When I got pregnant with my DD I was so worried about her weaning too. I thought to myself, if she does wean during the pregnancy (she was only around 1 year at that stage) I would feel so terrible because she was still so young to stop bf'ing in my mind. But never, at any stage did she want to stop! Although I must admit she was one of those babies that really did love the booby for food, comfort- whatever! She would have it anytime-anywhere!! This little miss kept feeding until we weaned at 2.5 years (and would still be feeding now if I let her on! I just couldn't cope with tandem feeding and being pregnant..too much feeding for one mumma!!)
Anyway, just thought I would share my story with you so you could hear that definitely not all little ones wean during pregnancy.
DS wanted nothing more to do with boob at about the time of conception. He was also getting 4 teeth at once and just started walking. So pretty eventful time of his life.
He wasn't a comfort sucker though - it was all business, so perhaps if your DD is a comfort sucker you might find you have no problems continuing?
DD1 was a real boobie addict and did not stop feeding when I fell pregnant. As my supply dropped due to pregnancy she just ramped up her feeding and I found I could no longer deal with it, so we had to wean (which was not easy). She was just over 2 when I conceived, not sure if that made a difference.
He was happily feeding away till I was about 4 months pregnant and initially I was happy about this. But then my breasts got very sensitive and it was as if an instinct took over...I just HAD to get him off the breast, I was starting to hate it - to the point where I was fantasising about FFing my next baby. So to prevent breastfeeding burnout on my part, I weaned DS. That was quite a battle...but I felt that he'd had a good go (20 months) and I was doing it for the next baby.
Then DD was born and DS was insanely jealous and was getting very rough with his little sister, trying to push her away when she was BFing. I was told to allow him to "have a turn" but he went back to having full breastfeeds after having nearly 5 months off the breast. He was taking the supply I had for DD (a big, hungry baby herself). So I tried making him wait till after she had her feed but he hung around the whole time, begging for his turn. So I tried tandem feeding and I simply couldn't stand the sensation. So then I tried "just a little turn" but he would cry and cry and get angry with his baby sister.
I was beside myself...I didn't feel this was good for DS or DD, I didn't have enough milk for the 2 of them, DS wasn't allowing me to feed DD properly. DH up until then had been happy to let me persevere but at this point couldn't stand seeing his wreck of a wife crying anymore and in the end we took the decision to FF DD and just stop all the breastfeeding. It broke my heart I couldn't BF DD for longer, but I could not deny that everyone was a lot happier. DD was more settled, DS was happy that he had his milk in a cup and his sister had hers in a bottle, I didn't have my boobs out every minute of the day.
DS is still quite attached to my breasts...he kisses them and cuddles them, and when he gets upset he puts his hand down my shirt as a kind of comfort. We've been preparing him that Number 3 will be BFd and he initially didn't like that idea but seemed okay with it when we told him he could have a try if he wanted. He's a little confused because he says "you don't have any milk anymore".
I have since been told his reaction to the new sibling breastfeeding is not a common one...
I think Barb posted once about the percentage of babies who feed through a pg. It was low, I think something like 30%, but then the 70% also includes the mums who choose to wean, so it doesn't really tell you much about how many want to keep feeding but don't.
My DS1 weaned at 4 1/2 months into my pg, so we made it to halfway. I do know of lots of people though who have fed all the way through and tandem fed so it certainly can work out.
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This little miss kept feeding until we weaned at 2.5 years (and would still be feeding now if I let her on! I just couldn't cope with tandem feeding and being pregnant..too much feeding for one mumma!!)
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