Nursing while pregnant?

Re: Nursing while pregnant?

• bookworm982 member

  August 2013

  Congrats on your new pregnancy! I am currently 36 weeks pregnant and still nursing DD. My two will be 13.5 months apart in age. First off, in a normal, healthy pregnancy it is absolutely fine to keep nursing. However, if you experience any pregnancy complications then tandem nursing is something you can discuss with your midwife or OB. For us, DD was exclusively breastfed until she was 6 months (about 3 weeks after my bfp), and then we gradually introduced solid foods.
  
  The big issue with breastfeeding and pregnancy is maintaining supply. Many pregnant women experience a dip or complete loss of supply at some point in pregnancy. For me the dip happened between 32 and 33 weeks (thankfully right after DD's first birthday). By 35 weeks I could tell my milk was almost gone. That said, DD is still nursing and I estimate she gets less than an ounce of milk a day. However, she drinks plenty of water from a sippy and eats lots of whole fat dairy products. (She refuses to drink whole milk.) I'm planning on continuing to nurse DD after DS is born, so I figure she only has to deal with a low supply for less than a month more.
  
  I highly recommend the book Adventures in Tandem Nursing. It answered so many questions for me about nursing while pregnant. Now I'm reviewing the chapters on tandem feeding in preparation for DS's birth. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions.
  

  Mommy to N (3), J (2), and C (10 months). LO4 is due in mid-September.
  

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• MeganMPQ member

  August 2013

  Thank you so much for your response bookworm982!!

  
  

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• Candace52309

  August 2013

  It's perfectly fine as long as u eat healthy and get enough good calories. My DDs are 12 months apart and I bf dd1 until 11 months but she still had enough milk in the freezer to last her through 1 yr and still has some. I only quit nursing bc she chose to. It started turning back to colostrum and she didn't like the change in taste. I did notice a drop in the amount of milk I was able to pump at about 6 months pregnant but it was still more than enough for her and I still froze about 8oz a wk.
  
  Also make sure both ur ob-gyno and the pediatrician knows. Ur dr will keep a closer check on you and u may need to take ur ds to the pedi for an extra checkup if they are concerned he isn't getting enough if u exclusively bf and no way to monitor intake.
  
  I would pump away. 1 it will help increase ur supply and fight against drying up and 2 it will give u a freezer stash should ur supply diminish.
  
  Also one of my friends used fenugreek to help increase their supply bc they couldn't produce enough milk.
  
  I'm sure u already know but just in case check out kellymom.com. They have resources for tandem nursing and stuff as well. Good luck and congrats.

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• Scarlett&Gatsby member

  August 2013

  I'm lurking, but since I have 2u2 (or had...? DD1 is over two now...), I thought I'd jump in.

  My daughters are 17 months apart. I nursed DD1 for 13 months with no problems. I noticed a dip in supply for a short time, but DD1 nursed through that. If I'm remembering correctly, it's at about 5-ish months into the pregnancy that your body starts to produce "newborn milk," which older babies often don't find as palatable. DD1 self-weaned at about that time, though I'm not sure that's the reason. (She was getting basically all of her nutrition from regular food, drank water, and was down to one nursing session a day, which she gradually cut it out completely.)

  I don't remember doing anything differently as far as nutrition, but good nutrition is always a good idea.

  You're totally capable of going whatever route you want. If you're open to tandem nursing, you can definitely do that. If you'd like to BF your older child until the new baby arrives, that's workable, too, through gradual weaning. Your milk won't turn to poison.

  

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• fireflygirl12 member

  August 2013

  I'm currently 5ish weeks pregnant with #2 and DS is 10.5 months. I noticed a huge drop in my supply right before I got my BFP and I'm guessing this is why. I was getting about 28-30oz/day, but now I'm only getting 18-20 and having to dip into my freezer stash a little each day. I had planned to tandem nurse, but I'm not sure if my supply will recover or continue to dip. My OB did say it was fine to continue BFing as long as wanted, as long as I felt OK.

  PP mentioned taking Fenugreek, but I was told that you should not take it while pregnant, so you may want to look into that. I heard that it could cause premature contractions, but I'm not sure of the validity.

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• Karebearmama1 member

  August 2013

  fireflygirl12- where you on any birth control when you got pregnant

  
  

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• fireflygirl12 member

  August 2013

  Karebearmama1 said:

  fireflygirl12- where you on any birth control when you got pregnant

  
  

  Nope. I haven't been on any BC since before we started TTC for #1. I didn't get my first post partum period until DS was 8 months old since he was EBF I'm guessing.
  

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• sarahlanell03

  August 2013

  Congratulations!  I have two boys, 11.5 months apart.  I was EBF with DS1 when I got pregnant with DS2.  At about 2 months pregnant, my supply tanked and nothing helped it recover.  I was really sick and having trouble getting enough calories, so maybe that is why.  I stressed about switching DS1 to formula, but it was the only option for us.  Now he is a super healthy, smart toddler and a good little eater.  My advice is to not stress yourself about it.  If you are able to continue nursing LO, that is great!  If not, be kind to yourself - you gave your baby the best start possible and your body has a lot going on right now!

  

  

  
  

  
  

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