Nursing Mamas Thread

[apmama07]

I figured I'd start a thread for July '11 mamas who are still nursing during this pregnancy. How's it going so far for you and you LO(s)? Any pain or discomfort? Plans/hopes to continue and tandem or wean? Issues or concerns?

My nursling is 3 and 2 months and I was one of those mamas who never thought she'd nurse much past 1, then 2, now....who knows. My hunch is she'll wean herself during this pregnancy since she'd already started changing her nursing attitude since turning 3, but I'm not planning on forcing the issue either. She's always been a very impassioned kid and nurser, really has a deep need for it, and still nurses quite often.

I went through a lot of horribly conflicted feelings when she was 2.5 and I was pg with what ended up being an early loss. Without writing a novel, suffice to say that that whole experience made me more resolved to allow whatever to happen this time with our nursing. I'm at peace with toughing out the discomfort and tandeming with a 4 year old, or accepting her weaning.

And speaking of discomfort, the nipple pain (mostly just upon latching) has surely started here! Only 4w3d, still bearable so far....

[new2texas]

Well, I guess this is me too. I never thought I'd be in this position but this is a suprise pregnancy and my baby is only 11 months. I'm just going to take it one day at a time and see what happens. So far it's not hurting but my pregnancy symptoms (soreness, nausea, fatigue) usually set in right at 6 weeks so I have a few days yet. I am not really wanting to tandem nurse, I have a hard time keeping up enough supply for one baby, never mind two. Anyway, this is all unchartered territory for me, I guess I'll figure out as I go along.

[~Katie~]

I'm gearing up to tandem again. I nursed through DD's pregnancy and continued after she was born for a year. DS ended up weaning on his own around 31-32 months.

I'm already having discomfort, her nursing habits are changing a bit. I lost my milk last time around 14 or 15 weeks and switched to colostrum. She may need more encouragement than he did to continue to nurse but I would still like to continue for even a little while after the new baby is born. It was really a life saver last time when DS had meltdowns and needed one on one with me in the beginning.

[mamaw/two]

Hi, I'm nursing my 17 month old. I would expect that he will probably continue throughout, actually I'm hoping that he does! I don't know what I'd do without having milkie for him when the new lo is here, it really helps the toddlers transition IMHO. This will be the third time I've tandemed.
I've been eating lots of oatmeal to try to keep up supply, but ds has been nursing more than he was before, especially at night. Also, I've got soreness that I didn't feel until later in the pregnancies the last two times. Hoping it doesn't get much worse!
Katie- I think we were in the May 09 ddc together!

[tracymom1]

My first inkling that I was pregnant was because of the nipple sensitivity when DD was nursing. She stopped for a month around a year but is now a super nurser. I am happy to continue for however long she wants to nurse - so far it is a little uncomfortable when she latches on but tolerable.

DS only nursed until he was 15 months - I was 3 months pregnant with DD and I am sure my supply went into the toilet. I hope my milk can keep up with her!

[~Katie~]

Originally Posted by mamaw/two

Hi, I'm nursing my 17 month old. I would expect that he will probably continue throughout, actually I'm hoping that he does! I don't know what I'd do without having milkie for him when the new lo is here, it really helps the toddlers transition IMHO. This will be the third time I've tandemed.
I've been eating lots of oatmeal to try to keep up supply, but ds has been nursing more than he was before, especially at night. Also, I've got soreness that I didn't feel until later in the pregnancies the last two times. Hoping it doesn't get much worse!
Katie- I think we were in the May 09 ddc together!

I remember you!

[scheelimama]

My baby is only 9 months old, so I'd sure like to continue to nurse him. My personal limit seems to be around 2, so I'd really love for him to continue through my pregnancy and tandem nurse for a little while. But my supply rarely holds up long through pregnancy and he's not a big comfort nurser, so I'm not holding much hope for that. If we can make it to at least 12 months, I'll be okay with that. I've tried nursing through pregnancy twice and they both weaned naturally due to lack of milk. I already ordered some More Milk Two to try to keep up my supply and am eating lots of oatmeal.

[alyssatuininga]

I am nursing also. My youngest just turned 2 in September but in general I have been nursing for almost 8 years. Looking forward to tandem nursing again.

[scheelimama]

NAK, and oh how it hurts! I don't remember it hurting this much this early last time. In fact, I don't think it hurt at all until around 13 weeks, and then it was just an irritating feeling, not as painful as this is. I do hope it gets better or it will be a long 8 months.

[apmama07]

I was getting on to ask the mamas who've nursed through pg before if and when this PAIN will ever ease up!! I can't believe how much it's increased in the past three days or so, and how soon it seems it still is (I'm 5 weeks tomorrow). Any tips on how to get through it? I'm determined to try to stick it out and not push DD to wean, I think she'll get there soon on her own anyway. But oh my goodness the pain!

[scheelimama]

I just have no idea since I don't remember any pain in the first tri with the other two I nursed during pregnancy. Guess every pregnancy is different. It has really increased in the last few days for me as well, I guess as the hormones continue to surge, the symptoms increase.

[~Katie~]

I normally get nursing pain after I ovulate, but nursing during pregnancy is slightly more uncomfortable. With DD's pregnancy I remember it getting better in the second trimester, this time around I feel like I'm just used to it. With DS I did end up cutting down on the nursing to 3-5 times a day and shortening nursing sessions because of the discomfort, that's something that would be dependent on the individual child and how attached to nursing they are and whether you intend to tandem. It didn't discourage DS from continuing to nurse.

[sbsurfer]

Yes, ouch! Not always, but there have been some real zingers. Nursing a 22-month old. It also seems like he's changing his nursing habits--about two weeks ago, this rabid nursing fan started asking, occasionally, for a bottle (and that's when I thought something might be going on.) Different taste now, maybe?

[scheelimama]

Question - how will I know if I need to start supplementing. My LO is just 9 months old and he's been nursing a lot more the past few days, nursing both sides every time instead of just one side as is normal, waking a lot more at night, and just plain fussy. I feel pretty soft, only occasionally feeling like there's milk in there. I'm taking More milk two faithfully since it came in the mail Thursday. Eating lots of oats. But I'm afraid it's probably not going to be enough. I badly want to tandem nurse and get him to at least 2, but my milk almost always goes quickly once the pregnancy hormones hit my body. I thought maybe the MM2 would make a difference and stupidly bought the largest bottle knowing I would need a lot if it did help. I'm just feeling unsure of my ability to exclusively nurse him. He is eating a fair amount of solids, but he still nurses more than 60-70% of the time.

[mama_daba]

my son just had his third birthday and is still nursing a couple times a day and off and on all night and i hope to do child led weaning with him. so far no pain and my supply is ok. i would like to tandem nurse for so many reasons. seems very good for siblings. i really can't imagine night nursing two though. more accurately i can't imagine how i could get any sleep if i was nursing two at night i can imagine it and it is not a pretty picture heh. so i am hoping before this baby is born my son will have stopped nursing at night. nursing to sleep and when he wakes up would be ok though.

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by scheelimama

Question - how will I know if I need to start supplementing. My LO is just 9 months old and he's been nursing a lot more the past few days, nursing both sides every time instead of just one side as is normal, waking a lot more at night, and just plain fussy. I feel pretty soft, only occasionally feeling like there's milk in there. I'm taking More milk two faithfully since it came in the mail Thursday. Eating lots of oats. But I'm afraid it's probably not going to be enough. I badly want to tandem nurse and get him to at least 2, but my milk almost always goes quickly once the pregnancy hormones hit my body. I thought maybe the MM2 would make a difference and stupidly bought the largest bottle knowing I would need a lot if it did help. I'm just feeling unsure of my ability to exclusively nurse him. He is eating a fair amount of solids, but he still nurses more than 60-70% of the time.

You should cross-post in the breastfeeding forum. This will be my first time tandem nursing because last time around DS stopped when I was 5 months pregnant with DD (he was about 17 months). From my understanding, though, you should just keep nursing as much as you can. Pumping can help keep your supply up, too. Drink Mother's Milk tea and lots and lots of water. You have milk in there even if you can't feel it or it doesn't seem like enough. Make sure the solid foods you give him are full of fat! Avacado, banana, etc...

[FoxintheSnow]

I'm still nursing my 2.5 year old. My supply has way dropped though. Dd keeps telling me there isn't much milk.

[scheelimama]

I don't think MM tea is safe while pregnant?

[apmama07]

Nope, it's not. A few of the ingredients are contra-indicated for pregnancy, but especially I think fenugreek itself. It can be a uterine stimulant.

http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milks...html#pregnancy

Here's a helpful list for other herbs to avoid:
http://www.motherlove.com/category/r...-pregnant.html

[scheelimama]

I doubt if pumping will help me, but is that safe during pregnancy. I feel like it's probably not okay unless you've been doing it all along, which I haven't.