Pregnancy and BFing, what do I need to know?

[jennimoo]

I am just PG with DC2 and DD is 2.2 and BFs 2-5 times a day. What should I expect to happen to milk supply and when?

I've been TTC for quite a few months but didn't feel I could research the next stage yet, so know nothing!

I found my milk supply went down dramatically in the second trimester and DS1 (also about 2.5) basically lost interest! Eventually one evening when I was around 16 weeks I suggested that he was such a big boy he had "drunk all the milk" and he just never asked for it again. Easiest weaning ever (though I was still a bit "sniff, my grown up baby").

Feeding in the first trimester can be a bit ouchy, IME - tender nipples, general sense of AAARRRGHHH GET OFF ME.

There's a good book called Adventures in Tandem Nursing, some of which is about feeding baby while still feeding toddler (and has some alarming stories about women feeding three children simultaneously, which, er, no, not for me), but even if you don't do that it also has good stuff on feeding and weaning in pregnancy.

I'm feeding dd3 (2.2) and 27 weeks with dc4. Dd3 complained that the milk was wrong initially but apart from my supply dropping a bit Its not changed much so far.

Second recommendation for 'adventures in tandem nursing' just read the relevant bits , it's scary in one go!

Yes, I second that book, it's got some really useful stuff in it whether you decide to wean or carry on and tandem feed.

Some mothers experience a drop in supply, others don't. There's no telling what will happen really. I never had any problems aside from a bit of aversion towards then end and that disappeared very soon after birth. Both my DDs (22mo and 4yo) still happily tandem feeding although if I feed them together these days they will sometimes try to pull each others' hair or poke each other in the eye

X posts, I third the book

Last time I checked it was cheaper to buy it here but if there's an LLL group near you then they should have a copy you can borrow.

I fed DS1 throughout my pregnancy with DS2 and I think my supply dwindled a bit during the second trimester. It didn't seem to bother him in the least though!

I tandem fed initially at the same time, but found it made me feel a bit 'touched out'. It did help with bonding initially though. Eventually DS1 weaned at just over 3 when DS2 was around 10 months.

I would recommend 'Adventures in Tandem Nursing' too.

I fed DD1 through my pregnancy. She stopped for a few weeks when I was 20ish weeks but started again. She also complained a bit when my colostrum started coming in.

I'm tandem feeding now (although not at the same time as I can't seem to work it out and worry I'll drop one of them ).

Thanks for the info, just what I needed to know. Will try to track down the book after Xmas if all goes well.