My milk is gone...

[mommy2abigail]

Well, I'd been wondering when it would happen. Two weeks ago, dd's bowel movements started getting more spaced out. She'd been a once a day gal for over 2 years, and all of a sudden she was skipping days. First it was every other day, then every third day. That was my first clue. Then I started having A LOT of pain, again. In the first 3 months of pregnancy I struggled with the pain, then it got better, a little uncomfortable, but not as much pain. Last week, it was really painful again. Now it's just uncomfortable most of the time, although sometimes it hurts. I'm almost 5 months pregnant. (19 weeks)

So what can I take to increase milk supply while pregnant? I know I can't take fenugreek, but what else? Thanks!

[starry_mama]

I believe oatmeal helps, although I never noticed much difference.

[timneh_mom]

A lot of the time, there isn't really anything that will help if you're pregnant. Sorry. However, before long you will have colostrum, and although it's not as much as mature milk, it will at least be a little something for her and it won't be as painful for you.

My milk was pretty much gone by 12 weeks but I had colostrum around 17 weeks. So hopefully it won't be long for you!

Your placenta is making hormones right now that override your lactation hormones. That's why galactogogues don't really work when you're pregnant.

[CathMac]

More Milk Two

Check out this thread on More Milk Two, sold at the website "Mother Love". It is specifically designed to counter supply drop due to pregnancy.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...II#post9196099
~Cath

[hopefulfaith]

I just wanted to offer my support.

I also lost my milk during my second pregnancy; my ds was only 9 months old when that happened, and it was devastating (my dc are only 15 months apart). Honestly, there was nothing that worked for me. I have heard lots of stories on here where women successfully maintained their supply during pregnancy, but that definitely wasn't me.

I wish you good luck and many blessings! I hope this works out well for you!

[foreverinbluejeans]

It might be time for weaning - letting go - of your nursing relationship before the baby arrives. When the new milk comes your little girl may want to nurse again or she may not. If she was skipping days she may have been ready even if you're not quite ready. Nursing only once a day for 2 years is a long weaning.

I wouldn't recommend trying to increase your milk with herbs or stimulation while you are pregnant. Herbs work like drugs and it is difficult to know the strenght you are getting.

There is a temptation to do the "you are the big sister now" thing. This places a lot of responsibility on a child. It is hard for adults to adapt to a baby. Think how hard it is for a child that has to share parents, attention, AND be the big sister, be the helper, kiss the baby, tell the baby I love you, ect.

[Ruthla]

You can supplement your little one with some other kind of milk without weaning. Some children will wean during mom's subsequent pg no matter what you do, and some will happily "dry nurse" for months and then wean when the baby's born and all this milk shows up- although that's far less common.

Remember that milk supply and nursing relationship are two separate things. You can certianly continue comfort nursing if both of you are comfortable with that, even if you need to give your toddler other milk right now.

[klg47]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

If she was skipping days she may have been ready even if you're not quite ready. Nursing only once a day for 2 years is a long weaning.

The toddler was skipping pooping, not breastfeeding :

[mommy2abigail]

nak she is still nursing at least 3x a day, not ready to wean at all. I will look into that more milk too. she is drinking cow milk, though I'm trying to keep it to only 1 sippy a day (and then water) since she's not pooping very regularly. I will try oatmeal, I heard beer works, and I'd *love* that method if I weren't preggo!!