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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding while pregnant

20 replies

Luckystar1 · 19/12/2015 21:16

I am very early stages of a new pregnancy (8 weeks). My 14 month old DS is still breastfed morning and night (and occasionally during the day for comfort/if sick).

If all goes well at my 12 week scan I'm hoping to start weaning him off the breast completely to give myself a break.

DS will take cow's milk from beakers etc, but my biggest question is how best to approach it. I'm very aware that I don't want to get mastitis but similarly I would like to break the chain with enough time for DS not to become jealous of a new baby feeding from 'his' boobs.

Any advice will be very gratefully accepted!

Ps. I am not weaning before we have the 'all clear' as I will continue feeding if we lose this baby.

OP posts:
TheEagle · 19/12/2015 22:06

Hi luckystar, congratulations on your pregnancy! Hope all goes well for you.

I got pregnant when my DS1 was 10.5mo.

I found breastfeeding awful in the first weeks of pregnancy, very sore and uncomfortable. I knew I didn't want to tandem feed so I planned to wean DS1 after the 12 week scan.

My milk supply dropped quite quickly in the first trimester - I noticed DS1 was drinking a lot more water after about 8 weeks and sometimes he'd look up at me during feeds as if to say "what's going on here Mum!"

At the 12 week scan I found out I was having twins. I was feeling so tired and so sick that the next week I just couldn't face feeding DS1 before bed. So I just stopped. He was just shy of 13mo.

He never looked for the boob again! He started sleeping from 7-4 which was frankly a miracle. I had no problems with blocked ducts/pain probably because my supply had dipped so much.

We offered him cow's milk but he wasn't really interested in it for a long time. He never had/has cow's milk at bedtime or overnight.

Of course I still ended up tandem feeding Confused

Good luck, check out kellymom for some tips on making sure you don't get sore when weaning.

Original poster
Luckystar1 · 20/12/2015 06:48

Thank you Eagle. That sounds like what I would like, I'm really hoping he self weans if I'm honest!!

Wow, twins! Err I'm very much hoping that's not the case for me, I am panicking at the thought of coping with just 1 more! You twin mums are incredible!

OP posts:
BooOzMoo · 20/12/2015 07:16

DS1 self weaned at 16 months I was probably 14 weeks pregnant and my milk had changed ... He didn't like the taste!!!! DS2 was born unable to suck so Used EBM down an NG tube and a high calorie milk.
Roll on 10 months and I'm pregnant again with DD1 who self weaned at 16 months too... Even though my womb had no occupants .... Phew!

But Hmmas to why you would be containing to BF if there is a problem with the baby!!! Makes me think it's more for you than him!!!

BuffaloCustardbath · 20/12/2015 07:19

Hi Luckystar, I'm also in the very early stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding my 20month old DD. I don't have any advice but thought I'd just pipe up and say I feel exactly the same as you and will be going through it with you, so to speak. I'm also hoping that she self weans as supply dips as I really really need a break (and to wear a proper bra!!) before it starts all over again!!

Original poster
Luckystar1 · 20/12/2015 07:27

Boo thank you for your comments. You don't really need to concern yourself with who it's for, it's none of your business. Breastfeeding beyond what is considered the norm is often a symbiotic relationship. He doesn't need breast milk now, we both just like to continue that closeness. He is my baby, but I don't want to tandem feed and feel it is not fair on a new baby to have increased jealousy arising from him not having access to the breast.

Having previously lost a baby I feel strongly about this so your input is not appreciated.

Thank you for the rest of the comments.

Buffalo how many weeks are you? I'm still very apprehensive!

OP posts:
amysmummy12345 · 20/12/2015 07:53

Hey lovely! My DD is 28 months, I'm 15 weeks pregnant with baby 2. She still feeds morning and night, I use the term "feed" loosely as my milk seems to have dried up, I've tried squeezing but none comes out and DD has also commented that booby is not working... She's now going 2-3 days at times without asking for it, I maintained that I would let her self wean both before and after I unexpectedly got pregnant, she's so attached to the boob I wanted to let her determine the outcome. The dry sucking is bloody painful though at times Confused I've mentioned a few times about the new baby having the booby but she's not happy about it at the moment, week cross that bridge when we come to it..

BooOzMoo · 20/12/2015 08:20

Jeez put your handbag down!!!

I lost a baby too Inbetween my final 2 children but it didn't effect how I fed my children!
Unfortunately you've put this on mumsnet so yes it's in a public forum for people to give an opinion!!!
That's what I did!

Good luck with the pregnancy I hope it's successful!!! I also hope your next baby can feed without problem as after not feeding your DS for the next 6 months it will be difficult to get him back on!!! Shock

BuffaloCustardbath · 20/12/2015 08:42

Only 5-6 weeks I think, so very very early days. Breastfeeding has made my cycles very erratic so I'm not entirely sure but I've been swinging from being desperate to give up breastfeeding and loving the closeness/handiness of having it as a tool to help a poorly child suffering with a viral infection and a nasty cough for a couple of weeks - such a mix of emotions about it all, I don't know what is for the best but reading your post about not making any decisions until after the 12 week scan makes a lot of sense to me and was the kind of plan that I was trying to formulate in my own mind but couldn't quite get there, I'm going to do the same and revisit at 12 weeks.

TheEagle · 20/12/2015 08:47

buffalo, I went through all those emotions as well - last winter was hard because DS1 picked up a few illnesses in nursery and I'd have loved just a few days of breastfeeding to help him through.

But we found other ways of comforting and we got through it.

I wondered if he'd show any interest when DTs were born but he's never looked to latch on again. Probably because they take up both spots Xmas Grin

Original poster
Luckystar1 · 20/12/2015 08:49

Boo what are you talking about?! I'm not tandem feeding. Why would feeding a newborn be any harder than it was when starting with DS? And I didn't ask your opinion, I asked for advise, so with respect, please refrain from any more judgements.

Buffalo I'm the same, I do want to give up but it's just so handy! I only had 1 period before getting pregnant again but I'm very sure as to conception...!

OP posts:
HeteronormativeHaybales · 20/12/2015 08:55

I bf dc1 through my pregnancy with dc2 and went on to tandem feed for two years (2.4y age gap). I half expected dc1 to self-wean at some point but it never happened. It actually really, really helped. It made establishing bf with dc2 incredibly uncomplicated - dc2, my middle child, is the one of the three who gained weight fastest, so no supply issues - and I am pretty sure it was a factor in the fact that we had zero sibling rivalry (in fact they have only really started to rub each other up the wrong way now and again at ages 10 and 8!). Do you think you might consider seeing if your dc self-weans and if not, tandem feeding? I do think it meant that dc1 went on bf for longer than he might have otherwise - he was 4.5 when we stopped and I bf dc2 for another year until he was 3 - but that was OK by me.

Good luck with your pregnancy!

VeryPunny · 20/12/2015 08:58

DD weaned for a bit when I was expecting DS (19month gap), for which I was very grateful as I got massive nursing aversion. However once DS arrived she took up where she left off, which was a bit of a nightmare as I did not enjoy tandem feeding.

HeteronormativeHaybales · 20/12/2015 08:58

Oh sorry, I've just noticed that you don't want to tandem feed - fair enough, but perhaps my very positive experience is of interest to you or any others reading the thread anyway :)

Original poster
Luckystar1 · 20/12/2015 09:05

Thank you Haybales. Wow that's amazing!! To be very honest I really, really don't want to keep breastfeeding throughout or tandem feed. I have given my everything to DS, and I need some time to regain myself before round 2.

I found the responsibility of being DS' sole provider extremely difficult and I really think I would struggle to have no feeling of autonomy before I am another baby's sole means of survival again!

I have loved breastfeeding DS, but only because I feel it has been beneficial for him, I have not quite enjoyed the tie to him (he was still feeding 12 times a day at 10.5 months). I could do nothing on my own for any more than1 hour.

Punny I know the feeling. I'm not yet averse, but I'm becoming fatigued by it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Luckystar1 · 20/12/2015 09:07

Haybales how did you work tandem feeding practically speaking? Did you still feed your older dc during the day?
I say this as, knowing me m, I'll bloody end up doing it!!!

OP posts:
Crocodilelily · 20/12/2015 09:12

Boo, your comments are quite bizarre. And it's 'affect' not 'effect'.

All the best with the transition OP, and for your new baby. How great that feeding has been something both of you enjoyed so much.

Original poster
Luckystar1 · 20/12/2015 09:17

Thank you Croc I'm glad you agree, I thought I was going bonkers!

OP posts:
BooOzMoo · 20/12/2015 09:56

Oh... Hold on it's the croc ..... Sorry .... Croc .... Grammar police!!!

In all seriousness, I offered an opinion and I'm sorry you didn't like it!
Children are not all the same and my second child could not feed as he was born without a suck reflex so YES it is a possibility!!!!

HeteronormativeHaybales · 20/12/2015 10:16

Lucky, IIRC dc1 was feeding on and off in the day at that time and before bed, but had stopped feeding at night either before I was pg or in the very early stages (it's 8y on and I had no. 3 three months ago - it's all a bit of a blur!) I'd often have dc2 in my arms feeding on one breast and dc1 curled up next to me feeding from t'other Grin His feeds were short though and so not a huge issue. It was fine for me but I know many people feel more like you, that they want a bit of a break - and I do admit it was getting a bit old for me by the time I finally stopped... Tbh there is a convenience about bf once established (easy way of comforting etc) which makes it a bit of a path of least resistance sometimes - I do think it must be harder work to set out to wean.

TheEagle · 20/12/2015 11:05

boo, your posts are unhelpful and a bit bizarre to be honest.

The OP didn't ask for opinions on what she should do, she asked for experiences and thoughts about what she's thinking of doing. This isn't AIBU, there's no need to be aggressive.

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