Breastfeeding through pregnancy - advice, suggestions and experiences!

[PumpkinZulu]

I believe I'm already noticing a dip in my supply unfortunately. I'm worried, but I know I can only control what I can control. At this stage, DD (nearly 10 months) is feeding every 1-3 hours, *sometimes* she'll go four hours, but rarely. So I know she can afford to cut back. She isn't the biggest eater (BLS) and refuses food off a spoon, or EBM (or anything else) in a bottle, sippy cup, straw cup etc. so that's where my concern is with a supply dip, is that she really does still rely on milk a lot for nutrition.

The things I'm doing so far:

Lots of water
Eating as often and as well as possible
2tsp coconut oil a day
Activite
Porridge (I've read all 3 are good for supply?)
Preg vitamins

I've also ordered a liquid supplement for milk supply while pregnant, I believe that has alfalfa, raspberry leaf and a few other things (no fenugreek). I'm also feeding her on demand (as per usual). I'd like to say I'm getting adequate sleep, but DD's sleep has deteriorated to her only sleeping an hour max blocks, and only if she is sleeping on my tummy, otherwise she wakes up. Anyway, that's a different thread

So, if you BF through pregnancy, share with me Tips, stories, experiences. Thanks guys!

[TeniBear]

Make, or get someone else to make, some lactation cookies That's always my first suggestion whenever anyone is worried about supply If you want to be a bit lazier, Pinky McKay has just launched her own line of them - they're delicious!

This will pass You'll be tandem feeding before you know it!

[LysnDan]

No advice here sorry, just wanted to say well done on bf your DD for 10 months! That's a great effort! Try not to stress. That can and will affect your milk supply.

:hugs:

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[PumpkinZulu]

Thanks guys. Teni, maybe *someone* should make me some and bring them over?? I dunno, just saying

[Sterla]

I started a breastfeeding while pregnant thread ages ago (when I fell pregnant with DD)... I'll see if I can find it and link it.

Found it:

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad-142749.html

[PumpkinZulu]

Spanks!!

[loulabelle]

Pz, just subbing so I can come back when kids go down. I fed all the way through my pg with dd and tandem fed the both of them for two years after.similar age difference that you will have between kids. Back soon.xx

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[TeniBear]

Thanks guys. Teni, maybe *someone* should make me some and bring them over?? I dunno, just saying

"Someone" may have already been planning to next time you and "someone" see each other pmsl

[feeb]

As you know I BF thru pregnancy and I am still BF both.

You have all your bases covered with increase fluids etc. I found that when DS1 increased feeds it often made my nipples really sore and sensitive, so I would some days offer him some water or some finger food every 2nd or 3rd feed and generally with good effect when I couldnt stand the sensitivity.

Good luck

[Eenee]

Will come back later

[Liz]

Ds was closer to 1 so a little different to you (same age gap tho as dd was prem!). But we were still feeding to sleep so I think this is what got us through the supply drop (for me I stopped feeling letdown after 1st tri). Since he was then just over 12 mths I just started introducing cows milk. I knew he wasn't getting the full milk from me (his sloppy colostrum nappies were evidence .. consider yourself warned lol). But yeah, because our feeding was more than just about the milk, it continued throughout. Grab yourself a copy of adventures in tandem nursing. It's really good.

As for the supply, I didn't do anything as it was hormonal, not a supply demand thing.

[Arcadia]

I noticed a drop at about sixteen weeks, and then at some stage colustrum came in (ewwww colostrum nappies and potty training *gag*)

I might weaned dd by second tri, but she was almost two. She was feeding only to go to sleep by the time ds was born.

Sorry I'm not much help! You need those with smaller age gaps.

[Heaven]

My DD1 was 15 months when I got pregnant with DD2. I didn't want her to wean though because I wanted to feed her for 2 years and she turned 2 just after DD2 was born.

I didn't do anything to increase my supply. AFAIK there's nothing you really can do because like Liz said, it's a hormonal thing.

I just made sure I kept feeding regularly so I didn't decrease my supply even more. I could tell when my supply decreased and DD became less interested. If we were busy doing something or staying somewhere else for the w/e or something she wouldn't ask for feeds. So I just made sure I tried to keep up those feeds anyway by taking her away into a quiet room and lying down trying to get her to have a feed. By the end she was down to 1 feed a day but she is still having that 1 feed now at 3 yrs old

I think everything will be fine. Remember it's about more than just milk and she will keep feeding at her age I'm sure And I think that even if you think there's none left or you can't squeeze any out yourself there's often a bit in there still. Then the colostrum comes anyway so they are getting some good stuff.

Good luck!

[OceanPrincess]

I fed DD through my pregnancy with DS until I was about 32 weeks. Mine are about the same age gap that you'll have. I didn't notice a drop in supply but I never really noticed the opposite either (engorgement) so I think maybe I have super regulating boobies So I can't really offer any advice apart from a bit of my ABA knowledge - best bet is to keep feeding. Sounds like Miss I is feeding frequently so I reckon you've got that base covered!

Anyway back to topic... The one thing I did notice was that once the nausea started to ease, I was STARVING, all the time. Way worse than with my first pregnancy. I ate constantly. And drank tons of water. By 20 weeks, I still weighed the same as when I was like 4 weeks and it took someone else to point out that I was eating: first and foremost the nutrition went to the baby, then into my breastmilk, then whatever scraps were left went to me. No wonder I was so hungry and really tired, all the time.

So eat when you are hungry, sleep when you can. It is a hard road, growing one human, sustaining another, and still trying to look after yourself. Use the support you have, whatever is offered, say yes. You can do it

[Eenee]

I got pregnant when DD was 8mths and I did notice she became fussier and wanted to feed more frequently more often but I just let her. The hardest thing I found was the sensitivity of my nipples and sometimes inhad to take her off because it just became/becomes too much. DD is now 15mths and have only just recently night weaned. Because she was wanting to be attached all night and it just became too much, like it was like if you don't get off I'll chuck you against the wall feeling (no I wouldn't harm my child to those concerned). So I either hugged her to sleep or hot DH to settle her but note have only just been able to do this. Now if she wakes and won't go back in the cot she knows she doesn't get booby till at least 4.30am so she will come into bed with us but have to go to sleep without a feed. I felt I needed to do this before Bub arrives because she was feeding so frequently I didn't want the haste with her competing with a newborn. She transitioned quite well though which I was rather surprised at. During the day she gets fed when she wants except when she is asking for it every five minutes in the arvo so I feed her and then say she has to wait till daddy gets home or wait till after tea. Because I swear this kid would feed all day if I let her. My milk has now changed to colostrum and DD really made no change in her feeding habits and hasn't seemed phased by it at all.

[onthefly]

Here is some general information from the ABA https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-...ncy-and-beyond

[PumpkinZulu]

Thanks guys, you're all amazing

I've felt like my supply has dropped, but maybe not as badly as I think, if at all. I dunno. DD has been very fussy, but she's also teething at the moment. Her nappies have all been satisfactorily wet. The thing that concerned me was not being able to squeeze and milk out, as I've ALWAYS been able to, even if DD has eaten to the brim or I've pumped. But, just now, DD came off all fussy. I squeezed, no milk So then, I have a quick suck myself (big boobs, lying on my back, it's possible ) and yep, there's milk. So I'm feeling a little more at ease. You're all wonderful helping me out, thank you all. I feel like I've got a million questions (about everything, not just BF) and I know I'll get support from here

[Jennifer13]

Anyone who can manage to bf off their own bbs has more talents than I!

GL with bfing through pg. As you can see from the other bfing mummas on here, it can and has been done before!