support for breastfeeding while pregnant?

jenchi33 · July 2011

So I just found out that I'm pregnant (not sure how far along) and I have a 4.5 month old DD. For the last 5 or so nights shes been making a habit of waking up around 3 to nurse. I'm not sure if its because my supply is low or if its because she's going through a growth spurt. I did try giving her some rice cereal a few nights ago and she had no clue what to do with it (she spit it all out and i don't think she got any of it down) and that didn't make a difference. I don't want to have to supplement her with a bottle (of BM) especially right before bed. I want to be able to nurse her for as long as I can into this pregnancy but I'm afraid my supply wont hold up and my nipples are getting very sore! Any tips/advice is greatly appreciated! TIA

BFab11 · July 2011

At some point in your pregnancy, milk production will be about hormone levels and not supply/demand like it is now. You can't really do anything to guarantee your supply throughout pregnancy, unfortunately. Go to a La Leche League meeting if you can. DS is still nursing, but not for nutrition really, it's for comfort at nap and bed times.

Annie Marie · July 2011

First of all, congrats! DD is still nursing (although we're working on slowly weaning). When I first found out I was pregnant, she was still nursing 8+ times a day. We're down to around 4 now and I haven't had any trouble with my supply, but I'm sure it's different for everyone.

I hope you're able to find an OB or at least a nurse who can support your decision to still BF while pregnant. My OB wasn't so supportive, but the lactation nurse in the practice was great and told me I could BF as long as I wanted.

Good luck!

LouiseB2001 · July 2011

I don't have any experience with nursing while pregnant but I would advise you not to give your baby any solids until 6 months. I think your supply would be fine for another month and a half and they really don't need any other nutrition than BM. It is also a myth that cereal before bedtime should make them sleep longer. Also, it is very normal for a 4.5 month old to wake up in the middle of the night to nurse, I don't know of many babies that STTN at this age. There is something called the 4 month wakeful and it can last anything from 1 month to 5 months (it did for DD). Good luck with continuing nursing, I'm sure you will be fine with it.

KelliLynee · July 2011

LouiseB2001:
I don't have any experience with nursing while pregnant but I would advise you not to give your baby any solids until 6 months. I think your supply would be fine for another month and a half and they really don't need any other nutrition than BM. It is also a myth that cereal before bedtime should make them sleep longer. Also, it is very normal for a 4.5 month old to wake up in the middle of the night to nurse, I don't know of many babies that STTN at this age. There is something called the 4 month wakeful and it can last anything from 1 month to 5 months (it did for DD). Good luck with continuing nursing, I'm sure you will be fine with it.

The OP is my IRL best friend, so I wanna clarify some details (until she comes back to see the responses for herself). She noticed her supply diminish at work (pumping) ever since her BFP, and her DD has been STTN for many weeks (maybe even months), so its quite coincidental that she suddenly is waking up hungry. (My exclusively breastfed) daughter slept through the night from 6 weeks on with zero push or "sleep training" from me. It might not be common, but it happens. Also... regarding the rice cereal, she didn't give it in a bottle & she didn't do it because of the myth that it can help sleep. She gave it at dinner time as a test to see if she was ready to eat it and determined that she was not.