breastfeeding and pregnancy -anyone else?

hi there, I am 16 weeks preggo with my 3rd baby. I am still breastfeeding my 11month old once a day before bedtime.

my question is for those in a similar situation. Are you putting on weight more slowly? I am very slender to start with at 58kgs and 5 foot 9. I have put on NO weight at all as yet and my breasts have not grown either AT ALL. Is this because of breastfeeding ?? with my other 2 pregnancies my breasts grew early and quickly to a C cup which is big for me!

I am not worried as I know bub is OK. I feel tired naturally, but NOT totally out of it ! I do also either run/cycle or swim everyday for at least 30-40 mins but this is also natural for me and a very light exercise program as I am used to MUCH, MUCH more training.

I would of thought my breasts would of grown a bit by now! maybe when I stop breastfeeding?

I bf for the first half of my pg. Unfortunately by then the drop in supply was enough for my DS to call it quits :(

I found that my breasts didn't change much either - and thank goodness because they were painful the first time! The pain, and growth in breasts during pg happens because the structure of the breasts is changing to cater for milk production. When you are already lactating, this doesn't need to happen.

I also found that I put less weight on with that pg, but DS2 was still a good size. He was born at 36 weeks and was still a couple of grams under 3kg and didn't need Special Care which was fantastic. I don't think the lack of weight gain needs to be anything to worry about.

Also, yes I found I was very tired while bfing and pg. And I was still every bit as tired once DS1 weaned and I was "just" pg with a toddler. Every one I know has been much tireder with the 2nd pg. I don't think the bfing makes it any worse. It's just hard work having two little ones to look after - one in utero and one running around.

All the best with it hun. It sounds like you are doing a great job.

I'm now 15 weeks, and have lost weight - probably about 4kg - since becoming pregnant (but my ms has only subsided in the last week, so this might change now that I can stomach food again). Bubs seems to be doing fine.

And my breasts haven't got any bigger, if anything, slightly smaller.

And yep, very tired with this one. But a hyper-toddler who doesn't sleep as much as his mum would like, and insomnia combined really don't help with that one.

I'm still BFing my 2.5yo toddler once a day, and like MR & Suse, have also found that my breasts haven't really changed in size either. I have no idea what my weight has done, as I don't weigh myself, and my OB doesn't worry about tracking it either (bless him :) ), although from a clothes fitting perspective not much except my enormous tummy has changed. I think we're at the tail-end of the feeding, cos he's not necessarily asking everyday (I guess I demand feed - if he doesn't ask, I generally don't worry about offering), and it certainly feels like my supply has really dropped off significantly. It also hurts like crazy for the first few seconds, so I'm secretly a bit relieved if he stops :shhh:.

As for the tiredness, I have a toddler who doesn't generally sleep through the night, and likes to run all day...so even if I weren't still BFing him, I reckon the exhaustion level would be the same.

hi ladies,
thanks for the replies. I don't think I will be breastfeeding my little girl for that much longer either - she is a little biter, however once on, she loves the closeness of mum before she goes to bed. I want to give my breasts a break before embarking on breastfeeding again for the 3rd time!!

having a son with Autism and an 11 month old and being pregnant AND still trying to keep fit is certainly hard MOST days. NO family support either, apart from a wonderful husband....

One day at a time...at least a this stage I don't have to worry about gaining excess weight. !!! Not that I have time to eat junk food anyway, and every spare moment I have to myself I spend outside running, cycling or swimming ! stress relief !

I hope my milk supply will cope - have never had problems in the past so I suppose not to worry....
thanks again ladies..

this is a great thread.
my son's 2 next month and I'm 9 weeks pg. I'm still bf-ing once a day.
No changes in my breasts unlike last time, I suppose like Mantaray said it's cos I'm lactating already?
I have lost some weight probably cos of ms and I've been working out in the gym for the last 8 mths, whereas my first pg I only swam and did yoga.

I saw a midwife last week and she told me that my milk supply will drop as the pregnancy progresses, is this true? I've read women continue to bf whilst pg.

suse - yup super tired with a toddler and i've been having insomnia too.

Congratulations prama. Yes, your supply will drop, but your little one well might continue to feed through it. Often at that age they continue to feed for comfort even if the milk is nearly gone.

If he does continue to feed through it, there are some benefits. For one thing he will get colostrum, probably from sometime in the second trimester, but maybe third. You will most likely know when this happens as the poos tend to go runny again like new born poo. The poo might not be a good thing for you but the colostrum will be very good for your DS. The other thing is that having a toddler feeding as well as the new baby can be a very big help for reducing engorgment when your milk comes in. Having siblings tandem feeding can also be a great way to help them bond.

All the best!

thanks MR.
My boobs were very very painful when i first started bf-ing, I'm wondering if I continue to bf will this happen again or would they have adjusted.
if you have 2 children feeding, would you have heaps of milk and cause your boobs get too full. I remember all the lumps etc, dont want a blocked duct..

Hi Prama, I've been feeding every day for 3.5 yrs:

- first DD1 in July 2006,
- through pregnancy with DD2 until she was born,
- tandem feeding until DD1 was 2.5yrs old and DD2 was 11 mths old
- through pregnancy with DD2 and bubba #3
and given that i'm close to giving birth, i guess i'll be tandem feeding for a little while yet!

Yes, my supply drops in pregnancy but neither of my daughters have let that stop them feeding!! I actually haven't noticed a difference in their poos when the milk became more colostrum based. Same as usual really.

Mantaray - I actually loved having a toddler on hand when i experienced engorgement!! No need to get out the pump & express to relieve the engorgement, i just offered DD1 a feed which she would never say no too - very efficient too! They were the cutest holding hands whilst tandem feeding - and certainly the quickest way to stop a tantrum in the early days of confusion for DD1.

I don't think the tiredness is anything to do with breastfeeding - it's just hard work growing a baby and looking after a family at the same time especially you're up in the night (for whatever reason - child waking, bladder needing emptying, cramps, baby wriggling around, lying in a funny position, being too hot...... ;-)

Best of luck with all your babies!

thanks Roya.

The other thing I was thinking is how DS would react if further along the line, I decided to wean him but continue feeding the new baby.

Hey runnermum

Good on you for still being so energetic! That's so great you have been able to keep running and swimming.

I am similar to you (bf'ing a 13 month old and 15 weeks pregnant).
I have just finished tandem bf'ing with my 2.5 year old, so fed during my last pregnancy too. Both this pregnancy and last pregnancy I am actually putting on a fair amount a weight! I thought because I was bf'ing, like you, I wouldn't put much weight on!..but I've aleady put on about 5 kgs (Although I was very tiny prior to getting pregnant, about 44kgs, so perhaps my body is doing a bit of 'catch up' in preparation for feeding the new baby!). So I guess we are all different! but it sounds like you are lovely and healthly! Just make sure you eat good amounts of good food.

As for the breast thing, mine haven't grown at all this pregnancy either! I found that last time I was pregnant, they mainly grew later on in the pregnancy..but still not a lot (until my milk came in! lol).

All the best

Prama, in the first few weeks after giving birth, milk supply is mostly driven by hormones so tandem feeding won't mean you get more milk. As RoyaUK said, the tandem feeding actually works the other way, helping you to drain full breasts and reduce discomfort.

BTW, the frequent feeding is still important at first even though the hormones are controlling supply, because this sets the foundation for when the hormones drop off.

ah ok. thanks heaps MR

In regards to the more milk thing, I noticed that I did produce more colostrum when my last baby was born and I was still bf'ing my toddler. Gosh our bodies are amazing!

Prama - re: weaning older child whilst feeding new baby, i guess it depends entirely on the feeding relationship you have with them and what it means to them to no longer bf.

I decided to stop feeding DD1 when she was 2.5 yrs (and DD2 was about 11 mths) as i'd just had enough by that stage. DD1 was feeding 1 - 2 times a day (fixed times like first thing after waking in the morning and afternoon nap) and then occasionally in the day if it worked to calm her down.

But I was starting to resent feeding her a bit so bit the bullet and it was 3 days of tears (from her) and lots of distraction techniques employed by me and then she found a new comfort thing.....bizarrely a little mole near my neck. Even now she'll come for a cuddle, snuggle in tight and put a finger on 'mummy mole' and that's enough for her!!

She also told me that 'mummy milk' wasn't working as much anymore (as DD2 increased her solids amounts and my milk decreased accordingly) so i used that explanation every time she asked and she accepted that it was 'just for babies now'. it was actually great weaning her at a stage when we could talk about it and she really was ready. it was only a matter of a couple of weeks before she was telling me to bf DD2 if she cried saying DD2 wanted mummy milk!

thanks so much to those who have helped me out with their experiences in both pregnancy and breastfeeding - I do get of lot of 'you are doing what?' when I say I am still breastfeeding while pregnant. NO big deal to me really.

having said that, Ido plan to stop feeding my 11 month old in a couple of months I think. I just want the break before embarking on it again in July. I am 40 years old and 3rd baby some days it can be tiring to say the least. My little girl loves cow's milk so it may not be a bad transition. Yes, I know it does not offer the same as my milk, but I have done well, and don't feel I have let her down at all. This 3rd pregnany was not planned so I have had to adjust as well!!

I run 5 times a week and have just begun to feel fit again after a long time injured and doing cross training....I wonder if my breasts will grow after my little girl is weaned in a couple of months?