[Sunnycat]

I am in the early days of pregnancy and still breastfeeding my son. He demand feeds and still latches on at least 6 times a night. The doctor said it is safe to continue breastfeeding as I am concerned about it causing miscarriage.

I'm just wondering about other people's experiences? Was there ever a difficult period? Did your child wean or did you end up tandem feeding?

Don't really know what I'm asking just looking for reassurance I guess.

TIA

[firocali]

Hi There


I breastfed DS1 until he was about 11months old -I became pregnant with DD1 when he was about 6 months old. Being pregnant made no difference to him (nor to me). I weaned him at that age because I was getting really tired and my stomach was really sticking out . I have to say I wasn't interested in tandem feeding but that's just me.


I am sure you will be fine-just do what feels right for you. Congratulations on the new pregnancy.

[Sunnycat]

Bloody hell. I hadn't thought about how to feed him once I've got a huge stomach. At the moment he is still cradle held at one. Maybe I'll have to get him a step ladder to stand on when my belly is bigger?

[HeroOfCanton]

I breastfed DD all the way through my pregnancy with DS, and am tandem feeding now. DD only feeds about twice a day though.
There is no evidence to suggest that breastfeeding during pregnancy will increase the risk of miscarriage. My GP was very supportive, and so was my midwife.
The biggest problem I had during my pregnancy were having sore/sensitive nipples in the early days. I also suffer from HG, and feeding DD when I was so sick was tough, but honestly, it was easier than dealing with the sooky baby/toddler if I refused a feed. I was still feeding her to sleep during the day until the day before DS was born!

Congratulations on your pregnancy

Edit: I fed DD lying down, or with her body 'curled' around underneath my belly - it was a little awkward at first, but got much easier (and I was huge!)

Also wanted to add that I really think being able to share 'mummy milk' with DS.made DDs transition from only child to sibling much easier.

This post has been edited by *Browncoat*: 04/11/2012, 07:31 PM

[l-m-n-o-p]

Hi Sunnycat, congratulations on your pregnancy.

I was still breastfeeding my daughter when I fell pregnant again, she was 12 months old at the time. I didn't want to wean her just because I was pregnant as I have a history of miscarriage and thought I would feel really awful if I weaned her and then lost the pregnancy. So I aimed to at least feed through the first trimester and then wean her so I could have a bit of a break.

I did get very tired, particularly due to the frequent night wakings and feeds so I night weaned her first (using a gentle method) and just fed her prior to her nap and bedtime.

I stopped those feeds when I was about four/five months pregnant. I think my supply was affected (basically dried up) before I officially weaned her as "feeds" would often leave her cranky rather than relaxed or asleep.

As far as I know, it is perfectly safe to continue feeding for as long as you are comfortable - the miscarriage thing is a myth.

I was glad to have the break, but many people choose to continue throughout their pregnancies and then go on to tandem feed.

When I had my son, my milk came in really quickly (in a couple of days) and the midwifes thought it was because it had only been a short time since I had fed my daughter.

Goodluck!

[sparkles30]

Hi, I've had two miscarriages, one while BF, one while not. I don't think it makes any difference, and that certainly appears to be the view of the medical profession.

I'm 25 weeks pregnant and while I've always had a big supply, it dried up about 5 weeks ago. It made weaning my 17 month old easier as she was always wanting it (night and day), but as she gradually realised there wasn't anything there, she stopped (and started sleeping much longer stretches at night, yay!) It meant I didn't have to refuse her, she just couldn't be bothered doing it anymore as there was no milk! I've been told it will come back in a few weeks if I let her persist, but I don't really want to tandem feed. Oh, and the sore nipples in the early days of pregnancy wasn't much fun, but it let up after a few weeks.

[namie]

I fell pregnant with DS2 when DS1 was 9 months old.

I breastfed DS1 until 14 months. He was down to two feeds a day shortly after 12 months and then I dropped the morning feed just after 13 months. I finished at 14 months because I was just too tired (6 months pregnant by then) and felt I needed to give my body a rest.

I found it a challenge in the first few weeks because of sore nipples, but I'd had sore nipples each time I had my period for the preceding 3 months, so I was sort of used to it. DS1 never showed any signs of fussiness at the change in my milk, either when I had my period or after falling pregnant.

I was already taking pregnancy and breastfeeding vitamins, but added in an iron supplement after discovering it was low (it fell quite low with DS1 too). Otherwise, I didn't do anything differently.

[jacqg]

Hi Sunnycat,

I've BF and been pregnant twice now. DD1 was still feeding for a couple of months when I got pregnant with DD2. I had already gone back to work when DD1 was 6 months old and got pregnant around that time but didn't know it because I had only had one period since she had been born. I weaned DD1 at 8 months because I could only feed her at night or in the mornings and because supply was dwindling, she wasn't getting satisfied and I was having to express too which I didn't like so we were both ok with it as she was having solids and could drink from a cup too.

DD2 BF until she was 14 months old which would have made me about 10-12 weeks pregnant with number 3 I think. She had only been having one feed before bed for a while and then one night she just didn't want a bar of it. Supply had dropped off and she was eating and drinking enough food to not need it because she was hungry.

My mum told me (I have no idea where she heard it) that pregnancy makes the milk taste different as well as affecting supply.

Goodluck with your little one and your pregnancy.

[Ehubrydd]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!




I fell pregnant with DS2 when DS1 was 8mo and still feeding a LOT.




I had trouble with attachment throughout the pregnancy, feeding with sore nipples and ms wasn't easy either. I can remember waking to do the night feeds and having to run to the loo to throw up half way through! I also had dips in supply at 4 months and 8 months pregnant.




BUT I went on to tandem feed and it was a great decision for my family. It was a wonderful way to help DS1 adjust to having a sibling, and it was a lovely thing for the boys to share- they used to cuddle each other and hold hands while they fed! I also think parenting a BF toddler is easier than parenting without that trick up my sleeve, so parenting DS1 was easier while I adjusted to having a new baby. My milk was fully in within 24 hrs of DS2's birth, unlike with DS1 & DS3 where it took 5 days to arrive, so they early days of my new BF relationship went more smoothly because I was tandem feeding.

Good luck with the feeding and your new baby!

[Orangedrops]

I've never had a miscarriage but I breasted through my last pregnancy.