Toddler wanting to start nursing again

[SrkStrickland]

My 18 month old weaned 3 months ago and then I got pregnant. Well now he's wanting to nurse again. My nipples hurt which is uncomfortable but my main concern is I don't think he's getting anything. Actually, I know he's not getting anything except a little bit of colostrum. Has anyone done this before? How did it go? Will my milk pick back up or will he be 'dry nursing' for the next 6 months? Any suggestions??

[akind1]

DS weaned shortly after I got pregnant - I think to aroung 15 months or so (he is 17 months now) - my milk dried up in a hurry.  From what I remember reading in "adventures of tandem nursing" - a great read! - a lot of the normal rules, like supply and demand, and things that help supply, just don't seem to work as well, or at all while pregnant for some women.

We weaned - I admit, it was mostly mother-led, as DS was only night nursing while we co-slept (funny thing is, I started laying him in his crib to go to sleep, and stayed with him until he was, and then he STTN, so no real night weaning) so as soon as he was STTN, he was not nursing anymore. which is just as well, as my boobs and nipples have only gotten more sore as this pregnancy advances.

I think you will likely have colostrum until the new baby arrives, but I don't know that your milk will really come in until he or she does. Some women's nipple/boob tender/soreness disapates at some point in pregnancy. Mine has not so far - I am 17 weeks.

Suggestions kind of depend on what you want to do, do you want the nursing relationship to continue? if so then I think you may be dry nursing - or at least colostrum only nursing - until the birth.  You can set limits though, especially if you are uncomfortable or in pain. Set times - like only bed or nap time - and duration, like the length of a particular song, or a number of minutes.   If you would rather return to non-nursing, then maybe ease off, start with limits (only bed and nap time) and then go to just bed time. and then maybe substitute a special story or song/cuddle time for the nursing.

It isn't easy nursing while pregnant. while I miss the ease of nursing, I don't miss the pain of nursing while pregnant. I am still debating on whether or not to let DS resume nursing, if he wants to, when this baby arrives. You should totally check out the Adventures in Tandem Nursing book, it is full of info no matter what you decide to do.

[SrkStrickland]

We are both due in October :) I'm at the end though on the 25th. Praying to go to Halloween, lol. Anyways, I will definitely check for that book at the library. I will take any recommendations I can get. When DS weaned he started acting strange waking up from his naps. He just screamed for hours. The only thing that eases him is to nurse him. He falls straight back to sleep. The pediatrician said it sounded like night terrors. I tried everything for the months he was not nursing and it was just INCREDIBLY difficult on everyone. To attempt to sooth and screaming child that cannot be soothed is traumatic, stressful and tiring. Being pregnant I could not and cannot do it anymore. So we nurse that one time each day right after his nap. It does not bother me and I like having that comfort of nursing with him back. I just wish I had some milk for him and that my nipples weren't so sore, lol. I'm sure 'dry nursing' doesn't help the pain at all. Thank you for the advice :) 

 

Originally Posted by akind1 

DS weaned shortly after I got pregnant - I think to aroung 15 months or so (he is 17 months now) - my milk dried up in a hurry.  From what I remember reading in "adventures of tandem nursing" - a great read! - a lot of the normal rules, like supply and demand, and things that help supply, just don't seem to work as well, or at all while pregnant for some women.

We weaned - I admit, it was mostly mother-led, as DS was only night nursing while we co-slept (funny thing is, I started laying him in his crib to go to sleep, and stayed with him until he was, and then he STTN, so no real night weaning) so as soon as he was STTN, he was not nursing anymore. which is just as well, as my boobs and nipples have only gotten more sore as this pregnancy advances.

I think you will likely have colostrum until the new baby arrives, but I don't know that your milk will really come in until he or she does. Some women's nipple/boob tender/soreness disapates at some point in pregnancy. Mine has not so far - I am 17 weeks.

Suggestions kind of depend on what you want to do, do you want the nursing relationship to continue? if so then I think you may be dry nursing - or at least colostrum only nursing - until the birth.  You can set limits though, especially if you are uncomfortable or in pain. Set times - like only bed or nap time - and duration, like the length of a particular song, or a number of minutes.   If you would rather return to non-nursing, then maybe ease off, start with limits (only bed and nap time) and then go to just bed time. and then maybe substitute a special story or song/cuddle time for the nursing.

It isn't easy nursing while pregnant. while I miss the ease of nursing, I don't miss the pain of nursing while pregnant. I am still debating on whether or not to let DS resume nursing, if he wants to, when this baby arrives. You should totally check out the Adventures in Tandem Nursing book, it is full of info no matter what you decide to do.

[kawa kamuri]

ditto the rec for Adventures in Tandem Nursing 

[akind1]

Due at the beginning - well, technically 9/28, but DS was a "late" baby so I think this one may be as well!

DS has the same issues, thankfully it isn't every night, but maybe once in a month at most he will wake screaming and nothing soothes him. Usually it is at 2 in the morning, a very unpleasant time for that. I think the first time it happened, he wasn't weaned yet, and wouldn't take the breast at all at first. Finally after an hour or more, he gave up and allowed himself to be nursed to sleep. The last time it happened - 3 weeks ago I think - he refused to be held by DH, only by me, and still screamed for an hour. He wasn't even interested in the boob. (he had access, as I wasn't wearing a top, but paid 0 attention to the boobs, even held in cradle position) These terrors are so frustrating and sort of scary, even for me. DS has never been super fussy, and to not be able to "fix" what is up, or even know what it is, bothers me.

If your library doesn't have it, it is put out by LLL so your local chapter may have a copy among its members. (I haven't ever been to a meeting, but there seems to be LLL everywhere)