Breastfeeding and UC/homebirth

[VeganEmma]

I am currently breastfeeding my 20 month old son. He takes the breast all day, especially in the morning and to get him to bed for a nap or for the night. I was wondering if any mothers had any experience with labor and breastfeeding. Will I be able to breastfeed in early labor, how did your child react to you being in labor, did you refuse your child during labor? I also plan on tandem nursing. Any input would be appreciated!

[happynaturalmama]

I'm curious about this as well!  I'm not anywhere near due, but I also don't know that our son will stop nursing before the time comes.  I'm not sure how I'll deal if he wants to nurse during labor.

[woodchick]

I didn't have a UC or Homebirth, but I did nurse my eldest while in early labor.  I started having contractions around 6am and I nursed her to sleep around noon and definitely again after dinner.  I'm sure I nursed her other times during the day as well.  I went in to deliver DD2 around 10pm. 

I kind of remembering it being a bit uncomfortable for me, but surely not any worse than nursing during pregnancy had already been thus far.  DD1 was 2.75 years and I'm not sure she even realized I was in labor most of the day.  We spent a lot of time watching TV on the couch and breathing deep :)

[VeganEmma]

thank you! I will try to nurse as long as I can :)

[Mamatoabunch]

I nursed my 2y/o while in labor w/ his brother, in the labor/birth pool. It worked just fine. I did have nursing limits set prior to labor though. I nursed upon waking, nap and bedtime I think at that time.

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

I nursed my 2y/o while in labor w/ his brother, in the labor/birth pool. It worked just fine. I did have nursing limits set prior to labor though. I nursed upon waking, nap and bedtime I think at that time.

thank you that is reassuring. I hope I can nurse my son when he wants it.

[Chloe'sMama]

I nursed DD1 through labor and it was ok.  once I hit really active labor, I didn't want her around at all (I wanted to be alone with DH).   My entire labor was very short though.  about 2 hours from the start of active labor until DD2 was born.  I nursed DD1 until I hit that active labor point, then again after DD2 was born.

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by Chloe'sMama 

I nursed DD1 through labor and it was ok.  once I hit really active labor, I didn't want her around at all (I wanted to be alone with DH).   My entire labor was very short though.  about 2 hours from the start of active labor until DD2 was born.  I nursed DD1 until I hit that active labor point, then again after DD2 was born.

I hope my labor is short like yours, but what you said makes sense. I figure I won't want to nurse towards the end of labor. 

[JPOUC]

Ahhh... tandem nursing :)  How I looked forward to doing this lol.  My only experience with it had been my friend who nursed who two daughters together and it always looked so cozy and wonderful.  I loved the way her oldest would stroke her baby sister's hair as they both snuggled up with mommy and nursed.  I couldn't WAIT for that! 

My daughter (now 12) was 15 months old when her brother was born.  The minute I latched them both on at the same time I wanted to climb out of my own skin.  Turns out I HATED tandem nursing. Hated it with such visceral intensity too!  It was way, way, WAY over stimulating.  The two different sucking rythms and different feelings made me crazy.  It was like trying to watch tv and listen to the radio at the same time.  I was SO disappointed.  But there was just NO way I could do handle it.

So after that it was one at a time, wait your turn, get in line LOL :)

I hope your experience is snuggly and amazing :)

[VeganEmma]

thank you for sharing, I am very sensitive to stimulation so I may be like you. I already get overstimulated when my 20 month old nurses for too long (over 45 minutes). I feel like I am going to jump out of my skin. I really want to and am going to really stick it out and hopefully my body will adjust. :)

Originally Posted by JPOUC 

Ahhh... tandem nursing :)  How I looked forward to doing this lol.  My only experience with it had been my friend who nursed who two daughters together and it always looked so cozy and wonderful.  I loved the way her oldest would stroke her baby sister's hair as they both snuggled up with mommy and nursed.  I couldn't WAIT for that! 

My daughter (now 12) was 15 months old when her brother was born.  The minute I latched them both on at the same time I wanted to climb out of my own skin.  Turns out I HATED tandem nursing. Hated it with such visceral intensity too!  It was way, way, WAY over stimulating.  The two different sucking rythms and different feelings made me crazy.  It was like trying to watch tv and listen to the radio at the same time.  I was SO disappointed.  But there was just NO way I could do handle it.

So after that it was one at a time, wait your turn, get in line LOL :)

I hope your experience is snuggly and amazing :)

[Almi]

Originally Posted by JPOUC 

Ahhh... tandem nursing :)  How I looked forward to doing this lol.  My only experience with it had been my friend who nursed who two daughters together and it always looked so cozy and wonderful.  I loved the way her oldest would stroke her baby sister's hair as they both snuggled up with mommy and nursed.  I couldn't WAIT for that! 

My daughter (now 12) was 15 months old when her brother was born.  The minute I latched them both on at the same time I wanted to climb out of my own skin.  Turns out I HATED tandem nursing. Hated it with such visceral intensity too!  It was way, way, WAY over stimulating.  The two different sucking rythms and different feelings made me crazy.  It was like trying to watch tv and listen to the radio at the same time.  I was SO disappointed.  But there was just NO way I could do handle it.

So after that it was one at a time, wait your turn, get in line LOL :)

I hope your experience is snuggly and amazing :)

I hate tandem nursing, and I think my twins do, too.  It's just awkward and sometimes uncomfortable, and more difficult to get good positioning and good latches.  I only do it when both are inconsolable.

I don't mind the two separate rhythms, though.  I never even noticed.  And I also love it when a baby nurses forever, I think it feels good.  Lol.

[ashleypLC]

Add me to the list of women that disliked tandem nursing.  It was definitely the different rhythms and strengths that got to me the most. We took one pic and from then on I only nursed my 26 month old for naps and occasional bedtime.  To answer the OP, I had already set some limits by the time I went into labor.  I was incredibly uncomfortable towards the end of the pregnancy, between the nipple pain and the contractions, 2-3x/day was about all I could stand.  So thankfully I labored during the day when she didn't normally nurse so I didn't have to refuse.

[VeganEmma]

Originally Posted by ashleypLC 

Add me to the list of women that disliked tandem nursing.  It was definitely the different rhythms and strengths that got to me the most. We took one pic and from then on I only nursed my 26 month old for naps and occasional bedtime.  To answer the OP, I had already set some limits by the time I went into labor.  I was incredibly uncomfortable towards the end of the pregnancy, between the nipple pain and the contractions, 2-3x/day was about all I could stand.  So thankfully I labored during the day when she didn't normally nurse so I didn't have to refuse.

I am hoping that this is what happens for me too!