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Two Under 2
RyAnsMoMMy123
member
Question for the BF mamas...
RyAnsMoMMy123
member
in Two Under 2
I'm so hungry and can't seem to eat enough and while I remember this with DS, this is just crazy. I'm a bottomless pit. Also, my supply has taken a huge hit over the last few weeks and I'm wondering if there is a correlation. So my questions are...
While you were pregnant and BFing #1 or whatever your case was, did your supply become depleted at all?
Did you BF until #2 was born or did you have to wean #1?
And please throw in anything else you may have experienced in this situation. I just can't wrap my head around this. haha
TIA!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Question for the BF mamas...
You have to eat an extra 300 calories a day while pg and 500 a day while nursing (im not sure if thats vice versa but the numbers are correct) SO that means you need to be eating an extra 800 total. You are making a baby while feeding a baby! So my advice is to eat high fat protein packed stuff like nuts and peanut butter, avocados etc.
My supply took a tiny hit at 6 wks but it was fine. DS was older than your LO, he was almost 10 months when I got my BFP, so he was kinda spreading out feedings more. I was SO sick, and it didnt help that I could eat and barely drink enough (you need to drink a ton too while nursing and pg). Try your hardest to drink a lot and eat enough. SInce your LO is younger, I would just monitor his diaper output and make sure he is not dehydrated. Of course im sure you do at least some solids by now, so I would think if you need to feed him more then try things that are packed with nutrients and not cereal to make up for your lack of milk. (not to replace, but help him since he is that age anyway).
I BF DS until he was 13 months old and I was 18 wks. I felt weird at the point when she started to move a lot more and I was starting to realize I needed a break before the baby came.
I'm still BF'ing my 15 month old and will be 19 wks tomorrow. He was down to 3 sessions anyway before I got pg with #2 (morning, right after daycare, and before bed) and is still doing that, but I could definitely tell that my supply dropped once I hit second tri. It's not depleted yet though. At least I don't think so since #1 still seems to be getting something out when he nurses.
And yes, I too am ravenous all. the.time.
I'm in the same boat. As I type (5am), I'm eating because I woke up about an hour ago with hunger pains. I ate a huge dinner & dessert, & had a snack before bed at 11. Its crazy how hungry I've been.
I'm hoping to BF until a year & will reevaluate then whether or not to continue. Right now, I don't know how I'll feel at 23 weeks so I'm not going to decide just yet.
My supply has been fine, except for when I don't sleep enough. I had completely pancaked boobs & LO got maybe 3 or 4 swallows/session for 2 days before I knew I was pregnant. In retrospect, I slept about 3hrs/night for almost a week. Now, if I don't get enough sleep my supply drops. If I take a nap, supply goes right back up. Maybe you can try keeping an eye on your sleep patterns to make sure thats not the case. I've been having trouble sleeping the past 2 weeks, so I'm struggling with napping when LO naps because its obviously not always feasible (in the mall, restaurants, etc lol).
I also drink an insane amount of water, about 150+oz/day & eat 3-3.5k/day in calories. I found some nutrition calculator online & it put everything in perspective. You need so much more protein, calcium, fat, sodium, & everything else that it might be helpful to get it calculated out for you so you can kind of plan your day's meals to meet those requirements.
I tried desperately to keep BFing J, but he weaned himself at 10 months. My supply took a huge hit (one of the clues I was pg). I worked with LLLI and a LC but I couldn't get him to BF anymore and would pump only 6-8oz over 8 pumping sessions.
Tips that I tried during that last month- bathe with LO, the 500 calories is correct, oatmeal, lactation cookies, mother's milk tea, drown yourself in water, offer, offer, offer.
I cried for days after J weaned himself (it was gradually dropping feedings over a month not all the sudden stopping- I had to supplement with freezer milk to get through). He didn't like the change in the milk and didn't like how hard he had to work to get it. He took to formula without an issue and though I still struggle with the guilt b/c I really wanted to get to at least a year and thought I could make it. I feel much better in that he's doing well and I reached out and tried everything I could.
A lot of women can keep on BFing for some of us, it doesn't work. Either way- this pregnancy I'm still actually under 5lbs from my starting weight whereas I gained like mad last pregnancy.
My guy was around 9 months when I got pregnant. He went on a nursing strike when I was 6 weeks. I continued to pump, but my supply never really came back. I tried eating oatmeal, more calories in general, getting more rest, drinking even more fluids, but it didn't matter. It was rough having m/s, the fatigue and BFing. We stopped all together around 11 months and by that time, he was down to BFing before naps and bedtime. I had hoped to make it to a year. It just wasn't possible in our situation. I started getting violently ill whenever I would BF. It became a negative experience for me and I didn't want that relationship. My son doesn't miss it, and now just has a bottle before going to sleep. I cuddle him extra hard and do all of the same things that I would do when I was BFing.
I know a couple of women who were able to BF throughout pregnancy and then tandem nursed for awhile after giving birth. It is definitely possible, but I think it depends on your situation.
No matter what, you need to make the best decision for you and your family. You have made it a long way. And right now, it is just tough. Do what you can, but don't feel guilty for not being able to do what you can't.
This what happened to me but Jules was only 4.5 months old. I was devastated and it took me some time to get over it and be happy about the baby (which i still feel guilty about - this mommy stuff is hard work.
Thanks for the encouragement ladies!! I know I shouldn't feel guilty, but like pp's, it is stressful knowing that I may have to wean him before a year. Although my original goal was only 6 months and I made it, I still feel like I should make it to a year. Also, the pp that talked about the guilty feelings about a new baby...I am fully understanding where you are coming from there. I feel incredibly guilty about possibly having to take this away from LO because of the new baby and fear that DS will feel slighted. Although I know logically that that is solely my issue and it probably won't affect him. haha
I got a phone number for a free LC and will give her a call today to see what she has to say also. I really appreciate all the insight and tips from everyone!