Pregnant and breastfeeding? Come and chat!

[TheOracleAtSelfie]

Hello! As the title suggests I'm pregnant (around 6 weeks with DC2) and still BF DD who is 17 months. I would really like to keep BF throughout and eventually tandem feed, but not sure what to expect.

Anyone else in a similar boat?

Hi Lorrie deff not looking forward to it, Im mega scared of the thought of a spinal but it's the better of two evils.
Yeah I'm going to ask the midwife as much as I can when I see her and see if I can choose the same surgeon as she was brill
How is everyone feeling ?
Just tiredness n headaches n a bit of dizziness here, fingers crossed I'm lucky and escape any nausea but only 6 weeks a bit early to be celebrating lol

I've felt a little bit of nausea particularly at smells (the dirty dishwasher, the bin, DH's cigar ashtray - BOAK) but yeah mostly tiredness here. Last time I was in a taxi and the driver had mothballs and I hate the smell anyway so once I had paid I puked into a flower bed!

Don't think I have nursing aversion just nursing irritation at DS swapping sides every 20 seconds but I had that before being pregnant

Can I join in? I have just had a positive pregnancy test today. It's very early days as I am still 4 days before my period is due. I am breastfeeding my baby who has just turned one. I suspected being pregnant as my milk supply dropped drastically last weekend. My supply is up a bit now but in having to supplement. I'm still in a state of shock as it took four years to conceive last time and this time we were not actively trying. I haven't even told DH yet!

Hi summer! Congratulations!
Sounds like it will be a happy surprise for him.

Wow summer congratulations & welcome! How amazing you got pregnant so quickly this time and four days before your period is impressive too!

I've just had my scan, measuring a couple of days behind (6w+5) but saw a heartbeat which was nice. Dr confirmed a "viable intrauterine pregnancy" so I'm guessing that means so far so good?!

Hi lullaby.
What a fab scan picture for so early. It's always reassuring to see your little blob alive and heart beating on the screen.
I'm going to test again this morning with a pink dye test after reading that the blue dye ones can give false positives (although the line was more than very faint). I'm pretty sure I am pregnant due to the drop in my milk supply and my crazy sense of smell but one more test to put my mind at ease.

Wow lullaby that's so nice, can't wait to see our little one.
OH what's to wait till the NHS 12 week scan so I've got another 6 weeks to wait

Thank you both it's amazing you can see anything considering the little bean is only 7mm in length! So tiny! It's nice to see but in a way I wish I'd waited til 8 weeks as you definitely see more of a defined blob by then. Got 5 weeks to wait for the 12 week scan now!

summer definitely think the pink ones are better I got a good early line on a FRER. The clearblue cross ones seem open to interpretation sometimes I would steer clear (until you're confident to try a digi of course!).

lullaby I retested today with a pink dye one and a clear blue early and both are definitely positive. I am all tested out now and just need to get used to being pregnant and trying to increase my milk supply for little man.

Yay summer pleased there is no doubt. Sorry your supply has been affected hope it can bounce back, can you scoff lots of muesli bars and porridge? Drinks loads of water? Does your little one have any cows milk? Mine still only drinks about half a cup a day but along with cheese, yoghurt and 2 BFs he does ok.

He can't drink cows milk lullaby as he has a cows milk allergy. It also means that I can't drink cows milk either, nor can we eat anything with any dairy in it. Little man drinks coconut milk as he would never entertain the prescription formula. I eat loads of dairy free flapjacks and homemade oatmeal cookies but it isn't making much difference to my supply at the moment 😟

Ahh that's tricky, must be hard keeping dairy free yourself. Maybe one of the BF supporters can offer advice on he infant feeding board?

We are off to see the dietician on Monday so can ask for advice there. From what I understand, some women do experience a massive supply drop in early pregnancy due to hormonal changes but it often returns to normal if you keep feeding. I will continue to offer whatever milk I have but if my supply doesn't come back then I am okay with that and will accept it as a natural progression as baby is happy to drink from a beaker. It's a little sad to not be feeding him but I have managed a year and bonded incredibly well with him and I am proud of that

Hi good news on the re test summer,
My lo has a milk intolerance too, one of the reasons I weaned at 13 months I was struggling being a dairy free fussy vegetarian.
Hope the dietician gives u some good advice.
Just think of the difference in 5 weeks lullaby from the size of a pea to a plum not to mention the developmental aspects

Just posting to say that I have name changed and don't want to confuse the thread. I'm previously summerholsdoingmyheadin but I thought I should name change seeing as the summer holidays are long gone

Hope the dietician goes well six. I have been feeling so crap today, DH had to come home early to help get everything straight in the house. Hope this passes soon!

Well the dietitian couldn't offer me any advice on increasing my milk supply, she just said a few women do have a massive drop o. Supply due to hormonal changes when they get pregnant and for some women their supply returns to normal after a few months whereas others never get it back. She just said to make sure I give baby plenty of coconut milk to drink to maintain his calcium levels. She said the recommended amount is about a pint a day but I think baby is currently only drinking about half of that. It feels like my body is pushing my little man out of the way to make room for the new baby which is a bit sad

That is tough I'm surprised though as I thought it was more common for supply to tank in mid pregnancy, that's what I'm bracing for anyway... I have no idea how much DS takes he has 10 mins in the evening and 15-20 in the morning so can't be litres. Am going to be away from him for 3 days next month it will be interesting to see what happens!

Sorry the dietician couldn't offer you any help six!
Hope your little one copes ok with u being away.
The nausea has really started to kick in now all day, trying to eat to feel better but dosent help

We discussed the milk ladder hugh but as baby still has flare ups and will be covered head to toe in hives from even a tiny amount of milk on his skin the dietician said he is too atopic to try any reintroduction right now. She said we need to see how things go over the next 12 months before thinking about it. He is allergic to dairy (cmpa), all nuts and legumes, bananas and strawberries.

Hello! I'm expecting my fourth child and have been breastfeeding since my first was born seven years ago (have breast fed through three pregnancies now and tandem fed with the last two for a year).
As regards what to expect I think it depends on the child, none of mine have seemed to notice any change in milk while pregnant and most have been down to one or two feeds by the time I've been heavily pregnant. When the new baby was born i think they did notice a change in milk and one of them definitely had a bit of a dicky tummy for a couple of days from colostrum I think but after that they carried on feeding happily until they were ready to stop at around three years old. There was never any jealousy about the new baby feeding all the time but I have never attempted to actually feed two at once as I like to focus on the child I'm feeding (plus how does anyone get a comfy position doing that I don't know!). I'm 30 weeks now and my nearly three year old is showing signs of being ready to stop feeding so maybe she will be done by the time this new one comes along.... (We had a bigger gap this time). I'd say just go with it. It can make bedtime a little tricky if your older one feeds to sleep but I remember my midwife with the first saying I should get him off the breast before the baby arrived or he'd never wean and that just wasn't the case. Plus it is great when you are really sore or have any blockages in your milk with the new bub to put a toddler on - problem cleared straight away I found!

Thanks for your perspective outd00rs I am in awe of 7 years constant BFing and having 4 DC!

I am definitely getting more sensitivity when DS latches now so glad he only feeds twice a day and imagine it will only get worse!

How is everyone doing?

8 weeks today

Hi outdoors BF that long is amazing !
Congrats lullaby on 8week mark

I'm good thanks 7 weeks 3 days n constant nausea