply tanks?? I am very anti- formula and would cry if I had to give it to him I think.
So far his diaper output is fine but I just found out today. Anyone been there done that??? Please help?

[Bobbys]

This is a great question for your doctor. But I'm pretty sure you will need to supplement with formula before one year.

[OTMomma]

Congratulations and !

I haven't exactly been there, but I did nurse my second through my pregnancy with my 3rd- my supply tanked at about 16 weeks, and then came back as colostrum, ds nursed right through it, though it would have been easy to wean him at about my 18 week mark, as he was nursing less. I liked that I continued becuase it helped me feel close to ds through the pregnancy, though tandem nursing has had its ups and downs.

I don't know a lot about giving raw milk to a child before age 1, I have a problem with dairy, so I hold off on it for my kids, but if no one in the family has an allergy, it might not be a problem- he is getting close to 12 months now. I would probably water it down if I was going to do that. If I were you, I would do a lot of research on infant feeding- there is a huge variety of formulas, and other options that most of us breastfeeding moms don't look into. I wish I had more info to give you. Do you have a pediatrician that you trust to talk to about this with?

I hope some other mamas have more info to share. I know you are in a hard spot right now- so I'm sending you some good thoughts!

Peace,

[boobs4milk]

OMG congrats! i have no experience with this, but i would suggest asking your ped. it always took me a while to get pg.

[mama*pisces]

Whether or not you consult your ped(as a lot of them are too quick to say: "Oh, you've nursed long enough, time to switch to formula"), I would contact your local LLL chapter and try to make it to a meeting. They are very well-equipped to answer any questions regarding breastfeeding/pregnancy/parenting.

http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html

Best wishes!!

[TnMsMama]

I'm in the same boat, mama! My daughter is 10 months (almost 11 mos now) and is very boob-centric. She likes her cheerios and her refried beans but that's just "snacks" where breastmilk is her MEAL. She absolutely will NOT take a bottle or formula, and why should she? It tastes like poo.

I've focused on boosting my milk supply. I eat 3-4 bowls of oatmeal a day (the slow-cooking kind) and I put brewer's yeast in it - I actually sprinkle the yeast on most things I eat. The yeast and the oats help boost the milk supply and are totally safe will preggo (unlike Fenugreek). I also take double the prentals and I've added red raspberry leaf caplets, too.

I'm about 7-8 weeks preggo now, and when I first found out, my supply was diminishing but as long as I keep up with the yeast and the oats and the RRL, we do ok. She nurses longer, but that's ok, I like the snuggles (most of the time)

HTH! We're in this together, mama!

[Kmama2]

My ped is very breastfeeding supportive and a big fan of raw milk. She is pretty "crunchy" as far as peds go....
Its probably a dumb question anyways since he quit taking breastmilk in a bottle around 3 months. There is no way he would drink formula I bet anyways. How do I know if he is getting enough? Just watch his diaper output?
I don't think I could stomach 3-4 bowls of oatmeal a day...
This is totally stressing me out! We were planning on more kids but I like them 2.5-3 years apart so they get plenty of breastmilk and mama time. I am usually very sick for a good portion of my pregnancy as throw up untl 20 something weeks. Add the fact that my son is super small now I am going to be obsessed that he gets enough fat in his diet. sigh.... I can't believe I am going to have 3 kids 3.5 and under.... this one is due end of March and my 3 year old will turn 4 June first. AHHHHH!

[TnMsMama]

I wasn't even positive I wanted ONE and I'm working on #3 LOL. You can also get the oats in bread, cookies, granola, whatever you can handle. I just really REALLY like oatmeal. (I live in Texas, it's 112 degrees out and I'm eating hot oatmeal. I'm a freak.)

At 10 months, he'll know when he's getting enough. Increase his people food, too, see how he does. My daughter loves refried beans and avocado mixed together - lots of good fat and protein! Its brain food.

The only thing I'd worry about is fluids - baby gets all his water/hydration form breastmilk, too - so you might give him a cup of water sometimes, too, especially if you've been out in the hot sun. Normally they say not to do that w/ a b/f baby but with supply issues and an older baby, I think it's a good idea.

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by TnMsMama

I wasn't even positive I wanted ONE and I'm working on #3 LOL. You can also get the oats in bread, cookies, granola, whatever you can handle. I just really REALLY like oatmeal. (I live in Texas, it's 112 degrees out and I'm eating hot oatmeal. I'm a freak.)

At 10 months, he'll know when he's getting enough. Increase his people food, too, see how he does. My daughter loves refried beans and avocado mixed together - lots of good fat and protein! Its brain food.

The only thing I'd worry about is fluids - baby gets all his water/hydration form breastmilk, too - so you might give him a cup of water sometimes, too, especially if you've been out in the hot sun. Normally they say not to do that w/ a b/f baby but with supply issues and an older baby, I think it's a good idea.

Thats a good idea of the refried beans and avacado. Ill try that. I do offer him water out of a sippy and he will definitely drink that thankfully. I guess I was more worried about him getting enough fat/ protein ( because he is so small) than fluids since he is really good about drinking water.

[Knitting Mama]

I have a low supply (and yes, I take a zillion galactagogues to boost supply) and I supplement Cecilia by using an SNS and donated breast milk. You could always get donor milk and put it in a sippy cup if that would work better for you.

[Lauren31]

I am pretty sure that you do not want to supplement your breast milk with cows milk at this point. It's not nutritionally the same. Formula would be a much better choice. As pro-breastfeeding as I am sometimes a mama needs to do what a mama needs to do to keep their babies healthy. That said, my mom did nurse all of her children throughout her pregnancies so it CAN be down. Just follow the baby's diaper output, make sure they are getting enough. Definitely contact LLL if you can and maybe a LC as well.

[KermitII63]

Congratulations Mama! The first thing you need to do is breathe. It sounds like you found out you were pregnant and went into crisis mode--just remember, the best thing you can do for yourself and your babes is to be good to yourself and give your body what it needs. Take a day off of work, take a bath, take some time for you to absorb this information. And don't assume your milk will dwindle--plenty of women nurse throughout their pregnancies and don't notice a huge dip in supply.

If you haven't already, check out Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. She has some raw milk formula recipes, which are a great alternative to just plain raw milk and they're easy to prepare. If you have the ingredients on hand, it might make you feel more relaxed. I'd also start slowly introducing more solids so your babe gets used to getting some more calories from table foods. Then you can keep nursing and have your back up plan at hand. Best of luck to you mama!

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

I have a low supply (and yes, I take a zillion galactagogues to boost supply) and I supplement Cecilia by using an SNS and donated breast milk. You could always get donor milk and put it in a sippy cup if that would work better for you.

Donor milk is definitely an option. You'd be surprised how many moms have an oversupply and are happy to donate

[MeredithK]

Ok, I totally don't have any advice, but couldn't not say congratulations! I am totally shocked!!!!! I can't believe you are pregnant. I so happy for you and hope that you get all the advice you need with keeping Israel nice and buff!

[Skrimpy]

I got pregnant with my first son when my daughter was 10 months old. She hardly at any solid foods at that point. My supply was good for weeks - it started to drop when she was around 13 months old. Right around 12 months she started eating anything and everything. I never supplemented her with anything. We weaned when she was 14 months b/c it was so hard for me to nurse. I nursed DS1 through my pregnancy with DS2, though (they were spaced 24 months apart, so a bigger gap).

Personally I would feel comfortable giving an older baby raw milk - but if you are worried about his weight gain I would give him a homemade raw milk formula like on the WAPF site: Recipes for Homemade Baby Formula

My fourth baby has developmental delays and texture aversion problems that we battled with for months. He was completely off the charts for awhile even though he nursed tons and I have tons of milk - he was just incredibly active and refused any "solid" food. I felt comfortable giving him the raw milk formula twice a day (he was around 12 months) until we were able to get him to start eating. He started gaining weight almost immediately.

I would also advise you to carefully watch your diet b/c that will help you stay healthy for him and for the new baby. Lots of info on a healthy pregnancy diet.

Best of luck you mama - I had no problem getting DD to 13 months on my milk before my supply declined and she picked right up on solid foods - a little late but with gusto!

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by Skrimpy

I got pregnant with my first son when my daughter was 10 months old. She hardly at any solid foods at that point. My supply was good for weeks - it started to drop when she was around 13 months old. Right around 12 months she started eating anything and everything. I never supplemented her with anything. We weaned when she was 14 months b/c it was so hard for me to nurse. I nursed DS1 through my pregnancy with DS2, though (they were spaced 24 months apart, so a bigger gap).

Personally I would feel comfortable giving an older baby raw milk - but if you are worried about his weight gain I would give him a homemade raw milk formula like on the WAPF site: Recipes for Homemade Baby Formula

My fourth baby has developmental delays and texture aversion problems that we battled with for months. He was completely off the charts for awhile even though he nursed tons and I have tons of milk - he was just incredibly active and refused any "solid" food. I felt comfortable giving him the raw milk formula twice a day (he was around 12 months) until we were able to get him to start eating. He started gaining weight almost immediately.

I would also advise you to carefully watch your diet b/c that will help you stay healthy for him and for the new baby. Lots of info on a healthy pregnancy diet.

Best of luck you mama - I had no problem getting DD to 13 months on my milk before my supply declined and she picked right up on solid foods - a little late but with gusto!

Thanks for all the links. I have seen those recipes for raw milk formula. Just wondering how they taste? Is a breastfed baby who is used to sweet warm milk going to go for this stuff???

[BtotheG]

I don't have experience nursing while pregnant - DD is my one and only - but I *do* have experience with a tiny baby (15 lbs 13 oz at her nine month appt). Like you, I worry about getting enough calories into her. She still gets the bulk of her calories from breastmilk, and when she does eat solids, I try to make sure they really count, calorie-wise.

Some things I feed her that are fat/calorie/protein dense: whole milk yogurt, eggs, avocados, chicken sauteed in olive oil, hamburger cooked in olive oil, whole grain pasta, etc. I will also add olive oil to her purees.

She eats a lot of steamed veggies and some fruits as well, so it's not like I just stuff her full of high calorie food, but I find that she actually seems full after eating some of those foods!

So....maybe feeding your son some fat/calorie dense solid foods + donor milk or raw milk formula will work?

[Youngfrankenstein]

I got pregnant with my second when my first was 6 months. He started solids then and ate "regular" meals soon afterward. We never supplimented at all and he grew just fine. Maybe if you milk gets sparse your babe will take more of an interest in solids but I don't think the extra milk is necessary if he's healthy otherwise.

[Skrimpy]

Originally Posted by Kmama2

Thanks for all the links. I have seen those recipes for raw milk formula. Just wondering how they taste? Is a breastfed baby who is used to sweet warm milk going to go for this stuff???

I think they may call for Cod Liver Oil in the formula - I didn't add that in, and I also left out the olive oil. Since he was older, I felt OK modifying a little bit. He didn't mind the taste of the rest of the ingredients. He would not drink the meat-based formula - I tried that one and he'd have none of it.

(I gave him the CLO separate off a spoon so he still got it... I just thought it made the milk taste nasty!)

Once he started gaining weight well I switched to raw milk with extra cream and coconut oil added. Now he just drinks milk (and breastmilk), though I sometimes add extra cream if he's grumpy - the good fats seem to calm him down.

I also fed lots of purees thinned with heavy cream and melted butter (because he had a solids aversion everything was pureed almost to liquid). I always tasted his purees to make sure they tasted good. I think taste is a very valid point.

Now he is eating solids and I still use yellow butter liberally, drizzle his fruit with butter and cream, etc., because he's still a small thing. I give him plenty of fruits and veggies for good carbs because carbs add the bulk. We're a grain-free household so it's fruits and veggies for us. Combined with the good fats he is growing beautifully (and eating well now).

I gave Galen the raw milk formula b/c he could not take in solid foods. But Cassidy, my first, did just fine without it even though I was pregnant. I think it's good to know the recipe is there if you need it - and hopefully your milk supply will do well and your LO will grow well and you won't.

Oh - if you do though, Cheeseslave's post has great step-by-step pics on making it: How To Make Homemade Raw Milk Formula

I am all for nursing and I seriously believe that careful nutrition for *you* can really boost your milk for babe... but it's good to know that you can make a nourishing "real food" recipe for your LO if needed, kwim? I was super glad to give Galen that rather than some of the stuff the other babies at his feeding clinic were being fed...

[donutmolly]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! It can be overwhelming... I found out I was pg when DD2 was 10 mo too -- my supply did not drop significantly until the 2nd tri, and my DD went from eating almost no solids to being a chowhound. Sounds like you'll want to make sure that you're offering nutrient and calorie-dense foods. I'd keep an eye on his weight, but not ask the ped for advice unless yours happens to be very knowledgeable about bfing... most aren't!

And for the record, DD2 is 2.5 yo and still happily nursing. She gained about a pound and a half in the month after DD3 was born! Tandemn nursing can be challenging, but I wasn't willing to nurse her for less than 2 years if I could possibly help it.