[termasan]

I am seeking advice/weblinks/books so I can get educated on how to best time ttc #2. DS is 9 months, and I want to do CLW. However, I have been jonesing for another baby already (strange, since this one won't let me sleep!). My goal is to make it to one year and have lost the last of my prego weight, and then start trying for #2. Who knows how long it will take to get pregnant, but I figured waiting to try for one year ensures uninterrupted milk for ds for at least that long. I really want to tandem and do CLW.<br><br>
However, I have read many posts that refer to drying up during pregnancy, that this happens for different periods of time, and the potential for pain and skin crawling if nursing while pregnant.<br><br>
My main concern is having enough milk for ds as he develps from 12-24 months. I need help with the math...if I get pregnant when he's 13 months, milk dries up (what is "normal"/is there a norm?) at 4 months, then he's milk-less from 17-21 months? Or something like that? I just really don't know. Do I need to make up for the loss of milk? Formula, cow's milk?<br><br>
Ok, then issue number two is the pain and skin crawling. We have had sooooo many challenges with nursing that I think I can handle more, but I would like to know worst-case scenario so I can be mentally ready for the challenges. One challenge is that my ds loves to push away while nursing and be as close to the tip as possible. Thus, I have never been able to achieve a pain-free latch with him <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nut.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nut"> (also due to his jaw positioning that is still working itself out from his breech position), so I imagine if nipple pain in pregnancy is possible, I'll probably get it. Just my luck.<br><br>
Since this board is particularly experienced in nursing through any challenge in order to achieve CLW, I thought this would be a good place to start. So, Mamas, what do you say? Where can I go for info? I trust referrals here before trying to talk to a doc about it! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><br><br>
Thanks,<br>
Teresa<br>
Marcos 11/3/04

 

[hottmama]

My milk dried up at 2 months (although my supply was low already), and the nipple pain was almost unbearable from about 6 weeks until 18 weeks- it's much less now. However, some women have nipple pain the whole time. Personally, I think it's best to wait until your baby is 2 before conceiving a second, as breastmilk is such a huge part of the diet for an under-2. My 2.5 yr. old still nurses 20+ times a day but it's for comfort as he isn't getting any milk (although I do have some colostrum now). I'm eager for the day my milk comes in because I know he'll be so happy about it (and this time I won't get mastitis from engorgement!!!)<br>
Worst case scenario- your milk dries up at 9 weeks, you have nipple pain and no milk for 7+ mos. and your baby "self-weans" OR continues nursing dozens of times a day, whichever sounds worse.

 

[Calidris]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/notes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="notes">:<br>
interested in the replies here, thinking about <i>starting</i> to think about ttc sometime soon. AF her just made her first visit, so it is at least within the range of possibility now.<br>
For those with experience in this: are those who are prone to being irritated by nursing during AF (or prone to supply dips) more likely to have supply issues/irritation issues during pregnancy?

 

[loomweaver]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/notes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="notes">: <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lurk.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lurk">:<br><br>
Also tagging along on this thread....

 

[starlein26]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>hottmama</strong></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My milk dried up at 2 months (although my supply was low already), and the nipple pain was almost unbearable from about 6 weeks until 18 weeks- it's much less now. However, some women have nipple pain the whole time. Personally, I think it's best to wait until your baby is 2 before conceiving a second, as breastmilk is such a huge part of the diet for an under-2. My 2.5 yr. old still nurses 20+ times a day but it's for comfort as he isn't getting any milk (although I do have some colostrum now). I'm eager for the day my milk comes in because I know he'll be so happy about it (and this time I won't get mastitis from engorgement!!!)<br>
Worst case scenario- your milk dries up at 9 weeks, you have nipple pain and no milk for 7+ mos. and your baby "self-weans" OR continues nursing dozens of times a day, whichever sounds worse.</div>
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so they don't mind nursing a dry breast??<br><br>
that's good <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
we're ttc and might actually be pregnant <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/fingersx.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="fingersx">: and i was really worried about ds since he tells me at least 20 times a day "mommy, i love your milk...it's so good and wonderful."<br><br>
i was feeling really guilty... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[MMP]

I am pregnant with my third and my son is 14 months, the minute I got pregnant my milk supply dropped significantly. It is low now, we nurse alot, but he gets frustrated b/c the milk just doesn't flow like it used too. I have a lot of guilt and feel terrible that this dear baby isn't getting the milk he "was born to", I am going to try to continue to nurse him until this baby comes, but he is definately less interested. Last night, we got in the chair to nurse and he refused and just wanted to go to bed. Yet, this morning he nursed for a long time. So...be careful, if weaning your child would be devastating, then don't get pregnant, it may become unavoidable. The good news is that I have had very little pain. Bad news, less milk and a baby losing interest b/c of it...sad for me.<br><br>
I have heard that 20 weeks is when the milk changes to colostrum.

 

[Mama2ABCD]

the second my 1st was born, i couldn't wait for the 2nd baby. AF returned after 5 mos, don't know why as my son was exclusively bf and nursed for long stretches of time, but i got preg (unplanned) when he was 7 mos. I had an excellent time nursing through that pregnancy. Great supply, no discomfort, and i could nap with my son when he napped. I knew i had another one to come after the birth of my 2nd. I was successfully tandem the first 2. they are 16 mos, both boys and i love that they are so close in age (one year apart in school). but, i knew it wasn't the right time for a 3rd as my hands were full. AF returned about 16 mos after the 2nd dc and it took a few more months for it to return to normal. Finally, when my youngest was approaching 2 i felt like it was time. Got pregnant first cycle we tried. About the time when 2nd was 2 (8 weeks preg) my milk really dried up and it was irritating to nurse. I still nursed my boys, but i had to put some limitations. They hung in there and my colostrum came in at the end of the 2nd tri. It was much better the last tri and the boys really enjoyed nursing while watching my tummy grow. My dd was born 17mos ago and all 3 are still nursing today!<br>
I think the difference the 2nd and 3rd preg is that i in the 3rd i was tandem thru the preg, and water was a valuable issue (it's amazes me, but i could get dehydrated within an hour, i really had to keep that water coming, but a.m. drinking water made me vomit). i was more nauseated, didn't get the rest like the 2nd preg because this time no one but me wanted to nap. so there were much different factors.<br>
I had 3 just shy of 4 years and i feel all of them are here. It works for me . <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[termasan]

Thanks so much for the thoughtful replies. I have been checking out some other threads under TTC and CLW and BBI and have found some great stories. Since I experience nipple pain during my AF now (it returned 7 mo pp, tho ebfing), I imagine I am due for nipple pain in pregnancy. Hmmm, more thinking to do on this.<br><br>
Teresa<br>
Marcos 11-3-04

 

[Heavenly]

I personally would never TTC until a child was 2. 2 years is the minimum that a child should be nursed IMO and pregnancy does drastically change the milk supply. I also think that children deserve a chance to be a baby for at least 2 years before being pushed out of the role. I waited until my daughter was 2.5 years old to TTC and I thought it would take me until she was 3 to conceive. I was okay with that because her nursing was priority to me. But I got pregnant the very first month so now I am due when she will be 3 yrs 3 mths old. My milk decreased drastically when I was 8 weeks along and dried up completely when I was 13 weeks. She is still nursing but she does get sad and asks why the milkies are all gone.

 

[termasan]

Heavenly,<br><br>
Did you have the same supply problems when you got preg w/ dd? It looks like your ds would have only been 13 months when you got preg w/ dd (according to your sig). Did he get pushed out of his role as baby, in your experience? I never thought about that happening, as I wouldn't think a child would be able to be pushed out of a stage their in, even with older or younger siblings in the picture. Or is just that he has to share that role w/ an infant? I'm not quite sure I understand what you were saying there.<br><br>
I am glad to hear dd is still nursing. I hear that is fairly common when mom is committed to nursing thru the pregnancy, even if milk dries up, according to the many stories here.<br><br>
Thanks for the help.<br><br>
Teresa

 

[williamsmommy2002]

I found out I was pregnant with ds2 right before ds1's 1st birthday. My milk went down way low at about 12 weeks because I got the flu and became dehydrated. My milk never dried up. At about 25 weeks my milk started to turn to colostrum. I seemed to satisfy my ds more after that. Nursing towards to end was very irritating.<br><br><br>
I chose to have a child that soon for a couple of reasons. The biggest of which was my health problems. I'm glad my kids are 20 months apart but it is a lot of work. I don't feel that any child lost out on anything though. I would probably feel differently if my ds1 weaned during my pregnancy.