Nursing pregnant mamas support thread - Page 11

[AurorasMommy]

Its so nice to find this forum. I am 5wks 4 days along, and I am breastfeeding my daughter who is 20 months old. I am really glad to know that there are ALOT others who bf still. I was under the impression that I needed to wean my daughter immediately because it could cause a miscarriage.... I was VERY MISINFORMED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to find you guys!

Megan & Aurora 20 months

[zjande]

Well, I'm 11 weeks pregnant now & breastfeeding is still going fine. : My boobs are sore but tolerable, & everything is still happening- milk's still flowin', Mr Baby Pants is still addicted. It's wonderful & I just reallyreally hope it all continues.

I haven't gained a pound yet though, which is a bit worrisome to me. How has all of your weight gain been?? Are you guys finding it harder to eat enough to sustain nursing AND pregnancy easily?

[richella]

Originally Posted by mamamoo

I really do wonder if this feeling is not some sort of biological happening to make us want to wean, so that our bodies can provide for the new baby.

I've been thinking about this a lot. dd2 is just over a week old, and it is driving me nuts when dd1 nurses. She is 2.5 and pretty capable of negotiating, making choices, etc. but really she just wants to nurse more than anything. I think getting her more involved with other people and activities ought to help, going to get her into swimming lessons this summer, etc.

I feel bad because all through pg I would limit her nursing to 10 min. whenever she wanted, but I told her that when the baby came there would be lots of milk and I wouldn't be sore anymore. Now I feel this intense aversion, pain or no, and I am down to 5 min. and counting the seconds. I try to keep it to bedtime and nap time, but she really wants to share nursing with the new baby, and it is so sweet. She always holds some of my hair in her hand, now she makes sure the baby has some hair to hold onto too! And that is the only time it is still painful for me to nurse, when they are both latched on. And it drives me insane. I don't know what is right.

[richella]

Originally Posted by zjande

I haven't gained a pound yet though, which is a bit worrisome to me. How has all of your weight gain been?? Are you guys finding it harder to eat enough to sustain nursing AND pregnancy easily?

I ate a lot, and no dairy or mammal or bird, and gained about 40 lbs. So, no, I don't think tandeming is likely to be a reason you are not gaining this early in your pregnancy. You might try counting calories to see how many you are getting, but if you are eating as much as you feel hungry for, and good quality and variety of foods, you're probably fine.

[SheBear]

Subbing. I'm 12(ish) weeks pg with #4, nursing ds2, age 17 months.

I nursed ds1 all through my pg with dd, and tandem nursed them for a full year, until ds1 self-weaned at age 3.

I would have nursed dd through my pg with ds2, but she self-weaned much too early...at 16 months. Gave me no small amount of guilt, but what can you do? "Child-Led Weaning" means you let the child lead, right? Not like I could force her to continue! Anyway, I still struggle some about her being so young when she weaned, but I've come to peace with it. There's a purpose in everything....

So far, ds2 is still going strong, although he does not seem to be as strongly attached (to nursing--he is very well attached to my dh and me!) as my firstborn was. I don't know exactly how things will play out over the next few months. One day at a time, and trying to take my cues from him.

I will say that I'm struggling right now--he seems to be constantly chewing on me! Very painful, and I suspect it is equal parts my increased sensitivity and his dealing with the awareness that something is different about my milk. My supply seems to be pretty good so far.....

I also am coming to realize that it has been a loooooong time since I actually nursed a toddler, and I need to make that adjustment mentally/emotionally and perhaps physically. I didn't have the toddler nursing phase (much) with dd, so it's been awhile.

It would also help me, I'm sure, to figure out what I really want for myself (regarding his nursing and eventual weaning) and why... Not that it would change how strongly I feel that allowing him to continue the relationship for as long as he needs is what is best, but right now I feel somewhat ambivalent.....

I think part of my brain is "holding back" just in case he does wean early, like his sister did. I don't want to feel that guilt and (in a sense) rejection again. And yet I can't say that I particularly enjoy nursing through pregnancy....so far it has been bearable, but I remember it getting to the grit-my-teeth point with ds1, before dd was born!

But it is what i feel strongly that I need to do, want to do for my son, for as long as he receives a benefit from it. Sort of hard to describe, all the different emotions and sensations, worries, fears and joys I'm experiencing.

I know that if anyone on Earth can understand it completely, you all can!

[SheBear]

Hugs, Richella! It is so hard to tandem simultaneously! I tried at first (with firstborn ds and dd) and quickly decided I couldn't handle it. For me, it was simply the difference in the way it feels for a toddler (or older baby) to suck vs. a newborn. I could deal with both separately, but both at once was sensory overload. I wonder if it would be that way with twins, or if their sucking patterns, etc. would be similar enough to make it bearable?

Anyway, here's a hug for you....keep it for everytime you sit down to nurse them! Maybe it will help a tiny bit!

PS...I have LOST seven lbs so far this pregnancy. But I know that I'm eating well, and losing in the first tri--even though I've never experienced any MS--has always been my pattern. I'm sure I'll more than make up for it in the months to come, LOL! IMO, weight gain is much much less important a measurement than your energy levels, and *knowing* you are eating well. And of course, how the baby is growing, though that's not so easy to tell in the beginning. Blessings to all!

[waiting4it2snow]

subbing... my son Alex is going to be two in Sept. (so that makes him, uh, 21 months??) and I am, uh, let's see, due in Oct., so that makes me 23 weeks? or something. LOL. whatever. He's a bruiser. too busy in the day to nurse much (SO much different from my daughter in that respect, wow)... but always nurses to sleep at night after we tuck the big kids in and give kisses, I think my milk is finally drying up tho.. he doesn't stay on long. I unhook him though when his breathing and suck slows down. Then he just snuggles in and relaxes and I hold him and watch TV for a while. It's nice. I worry about what our routine is going to be like once the new baby arrives. I remember when I tandem nursed my daughter when Alex was the newborn, and it drove me nuts, I couldn't wait to wean her. She was a bit older though.

[Hazelnut]

Oh man...my milk slowed immediately and has been completely gone for some time now (I'm 26 weeks, ds is 23 months). I didn't mind so much, b/c I hear how hard tandem nursing can be. Two years was my goal for nursing.

But lately! He began just 'suckling' again, more and more and more and more. During the day he grabs my nipples just to hold on every time he is near. I try to be patient, but am also trying to discourage it b/c there are moments when having my nipples hurt or grabbed while I'm in the middle of things is really, really grating or painful.

I'm kinda afraid he'll just keeping going until the baby is born and then nurse again-- which sounds OK until I realistically contemplate having him on me all day and a baby, and worrying about the baby getting enough. I don't know if I'm cut out to tandem nurse. But I don't know how to wean him from this, he really hollers if I try to keep him from touching me all day and night. If he doesn't fall asleep easily at night he'll just twiddle them for 40 minutes straight. Drives me craaazy. I'm just surprised he is doing this more when there is no milk. They're like his lovies!

[ecstaticmama24]

I'm just pregnant (6 weeks), and still nursing our 15 monther. I find myself so so hungry all the time!! And I'm thinking I might like to night-wean.

[jlwagner]

Originally Posted by zjande

I haven't gained a pound yet though, which is a bit worrisome to me. How has all of your weight gain been?? Are you guys finding it harder to eat enough to sustain nursing AND pregnancy easily?

I'm noticing the same thing. I didn't gain anything in the first trimester and now at about 15 wks I've gained a pound. Last pregnancy when I wasn't nursing, I gained 6 lbs in the first trimester alone! My appetite is picking up though, so maybe I will start gaining. It's weird to eat and eat and not gain.

[Jennah_Gole]

i will find out 2day how far along i am (no period after ds who is now 13mths).

I am so sleep derived with ds nursing at nite but i feel that my milk is almost gone I no longer feel the let down and poor ds is getting constipated cuz he wants to breastfeed and he gets upset and will only eat yogurt. I feel so bad for him. He likes regular milk but i was hoping my milk would last a bit longer.

He doesn't really eat anything - he was pretty much still exclusively breastfeed...he likes liquids more than he likes foods...I am trying to introduce veggies and stuff cuz I feel he is miserable - he just cries all day and tries to breastfeed and can't get anything out of my breasts and when I try to feed him something he just shakes his head no....but like i said he will drink a little milk and eat yogurt.

Cant wait till my scan today to figureout how far along I am...and hopefully i can think of things for ds to eat that he will be interested in eating.

and maybe thinking of night weaning cuz i just cant function being pregnant, sick, and tired and taking care of my other kids --- its just too much...

[SaraBravo]

dd 8 mo and 21 weeks pg

supply has been just fine so far but i worry about how hard tandem nursing is going to be. the doctor said that i might have to ween her becuase they said that it might cause pre term labor? i haven't had any problems. yeah i might feel a light contraction every now and again when i am nursing but thats normal isn't it? why would they tell me to ween? i am switching my doctor though. i am going to be seeing a group of midwifes in the only birth center in ga. 1 1/2 hr drive but to have the kind of birth i want it's worth it.
has anyone else's doctor made them quite nursing? it sounds rediculous! or is it really something to worry about? i don't feel like it is.

[queenbean]

Originally Posted by SaraBravo

supply has been just fine so far but i worry about how hard tandem nursing is going to be. the doctor said that i might have to ween her becuase they said that it might cause pre term labor? i haven't had any problems. yeah i might feel a light contraction every now and again when i am nursing but thats normal isn't it? why would they tell me to ween? i am switching my doctor though. i am going to be seeing a group of midwifes in the only birth center in ga. 1 1/2 hr drive but to have the kind of birth i want it's worth it.
has anyone else's doctor made them quite nursing? it sounds rediculous! or is it really something to worry about? i don't feel like it is.

I've heard about things like that happening, but honestly, it's always a "friend of a friend" type deal. If you start having crazy hard contractions and it's way too early for baby to be born, I'd stop nursing and get to a doctor to try to halt labor -- but I've known SO many mommies who nurse right through pregnancy and don't have a problem with preterm labor. Just keep an eye on things, and watch for the signs of labor, and you'll be all right. I plan to nurse right til the end and then some, unless there happens to be a problem.

[tarablesue]

Originally Posted by queenbean

I've heard about things like that happening, but honestly, it's always a "friend of a friend" type deal. If you start having crazy hard contractions and it's way too early for baby to be born, I'd stop nursing and get to a doctor to try to halt labor -- but I've known SO many mommies who nurse right through pregnancy and don't have a problem with preterm labor. Just keep an eye on things, and watch for the signs of labor, and you'll be all right. I plan to nurse right til the end and then some, unless there happens to be a problem.

Exactly what hse said. If I'd listened to everyone that had their advice to give( doctors family,etc.) I d not have made it very far breastfeeding,nor would I be getting ready to experience tandem nursing for the THIRD time,my kids would have CIO, and I'd be spanking them Do what feels right to you ,mama, and let everyone give their advice ,but you don't have to take it.

[naturallia]

I haven't had the chance to really read the whole thread, but I'm newly pregnant and I am still nursing my soon to be 11 month old DS- come February, I'll be tandem nursing and I'm excited!

[Brees_Mama]

havent got to read through the posts yet, but im 12wks pregnant and nursing my 14mth old were cutting down on day nursing though and its going ok.

[newchicagomommy]

Just found this thread.. how wonderful!! I'm only 5 weeks pregnant and nursing my one year old (as of next Wed.) Her nursing has changed withing the past 2 weeks... i just know it and she barely ate ANYTHING today. I'm worried that my supply is down because I went 9 hours or so without her eating and I could pump only 4 oz out of one side. She ended up having her 2nd session of the day at 5:45pm... could this be a pregnant thing? I'v heard of kids weaning during pregnancy, but I didn' think it happened this early...and so suddenly!

[Dov'sMom]

Hi! Just joining the club. I didn't have time to read through the whole thread, but I read since it was revived recently -- does that count?

I am newly pregnant, somewhere between 6 and 10 weeks (u/s tomorrow will hopefully shed light on that) and my first DS is not quite 7 months old. I'm really hoping I can keep my milk for at least another few months, until he is getting a lot more nutrition from solids. I feel especially guilty because we just moved and I haven't been able to pump at all so I'm not building him a stash for if/when my milk does go before he's a year old.

[Brees_Mama]

Originally Posted by SaraBravo

supply has been just fine so far but i worry about how hard tandem nursing is going to be. the doctor said that i might have to ween her becuase they said that it might cause pre term labor? i haven't had any problems. yeah i might feel a light contraction every now and again when i am nursing but thats normal isn't it? why would they tell me to ween? i am switching my doctor though. i am going to be seeing a group of midwifes in the only birth center in ga. 1 1/2 hr drive but to have the kind of birth i want it's worth it.
has anyone else's doctor made them quite nursing? it sounds rediculous! or is it really something to worry about? i don't feel like it is.

My OB told me to day-wean DD because I've lost 7lbs and I'm not completly doing that~she nurses 1-2times in the day and mainly at naptime/bedtime. I think its crazy to stop altogether when its easier to just decrease nursing sessions. Hope that helps

[newchicagomommy]

Bump for Miss_HoneyB (i think thats the name). Congrats again!