Nursing and pregnant, your stories please!

[Elizabethdaisy]

I know I think we have done this before but can you all share with me how long you nursed while pregnant. thanks. I am pregnant about 4 or 5 weeks and nursing my one year old kyler. I want to continue until he's ready.

[Stephanie]

I nursed ds for about 16 weeks when I was pg with dd, but we were supplementing because he was under 1 year. He wouldn't have anything to do with me after a while because there was no milk.

Dd is still nursing, she was just shy of 2 when I became pg. Her nursings each day have decreased from about 8 to about 3, so she may be weaning. There is hardly any milk, but she is a comfort nursing. I think if I night weaned, she would wean completely, but I am not quite ready to do that yet.

My milk supply starts dropping off fairly early, but I don' have too much pain. Pumping was much worse than nursing. (I continued to pump for a while during both pregnancies).

Take his lead, he may or may not wean. I would keep an eye on him, if he is not eating solids well. You may need to supplement with something if you supply starts to drop.

[KerryS]

I nursed throughout my second pregnancy, then tandem nursed for 2 years. My son was 16 months old when I got pregnant, so the dip in supply that happens during pregnancy did not affect his dietary requirements unduly.

Just like babies will suck on pacifiers even though no milk comes out of them, babies will often continue to nurse, even if there's no milk. Expect your supply to drop significantly in the first trimester, and turn to colostrom sometime in the second or third trimester.

[SingingMom]

My DS nursed all throughout my pregnancy. I couldn't tell you what the supply was like- I didn't stress and try to check. He was happy, though, and said there was milk (he was, oh, about 16 months when I conceived.) He did say it was salty, by the last trimester. But this bothered him not at all.

The only time he DIDN'T nurse was when I delivered. Then I was gone overnight and didn't make it home until late afternoon the next day. He was delighted at the newly abundant supply.

He's now three, and still nursing at nap and bedtime. Unless he falls asleep before it's his turn.

[Elizabethdaisy]

He eats alot of solids now so not a big deal. But I want to continue to nurse until hes done. Thanks ladies. Keep the stories coming please.

[ima062002]

I nursed all through my third pregnancy and beyond. Ds was 19 mo when I was pregnant with dd2 and he is now almost 4 and still nurses at least twice a day (morning, night) and whenever he is cranky, hurt or super jealous :). I lost my milk very early around 9 weeks but ds, after being a bit frustrated, just kept on going. It was clear to me that he was comfort nursing at that point. He never seemed to care about the taste change.

[KatieLou]

I nursed DD untill I was 14 wks preggo with DS. Wehad faced so many nursing issues that sadly, it was all to easy to wean DD. My milk supply dipped, around 10wks, and at 12 wks I stopped offering the boob, but gave it if she asked. Soon, she quit asking.:(

[Nipple_nectar]

Congrats on your pregnancy! I found out about my third pregnancy, when DD1 was 18 months old. By 15 weeks my supply had completely vanished and DD reluctantly weaned.

She was frustrated that when she sucked, nothing came out. We had a few frustrating, sad sessions and then she was done.

I was way sadder than she:-(

[kohlby]

I've been pg 4 times while nursing now, though just one of the pregnancies made it. In all cases, my supply decreased drastically by 4 weeks. I found my daughter got a bit more discouraged and wouldn't nurse as long when this happened. My son didn't care. In fact, there wasn't even enough to swallow when I got pg with my daughter, but he kept on nursing. I had to teach him to stay very still and definately used limits. Dry nursing is a whole different ballgame but we got through it. At around 24 weeks, I finally had enough to swallow, though still not tons. DS was so happy! Nursing got much easier then. I helped prepare DS for DD's birth by telling him that she needed "breastfeeds" all the time and pointing out that I had two breasts and would have two kids so he didn't have to worry. DS's favorite thing in the world was breastmilk and he viewed DD's birth as the thing that gave me more breastmilk - so very favorably! I did find I had to assign a side to each child to make sure that DD got enough hindmilk. DD was allowed DS's side after she had her side if she wanted more. DS was only allowed his side. We continued with limits and I tried to say yes as much as possible. Tandem nursing was ridiculously easy for us. DS is a touchy-feely child so the touched out feeling was actually worse when DS nursed less since he would touch me more! DS was nursing 3 times a day until about 4.5 years old. DD was about 16 months then. So, 16 months of "real" tandem nursing and it was easy. DS at almost 5 only nurses on occassion now - sometimes skipping weeks, sometimes a quick one in successive days and DD just turned 2.

The nursing while pg was about comforting DS, not food since there was so little for so long. Plus, it was more difficult with the dry nursing. But it was worth it - both to give him that comfort and because tandem nursing was so easy.

[Elizabethdaisy]

Thank you so much ladies. I am so happy that I am still nursing Kyler and pregnant.

[Nipple_nectar]

Don't be surprised when your OB recommends weaning, most are not educated on the specifics in this area. I actually taught mine a thing or two by bringing him the book: Adventures in tandem nursing by Hilary Flower;-)

[Elizabethdaisy]

well my dr doesnt need to know and even if she does I am not going to wean.

[carterandcalliesmom]

As soon as I found out I was preggo with Callie my milk dried up and that was it for Carter - he was 8.5 months :(
I am sooo sad because it seems I am drying up again - Callie is nursing happily though (longer than usual), but I am not getting near what I used to while pumping. Luckily, I have 2 months worth of milk in the freezer so I am praying I can still pump enough to get through to her first birthday!

[Elizabethdaisy]

awww I am praying you can make it cartercalliesmom.

[BoobySnacks]

I nursed Sami for a couple of months into my pregnancy but my milk dried up because she was already 3 yrs old and did not nurse often enough to keep my supply up, sometimes she would even skip days. She quite nursing on her own with VERY gentle encouragement because my breasts were tender and it was uncomfortable too.

[Stephanie]

Kohlby touched on dry nursing and I agree it isn't the best feeling for me, either. We have just hit that point where there is nothing at all coming out, and sometimes when dd nurses my toes curl. It isn't because of pain, but I don't know, it isn't the most fun.