bf and pg..

[doulamamma]

i'm now 14wks pg and nursing my 19mth old 4 times a day (sometimes 10) she wakes up at least once a night to nurse and tires me out to no end... and i love her to bits ... so just interested to know if anyone in here is pg and nursing and if they deal with night feeds or have advice on how to Stop
another point is until i was 8 wks i was still tandem with my almost 3 yr old.. since then sometimes he has a 5 min stint in the morning and on a couple of occasions - like tonight a short "five sucks" before bedtime... so im all nippled out and just looking for some nice words..
thanks all

[Liz]

Well done to you!

I'm tandem feeding my two at the moment. Through the pg DS didn't seem to notice any changes in my milk and fed as if everything was normal - including through the night! By the 2nd trimester or thereabouts I'd had enough of the night feeds, and we started offering him water instead. This worked well with him, as I think he really was thirsty - not necessarily wanting milk or comfort. He would probably go back to night feeds if I let him LOL.. but I just tell him now that he doesn't have milk through the night anymore, and he just goes back to sleep.

Hopefully now you're past the first trimester you won't feel as tired out by all the feeding

I'm picturing myself in your position potentially feeding three if we TTC when DD is 1!! LOL!

It's so lovely to read of more and more people out there tandem feeding (what's it called when there's three??)

[StrawberryMumma]

Wow doulamamma! Fantastic job! Your boobies have sure been busy haven't they no wonder you are all nippled out!

You should be so proud of yourself for doing such a great job. I can't even imagine how tiring it must be for you.

Hopefully some other wise mumma can offer you some great advice but I just wanted to pop in and say what a terrific job you have done with breastfeeding.

[MantaRay]

Well done DoulaMamma. I have to say I am very jealous. My first DS self-weaned when I was about half way through my second pg. I had really wanted to tandem feed. I can understand that this is tiring for you - especially as you are essentially tandem feeding and pg. But it is also very special.

If you are finding it too much, are you ready to try night-weaning? That might help you a bit. But if you don't want to do that it's fine too. Other than to advise you to eat well, which I'm sure you're already doing, I don't really have any advice. But I had to say well done to you because you are doing an amazing job and are an absolute inspiration.

[Nelle]

Riv self weaned when I was 2-3 months pregnant...I was a bit sad, but also relieved, cos I really was exhausted.

Definitely make sure you're eating well, and drinking enough - a pregnancy and breastfeeding means your body is putting two priorities before maintaining your personal health and energy.

Do you think she's ready to wean at night? Why do you think she feeds at night? Comfort when she wakes? Thirsty? It sounds like the unbroken sleep would do you good, but obviously you need to do what you're happy/comfortable with.

I know when Riv stopped night feeding (it seemed to be just for comfort, he wasn't really hungry), I'd send my dh in to comfort/resettle him and perhaps offer him water. He knew Dad didn't have boobs, so he'd head back to sleep real easy.

If you're happy to night wean, I guess that's what I'd do, but if you're not happy to night wean, maybe call somewhere like the Australian Breastfeeding Association and see if they have any tips to keep your energy levels up?

All the best, whatever you decide. Hope you find a solution you're happy with that gives you some more energy!