Nursing mamas - how are you doing?! - Page 3

[eightyferrettoes]

Originally Posted by Glittergal

so, for you mammas who are now nursing and weren't in a previous pregnancy, do you find yourselves to feel STARVING as compared to when you weren't nursing?

Oh yeah. Add to that feeling too unmotivated to cook, and you'll find me at the greasy-spoon eating fried eggs at least a couple times a week.

[3ncountin]

MY little baby CAtherine is only 6mo old so she is still nursing alot and I am feeling exhausted ,starving, and dehydrated no matter how much water I drink.I can't imagine weaning her though ,she will still be such a little baby when this one is born I cant imagine not tandem nursing this time.I just hope this exhausted feeling goes away soon.

[veganf]

I think you'll feel better as you get into the 2nd trimester, and as your daughter gets a few months older and eating some food. At least it made a difference for me my first time nursing through pregnancy. My first baby was 5 1/2 months old when I got pregnant with #2. Just keep drinking!!

- Krista

[3ncountin]

Thanks for the encouragement Veganf Iam starting to feel a little better now still cant seem to drink enough though.Did you lose weight while nursing a little baby and pregnant .I am still losing at least a pound a week and hope it stops soon not sure what to do though as I never had this problem before.

[veganf]

Never lost until this pregnancy, and now I'm only nursing twice a day. My other pregnancies I had no trouble eating plenty to gain weight, even with morning sickness. This time's different, though I've finally gained 2 pounds, even though I throw up half my food most days still. I lost 4 pounds, but put that back on after I stopped throwing up constantly.

- krista

[eleven]

I lost a few pounds early on, but I seem to have stabilized (no morning sickness). I've been having a hard time drinking enough, too. We recently made the switch from bottled to filtered water and it kind of squicks me out to drink from the tap! I'm getting used to it, though...

At around 13 weeks, nursing is going pretty well. My soreness is gone and my supply seems to be holding up. I'm really hoping it continues! I'd hate for dd to wean, as she'll only be 21 months when the new babe arrives.

[Azreial]

I must have missed this thread when I've popped in before. I'm still nursing dd (12mths). I still don't know if I'm going to tandem or not, I figure I'll just see how things are going. I've also gone back to work full time so I'm sure that's also not going to help our nursing relationship.
I haven't had mush sorness at all, mostly just after I come home from work and I haven't noticed any drop in supply yet.
So things are going pretty well over here

[Kindermama]

Are anyone else's nipples really really sore!?!?!?!?!

My nipples are so sore that I cringe and yelp when she latches on and nurses.... when the shower water hits them, I'm in pain, when my t-shirt rubs them, I'm in pain.......

I have no problems weaning other than guilty and the fact that she's tested positive for soy allergy and is intolerant to dairy (found that out with yogurt) What the heck can I give her to drink that has substance to it? I meet the new pediatrician on Thursday and I see another allergist tomorrow so I guess I can ask then. My nipples will not last much longer...I have tiny sores on them.

[veganf]

no nipple soreness here. But in when I get up in the middle of the night or in the morning I'm really sore on the sides right near my armpit; it feels like a plugged duct, but it's always in the same place on both sides and it goes away within 30 seconds. Weird.

- Krista

[eleven]

Originally Posted by Kindermama

My nipples will not last much longer...I have tiny sores on them.

It sounds like you might have a latch problem rather than (or in addition to) hormonal soreness. If your milk has changed at all (supply, flavor, etc.), your dd could be latching differently as a result.

Several weeks ago I was in agony and developed blisters on my nipples. I hadn't had them since dd was a newborn, so I knew something had to be up. Luckily, I was able to correct it by being diligent about making her latch on correctly every time we nursed. It took a couple of days to heal, but it has been much much better since then.

I would suggest making her open her mouth very widely and aiming your nipple to the roof of her mouth. If you don't see or feel any improvement, a visit with a LLL Leader or LC might help. Lansinoh is usually helpful in the meantime.

It may be helpful to post in one of the breastfeeding forums here at mdc. There are a lot of very knowledgeable mamas (and LLL Leaders) there!

Good luck! I'm sorry you're in pain and I hope you can find relief soon!

[Azreial]

kindermama, my dd is very cow diary intolerant, just a bite of cheese or yoghurt and she gets a blistering rum on her bum. We've had good luck with goats milk for her though. She has it everyday and no reactions at all. If you can find some in your area it might be worth a try. Actually even if you can't and you want to try it, they sell packets of dried goats milk at one of the grocerys in town and I could pick you up one. E-mail me [e-mail] if you're interested

[Subhuti]

we weaned this weekend

This weekend my DH and I decided to take the plunge and wean Lulu. I had been very trepidatious about it for months. It was NOT a big deal, almost a non-even for Lulu (18 months). But let me back up and explain why we weaned ...

Last preg I had preterm labor (pretty severe) starting around week 20. I had to go on TWO MONTHS of bedrest to contain it (it worked fine, but I had to be really strict about it). Nursing is a big potential stimulant if your cervix is prone, and I didn't want to take any chances. I can't afford to do two months of true bedrest with a toddler. So we knew eventually I would have to wean Lulu. The perinatologist (sp?) had confirmed this.

I think the weaning went so painlessly this weekend because we had, in a sense, been weaning Lulu gradually over the last two months. When I was about 6-8 weeks preg, my milk gave out entirely. So I've been dry nursing Lulu for the last two months. But I had been gradually cutting down the length of the nursings. I've always been a believer in "here kid, nurse as long as you want" -- you know, 45 min, 2 hours, whatever. But I was told that was not a great idea in my situation, even early on. So I tried to be disciplined and just kept putting limits on the nursing for the last 2 months.

By the time this weekend rolled around, Lulu was dry nursing 3-5 times a day, sometimes less. I made sure this weekend was FULL of activities outside the house (we went to a kids science show which she loved!) and full of cuddling. She asked to nurse a few times, but was so easily distracted. It all made me realize, perhaps she was ready -- or at least as ready as an 18 month old can be (my understanding is that kids don't *choose* to wean until around 3). By Monday (day 3), she had completely stopped asking to nurse.

I felt a little sad, and a little relieved. I almost can't believe it. It introduces a whole level of potential freedom and flexibility for me. I've never pumped or gone out much without her. I doubt I'll go anywhere, though I would love to go to my buddhist monastery this spring for a short retreat...

The only change in Lulu I've noticed is that she is asking for more cuddling. Not in a desperate way, but in a very loving sweet way. It's really, really nice!

Anyway, I always knew that for me, tandem nursing would be too much. I've loved nursing Lulu. I know I will love nursing this knew little one. But I felt that the nursing demands of two simultaneously would be too much for me - perhaps more emotionally than physically.

Anyway, just thought I would post my experience. Good luck to all the nursing moms who DO keep it up!! Awesome!

Liz

[BirthFree]

I just nursed again (we seem to be every few weeks) this last few days and owwwww it hurts WAY worse than it did before!! OUCH, I feel it for days after...

Eeeee, glad he doesn't ask often!

[barbaral6]

I just read through every one of these posts and I am sitting here crying with relief. I cannot tell you how good it feels to know that I am not alone.
I am 23 weeks pregnant and my 2yo(2/9) is still nursing around the clock. I'm pretty sure my milk is gone but he doesn't seem to mind.
I have no intentions of weaning him but sometimes I want to scream when he's nursing. The lissa, you hit it exactly. I feel so guilty when I get annoyed(even though I try to hide it), but sometimes it's the worst feeling in the world.
This is baby # 4 for me but my older ones are 11 and 8. This is my first time nursing while pregnant and will be my first time tandem nursing.
I'm looking forward to tandem just to get back that satisfied, comfortable feeling that nursing usually gives me.
Can anyone make me feel better by telling me that it will come back?
Thanks so much-sorry that you guys are going through rough times, but glad to know I'm not alone.
Barbara

[Sailmom]

I hear you, Barbara, but have no advice. I went into this pregnancy with the idea that I would tandem nurse (dd is almost 19 months). My milk disappeared last week (I am 16 weeks now) and it is really pitiful. DD only asks to nurse a couple of times a day, and then she unlatches pretty quickly saying "all gone" and goes about her business playing. I really think she is starting to wean and it is breaking my heart! When does the milk come back?