[MMP]

I am a long time mothering subscriber, but new to the board. I am pregnant with my third (surprise) and my baby is only 10 months old. I had planned to nurse until at least 2 as I did my first, but am terrified I won't be able to. I know many of you have tandem BF, but it seems as though I have no milk, he nurses and nurses and I feel no let down. What can I do to help?

Also, how did you deal with the nipple pain?
I really don't want to wean (he is eating solids), but how do I know he is getting enough nutrition and what should I give him to be sure. Do I have to give him formula? Or are solids (oatmeal, fruit veggies etc.) enough? I feel as though I am depriving him of his birthrite. I am excited (who doesn't welcome baby blessings) but sad for my baby.

Thanks in advance, I know many of you natural mamas will have some advice.

Thanks.

:

Mom to two boys and

: on the way!

 

[sarahloughmiller]

I had the same problem when I got pregnant. My son was older so I did not have to worry about nutrition as much and he didn't seem to mind the lack of milk. I just dealt with the pain, sometimes it ws horrible, but I just put up with it. I did cut him back some durring the day and have now weened him completely (I was about 4 months pg the last time he nursed, I only weened because I am having twins). Many people have nursed through pregnancy here and it seems like most babies are happy to continue even when there is not much there. I am sure someone else will know more in the nutrition area. Congrats on your new baby!

Did you check out the breastfeeding forum?

 

[Yummymummy74]

Some mamas just lose their milk pretty early

: I was one of them too.. it sucks doesnt it! not only did I loose my milk by 18 weeks but my nippes were so sore the pain from trying to nurse dd was excruciating it was like a nails on chalkboard sensation. My baby was not happy about the lack of supply and she became even more forceful with her nursing habits as in demanding more.. ect she was just over a year as well.

Its not so bad if your baby is at the year mark and starting to eat.. but my baby did not eat much so it was a challenge for sure! she still trys to nurse now (31 weeks) and I try for a few minutes and call it done.. (its just dry nursing ...well colostrum) anyhow I suspect she will pick up again after the baby is born I went through the exact same thing with her brother when I was pregnant with her..LOL

In lieu of the fact that he is almost a year I would nurse him as long as your body can tolerate ( I think its important to listen to *you* by the way.. and follow your bodies cues) and if he will accept dry nursing then thats great! if it does not hurt you ect..if you continue like that chances are he will pick right back up nursing after the baby is born

Hope that helps a little.. I have had lots of experience with this exact issue.

 

[lillian]

i lost my milk around 3-4 months pregnant. he was nursing but not swallowing anymore and would complain after a few minutes. but now, at 29 weeks pregnant, he is nursing alot and does not complain. i dont know if he is getting colostrum or not - i see no evidence of it.. but, he has not lost his desire to nurse, nor has he dramatically increased his eating..

with about 12 weeks left of this pregnancy, it looks like i will be tandem nursing.

his nursing is giving me horrendous BH ctx and sometimes i have to stop him. the nipple soreness went away after a few weeks.

 

[wendy1221]

the nipple soreness went away pretty quickly for me, too. As for your milk drying up, mine did a while ago and ds is still nursing about 4 times a day. He does sleep through the night now, but he was doing that off and on before I got pregnant (we do co-sleep), and I think it has more to do w/ his being done teething (for now) than my milk drying up.

If I were you, I'd probably try formula if he'll take it. If not, maybe a toddler formula would taste better? I think there are some nutrients kids under 18 mos-2yrs need that they don't get from a regular diet. I guess you could give him fish oil and/or flax oil supplements to help w/ that, but it's so hard to get young toddlers to eat a healthy diet w/ a variety of different things in it. KWIM? My ds's diet isn't that great, but he's over 18mos and drinks Silk Enhanced soymilk (w/ flax oil in it). I also try to make salmon or some other healthy fish once a week. He mostly eats fresh fruitall day long. Ifigure he'll make up for it when I have milk again. If I had gotten pg when he was younger, I would have tried giving him formula.

I'm planning on tandem nursing. Everyone who had tandem nursed has dry nursed for some period of time. All women lose their milk during pregnancy, but some lose it later than others. Really, you don't lose it, it turns into colostrum, so there just isn't much there, it's not that there's nothing (although it feels like it!).I think the first month or so is the worst w/ morning sickness and nipple soreness on top of that, and I've heard the last month is bad too, b/c of contrax when the baby nurses. And the first couple weeks of tandem is no picnic, but if you can make it through those 3 short rough periods, tandem isn't so bad. My sister did it and some friends, so that's where I got my info. I guess everyone has a different experience, though. Good luck!

 

[beanma]

check out www.nursingtwo.com and the book by hilary flower, "adventures in tandem nursing". my dd1 was older when i was pg with dd2, but i lost my milk pretty early on, too. didn't deter her in the least, though and we're still going strong! i'm sure "adventures" would have the info you need in it.

 

[MMP]

Thanks everyone...it has all been very helpful and supportive...wish me luck!