Pregnant and nursing?

[ruthmg]

Ds is 3 years old (on Sunday!) and still nursing up a storm. I've gotten so sensitive so quickly! I want him to keep nursing as long as he wants - I just hope I can hold out:D. He loves nursing so much that he sings songs about it, makes jokes about, tells stories about it...

At this point it's bearable, but I've heard stories about later in pregnancy!

[100%mom]

Well, it looks like I'm in the same boat. Pg and nursing. My DS is only 10 months. I actually just went and got some formula this afternoon because he's teething again and he is always biting me. Then this evening I took a test just for the fun of it and it was positive! I think I'll test again in the morning because I just can't believe it all the way. I don't even know when I would be due. My son has never taken a bottle and has only drank out of a cup a couple times so we'll see what happens.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

[ainh]

Count me in. My guy is almost two and I haven't really thought about weaning. My nipples are a tad more sensitive now, but not too bad. We'll see what happens. I'm sure that most people will encourage me to wean him, but I don't think that either of us is ready.

[scarlettrose]

count me in as well....

my son is almost 18 months and still going strong...actually I've noticed an increase in his desire to nurse.... i think this is due to the fact that he's getting teeth though....

i wonder if he'll wean and then come back to it once he sees the new babe nursing....

it shall be an adventure nonetheless....

[momzilla]

I'm in the same boat. My youngest son is 20 months and I'm still nursing. I plan to Tandem Nurse, like I did with my first two. My nipples are extremely senstive, as well. Also, my left breast is so sore...it almost feels like I have a plugged duct....I noticed the pain about two weeks ago...it was one of my first clues that I was pregnant again.

[Prism]

I'm double tandem nursing, ugh.
My 5yo is down to about 1-2 times a week but my 3yo is in love w nsg.
If he sees me w/o my shirt he exclaims, "Oh! there's my baba's!" and kisses them so lovingly. it's so sweet. only seems to hurt when he latches but man, I think I am producing much more milk! that seems wierd to me, shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't think I made that much milk before being pg, now I hear them gulping much more and feel the let-down.

[triscuitsmom]

Count me in! I am nursing my 20 month old all the time. I couldn't even hazard a guess how many time he nurses in 24 hours.

I also nurse my really close friends DD when she's here (4 days a week, for 11 hours per day).

Tandem nursing through pregnancy... didn't think I'd be here for a long time if ever, and yet... so far so good :D

[triscuitsmom]

I'm double tandem nursing, ugh.
My 5yo is down to about 1-2 times a week but my 3yo is in love w nsg.
If he sees me w/o my shirt he exclaims, "Oh! there's my baba's!" and kisses them so lovingly. it's so sweet. only seems to hurt when he latches but man, I think I am producing much more milk! that seems wierd to me, shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't think I made that much milk before being pg, now I hear them gulping much more and feel the let-down.

Me too! One of my first notions something was going on with my body was that my milk supply increased. Of course I couldn't believe I was pregnant because I thought for sure it'd go down during pregnancy (and that was one of my biggest fears about gettng pregnant).

I havn't been engorged in FOREVER, until I got pregnant and now a couple of times this week I have been. It's not for lack of nursing either... it's definitely more milk there.

I wonder, since you have two nursing, and I have two nursing most days if that has any bearing on it?

[thismommy]

I'm still nursing dd too. She nurses quite a bit during the day and 3ish times at night. My nipples actually don't hurt yet, I'm a bit surprised. When I was pg with dd, they would hurt soooo bad when ds would latch on. I'm sure its coming though. I think usually your milk supply does go up a bit. But I completely lost all my milk by 16 weeks pg even though ds was still nursing a few times a day. I tandem nursed until she was 10 months (ds was only for nap and bedtime...until he quit napping when she was a few months old, so only for bedtime when we stopped altogether).

[Prism]

good to know I"m not the only one with this strange 'more milk' phenomenon in early pregnancy. I'm sure it will lessen later, but I wonder about what's going on? Like more prolactin or oxytocin or something? Interesting.
I have zero appetite, though, I have to force myself to eat and everything tastes like cardboard.

[Mimimamaiam]

Count me in as well.. my 2 y/o dd is still nursing like a newborn. She loves to nurse at night not so much during the day. I just pull up the t-shirt and let her nurse for a couple of minutes then say "all done" so that I can bo back to sleep.

[babz]

Thanks for starting this thread. My nine-month old is nursing more at night now and, though it's a little uncomfortable, I am not inclined to stop. I never thought I'd be the one to tandem nurse, but I also thought I'd never be the one to be ready to "try" again when I had a nine-month old! :D

[jr'smom]

I'm still nursing two as well. My DS who is 3 and a half only nurses once every few days. I don't anticipate he'll keep it up much longer. My DS who is nearly 2 nurses whenever I sit down. I remember it made my skin crawl when I nursed during my last pregnancy, but I was so glad I made it through! Maybe it will be a little easier this time with an older nursling?

[quietserena]

DD is an avid nurser still. No issues so far but she's been nursing extra. I can't tell is my supply is low or her new teeth are bothering her. She's hardly eating solids though so I'm frankly a little worried.

Must work on having trust in toddler instincts.

[quietserena]

:( My nipples are killing me. How are you guys holding up?

[kdf]

Count me in here too. I am nursing my 14 mth old dd and she still nursing lots and lots at night still. It is nice to see I am not the only doing the night nursing thing still. I am still not decided on tantum nursing but I do plan on nursing at least until the baby comes.
I am very sensitive and dd has started to bite a bit too. Not fun.

[KatyLinda]

You can add me to the club! :love My DD is 3 and I'm due mid-January! Luckily my DD is down to nursing 1-2 times/day. If it were more often I don't know how long I'd last. It hurts already. :( I also feel like I have more milk, my breasts went from saggy not much there to full again in the past week. Not sure what that is all about?! I guess we'll see how the pregnancy pans out!

[MrsGraffy]

I'm in, too. DS is almost 2 and nurses 3-4 times per day, but not at night anymore for the last month. So far I can feel a little more tenderness, but nothing too terrible. I actually hope he weans during the pregnancy because when he was a newborn he'd nurse for about an hour at a time, then start again an hour later. I'm not sure I'll handle it well if the new babe is the same way with ds wanting his share, too.

So far I'm not noticing increased supply, but then I'm not even 5 weeks yet.

[quiddit]

I'm due 1/7 w/ #7. Still nursing my 2 yr old and my 13 month old. No lack of milk here, but my milk usually dries up at 5 months along. Last preg it came back a month or two later though.

Looking foward to spending the next eight or so months with everyone here.

[EBeth0000]

me, too. DS is 13 months old. Want to tandem nurse but my supply is dwindling and nipple pain is realllly bad. I am going to start mother's milk tea this week. I've always been a soaker with huge supply so this is a new experience for me. And I battled thrush for 12 weeks at the beginning so the nipple pain is not, shall we say, a pleasant memory for me. . .it's very similar (but not actually thrush) and I just want to know when it's going to get better!

DS nurses 2-5 times per day and at least 4 times a night:) Not sure how I feel about night nursing him when newborn baby arrives, but I do not feel he is ready to nightwean at all!

I also feel like I'm struggling with food intake b/c of nausea. I am not a tiny woman, and I love eating, but b/c of all-day-sickness I am really having trouble eating enough and feel tired, miserable and sometimes even dizzy/low blood pressure!

This is so different from my first pregnancy, which was a total walk in the park:) The best part is nursing allows me to lay down and sometimes catch a catnap with DS!

EBeth

[Prism]

well my dd turned five yesterday and today she announced:

"Now that I'm five I won't get ba-ba's anymore!"

wow, if she holds up I'm really excited that I made my goal of
letting her self-wean.

Her 3yo bro was standing there and said, "but I still need baba's"......

looks like I'm down to double tandem instead of triple tandem nursing!:thumb

[HoneyTree]

Yep, still nursing my 2 1/2 y.o. No sign of slowing, though I think my milk is starting to wane... Planning on tandem.

[mamajody]

Count me in here. The twins are still nursing lots during the day. If this is another set of twins I may find myself Quad nursing. (fainting at the thought!)

[juneau]

Nursing a 3-year-old here. She still nurses quite a lot, though I've found myself trying to get her to cut back the past couple of days. She isn't taking it well, but I'm SOOO sore I feel like I have to do something! Anyone else having success trying to cut back on nursing an older child?

[Laurette]

We were nursing, but he stopped just a week before I found out I was Pg. He is 2 years and 7 months. Actually I am glad he stopped, I dont think I would be able to bear it. My breasts are so sensitive allready, I am only 4 weeks.

[100%mom]

My DS is only 10 1/2 months and I was trying to get him on more table foods because I'm starting to get sore. Well, yesterday he got sick so he's back to nursing for almost all his food again. I still don't know when I'm due with this baby, but I don't plan on tandem nursing. Good luck to everyone that is. Hope you all had a good Mother's Day!!

[ruthmg]

Juneau, I'm having the same issue - DS turned 3 last week, and he's increased his nursing! I'm trying to limit the length, but he tells me "don't count!" I'm hoping it will decrease gradually...

[Taryn237]

I'm nursing my 22 month old but he's down to 1-2 times a day so its not bad. I'm so glad I night weaned before we got pregnant. We just got a toddler bed for him too (in our room) and he'll fall asleep to me reading to him. I was finally starting to get more sleep too! :)

[mommyem]

I just found out I am pregnant today, so I'm still in shock, we weren't ttc. Anyway, dd still nurses about twice a day. I'm not hungry at all and I only weigh about 100lbs soaking wet. Any advice?

[Prism]

Mommyem I was exactly where you are a few weeks ago (see my post "shocked to be here") I completely lost my appetite as well, just hang in there and when everything taste like cardboard just pick the most nutritious cardboard. I think our bodies do that for a reason, mine kicked in with an overwhelming craving for cheese, which I never eat, but knew I really needed to start taking in more protein. Listen and your body will tell you what it needs.

[Prism]

on a second note to all us tandem nursing mama's,
can I just say WE ROCK!
I am so proud of all of you, and am happy to be a part of this group!:love

[quietserena]

I'm starting to really worry about my supply. I've started feeding DD more during the day because it occurred to me that the reason she's so crabby is because she might be hungry. Bad mommy. :( She still doesn't associate being hungry with food but with milk so it's confusing for me.

I really need to eat more and drink more. But I'm barely eating as it is. I'm setting my crock pot tonight so it'll cook me some steel cut oats for tomorrow. Plenty of butter and honey on it, how can it go wrong? :eat: (Can you tell I"m trying to get myself psyched?)

I'm also soaking some quinoa to be cooked tomorrow night. I'm trying this planning ahead thing again!

[babymakesthree]

Hi! Well, here I am, nursing my booby loving 18 month old and due in mid January! I plan on tandem nursing because my dd is so not ready to give up her mama milk. :thumb I just hope she shares well with the new munchkin. :wink

[mamajody]

O my gosh I am hungry all the time! No nausea yet, so I am trying to get as much food in while I can. Friends have asked what they can do to help, (since I was really not expecting to ever be pregnant again) and I have told them to make sure I continuously have food or drink in my hand. If I am carrying twins again, I need to start packing on the pounds now. I was already eating nearly 2500 calories a day, just for nursing the 2 toddlers 3-4 times a day. While pregnant it was close to 3500. I think I am going to need more than 4000 if I want to continue nursing through a twin pregnancy. I don't know if it is possible to eat that much food in one day! An added complication this time, is the diet I have to adhere to for both the boys wheat allergy, and also my ever approaching gestational diabetes. I am one of those wacky people that gets it every pregnancy. Luckily I have never needed insulin. I am already having blood sugar crashes though, so I am a little worried about controlling it this time. I am hungry again, off to eat. :)

[jnet24]

ME TOO! ME TOO!

my little guy is 15 months and I just found out I am pregnant. He still nurses all day and night. I am kinda hoping he weans himself by the time #2 comes, but i think I will be okay if he doesn't. I am already tired of hearing so you are going to stop nursing Michael now right. My answer is oh I will stop when one of us decides it is time. So annoying

[hippiemum21580]

Yep, still nursing my 10 month old son. In fact, my first clue I might be preggers was the ouch factor when he latched on last week! I am just hoping I don't lose my milk.... any ideas to make sure he doesn't end up weaning prematurly? I know most galactelouges are not safe while pregnant.....

[annanicole]

I'm still nursing my 19 mos old, we almost have him out of our bed. I think we're going to make a trip to ikea to buy him a new bed to put in the cubby hole of our bedroom!!!!

[100%mom]

Well, I had to give my baby a bottle today. I didn't think I was drying up, but he wouldn't nurse and wanted to keep drinking water out of a cup. I made a bottle then and he downed it. :( I want him to nurse until he's at least a year. It would also help to keep family from thinking that I'm pregnant. :D The midwife is going to see if she can set my ultrasound appointment up for Monday so I can find out when I'm due for sure.

[RunnerMommy]

I'm a nursing mommy too! DS turned 1 a few weeks ago and is still going strong. I JUST got my bfp and haven't noticed any breast tenderness or soreness when he nurses. I guess that's good, but it also concerns me that I'm not having that pregnancy 'symptom'. Are any of you still nursing pain free?

[Mrs.Oz]

DS is 10.5 months and still nursing during the day and a couple times a night. No real soreness yet. As long as I can make it to a year I'll be happy. It's been a rough road and that has always been my goal, but I need a break.

[babymakesthree]

I'm a nursing mommy too! DS turned 1 a few weeks ago and is still going strong. I JUST got my bfp and haven't noticed any breast tenderness or soreness when he nurses. I guess that's good, but it also concerns me that I'm not having that pregnancy 'symptom'. Are any of you still nursing pain free?

I am nursing pain free too! Thank goodness! :)

[quietserena]

My nipples must have toughened cause I don't have pain anymore. I'm still a lil concerned about supply though..

I pulled out my bf books so I can read up on everything. :) Such a geek.

[racidoodle]

Oh, me too! I'm worried that supply is down, but my 13-month-old hasn't seemed too bothered. Sometimes he'll take a bit of rice milk after nursing, so I know he's still thirsty, but he's not complaining... yet!
As for the nipples, they were very sore right about when I (must have) ovulated, but they're back to normal now. When DS's next batch of teeth come in, I expect to get new sore spots.

[xakana]

I had soreness for a couple weeks, then it disappeared, so now I'm a little freaked out and worried, but the milk's still plentiful.

[peacenclarity]

I am so glad I found this thread, I'm 9 weeks pregnant and so confused about whether to wean my 24 month old. We co-sleep and she nurses to sleep and several times a night, I have no energy during the day and am ALWAYS starving!
I don't see self weaning anywhere in our future, but with sensitive nipples and her pressing and fidgeting on my already large belly I am worried about how much more difficult it will be to try and wean her at a later time. It's the hardest thing I have probably had to go through, it is so exhausting to nurse but even moreso trying to cutback on feedings or wean.I don't know how you mama's have the energy I feel like I am a terrible mom most days now because I don't have the energy to play with her like I used to and I would rather eat out than make a home cook meal because I am too exhausted to cook. I had planned to tandem nurse but now I am scared thinking how will I ever manage nursing two and will the baby be deprived because my toddler has such high needs, and I am afraid if I don't wean soon things will only get worse and she grows older and more determined. This is leaving me in tears as I am so torn. We had a wonderful nursing relationship thus far and I hate to see it come to such an end, and I never thought I could feel this way but I don't want to end up growing resentful because I am being held hostage. Can anyone relate or have any advice? Thanks so much.

[quietserena]

Just :hug

You gotta do what's right for you.

[ainh]

OMG. I was doing fine with the nursing thing (we only do it morning, nap and nighttime) until yesterday. All of a sudden my nipples are in agony when he nurses. Doesn't help that he's probably cutting his two year molars any day now too. Ugh. Any tips for super painful nursing? At first it was only a mild pain when he latched. I think his latch is a little wacky now too -- there's way more milk since I got pregnant and he doesn't like the super active letdown.

[juneau]

Oh, I feel your pain. I've nursed through parts of three other pregnancies -- one all the way through the first trimester -- but I don't remember it being so painful as it is now. I empathize with anyone who is considering weaning. I am definitely cutting WAY back, but I do intend to keep nursing, even if only a little bit, all the way through this pregnancy. Now that dd is three, we can have a discussion about it. But there have been a lot of tears lately as I have been unwilling to keep nursing her as she is falling asleep and her latch deteriorates.

Peacenclarity, can you slowly night-wean by cutting back one session at a time? I found that sleeping in another room temporarily, and letting dh handle some of the night wakings, really helped. I wouldn't do this with a younger child but 24 months seems old enough.

[ruthmg]

Juneau, I'm doing the same thing with my 3 year old. He really loves nursing, but I'm trying to slowly cut back (not wean totally, but not as often). He is very insistent though, and likes to sing, tell jokes, and tell stories about neh-nay (his name for it).

I don't want to tell him that the baby in my uterus makes my nipples hurt, because I don't want him to resent the babe, but I need to cut back a little! And I'm sad about that, too! I'm so conflicted about cutting back, because I want to meet his needs, but I also need to meet my needs, too.

[Ninibini]

What a club we got going! Go all you tandem nursing Mama's :D I am 4 weeks pregnant today with our third, and still nursing my 3 year old any time I sit down! I nursed my son while I was pregnant with our second, and do not remember any soreness. So far, so good this time around as well.

[Prism]

Peacenclarity---Your post could've been me with my last pregnancy! Oh my word, I thought I was going to die each time dd wanted to nurse (she was 14 mo. at the start and 23 mo when I delivered).

I read Adventures in Tandem Nursing and there was a whole section on nursing during preg. and it was so validating. The best tip in there for me was the "spot weaning". It met both my needs and dd's. We did alot of bf'ing to the count of 20, bf'ing for the length of the twinkle twinkle little star song, etc. For me there was a very tangible end to the pain w these methods. I felt so less guilty, and somehow made it through the pregnancy.

The best thing ever was when I gave birth and was able to nurse both kids. It was a dream come true, and seeing them hold hands and look at each other while nursing together is something I will never forget.

Don't beat yourself up if you can't do it, but if you choose to, it will all be worth it in the end!

[andbabymakes4]

Count me in! Newly pg and nursing my 3yr old, plan on letting her wean on her own, we nurse 2-3 times a day right now.

[mauimama5]

I am nursing still too! My dd will be 2 next month. She has actually been nursing a ton the last 2 weeks. My nipples have been sore though.

My 3 yr old just weaned in Feb. I guess I will continue nursing dd as long as she wants...

[RunnerMommy]

DS has been sick the last couple of days and has gone from nursing about 4x's per day to pretty much nursing ALL day. My nipples are a little sore, but otherwise I'm glad to provide him comfort during his illness.

Anyway, today as I was sitting there nursing I started getting paranoid that this sudden change in nursing habits could affect my hormones and create a bad environment for the little bean I'm growing. What do you ladies think?? Should I try to limit DS a bit? Or do you think there won't be an impact??

I guess Im just paranoid about the hormone stuff b/c I just got my first pp AF and I feel like things are still a little shaky on that front, so I want to do whatever I can to help this new little one stick.

[alaskaberry]

Hi, me too. DS is 24 m and still nursing. He really needs it. I am not looking forward to the nipple pain but I'm ok with tandem nursing so I hope my milk doesn't dry up.

[quietserena]

DS has been sick the last couple of days and has gone from nursing about 4x's per day to pretty much nursing ALL day. My nipples are a little sore, but otherwise I'm glad to provide him comfort during his illness.

Anyway, today as I was sitting there nursing I started getting paranoid that this sudden change in nursing habits could affect my hormones and create a bad environment for the little bean I'm growing. What do you ladies think?? Should I try to limit DS a bit? Or do you think there won't be an impact??

I guess Im just paranoid about the hormone stuff b/c I just got my first pp AF and I feel like things are still a little shaky on that front, so I want to do whatever I can to help this new little one stick.

Wait, I don't get the AF metion. Surely, no AF if you're :+ ! Hehe.

I don't limit nursing and I wouldn't especially since it sounds like your DS needs it right now. I haven't read all the research in a loong time and I quickly looked up info on kellymom on BF during pregnancy (http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/articles/bfpregnancy_safety.html).

Maybe that'll help calm your concerns? :hug

[quietserena]

This site might be of interest to everyone here:

http://www.kellymom.net/nursingtwo/

[RunnerMommy]

Haha- sorry for the confusion :) when I mentioned AF I meant that I got pg after my first PP AF, so I felt like things were just getting straightened out, hormone wise.

Thanks for the link! I wasn't going to cut back nursing DS anyway (who can deny a grumpy babe :love) but its nice to not worry about doing it.

[100%mom]

Well, I'm going to move to the Dec DDC in hopes that I have a Dec baby. I just had my ultrasound yesterday and my DD is Dec. 28th. My two have both been early so we'll see what happens this time. Good luck with nursing all you mommies!!

[shanahan]

nursing my 11 1/2 month old and newly pregnant. glad to find this thread and learn more (I've already had one nurse tell me to wean - see posts below!)

[shanahan]

so, I keep hearing from some people that nursing while pregant can be dangerous "under certain conditions".

So, what are those conditions? How would I know if I'm "at risk" this early on and before I begin dr. visits?

tia!!

[xakana]

The pain's back en force! Ouch! Makes me wonder if it's how nature tells us to wean, lol. Well, nature, I'm well-nourished enough that I don't need to, so *blows razz*!

[xakana]

so, I keep hearing from some people that nursing while pregant can be dangerous "under certain conditions".

So, what are those conditions? How would I know if I'm "at risk" this early on and before I begin dr. visits?

tia!!

Those conditions are when you're a risk for preterm labor.

[mamajody]

Those conditions are when you're a risk for preterm labor.

That or you have an underlying medical condition that needs to be dealt with, but you would already know that. :) I weaned my 1st DD at 44 months when pregnant with the twins. At 12 weeks I was already having contractions when she nursed, and I knew it wouldn't pay to keep it up. My milk had gone anyway, so it was a mutual agreement and not traumatic. I am very nervous about the boys, though. They are only 19 months, and not even CLOSE to being ready to wean. I am working on night weaning, though.

[OwensMa]

DS, 23mos, is still nursing. The sensitivity is beyond irritating. I desperately hope he cuts back soon; he's been nursing 4x/night lately. I think my milk supply is dwindling a bit, as he was really thirsty for other drinks yesterday.

[jr'smom]

I'm glad to say nursing hasn't been painful yet! Good thing because DS (almost 2) still nurses a lot and I'm quite sure he won't be weaning during this pregnancy. My DS (3 1/2) is still nursing a bit too.

(Knock on wood!)

[gwerydd]

dd is still nursing like a fiend. she is night weaned but loves to nurse during the day. it doesn't hurt yet but it doesn't feel good either. i want to climb the walls when she nurses. i hope to at least continue until after our trip east in June/July. then we'll see.

[alaskaberry]

Still nursing a 2 yr old here. It hasn't started hurting yet. But he nurses All.The.Time.--so we'll know when the milk dries up! I was tandem nursed with my sister as a child so I'd like to try it.

[fertilitymom]

I nursed until I was 3 months along, my perinatologist said that a women should only nurse up to 5 months of pregnancy. The first month my breasts were tender while nursing but it went away.
Good Luck Gals

[Nourishma]

well, I just discovered today that I'm pregnant, though I must say, the fact that there has been piercing pain everytime ds (2 1/2) nurses could have told me that before I took the test.

I remember now what it was like when I got pregnant with ds and how my nipples ached all the time....and there was no babe eagerly nursing on them then. The pain is so intense, I don't know how I'm going to handle it.

I don't want to cut him off, he hasn't responded well to cutbacks I've tried to make in the past and I really wanted weaning to be a gentle, gradual and peaceful process.

But this!!! It's been torture and it's only been a couple of days.

[riaketty]

Same here, although DD is only 10mo. I kept thinking she was biting me before I tested, but she never bites... Although at the time I didn't connect the two. ;) Now I'm going "Oohhhh!"

She seems to be wanting to nurse MORE lately. I dunno if it tastes different or she gets more or what, but it's... a little annoying. ;)

[box_of_rain]

My guy, who will be 3 in July is still nursing a few times per day and 2-3 times at night.

So far, I've not noticed much change, other than sometimes it's a little painful and most of the time I feel kind of empty - like my supply has lessened.

[canadiannancy]

I am nursing my 6.5 month olds daughter, I too thought she was biting recently could have been nipple sensitivity due to pregnancy. I am very nervous about losing my supply, since my supply dropped so quickly with DD2 and DD3. I am looking into More Milk two tincture or some other methods of increasing supply for my girl. She hasn't been taking bottles at all, and we just started trying any solids at all so I really want to keep up my supply as long as possible.