I just found out that I am pregnant with number two. My first is only 6 months old, so I'm obviously wanting to keep nursing him. However, I can already tell my supply is taking a nose dive. Does anyone know of any safe ways to boost your supply while pregnant? Or is it just one of those things I can't really help? I haven't ever given him formula and I would love not to ever have to...
TIA
Re: Bfing while pregnant question
Well you can try to boost your supply with the usual tricks but the reality is it's unlikely you'll be able to fully meet the needs of a 6 month old - not that you can't keep nursing of course! - but you will likely need to supplement since really most of his calories right now need to be BM. You could always look into donor milk if you want to avoid formula.
Congrats on #2!
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Also, make sure you're staying well hydrated and eating enough calories.
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Congratulations! I got PG w/ #2 when DS1 was 10 months. I did not ever need to supplement (albiet a 6 month old and a 10 month old are different.) All of the normal galactogogues can help. For one, Wish Garden makes a lovely tincture called Milk Rich that includes goat's rue in addition to RRL, nettles, etc. (herbs that my MW wanted me to consume via tea daily through my whole PG). You eating and drinking enough is key, as well. I recommend attending a local LLL meeting and reading Adventures in Tandem Nursing for other info on BFing while PG.
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I got pregnant again when my oldest was 6 months old. We were able to nurse without supplementing until he was 9 months old. About a week after he turned 9 months, we had to start him on half formula/half breast milk bottles while I worked (I couldn't pump enough), and I soon after realized that he was really interested in more milk than I was providing after nursing him (I'd nurse him and he'd fuss...I gave him a bottle once, and he sucked down 4 oz and was soooooo happy and seemed relieved...sort of broke my heart, honestly).
Anyway, the reason I tell the story is to say that I nursed him this afternoon before his nap, and last night before bed, and I'll likely nurse him before bed tonight (assuming he asks...he pretty much always asks, lol), and my EDD with #2 was yesterday. So, despite the fact he started formula 6 months ago, and has been drinking WCM for 3 months now, he loves to nurse, and I love to nurse him, and we plan to continue until he's ready to stop. Supplementing does not have to end the BFing relationship at all if you end up having to go that route, and both want to continue. Lots of luck to you!!
In all the research I did [a lot because I panicked!] that hormones play a huge role in whether or not you can keep your supply. I would start setting up some donor milk avenues if you don't want formula.
Thank God, my supply has been okay so far, I'm just hoping it doesn't dry up before he's 12 mo. He's extremely attached to bfing so I'm assuming I will be tandem nursing.
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Some people have a big loss of supply and some people don't; if you need to supplment (with formula or with donor milk if you prefer), it's just what you need to do. If your supply is sensitive to your pregnancy hormones, it can be impossible to overcome that with herbal remedies.
Play it by ear, but keep a close eye on weight gain and diaper output. And don't feel like if you need to supplement it's from not trying hard enough; some women respond to herbal galactogoges in pregnancy, but some don't. Some women keep a big supply, and some don't. There isn't a lot you can influence on how your breasts react to progesterone.
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