Nervous about BFing during pregnancy

SarahC99

DS will be 2 next week, and I'm currently about 7 weeks pg.  although we have thankfully been nightwaned for a while, we still nurse about 3-4x/day, which I'm usually ok with, but have had mixed feelings about our napping situation for awhile.  Since he went down to one nap around 14 months, DS would only stay down about 30 min after being nursed to sleep, then scream bloody murder.  Ive let him try to work it out for varrying lengths of time on occasion, but 99% of the time, I end up laying down with him and nursing him continually for another 1.5-2.5 hours.  I usually fall asleep, too, which is nice, other than the fact that I get nothing done.  After the first session, when I may get that 30 min away, if I even shift, let alone try to unlatch him, he is awake, and unhappy, immediately.  I've tried to let this take its natural course since im a SAHM for the most part and have the luxioury of doing this, but I've been really worried about this daily, extended nipple stimulation, and any potential harm I may be doing to my growing LO. Anyone have experience with lengthy BFing while pregnant.?  I know my supply has already tanked, but that hasn't seemed to deter my son, even though it is really uncomfortable and draining for me if I didn't hydrate properly.  I think I'm getting waves of nursing aversion. :-/. Any thoughts or advice?

PnJ Mooney

I'm a lurker here, but thought I'd tell you a little bit about my experience with pregnancy and nursing.  DS usually only nurses at nap time and bedtime and occasionally during the night.  Once I know DS is asleep, I unlatch him (sorry, I can't help with that part).  He definitely went through phases when he nursed a ton and I was worried, but had no issues. If I remember correctly, I believe I lost my supply somewhere between 14-20 weeks. It didn't stop LO, but I had to start giving time limits because it was so uncomfortable. I will be honest, it was pretty painful but am now used to it AND at times I do have the aversion.   Toward the end of the 2nd trimester, I was only producing colostrum and still am.  LO doesn't care. I'm due this weekend and planning on tandem nursing if DS desires.

tlew12778

Have you tried explaining to DS that you need to limit him? I think you will be surprised at how much he understands. Start preparing him to be a big brother and tell him that the baby needs milk too and that he has to share.

I nursed throughout my pregnancy and am now tandem nursing. I never lost my supply though. It turned to colostrum at 16w (evident bc DD was constipated before this and started going 4x a day!). She is older though at 3.5 so was a bit more reasonable maybe.

It hurt like he!! from weeks 8-12 more or less. Like DD had razors in her mouth and I had needles shooting out of me. That was the first time I started limiting her. I Just said "it hurts" and she would stop. I also developed the occasional aversion in third tri at which point I would just ask her if she was done yet and usually she'd stop to go do something else. Then at 35 weeks nursing caused serious contractions and I had to limit her to like 1 min bc the contractions were so strong (I ended up in L&D at 35w bc they wouldn't stop). DS was born at 38w.

Have you read Adventures in Tandem Nursing? It goes through a lot of the issues you mention. 

ncbelle

I don't think I'd worry about the nipple stimulation part, particularly this early on - your body will tell you if it's a problem.

But I do think it's totally ok to limit nursing if you feel like you need to.  It definitely can make you feel touched out if nothing else! I was pretty lucky in that I didn't have any physical reactions to nursing with pregnant and Callum didn't nurse for long periods - but I still felt I needed to limit him sometimes just from feeling touched out. 

StefandTodd

ncbelle:

I don't think I'd worry about the nipple stimulation part, particularly this early on - your body will tell you if it's a problem.

But I do think it's totally ok to limit nursing if you feel like you need to.  It definitely can make you feel touched out if nothing else! I was pretty lucky in that I didn't have any physical reactions to nursing with pregnant and Callum didn't nurse for long periods - but I still felt I needed to limit him sometimes just from feeling touched out. 

Yes, exactly this.  Definitely do what you feel is best, and limit him as you feel you need to, but you don't need to worry about harming your unborn baby.  I'm still nursing my 13 month old and am 32 weeks pregnant tomorrow.  Baby is healthy and growing, and if my son continues to nurse, I'll probably just tandem nurse them.  But I definitely limit my son more than ever now when I just need a break.  Sometimes he'll sign for milk and a cup of water will completely appease him, and I don't feel the least bit bad about it.  GL to you.

Anxiousmami

When I found out I was pregnant I was prepared to start weaning and deidnt think I had a choice. However LO demanded and recieved and I am now 36 wks and still nurse. Nothing has been coming out since about 14 wks i'd say but she's content with it. I do experience pain time to time like a bruised nipple or something idk. GL

sbartschke

In first tri I was super tender. DS was 14ish months, I would give him a warning that we were almost done, then give him 30 seconds ish and tell him we were all done. I had intended on tandem nursing but DH offered him a sippy of WCM when I was out with a friend one night and other than asking a couple times during the day, he has not nursed since. He was about 16 months when this happened. DS was a big time nurse to sleep kid and I often had trouble getting out of bed without waking him. Once I started telling him we were done etc. then just cuddled him until he was sleeping it was much easier.

tlew12778

You don't need to worry about nipple stimulation until late third tri when the oxytocin receptors kick in. Before that, BH are ok as they stop when nursing session ends. Mind you, they can still be rather painful. Real contractions will continue even after the session ends. And those you do need to be concerned about. My OB had me go in after 6 hrs of irregular but persistent contractions at 35w.

nosoup4u

It's perfectly safe to nurse while pregnant!

As for the boob naps, my younger son is still nursing at bedtime and naptime when I'm home, too. I let him nurse to sleepy, but not sleeping, and then tell him, "no more mama meal, time to go to sleep" and pop him off. He's not happy about it, but he's now able to fall asleep without nursing. It takes some time, no doubt! Does he nurse to sleep at bedtime? I think I started with bedtime, as it was easier for him to fall asleep then. 

I got pg when DS1 was just about 24 mos, and nursed him for the first six months of my pregnancy (pretty much started weaning him when I got pg). 

Angela814

I'm still nursing DD2 right now, and I'm 15 weeks pg. We night weaned a couple months ago. Right now she nurses anywhere from 0-2x a day. Usually in the morning and sometimes before bed. I rock her to sleep for naps. I think I would start limiting him. I know at times it's too uncomfortable for me to nurse for more than 5 minutes. The thought of nursing for over an hour is awful. I couldn't do it.