Pregnant with a 6 month old...

[fate_loves_flower]

Ok, so I'm dealing with some sad news ( i think).  

I'm about 16 weeks preg (yes, I know, CRAZY!) with baby #3.  #2 is 61/2 months.  I started to notice that he seems to be "thinning out" over the last couple of months.  I don't have a scale in my house and decided to really take a peek at his weight when we went to visit a GF whose scale we used about two months ago.  Seems little man has had NO weight gain.  He's happy, reaching milestones poos in the standard time frame of a EBF infant but I have really started to notice letdown/swallowing decrease.  

All the research I've done seems to say that fighting progesterone to increase supply is a losing battle.  This is what makes me sad.  We co-sleep.  My babies have always had free rein over their diet.  My little guy was a CHUB before this, 18 lbs at 4 months :)  #1 was the same way.  I reeeeally don't want to have to supplement but am not coming up with any other options.  Does anyone have a success story to cheer me up, or some great ideas as to where to go from here?  I'm working on an appt. with a lactation consultant. 

TIA

H

[LiLStar]

Chances are good with a baby that young, that some supplementation will eventually be necessary :( You may be able to find donor milk and use a lact-aid. That would preserve your nursing relationship and keep your lo on human milk :)

[Gwendolyn's babies]

I have been in your situation. I breast fed and used a supplement.

[LilMomma83]

My DS1 was quite a bit older when I got pregnant (16 or 17 months), but, he nursed through and also I also supplimented (he did not a variety of solids and really loved sucking on something with milk - though he also seemed perfectly fine nursing for long periods of time when I seriously doubt there was much milk!) By about 6 months I started getting my milk back and he nursed like crazy (I was actually able to pump and start a freezer stash in the last month before I gave birth lol) and my milk was in after birth in less than 24hrs! He continued to nurse for about 9 months after DS was born!

My LC nursed a really young baby (5 or 6 months maybe - I cannot remember exactly) all through one of her other pregnancies successfully, though she did suppliment also.

I would just cherrish the breastfeeding you can do, and try not to feel bad if you have to suppliment...is there a way for you to weigh him before and after a few feedings so you can see how much he is actually getting - might give you a better idea what is going on and maybe you won't have to suppliment, or it will be less than you think? Also, my babies are already thin at birth and grow slow...but, they both got even more thin around 6mos...when they got a bit more active...has your baby's activity level changed?

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by LiLStar 

Chances are good with a baby that young, that some supplementation will eventually be necessary :( You may be able to find donor milk and use a lact-aid. That would preserve your nursing relationship and keep your lo on human milk :)

[elevena true]

i wonder if he is eating any solid foods?  you might feel better about being able to introduce a few new foods, rather than supplement with formula....or someone else's b/m. the latter is a great choice if choosing to supplement...and the sns is a good way to go about it. food wise.... avocados are a fantastic, good fatty food you might want to incorporate if he likes it? it is also possible to make your own version of formula....as long as you are supporting the bulk of his diet with b/m. i would focus on healthy fats and omegas.