how to ease weaning with dwindling supply during pregnancy?

[EmTheWife]

I just found out I'm 6 weeks pregnant (yay!), but my supply has already dropped significantly, to the point where ds, 16 months, is becoming frustrated and sometimes even really upset at the lack of milk.

I know the drop in supply is basically inevitable, and ds only nurses 3-4 times a day (early morning @4:30 or 5) sometimes mid-morning, before nap (12ish), and then before bedtime, so I already don't have much milk.

My concern is how to comfort him in his frustration at the lack of milk.  He will nurse both sides, and then just lay there asking for "mo' bah" and I tell him, "the bah (milk) is all gone, but if you want to keep nursing, you can"  Sometimes he'll latch back on and get a little more out, but usually he'll latch on and pop right back off crying for more, so I hold him close and soothe him, but he's really unhappy about the decrease in milk volume.

I won't mind weaning, because by breasts are really tender and it hurts every time he latches, but on the other  hand, I feel like he's not ready to be fully weaned.  I do plan to tandem if he's interested after this baby is born.

Any ideas on ways to help smooth this transition?

Thanks!

Em

[MarianneH]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!  I don't have any definitive answers on calming your frustrated son, but just wanted to say that I also just found out I'm pregnant and have a 2 year old who also nurses 3x/day, the same times yours does.  My supply hasn't dropped too much yet but I am trying to encourage gradual weaning.  However, now that we're down to his 3 favorite times to nurse (morning, noon, and night!) I'm not sure what the next step is.  Distraction is my favorite tool these days... I was surprised at how quickly he adjusted to the new routine and started accepting a sippy cup of soy milk instead, at times when he was previously asking for 'nana' (we recently nightweaned, right before I found out I was pg.)  I'll look forward to hearing the replies of others.

[jihan]

I wish I could offer some advice, but I've come here for similar reasons.  I'm 8 weeks pregnant and my supply is dismal.  I'm trying everything I can to maintain it (More Milk Two, Pumping) but it's dropping at an incredibly fast rate.  My son (18 months) is absolutely not ready to wean and cries in grief at night when going down to bed because there's no "nana".  He's ok once he's sleepy and doesn't notice much, but it's heartbreaking.  I want to keep nursing and am happy to tandem, but I don't know how to best maintain.  It also goes against everything I've been taught, but I almost feel like I shouldn't pump during the day (he is in daycare) so I have more milk for him at night.  Will that drop my supply faster?  

I feel so guilty, that the pregnancy has robbed my son of what he needs most - his means of connecting and reassurance after daycare.