Breastfeeding while pregnant

[Tam-I-Am]

Hi,

I think I may be pregnant. In fact, there's a fairly good likelihood, but I'm smack bang in the middle of the TWW. I'm not testing until the weekend, and even then, that's the day that AF is due.....ANYWAYS.....

Ummm, here's the thing. DD is nearly 11 months old, down to 2-3 breastfeeds a day (morning, night, and occassionally afternoon - if she wants it).

Tonight she was really fussy on the breast, and I've heard of babies who self-wean when mum gets pregnant. If I am pregnant is this what's happening? If so, I'd been planning on weaning her at 12+ months (or not, maybe going with self-weaning, hadn't really decided yet) and putting her straight on a cup, bypassing bottles and formula etc.

Can I still do that? Put her straight on a cup with cow's milk. She actually breastfeeds to sleep at night - how am I going to get her to sleep if not with a b.f or a bottle?

Any advice would be most appreciated. SOrry if this didn't make sense.

[Oscar's mum]

Just thought I would add my 2cents in here. When you mentioned your bub was fussy on the boob yes that can happen when you are pg!:thumbsup: That is what happened for me still feeding DS and I fell pg he got fussy for a couple of days now he is back to his normal with breastfeeds, so I think they can actually get used to the taste too!


I personally would wait till your daughter is 12 months to put her onto the cows milk instead and just keep feeding her (breast or bottle) up until then.

About the sleeping issue well that depends if you want to do controlled crying or not!;)

[Jem]

Yep.. im sure they do get used to it...

ds1 was 6 months when i fell preg with ds2.. and i fully bf him up until he was 11-12 months :thumbsup:

[FiveInTheBed]

hey there Clarabelle
I'm in almost the exact same position as you... except i def know i'm preg(did the test on the weekend before dp went away for work) DS turns 1 mid june and is such a booby boy, he has about 4-5 bf during day, and up until the weekend used me as a human dummy all night, am now trying the tizzie hall lay 'em down method(but thats another thread!) Since finding out I now would really like to try to wean him and hopefully still have a happy healthy little boy when#2 arrives. Did think about tandem feeding, but honestly dont know if i'm up for that challenge??!!
Ds drinks water and dil juice from a straw or sippy cup. ( nothing comforts like the boobie though!!)hve tried formula(oooohhhh get lost mum!!) rice milk, soy milk and cows milk, warm, room temp and fridge temp...but it gets spat out/dribbled out with an accompanying shiver of his head and shoulders and screwing up of his nose(kinda cute,but frustrating)

Gonna have to just really STICK to introducing it every day now,

...maybe if Tizzies tricks work and I get some sleep between now and then, I might not mind doing the tandem thing... anyone else out there a successful tandem feeder?

[Mum2Lucas]

Some babies self ween and some dont. I know someone who was still breastfeeding when she fell pregnant and the baby got fussy for a bit and her milk supply dropped a bit but everything went back to normal.
hope all goes well.

[Tam-I-Am]

Thanks mums, your advise is, as always, invaluable.:hugs:

I actually called the ABA today - fantastic organisation, can't sing the praises of the counsellors enough!

The lady I spoke to basically reiterated what I'd realised - that my milk supply has decreased pretty significantly. There's still milk there, so I'll be able to build it back up over the next couple of days/week - which I am actually planning on doing - but that's why DD has been fussy!

She also said that its pretty common for the milk to taste a bit "off" for a time - but it comes good after a while, and the baby is usually pretty happy again.

Can't wait to test - I'm trying to hold off until AF is due, but, not wanting to jinx myself, I'm as sure as I can be without seeing the two lines - my breasts are very sore, I'm bloated, moody, I think I had an implantation pain last night (8DPO - would be about right!), I'm very tired and I'm feeling queasy much of the time. So :fingerscrossed: (for what I'm not sure - this baby wasn't planned - :fingerscrossed: for what's meant to be, I guess!)

Good luck to others here too - caelanjacksmum - there have been a few threads recently about tandem feeding, which I read through the other night. I just did a search on tandem feeding - see how you go. BTW my neice's name is Cayla too - its a beautiful name!:)

[tatty]

I am six weeks pregnant and bub number one is 7 and a half months old. He is breastfed and has never had a bottle or formula. Thankfully he is sleeping through the night and has four feeds a day. Can anyone else out there tell me if they breastfed a baby this age while pregnant and what were the side effects eg. tiredness, sore nipples etc. Also how to cope with babies 15 months apart!! Feeling a bit weird about being pregnant again so soon and just need to chat to other people who have been through it.

[Oscar's mum]

I am six weeks pregnant and bub number one is 7 and a half months old. He is breastfed and has never had a bottle or formula. Thankfully he is sleeping through the night and has four feeds a day. Can anyone else out there tell me if they breastfed a baby this age while pregnant and what were the side effects eg. tiredness, sore nipples etc. Also how to cope with babies 15 months apart!! Feeling a bit weird about being pregnant again so soon and just need to chat to other people who have been through it.


I am breastfeeding a 15 month old and am 11 weeks pg! Definately have the sore nipples and sore breasts. Tiredness but I think that has more to do with being pg in general not the breastfeeding. I also notice my supply drops then picks up then drops then picks up etc.

[bossoflatch]

I feel preganct with my youngest within three months and i knew only because my eldest went of my breast milk straight away, refused to take it. Took him to get checked and then the doctor explained that breast milk goes somewhat salty when you fall again. The little fellow simply refused to take the breast and in the end i put him on the bottle and he never looked back , would of loved to nursed him longer, but i have to admit i wouldn't like salty milk either.

When i delivered my youngest (now nearly 5) his brother hadn't even celebrated his first birthday. I have to admit it was long and exhausting for the first year or two, but now they are the best of buddies - very rewarding !!! I wouldn't change it for the world, we are expecting with our third and i am trying to organise to have two close together again!!!