Hi,

I'm now 21 weeks pregnant and also breastfeeding my 16mth old toddler. The thing is, I don't think I have any milk - although I'm not quite sure how you tell? Anyway, I can't express a single drop even if I pull off in the middle of a feed, and she often will ask for a drink in the middle of a feed too.

The problem is that while I don't mind her "feeding" for comfort, it goes on and on and on. I'm wondering if she's thinking "one more suck and maybe the milk will come!" or something. She'll happily suckle for an hour or more at night, and if I pull off, disaster! Of course, it's not particularly comfortable for me, esp in the middle of the night . . .

So, any experiences? When do you think colustrum will come in, maybe that's my only hope!

My DD gave up breastfeeding when I was about 7 months pregnant with DS - and DD was a boobaholic.

She was just over 2 at that stage and she could tell me there was no milk. She wasn't patient enough to wait for the colostrum to come in.

Pity, there were some times I could have used her as I had overactive letdown and poor DS could not handle the flow.

I'm still feeding DD 2-3 times a day and I'm nearly 37 weeks.
I wasn't sure how much milk I had, but DD kept going, so I just let her.

I think I was a little over 34 weeks when I started noticing I had colostrum, but DD didn't miss a beat - kept up her same habits. There were a few days of less solid nappies because of it though, but she seems to have adjusted!

Me!

I'm currently 31wks pregnant, DD2 is 16mo. My colostrum came in a few weeks ago, after having pretty much nothing between 20-28wks (I couldn't squeeze anything out myself). I may have still had something, and DD just efficient enough to get it out, I've no idea. But she doesn't seem the slightest bit bothered by the change.

Thankfully she stuck it out and is still going (YAY!). I have every intention of tandem feeding her along with DD3 when she is born

She has 3 feeds a day, first thing of a morning, before her midday nap, and before bed at night.

Not now of course, but I did all those years ago. What I did find was that when DD was a baby I could express heaps of milk. Didn't really try to express when I was pg as DD was over 12 months then. But after DS was born and I was tandem feeding, I was not able to express at all. This continued even after DD weaned.

If you are happy to keep feeding your daughter, keep it up. Even if it is comfort sucking. Tandem feeding was a wonderful experience. I was sorry we only kept it up for a few months.

I tandem fed DS1 & DS2 for about 9 months (plus nearly 10months of pregnancy), and don't ever remember noticing my milk change. I do however remember that my milk coming in wasn't such an ordeal as it was with DS2.

DS1 didn't feed for about 2 days after birth, just wasn't interested, then had a quick feed, and back off to play. Took back to a few feeds a day once I was home from hospital.

All the best.

Thanks for your stories, it's good to hear from other people who fed right through pregnancy. We'll see how it goes!

Good luck - with my second pregnancy I planned to bf all the way through. But then I miscarried and decided to wean soon after because my body was just not getting back to normal and I hoped that would help things along.

This time I have had horrible morning sickness and can't stand anyone touching me. I have been thinking of weaning for a little while but so far, I keep chickening out. That said, last night she was not interested in a bedtime feed and I didn't push it - so this might be it.

Me too!

38 weeks today and DD (2 years 2 months) is still bf We had an initial drop in supply at 5/6 weeks which frustrated her and thankfully my supply recovered, then another drop around 24ish weeks but it only really effected the night feeds - she would only have a really quick feed before bed whereas it used to be a long one and it brought a gradual mutual end to the many overnight feeds.

DD has probably an average of 5 feeds a day (wake, nap, wake, sleep + one quick one usually thrown in somewhere), maybe it will change once there is more supply but maybe not.

I definately have colustrum (sp?) now and DD hasn't missed a beat, hoping that bub takes to bf and that DD is happy to continue and venture in to the journey of tandem feeding.

Off topic, Browncoat and PippityPip, looks like we'll hopefully be in similar situations soon, best of luck with your births and tandem feeding adventures.

Also off topic, does anyone know if there a tandem feeding thread or support thread anywhere?

I tried to search for a PG/BF group earlier and couldn't find anything, now I've scrolled through to find this! I'm 18 weeks pregnant and DD is turning 1 in a week. I havent felt a letdown in a few days, and I think my milk is either changing to colostrum or drying up, the consistancy is creamier than my normal thin watery milk. DD doesn't mind at all, which is great! But I worry if she needs extra top ups, or if there is anything else I should do for her nutritionally?

:-) I'm about 27 weeks and DS2 is having short nursings night and morning. I continued breastfeeding DS1 when pregnant with DS2 as well. Both times I got breastfeeding aversion towards the end of the pregnancy. I sure was glad I persevered with the breastfeeding last time as it was very helpful having a toddler help with excess flow with a NB!

I could start one in this forum if you would like.
It might slip off the front page at times but it could be resurrected as needed.
WDYT?

lucky 2
Moderator

another one here. though at 29 weeks dd (2) is telling me that my right side has no milk and is 'broken'

Yes please!!

Im also 18 weeks pregnant and still breastfeeding my 17 mo DD once a day. However it's become incredibly painful over the past few days and I have no idea if it's because she is teething (damn molars), or because my nipples have become super sensitive. I don't want to wean her until she is ready but it is PAINFUL! Has anyone else had something like this?

My DS is 18 months old and I am 23 weeks pregnant. We are still breastfeeding morning and night, but I am pretty sure there is no milk and he is just comfort sucking. I am happy to go along like this for as long as DS wants. Not sure how he'll like it when the colustrum comes in!

I would like to tandem feed if possible. I had a massive oversupply with DS, so hopefully it will help me out in the early days.

...

I am 15 weeks pregnant and still feeding my 11 month old. I fully intend to tandem feed if DS keeps feeding. He has an average of 4 feeds a day at the moment. Not sure if there is much milk, but he is happy to keep feeding, so I'll let him. I noticed even before I was pregnant that I could no longer express any milk, but Z was still feeding, so I am assuming I just couldn't express anymore, not that there isn't any milk.

Missmarymack - I am finding that my nipples feel like they are bruised at the moment. I kind of grit my teeth until the pain stops, but I will admit I swore a couple of times yesterday when Z wasn't quite so careful with his teeth.