Nursing Through Preganancy - Support Only

[PassionateWriter]

I thought those of us who are nursing through pregnancy could have a thread for support only. I know that I have issues that I have never dealt w/ before. My son is 26 months old and I am approximately 12 weeks pregnant.

I didn't want to continue in the other thread b/c there are some there that really have the need to wean, and I understand that, but thats not what I'm hoping to do.

I hope this makes sense. I just didn't want to step on anyone's toes in the other thread but really would love to talk to others who are nursing through this pregnancy through teh same period, if that makes sense (most of the tandem nursing on teh forum aren't nursing through pregnancy..or if they are..tehy arent at our stages of pregnancy, kwim?). Also,as I have learned in 12 weeks, there are probably going to be alot of changes through the pregnancy and nursing.

So, anyone want to join me? I hope to make it through the pregnancy without weaning. But I am having issues and could use support.

[MamaChicken]

I'm here with you, NAK as we speak. She is 11 months old today, so I have zero interest in weaning her. We just went through a stomach flu and I was glad she was still nursing. My supply seems to be going down slightly (I pump at work), but we'll see if that was due to the flu and her lack of appetite.

[Changed]

I get ya. I'm actually not trying to wean but we're well into the natural process of it all. My nursling is 40 months old though! I'd like to tandem and welcome it but I don't really think he'll keep nursing that much longer. I guess I do and don't belong here but I wanted to chime in and support you all. I think CLW is ideal and applaud you for seeking out support.

[thixle]

Yes, yes, yes!
DD is 31 months. Neither one of us are ready to wean. She says she'll share with her new baby, though
I started the Brewer's Diet mainly to keep up my milk supply (I need to keep track of how much i eat and make a rule to eat more)... along with lots of oatmeal, it has really helped. Oh and quality sea salt and epsoms salt baths to keep the minerals up... I wish I could find where I read that mineral deficiencies can cause nipple tenderness and "the willies" while bfing.

We are having fun with the stomach flu too-- the first day, she threw up, then nursed, then threw up again. Poor kid had never thrown up before, but I was actually happy to know that I still have so much milk It is not as tingly as usual when the milk comes down, so I thought the supply had actually reduced.

So far, I can't complain too much. My areolas are sensitive, but only to bras and dd's latch feels more pinching- I think she might be getting more teeth... but that's about it... And I'm convinced bfing is keeping m/s away!

[Maugham]

Originally Posted by thixle

I started the Brewer's Diet mainly to keep up my milk supply (I need to keep track of how much i eat and make a rule to eat more)... along with lots of oatmeal, it has really helped. Oh and quality sea salt and epsoms salt baths to keep the minerals up... I wish I could find where I read that mineral deficiencies can cause nipple tenderness and "the willies" while bfing.

Oh I am so glad I read this. Has anyone else notice their supply plummet? I feel like I have so little milk now but my son doesn't seem put off... although he will now only nurse on my left side, which was always much more productive. I'll have to try some of your suggestions.

The other thing I wonder is what it will be like nursing with a big ol' belly. Right now he curls up on my lap - that won't be possible soon...

[PassionateWriter]

im doing the Brewers diet too but im having such an aversion to food lately. i dont know why.

i know my supply is plummeting. and im really stressing about it, which i know will cause my supply to plummet even further!

i need to eat more..and drink more water. i was doing GREAT the first 11 weeks or so but the last week or so has just been..i don't know...weird.

[DreamsInDigital]

I'm nak right now. I was tandem nursing when I conceived but I weaned my older nursling. I'm starting to notice a drop in my supply despite taking More Milk two every day. My DD is 13 months.

[birthdancedoula]

I'm nursing my 20m/o dd currently. It would absolutely break my heart if she weaned, despite the fact that I'm not loving nursing right now. DS1 weaned temporarily when I hit the 2nd trimester w/ #2. He picked right back up once his baby brother was born and nursed til he was 5. DS2 weaned at 18mo, again once I hit the 2nd trimester w/ #3. DS3 weaned at 26mo, again when my supply dropped when I was preggo w/ DD. I'm really hoping that trend doesn't continue for DD.

[Cindy-Lou]

DS is almost 20 months and only nurses before bed and in the morning (and in the middle of the night if he wakes up) and I've noticed that my supply has gone down. Last week he had a cold and woke up a few times during the night so I lied down with him and he started nursing. After a while he got frustrated when no milk was coming so he asked for water so I gave him a drink and then he nursed a bit more and went to sleep. I think at this point he wants it more for comfort. He's also getting more attached to his blanket. Before if he was upset (like if he fell or something), he would ask to nurse but now he wants his blanket. I have a feeling he won't be nursing much longer. I've never heard of the Brewer's diet though but I'm going to check it out if it can increase my supply.

[Irish]

Count me in too! There was a thread started a while ago but it seems to have petered out.

DD is 13 months and neither of us is anywhere near ready to wean, I feel like my supply has dropped significantly over the last week or two but it's really hard to gauge. I ordered some 'More Milk for two' this week and a copy of 'Adventures in Tandem Nursing' so I'm really excited to get both - hopefully this week. DD seems to be drinking much more water than usual but is nursing as frequently as ever (getting her 3rd and 4th molars), is anyone supplementing with calcium sources? I'm not really wanting to do dairy, DD has had fortified rice milk on rare occasion but I'm wondering how much she should be getting....

[Cindy-Lou]

I don't give milk to my ds, he only drinks water. I have started giving him yogurt and rice cheese slices so he gets calcium there.

[PassionateWriter]

My son never had milk until probably a little over a month ago. We only drink raw milk. Unfortunately, he's not a big solids eater..never has been. Last night he drank 2 sippy cups of milk. He woudl nurse, drink from his sippy cup and then nurse again..He did that until he drank over 2 cups. also at night last night he was looking for his sippy cup.

this is making me really sad b/c its a huge sign to me that i just dont have much milk anymore. i have had a hard time eating lately (i eat like normal, but problems eating on teh Brewer Diet..i dont know why...by the time i finish making something to eat my appetite is gone).

i dont know what we are gong to do. i really want him to be nursing when the baby is born.

[BabyHaysMama]

Oh! I'd love to join this thread. I have a 19 month old who I have no interest in weaning (neither does he) I'm finding that my husband is subtly pushing us though. I keep letting him know that I'm planning on nursing DS until one of us doesn't want to anymore.

I am finding that I'm having some issues through the pregnancy while nursing. Supply is definitely dwindling. DS is unable to nurse to sleep and stay asleep without the nipple in his mouth for the duration of his nap. We've night weaned him in the last 6 weeks and I think he's afraid of losing his day time nurses too the poor kid.

[~Stephanie~]

Count us in too. Wyatt is 11 months old and still nursing pretty frequently. I'm dealing with supply issues as well, but I will be glad to be out of the first trimester so I can add in some red raspberry leaf tea. I wish I could drink Mother's milk tea because that always boosts my supply. I am afraid to drink it because it has fenugreek listed in the ingredients.

[Changed]

RRL tea is considered very safe in all stages of pregnancy- generally speaking. I was just told by my midwife the other day that if I think I can get DS to nurse more with more milk, it might help. I don't think I have ANY milk left at this point.

[PassionateWriter]

i have heard of some waiting to drink RRL for the first trimester b/c it has been known to cause contractions, but i drank it anyway b/c i didnt think that was going to be a huge issue for me.

last night ds drank 2 full sippy cups of milk. he would nurse, drink sippy cup, nurse...i dont think he's "really" nursed all day.

im just so sad about it..i did not want my pregnancy to cause him to stop nursing.

[nccrunchymama]

My 28 m/o dd is still nursing regularly (3-5x/day) even though my milk seems to be dwindling. I'm not planning to wean her either. I figure she'll wean when she's done nursing. I think I'll be surprised if we don't tandem. She's always been one to nurse for every little thing, not just hunger or thirst.

So what is the Brewer's diet? How does it help? I'd love to know about the nipple tenderness / mineral deficiency connection. Latch on is awful! It's usually fine after a minute or so, though.

I'm glad you started this thread PW, cause I could certainly use the support, too. Thanks!

[Bee21]

I hope to be there with you ladies!

My dd is 21 months and we're barely holding on. She's never been a big comfort nurser, and hasn't nursed to sleep since she was little bitty, so I don't have those things to tempt her with. Now that my supply is dropping she's getting kinda ticked, and we're down to once a day. Last night when I asked her if she wanted her chi-chi's before bed, she actually said no. That's the first day we've ever gone without. But she was back to normal tonight, so I'm hoping it was just her stuffy nose. I'm hoping that if we can hang on to this one time a day until after the babe is born, she'll get excited when there's real milk again and decide to keep going.

My MW also suggested RRL tea, but it was to help with my m/s.

[triple07]

DS is only 8 months at the moment so I am definitely pushing to tandem nurse (despite the freaked out looks I get from DH's family when it is mentioned). So far I don't have any supply issues ::knocks on wood:: I want to nurse at least to 2 years with all of my children but I don't think I will forcible wean them until they are maybe 4...

[~Stephanie~]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

i have heard of some waiting to drink RRL for the first trimester b/c it has been known to cause contractions, but i drank it anyway b/c i didnt think that was going to be a huge issue for me.

.

I have had five miscarriages so I didn't want to do anything that I would be wondering "what if" if I did miscarry. If all of my previous pregnancies had been normal and healthy, I would probably consider the RRL tea right now.