Is there a breastfeeding while pregnant thread already?

[MummyBerryJuice]

If not would anyone like to join me?

Experienced and first time feeding while pregnant mums welcome. I'm almost 11 weeks with DC2 and am still feeding DS (15 months). We are currently working at night weaning him (although he is incredibly persistent) and he still feeds 3/4/5 time per day, although he is starting to eat more solids.

I don't know anyone in RL who has fed whilst pregnant or tandemed and it would be great to be able to share frustrations etc with others.

So please come and join me, or point me in the direction of the right thread

Angel - Me too! I keep thinking 'Well I must be mistaken, I don't feel pg!' but I have had 2 scans already so I know I have (had) a baby in me.

I have the 12w scan next week and I am cacking myself. Even if all is well I will start Keppra after that which could then cause an anomaly to occur (I am having too many seizures for the neuro's liking so more drugs needed). Risks if seizures vs risks of drugs vs benefits of drugs (no benefits to seizures apparently )

My supply is failing rapidly and I have multiple blocked ductal openings (filled up with soft cheese stuff) and DD3 isn't pleased with the taste. DD2 feeds so infrequently I doubt she remembers the taste

:( Truth. Hope it (all) goes well.

I get a bit twitchy occasionally as I had a missed m/c with DC1 and didn't find out until a couple of weeks afterwards. I did still feel pg then though. Not much I can do except wait.

Since I was last pg, I've given up dairy (I'm lactose intolerant) and am on a new eating plan designed to stabilise the blood sugar - which should help reduce MS. Cutting out dairy has reduced my period pains by about 80% so I'm hoping it'll have a similar benefit for unpleasant pg symptoms.

Ha. No pregnancy symptoms. My nipples are sore now. It doesn't help that DS has been ill and feeding a million times a day, plus napping while staying latched on.

My nipples seem to stick to my bra when I unclip the cup. Would breastpads be a solution, do you think? If I undo my bra in a hurry they get caught between the top of my vest and my bra.

Bit of nipple cream smeared on? Are you leaking? Mine ache all the time and DD3 feeding is just nails on a chalk board. DD2 on the other hand I can cope with (bizarre!) but that may be down to the infrequency of the feeds She nursed this morning and it was fine yet DD3 fed a few minutes before and I wanted to scream. Very weird.

Hi all, and congratulations to AmeliaEarhart, AngelDog, KnockedUpMell, jodidi and anyone else I've missed!

Pregnancy tiredness has struck here in a big way so I have been struggling along, although DS has finally started sleeping a bit better which is helping.

I had just been assuming that when my milk supply reduces, DS would lose interest. Having had a bit of a read of Adventures, I've realised that isn't necessarily the case. I think I'm currently feeling that I probably want to wean him anyway, although may feel differently if/when the tiredness wears off. Think I'm at least going to start changing our routines around a bit to make weaning an option, anyway. I doubt he'll be remotely bothered if his last feed before bed moves earlier in the bedtime routine, but I'm more worried about trying to stop feeding him to sleep for his nap. He'll be rocked to sleep by other people, but will only feed to sleep for me (unless we're on the move, but then I don't get a rest!).

I have a dating scan this week, so am a mixture of excited and nervous and worried about twins .

Thanks, Truth, I should have thought of nipple cream. I remember now that I had problems with nipples sticking to my bra until DS was about 9 m.o. - I wore pads for longer than anyone else I know, despite not leaking (I'm not now).

The pain on feeding seems pretty variable here too - although I'm sore anytime I have pressure on my nipples.

RedKites - hope the scan goes okay.

I feel less enthusiastic about tandem feeding than I did before reading Adventures. I'm adopting a 'wait and see' approach and not committing myself to anything.

I've managed to change our bedtime routine as I was concerned about it hurting my back. I used to bf or rock DS till fast asleep, then put him down. Now I bf him and then pat him on the bed, while bouncing a bit myself to make the mattress do the rocking (IYSWIM). I was amazed how easily he took to it. When he wakes at night I no longer have to lie him across my chest and bounce him back to sleep. But he's a lot more likely to want to bf to sleep at naptime.

DD3 seems to be dropping her afternoon nap - she was up 5 times last night with her eczema (so normally would be fast asleep on the way home from taking DD2 to playschool) but today I walked her for an hour and no sleep. I was knackered and she was well rested but no sleep

This evening DD3 asked me to show her the milk before she would bf. I tried but there was no milk just plugged openings so she just cuddled and got into bed to go to sleep .

It will be weird if I am not tandem nursing as I have only nursed one baby singly and two with an older sibling so I am more familiar with the perks of tandem nursing (milk coming in quickly/no or little engorgement/lots of sitting down!) and am a bit anxious about nursing only one baby - it seems a bit scary tbh!

Funny, Truthsweet, that you're worrying about singleton nursing while the rest of us are grappling with the idea of tandem feeding! How many weeks are you? Did you say that your supply dried up in previous pregnancies too?

I'm 9 weeks now, and heck! feeding DS is uncomfortable! A combination of tender nipples, and him having never had the greatest latch (and 14 teeth). Nausea and tiredness too, but I still won't quite believe it until I've had the 1st scan (4th April).

Good luck, RedKites. I refuse to even contemplate the possibility of twins.

12 weeks today and my scan is tomorrow. With my other two bfing pg I dried up at 14w but my babies were well babies still - DD1 was 11.5m when I got pg with DD2 and DD1 was something like 33m and DD2 was 13m when I got pg with DD3.

This time DD2 was 4.1y & DD3 was 2.2y so much older and bfing much less than any other time I have been bfing before (DD2 is my oldest bf child) and DD3 was older when I got pg than DD2 was when DD3 was born. Seems to have meant my supply has tanked that bit quicker. Hopefully colostrum will be back as normal at 24/26w and we can work from there (if anyone is left!)

Tenderness too - yeouch! - so you have my sympathies as I am right there with you (though prob nursing less so feeling it less often). I don't even feel pg any more so I am a bit worried....

Hope it goes okay today, Truth. If it's any comfort, with DC1, I still felt just as pg even after I'd had a missed miscarriage - until the point at which the foetal sac was expelled.

:( about DD3 dropping the nap - just the wrong timing for you.

I'm feeling sick, sick sick now.

I sympathise, Amerlia - DS isn't sleeping well at the moment so I'm having to get out my sore nipples a million times a night.

I'm also in denial about the possibility of twins. :) I don't have a scan date yet - I'm only off to the GP on Friday. I think I'm about 6.5 weeks.

Scan went well, no obvious anomalies as baby had two hands/arms and two feet/legs (though they can't rule out cleft lip/palate at this stage which is one of the big risks with my meds). I am actually 13w not 12w so not a major change in when my milk disappears then . Baby really looked like my others at this stage - big head and belly and very long legs so quite reassuring that all was well.

But no twin hiding!

It's been a miracle that DD3 has slept in the day so late in comparison to her sisters. DD1 & DD2 both dropped all day time sleep before 18m which was horrific as that was when I was 3rd trimester and really needed to rest in the day.

You may get an early dating scan if you don't know how pg you might be (just in case you are much farther on than you think) so you may get a sneaky peak sooner than you think (especially if you have had a missed miscarriage ).

Glad it went well, Truth.

Before 18 months nap-dropping - horrific is indeed the word for it.

I'm reasonably confident about my dates. But I had some bleeding with DS so I got an extra scan (which was nice as DH was away in Africa when I had the 12 week scan). Any sign of anything this time, i'll be on the phone straight away - any opportunity to get an extra look.

I am not looking forward to this 3rd trimester as it will be over the school holidays

I am so battered today as baby was lying with his/her head into the placenta so pretty poor visuals and the sonographer had to prod a lot!

I have had bleeding with all of mine though with this one most of the bleeding happened before I knew I was pg (just put it down to the LLETZ). Have just had a couple of smaller bleeds a week or so after finding out. I am a knicker checker extraordinaire....

Holidays?

I'm achey this morning too - feeding DS at night and (occasionally) having to rock him back off in the chair is making my back really hurt.

Hopefully when he recovers from his cold properly and starts eating properly again, I won't have to feed so often in the night, and he should stop needing to be rocked too.

Any tips for feeding from the top breast while lying on your side without straining your back? Do I just need to get DS to climb/roll over to my other side?

Truth I'm really looking forward to the school holidays, as I'm a teacher and it's easier being at home with just 2 children than it is being at school with up to 32 in front of me at any one time. I do understand how hard it is for other parents though. I'm glad everything looks good in your scan.
Angel When I'm feeding from the top boob I just roll over further so I'm almost on my front. It doesn't seem to hurt my back particularly but it's not the most comfortable way to sleep. How old is your ds? I found after 18 months I just couldn't cope with the constant night feeding as well as working full time etc, so we night weaned at around 20 months. I much prefer not having to feed her in the night, although our day now starts around 6am as she won't go longer than that without food.
I don't know whether I really want to tandem feed, but I also don't want the upset of forcibly weaning dd2. Dh has even said he's on dd2's side about weaning and will fight for her right to booby as she was here first! So looks like I might be tandem feeding whether I want to or not.

Scan went fine, just the one baby, and they've dated me at 12 weeks tomorrow, so I'm a week further on than I thought. Actually a little worried about this, as if anything I was expecting them to move my due date in the other direction, and DS was 9 days late, but will chat to the midwife when I see her, and hopefully this one will be a bit earlier anyway!

Sympathies Truthsweet on the nap-dropping. On the worst days I've been napping while DS does, and on the others, pregnancy has been a good excuse to mumsnet put my feet up for a bit.

Angeldog hope your DS is over his cold. Good to hear you changed the bedtime routine so easily though.

jodidi - you have my sympathies (you have to deal with 60 parents too!)

DD3 napped today! Yay you think - well no, she wouldn't sleep in the pushchair on the hour long walk we went on BUT she would fall asleep snuggled up next to me at 2.45pm. We have to leave the house for the school run at 3pm so I had a grumpy toddler in the pushchair trying to sleep but unable to as she is too excited about seeing DD1 & DD2 again....

I don't think I have ever felt so tired as I do now (even post natal!). I am just dead on my feet and even typing takes it out of me. I want to sleep for at least the next 4 months.

Glad about the scan going well, RedKites.

Truth - hope the tiredness lifts. I take it you've checked iron levels etc?

I'm such a wuss about tiredness. I have to have a nap every day, even when not pg. I am rubbish at going to bed on time though, even though DH has set the computer to chuck me off the internet at 9.30pm.

jodidi, DS is 2.2. He normally only feeds once a night, whihc is fine, but he's not been well for the last week and a half and still isn't right. He's been off his food, especially at dinnertime so he's been up LOADS. e.g. yesterday's dinner was a handful o frozen peas and a couple of mandarin segments. Tonight he's managed pasta, an oat biscuit, grapes & raisins so I'm hopeful about tonight. :)

I think I need to tuck my underneath arm behind me when I feed from the top breast lying down.

Hats off to you being pg and teaching - I used to teach and there's no way I could have managed it whilst pg!

I teach secondary maths, so I don't really have much contact with parents except at parents evenings which only happen once a year for each yeargroup. I've also been a pretty rubbish teacher for the past couple of weeks as I'm so tired I'm not planning particularly good lessons and just doing textbook lessons for most classes, which isn't what I normally do. I'm supposed to be observed in the next couple of weeks too, but I've asked for that to be postponed til after Easter cos then I should be past 12 weeks and should have a little bit more energy (I hope so anyway)
truth you have my utmost sympathy on the nap dropping, dd2 seems to be trying to drop her naps too, so most days by the time I collect her from the childminder she is close to meltdown as she is so exhausted. On weekends I manage to get her to have a nap by snuggling with booby in my bed and we both fall asleep for an hour or 2, it's lovely. She can then cope with the afternoon.
angel it's horrible when they're ill isn't it? Fingers crossed you have a better night tonight.

Angel - I have had B12 (pernicious) anaemia while pg with DD3 and folate anaemia last year (anti-epileptics deplete folic acid in the body) so have all three checked (but I do need to pick up the results so thanks for reminding me!).

I should really be studying but I am so tired that MN & FB is all I can manage at the mo. Should really try though

I'd not worry aoubt the studying, and just go to bed. :)

Sigh... bf while being pg is really getting me down. I'm completely knackered (have just gone back to work ft as well). and get so IRRITATED when DS wants to feed ALL NIGHT! . This really isn't like me at all! I was definitely in the self-weaning / co-sleeping camp before I got pg, and am now seriously considering getting him out of our bed, night weaning and cry-it-out! (I wouldn't actually as I do love sleeping with him and waking up together). My DH is used to doing bugger all at nights, and I'm now having to poke him awake to get him to settle DS (who will settle much quicker for DH anyway once he has had a feed). My nipples are so sore as well . Semi considering not bf DC2 (I'm sure I will bf, but can't help entertaining the thought of not having another child attached to my boob 24-7).Tell me it gets better?? Maybe my milk supply will drop soon and DS will lose interest? I think i'm just coming up to 7w.
congrats to truth and redkites for reassuring scans!
angel I have my arm tucked behind me and the other one strewn over DS when we feed from top breast, and I am almost lying on my belly. TBH I don't see how that will be physically possible further on in pg as the bump will probably be in the way, but atm it works!

Mell, that sounds like my position.

Nights are tough, aren't they? Sounds like night weaning could be good for you to try.

I had my booking in appointment at the antenatal clinic yesterday, and was told off by the midwife for still breastfeeding DS! She told me I needed to stop as soon as possible as I 'have to get my milk ready for the next baby' and because it's 'bad for my bones and teeth'!!! Which sounds like a load of old hoo haa to me . I should have asked her exactly what she meant, but DS had just spotted 'Hippo Has a Hat' stashed in his pushchair and was demanding that I read it to him right away, so I just said 'hmmm' and nodded.

Independently of her dodgy advice, I've decided to wean him in the next few months so I can have break before starting with number 2. I feel a bit sad and guilty at the prospect because I meant to carry on until he turns 2 (we didn't plan for me to get pregnant again so soon; it was an accident ).

Amelia - nothing you do or don't do will stop your breast resetting to make colostrum for the baby, your body can't help it (lots of technical stuff to do with rising progesterone levels and the tight junctions of the milk making cells loosening up to let in anti-body cells but you can't stop it).

I am lucky I am notorious well known at the local ANC so they know better than to lecture me on tandem nursing (plus one of the most revered local MWs had my back over tandem nursing DD1 & DD2 while pg with DD3 - bit of a bugger she has just retired!). Plus I think most of the MW know I could wobble on about bfing science for hours at them so they don't bother

Had fun today though as DD3 had an asthma attack today and had to go to walk-in centre for nebs. I was supposed to be at the same hospital doing the ante-natal bfing stuff (with my bf peer supporter hat on!) and had my head in 'bfing zone' so when the Dr asked how she was feeding I said she was having difficulties latching on with all the wheezing and snot (cold triggered asthma attack) so could do better (not realising he meant is she off her food ).

Dr went 'She's just turned 2 right?'
Me 'No, she's nearly two and a half'
Dr 'But she's still bfing ' (Nurse smiled at me)
Me 'Yes, I won't tell you about my 4y that's nursing as well then....or being pg too, shall I?'
Dr gave me the fish eye and moved on

At least the nurse looked pleased (SE Asian nurse) and the student nurse with her didn't look shocked either

Still missed the AN classes though I love doing them!