Pregnancy and BF question

[midori1999]

DD is 6 months old and I would like to TTC. However, I'm aware that pregnancy can affect supply and I obviously want to make sure DD gets enough milk from me, although I'm happy to give cows milk as needed after a year old. Should I wait to TTC for this reason?

Also, how likely is it she'll self wean during pregnancy? I'm reluctant for this to happen?

Finally, I'm assuming it'd be safe for me to BF in pregnancy? I am considered high risk, but due to a blood disorder/previous blood clots/previous early rupture of membranes, nothing to do with early contractions or anything. I also had gestational diabetes last time and as BF lowers insulin resistance I thought it might actually help prevent or manage that?

Sorry, that's more than one question...

Hello :-)

According to this page on Kellymom, only 26% of children self-wean during pregnancy. It also states that 70% of mothers do experience some supply problems although there's no telling to what extent this may affect you (if at all).

I wouldn't want top say whether or not you should wait to TTC. It may take longer than it did the first time, or it may not. There are so many maybes

Safety wise, there is no proven link between miscarriage and BF but it would be best to talk to a specialist about your individual case, and a BF counsellor so that you can pass on what the specialist says and figure out what would work best for you. Again, Kellymom has some good info.

This is a brilliant book that has a lot of information in it that you can share with your MW/consultant if you need to.

Hope that helps a bit :)

It's really unlikely that she will truly self wean if she is under 2 - she might go off it for a while, but you would be able to get her back to the breast if you wanted to.

Adventures in tandem nursing is supposed to be a brilliant book. Good luck!

my personal opinion is that I would wait.

I used to belong to a forum made up entirely of breastfeeding mums, the majority of whom were feeding toddlers and had, or were still, tandem feeding

they all, without exception (when i posted a similar post to this one!) said that their children's nursing had changed during pregnancy. a lot had weaned, and the ones that didn't cut down a LOT.

I decided to risk it anyway, and fell pregnant when ds2 was about 9 months old. My milk supply basically went completely which made it really painful to feed, and he eventually weaned when he was 16 months old.
it's one of my biggest regrets becaseu i have no doubt htat he would have nursed for a long, long time had I not fallen pregnant.
It also made me feel quite angry towards DS3 when he came along because every time he fed I felt like ds2 should be there not him,.

What I want to say is that even if the chances of weaning are low, there is a chance.
and if you have time etc on your side and there is no compelling reason to get pregnant right now then I would wait. allow your current child to grow up and wean and then think about the next one.

In addition to what Thisisyesterday has said, bear in mind that your feelings towards breastfeeding may change during pregnancy too. For many women breastfeeding in pregnancy is uncomfotable or even painful. some get an 'ansty' feeling and actively want to push their child away during nursing. Then add on that pregnancy is tiring and you may feel sick as well. Dealing with extra physical demands of breastfeeding can be hard work, never mind the fact that you are still caring for your first child.

I have breastfed through 2 pregnancies and am currently feeding a 2 year old as well as being 8 weeks pregnant. Each time my milk has decreased very dramatically and I have been thankful my older breastfeeding child has not needed my supply to be maintained at a higher level. Each time the amount of food the older child has started eating has increased dramatically, especially this time where D3 was incredibly picky and still breastfeeding all day and night. I have personally used the decrease in milk to negotiate a reduction in frequency of breastfeeding because I find it irritating during pregnancy. With my first and this time I night weaned during early pregnancy. Number 2 had already done that. But, my toddlers were 18 months (x2) and 2 years when I conceived. A 6 month old is a very different prospect.

Have you looked at the bf in pregnancy thread?

Thanks for the replies. They really help as the only person I know who has BF in pregnancy has just chosen to wean her 18 month old at 5 months pregnant as she does not want to tandem nurse.

I could wait a bit, I am 35, I am aware the older I get the higher risk to me a pregnancy will be. 6 months or a year or so wouldn't make much difference though. Whilst I would prefer DD not to wean prematurely, I would be ok with it happening after she was a year old, not before then, so I suppose we should wait at least 6 months. I've also had two twin pregnancies, so I suppose I need to consider that possibility too.

I'll need to see the GP/consultant prior to TTC too, so I'll get the book, have a read and try and get some RL advice too before all that.

Thanks again. I'll lurk on the BF in pregnancy thread.