Anybody still nursing?

SenoraKahlo · June 2016

I was just curious if anyone is still nursing and whether or not it's comfortable. I am nursing my 14 month old, and the aversion is real! I was really hoping for him to be able to self wean before I got my BFP. Now I'm just hoping to make it till my milk runs dry.

blush64 · June 2016

I know when I was pregnant with my second my first was still breastfeeding. It became a bit uncomfortable but he decided to stop before his brother was born.

Edit My son didn't wean due to pregnancy, he was just getting busier and taking less time for nursing. Night time was last to go. (He was around 2.5 when he stopped)

peachesnbean · June 2016

I am! I tandem nursed DD1 & 2. All through pregnancy and then for another year and a half. A lot of kiddos self wean 2nd tri because supply plummets. DD1 ALMOST did but then my colostrum kicked in and it was on like donkey kong.

Samantha.Rush · June 2016

I am, DD is 16 months and my goal before BFP was to wean by summer's end. That's still my goal, i'm just more motivated now.

SenoraKahlo · June 2016

Haha @peachesnbean "on like donkey kong" that's funny. Thanks for the responses ladies, this gives me hope!

kerris713 · June 2016

I am as well With my 13.5 mo. I really wanted to make it to at least 24 months so I'm just going to push through and hope DD stays game.

alexispete · June 2016

I'm still nursing my 10 month old and just found out I'm expecting #2. I want to try and nurse him for as long as possible, but I'm sure it's going to get uncomfortable.

kcohee5927 · June 2016

I'm still nursing, and surprisingly I am not in pain. With my first my boobs felt like razors were cutting them off if anything touched them, this time I'm fine. Hormones are so weird. My baby however, who is 13 months old, is not as interested as he was before. He has cut down to two times a day.

kerris713 · June 2016

@kcohee5927- I have a soon to be 14 mo and she is not as interested either which is a little concerning since she was all about it up to two weeks ago. I've been giving her extra sippy cups of water to make sure she stays hydrated but she also nurses about 2x during the night. Hopefully it evens out

Ryder0406 · June 2016

At this point we're down to before bed during the week and first thing in the morning and before bed on weekends (I leave for work before DD and H are up on weekdays). DD turned 1 last month and I hated pumping SO much that I stopped the week after her birthday. My supply seriously dropped after that... At this point she drinks whole milk and nursing is definitely just for comfort, but I'm still feeling sad that any nursing session could be the last.

kerris713 · June 2016

Any good alternatives than cows milk? Sometimes she has reactions to dairy so I don't want to start giving her milk during the day but I'm paranoid that she's not getting enough calcium through solids. She loves cheese and green veggies so I'm good there

PerraSucia · June 2016

@kerris713 my pediatrician said basically everything we eat os calcium fortified and not to worry about it. Only baby cows need cows milk.

SenoraKahlo · June 2016

PerraSucia said:

@kerris713 my pediatrician said basically everything we eat os calcium fortified and not to worry about it. Only baby cows need cows milk.

WSS

kerris713 · June 2016

Ok guess I'm just paranoid since she's not nursing as frequently

leighalou91 · June 2016

alexispete said:

I'm still nursing my 10 month old and just found out I'm expecting #2. I want to try and nurse him for as long as possible, but I'm sure it's going to get uncomfortable.

I also have a 10 month old who I really want to breastfeed as long as possible. I never had sore boobs with my last pregnancy, so I'm hoping it isn't too bad this time around.

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

I have an 11 month old who still nurses every 2 hours. I am hoping to make it through his transition to solids. He's not super interested right now but I keep hoping that will change any day now... I hear supply tanks for many moms during pregnancy so am super nervous that will happen before he is ready to wean. I was planning to nurse until he self weaned or my supply went away -whichever happened first. But now I don't really have a lot of control over it... Trying not to feel guilty about the impact this pregnancy may have on his main food supply! and hope for the best as he's clearly not ready to give up the milk yet! Anyone else still nursing a lot and notice a big dip in supply?

SenoraKahlo · June 2016

caribbeanmama said:

I have an 11 month old who still nurses every 2 hours. I am hoping to make it through his transition to solids. He's not super interested right now but I keep hoping that will change any day now... I hear supply tanks for many moms during pregnancy so am super nervous that will happen before he is ready to wean. I was planning to nurse until he self weaned or my supply went away -whichever happened first. But now I don't really have a lot of control over it... Trying not to feel guilty about the impact this pregnancy may have on his main food supply! and hope for the best as he's clearly not ready to give up the milk yet! Anyone else still nursing a lot and notice a big dip in supply?

Same here. We were down to 2 nursing sessions a day, and the last 2 weeks my son has ramped up to 10 nursing sessions a day. Just drink TONS of water. As far as the food transitioning goes, have you tried smoothies? It's a good way to hide a lot of veggies.

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

Ugh! Yes, lots and lots of water helps. I should buy stock in la croix and smart water as we may be singlehandedly keeping them in business! With regards to solids, are smoothies different from purées? He is sensitive to dairy and allergic to soy, and I stay away from tree nuts as that's on the maybe list ... So no yogurt and milk for now. I purée different fruits and veggies for him and he will have a couple ounces if he is in a good mood... We've tried some of the plum organics pouches and blends with varied success. His doctor wants us to take him to occupational therapy to get him on the solids train. I'm not really sold on the idea though -I just think he knows what he wants and he will transition when he's ready. He's a big baby so not worried about weight....just hope I have the milk available for him ..... Eek!

SenoraKahlo · June 2016

@caribbeanmama Yeah smoothies are like a purées except I believe you can hide the taste of vegetables in a smoothie easier if he has a problem with the taste of certain foods. You are right to trust your instincts though! He will transition when he's good and ready. My kiddo didn't start eating well until he was 13 months. Healthy weight and healthy kid is all that matters!

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

@SenoraKahlo Thanks for the pep talk! I have a love hate relationship with nursing. Love that I nourish and comfort the baby and he loves his milk! Hate the stress and anxiety about not having enough.

Strangely enough, It kind of seems like he's been a little more satisfied in the last few days. I hope it's not a fluke! He definitely thinks the taste is a little off though. Anyone else's little one giving them weird looks when they taste the milk?

peachesnbean · June 2016

So, I just realized that as of August I will have nursed for 5 years solid. My ladies need a break!

kerris713 · June 2016

I think I scared the Np at my 1st appt today- she told me that they would like me to wean by my 2nd tri and I just looked at her and said well I'm not going to do that so I'll talk to the dr about that when I see her. She just looked at me and finally said oh ok. Haha well then

lovemyducklings · June 2016

Me too. My nursling is almost 17 months. I plan for her to self wean. I'm open to tandem nursing, but haven't done it before. My other kids were a little older when I was nursing them and got pregnant with the next one, and they nursed through the pregnancies, but self weaned when the new milk came in.

angeltennis3 · June 2016

peachesnbean said:

So, I just realized that as of August I will have nursed for 5 years solid. My ladies need a break!

@peachesnbean I am seriously impressed. Breastfeeding my daughter was probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and the most emotional. We only lasted 2 months because of a combination of low supply and poor advice. I am hoping to make it at least 6 months this time.

ETA grammar

ThumpersMom · June 2016

I'm still nursing my 15 month old, but he's down to twice a day: when he wakes up in the am and when he goes to bed at night. During the day we give him water and goat's milk (which is similar to human milk so it can be easier for them to digest and basically as good nutritionally as cow's milk). He eats cow's dairy products like yoghurt and cheese too.

So far, no pain nursing (I'm 6 wks preggers) - but it's possible my supply is dipping a bit, but that might also be because of the only twice-a-day nursing...

My question is about colostrum - anyone know if you need to wean #1 so you can get colostrum when #2 is born? How does that work?

SenoraKahlo · June 2016

@ThumpersMom From my limited understanding, most women (if not all?) lose their supply and start making colostrum again in the second trimester.

kerris713 · June 2016

@ThumpersMom. So according to Kellymom.com, you start making colostrum around 2nd tri and continue to produce it until the placenta detaches upon which prolactin is signaled to make milk. You don't need to wean but baby1 might not like it. There is no limit to how much colostrum you make before birth so it won't be used up

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

I've been trying to read a lot on this and spoke with my midwife about it today. The la leche website is a good resource. It appears that the greatest dip occurs in second trimester. There isn't a lot of research with regards to the content of milk and when it transitions to colostrum but my midwife said somewhere in the latter part of the third trimester based on toddler accounts of the milk tasting 'funny'. I think my 11 month old tastes a difference already... Based on the la leche article summarizing the research it seems as if some notice a dip in supply in the first trimester but all definitely find there is a noticeable dip in the second trimester and in some cases the milk may go away.

There is a fraction of women who nurse through the pregnancy and continue on to tandem nurse. The number was around 10% of the sample set (which was not that large as I recall). So if your nursling is primarily getting nourished from you this will all but go away for most women but it can bounce back after delivery. There is a book adventures in tandem nursing that I heard is a great resource for answering questions such as these, which I plan to buy. I have The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, which I should check as it has a chapter on toddler nursing.

I believe there is a mom on here who has been nursing for 5 years for example and others I am sure who may be able to share actual experiences or give tips for dealing with the transition/weaning should it come to that.

peachesnbean · June 2016

Here is my experience (not sure if it will be helpful, but figured I would share):
When I got my BFP with #2 I consulted my LLL leader, my midwife, and my lactation consultant. All three had the same answer for me- go for it. They all said my body will set up a hierarchy for nutrition so I need to be sure to take extra care of myself because my body will take care of inside baby, then outside baby, then me. DD1 nursed normally through 1st tri, and then, as if an alarm sounded the second I crossed into 2nd tri my supply plummeted. She was all but weaned, and I swear she would have been completely if I went another week with such low supply but then 3rd tri another bell went off and I started producing colostrum. Like @caribbeanmama said- it continues to be produced until the placenta detaches, there is not a volume problem with colostrum in pregnancy, when DD2 came she had plenty! That being said, I didn't nurse DD1 until my milk came in those couple days after DD2 was born and it was just colostrum. We went on to tandem for 1.5 years. Right now DD2 is almost 3 and still going strong with nursing, I am not sure if I will tandem because 3.5 was when DD1 self weaned and that is around the time this babe is due.

Ashlea718 · June 2016

My nursling is 17 months and I'm also having aversion.
Ugh. I typed way more than that.

I guess I'll try to repeat all that.
I love our nursing relationship and I'm not ready to wean yet. Also he didn't even show interest in food until he was a year and now still won't eat much so his main nutrition is still my milk. So I'm worried about losing my supply. I would have liked to wait a few more months before getting pregnant but it happened anyways. We are really happy to be expecting but I feel like I'm rushing him out of his baby stage and have had many tears over it already.

Ashlea718 · June 2016

Ugh. I typed way more than that.
and then I finally got that one edited and can't get these deleted. Sorry for making a mess of things

Ashlea718 · June 2016

Ugh. I typed way more than that.

ThumpersMom · June 2016

SenoraKahlo said:

@ThumpersMom From my limited understanding, most women (if not all?) lose their supply and start making colostrum again in the second trimester.

Thanks! That makes sense!

kerris713 said:

@ThumpersMom. So according to Kellymom.com, you start making colostrum around 2nd tri and continue to produce it until the placenta detaches upon which prolactin is signaled to make milk. You don't need to wean but baby1 might not like it. There is no limit to how much colostrum you make before birth so it won't be used up

Thanks! This is really helpful.

Much appreciated, ladies!

nattn · June 2016

I'm still nursing my 9 mo and I'm going to as long as she wants to. My OB really pushes for me to stop while pregnant, so I'm hoping to find a new OB who is more open to it.

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

@nattn I'm just wondering if your OB shared why she wanted you to stop nursing?

trambo78 · June 2016

I'm down to 2 pumping sessions a day with for 11 month old son. We have frozen milk stored up for a few more months. I decreased my because I hadn't had a cycle and my husband and I wanted another child. I'm somewhat torn because I want my new pregnancy to get all the nutrients it needs, but I know it's also best for my son. I've considered buying raw goat or cow's milk after my freezer stash is depleted.

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

trambo78 said:

I'm down to 2 pumping sessions a day with for 11 month old son. We have frozen milk stored up for a few more months. I decreased my because I hadn't had a cycle and my husband and I wanted another child. I'm somewhat torn because I want my new pregnancy to get all the nutrients it needs, but I know it's also best for my son. I've considered buying raw goat or cow's milk after my freezer stash is depleted.

@trambo78 That's awesome that you built up such a large freezer stash! I have an 11 month old boy too! Does your little one eat solids as yet? I've heard many moms transition to cow's milk with no trouble and have read good things about goats milk in terms of its digestability being close to breastmilk (Dr.Sears).

nattn · June 2016

@caribbeanmama Because of the contractions that nursing can cause. She tends to be very conservative when it comes to things like that. I feel like if I start to have too many contractions, I can reevaluate at that time. I don't believe nursing will cause me to go into premature labor, but my OB feels it's a risk. Like I said, I'm looking for a new OB.

thehappyphotog · June 2016

I just quit last month as I think it was keeping me from getting pregnant. I really miss it already.

caribbeanmama-2 · June 2016

@nattn I didn't realize that the risk was considered high enough that some doctors would recommend weaning. My midwife said nursing was totally fine and that she was sure I could go on to tandem nurse. She is very optimistic - which was a really nice boost to my psyche! I do want to know more about this risk though - off to do some more research! Good luck finding a more supportive OB

. Have you considered going with a midwife?

I wonder if others here are being given the same advice?

kerris713 · June 2016

https://americanpregnancy.org/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-while-pregnant/

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