breastfeeding and pregnancy

[lightinmyhands]

I'll try to make this as short as possible.  I've got a 19 month old lil nursling and since I became pregnant again, my nipples are incredibly sensitive and nearly simultaneously she's developed less than ideal nursing habits.  She's got a sleepy latch that scrapes her teeth ever so slightly against my nipple, she bites down when she first latches on (and she wants on and off repeatedly), she pulls and tugs and pinches the nipple she isn't nursing...... so the point is, this is getting incredibly uncomfortable.  I have been drinking yogi nursing support tea in case supply is part of the problem.  I try to limit her nursings and she screams as if I've denied her the food she needs to live, in spite of the idea that she eats plenty of solids.  She wants to nurse every time she sees and/or thinks about my breasts.  I just don't know what to do.  Do I continue with the escalating discomfort-- though I fear being completely worn out on breastfeeding by the time the new one arrives?  are there any other possible ways to alleviate this scenario that I just have yet to think of?  Shall I limit her nursings to nap times/bed time/and injuries in spite of her protests?  suggestions/experience ... ?

Love & Light

[VeganEmma]

How far along are you? You sound like me in my first trimester. It was so difficult to nurse my toddler in the beginning of my pregnancy bc my nipples were sensitive, my supply was naturally dwindling, I was tired, and my toddler wanted to nurse a lot. He didn't take much solids. So I drank the mothers milk tea but my supply didn't come back until the 2nd trimester when it turned from milk to colostrum. I had to cut back on my nursing sessions, by introducing fresh coconut water and smoothies and fruit (anything with a high water content). I nursed 3-5 times a day. In the morning, before naps, before bed and maybe a little in between. I made sure to not make him feel like I was witholding bc then he wanted to nurse more, but some days I just asked my partner to take him away for an hour and took a nap (if he was around to help). 

[jenninjapan]

I was just at that point last month.  My first tri the only thing I noticed was slight cramping while feeding, but other than that we continued on with our four to five feeds throughout the day as usual with a return to exclusive feeding during a bout of the stomach flu.  But for some reason around week 16/17 or so, I just could not handle the feeding.  Part of the problem was the pain - it suddenly became really painful to feed and the other part was that my milk just dried right up. (Which didnt help with the pain).   I started to resent and hate our feeding sessions which is NOT how I wanted to end our BFing relationship. So within two weeks we went down from three feeds to none.  For my DS (who was 24 months at the time) I KNEW it wasnt about nutrition any more (no milk) but rather comfort. So that gave me the extra push to fully wean - I just need a few months to have my body even just a little bit to myself before another two years of BFing begins, ya know?

I am glad we stopped completely - that is just where I am at now.  I dont think I could continue on without getting angry and 'spoiling' every feeding session anyway.  BUT I am staying open to the possibility of starting up again with DS once BFing is established with the new baby. 

Is DD night weaned?  Once I went through the night weaning process with my DS at 19 months I knew we were ready to go through a bit more drastic weaning/limited feeding schedule during the day.  Crying and screaming are unavoidable with some kids at this age, but you just need to decide what is best for everyone in your family - both your growing babies AND you.

[lightinmyhands]

She's not completely night weaned yet, but for the most part makes it till about 4 or 5 am till she wants to nurse, sometimes later.  I am feeling the same way,Jenn.... it's incredibly painful, my milk seems to have dried up and it's frustrating the both of us, I am not enjoying nursing at all.  I'm really resenting nursing and that's not how I want it to be, and I know she's gotta feel that resentment and I just haven't been able to make myself ok with the pain and the frustration.  I've tried hard to be "zen" about it, tried really really hard to find some peace, and while it's not making me want to pull my dread locks out any longer.... it's still something that is rather unpleasant.  She's only 19 months old, but she eats solids throughout the day, it's not about nutrition just comfort and I wish she'd be ok with other ways of getting that. i totally agree, that it is about choosing what is right for all of us, myself included....it's just that sometimes the answers don't seem so clear and I've had female role models that were either completely self centered or completely self sacrificing, so balance is something I'm having to learn as I go.  I think I would feel similar if we stopped though, I think I'd be glad that was the decision I made.  I'm getting worried that how much I dislike nursing now is going to color my nursing relationship with my infant in a few short months if I don't give myself a bit of a break.  And I just don't know what to do about the supply issue, which is what I think is the root of this dilemma.  I've been drinking nursing support tea frequently throughout the day and while I have noticed that now I have some milk, it's not enough for an actual feeding and she's still getting really frustrated and searching for a magic third secret milk dispensing nipple in all the nooks and crannies of my bra.  Thanks for the advice and shared experience...  :)

Love & Light