Breastfeeding while pregnant

I have just found out that i'm almost 6 weeks pregnant with a little surprise. I have a 12month old that i'm currently breastfeeding and I'm not ready to wean as yet.

Never did i imagine that i'd ever be in this situation and even considering tandom feeding (a fair way off yet i know) but i was just wondering if there are any things i need to know to continue breastfeeding while pregnant. Any do's, dont's or recommendations? DS currently has approx 4 feeds a day (1 very early morn and the rest throughout the day).

TIA :D

Congratulations.
Nope, nothing you need to know un particular - a copy of ABA's booklet "Breastfeeding through pregnancy and beyond" is a fabulous investment for $5. The short version is the system works well - pregnancy and breastfeeding. Enjoy.

Thanks Barb, i had a look on the ABA website the other day and couldn't seem to find where that booklet was. The link kept taking me to the Mother Direct page and i didn't know where to go from there. But i figured it out :redface: Placed my order thank you very much :D

Congratulations.

I am tandem feeding a nearly 21 month old and nearly 3 month old. During preg DS1 feeds became a bit erratic at times and short sucks as milk supply dropped, I also found at times I had sensitive nipples and it hurt to feed him.

Post birth his feeds increased but have now settled down some what.

Good luck

Congratulations hun. I'm glad you found the booklet, that should answer all your questions.

I am also tandem feeding my two boys (29 months and 8 months). As Feeb said the biggest heads up I can give you is that you may find he drops feeds as your supply decreases. I really noticed my supply drop at around 25ish weeks. In fact I'm sure I had very little to no milk left, but the good news is DS1 kept feeding :) I also found I had nipple sensitivity, which I think peaked at around 12-16 weeks and then settled right down again.

I have found tandem feeding to be a lot easier than I imagined. It was tricky with a newborn (who had a few health issues and was in SCN for about a week) and I actually stopped feeding DS1 for about a week while I was in hospital and recovering from some nipple damage. Again, he went back to the breast no worries and now I'm starting to hope he weans soon-ish! LOL.

Good luck, wishing you all the best!

Thanks girls, i'm looking forward to having a read of the ABA booklet but was wanting to know if there was personal experience that people had that you don't necessarily get from a book.

I will keep an eye out for a drop in supply and the sensitive nipples. Thanks :)

I fed DS1 up until 13 months, i think i got to 12 months and not knowing any different decided it was probably time to wean. Knowing differently now i have always wanted to feed DS2 longer. I'm really not ready to give up and i don't think DS would agree either at this stage, so i think we'll just wait and see how the the next few months go.

Thanks again for your thoughts and advice :D

Just thought of a question...

Feebs and Willow would you say tandem feeding has any positive or negative effects on jealousy? When DS2 came along (no longer bfeeding) he was kind of old enough (24 months) that i could involve him and we had barely any jealousy issues. With DS2 he will only be 21 months and and at the moment is still very much wanting 4 bfeeds a day. This could change i know between now and when bubba comes along but i'm trying to get my head around attempting tandem or not. If i decide not to would i want to wean in plenting of time so DS is well and truely over boobie so he doesn't see the baby feeding and get all jealous? Maybe i'm thinking about this way too much but was just wondering if you had an idea? If the tandem has a positive or negative effect on the relationship betwen the siblings?

Hope i haven't confused you guys :redface:

TIA :D

Hi, congrats :)
I was about 8 weeks pregnant when I weaned my DS. He was 23 months old (had he been younger I probably would've pushed through). I would've loved to keep going, but I was just too sensitive & it was getting unbearable.
I was also worried about the jelousy thing, but I've since heard that tandem feeding is actually a positive thing for them to share. That it makes their bond even stronger.
Good luck :)

Generally speaking a positive expereience especially when he puts his hand on DS2 while he is feeding at same time, but othertimes when I have told him to wait he has pulled nipple out of DS2 mouth and put it in his!!!

He has never deliberatly tryed to hurts DS2 he chucks things around and has had things hit him but not on purpose he is just a boistrous boy. (there is 18 months and 4 days difference)

Hope that helps a bit feel free to ask anything.

Hi there, found myself in a similar situation although we were actively TTC and found out I was pg when DD was about 9mths. She was still having prob 4 feeds a day like your DS, which she happily continued, gradually dropped a feed at around 11mths, then by 12mths was just doing first and last thing (7am and 7pm).

I too got incredibly sore nipples and struggled with that for a while - DH suggested weaning as he could see me wincing but I persisted as I knew the benefits for DD and thankfully, as the PPs have mentioned, the sensitivity decreased early in the second tri. It still hurts sometimes, esp when DD gives a little nip (cheeky bub) but most of the time its fine.

The thing I'm now struggling with is positioning - DD has always fed in the cradle hold, or lying down, but she hasn't fed lying down since she became mobile - she likes to crawl around our bed, doesn't see it as a feeding position anymore. So we always do cradle hold - which I am now finding a bit ouchy on the big belly.

So I have been thinking of changing positions but I'm not really sure what to or how... apparently football hold is good, I just need to work up the nerve to try it!

Oh my only other comment is that I haven't noticed a drop in my supply really at all (I'm 28wks) and DD is still happily feeding away morning and night. Even when she's done I can still express a little bit out (I was curious so I thought I'd try) so I think I must just have a plentiful supply!

Someone did warn me that this may lead to an engorgement issue post birth of my new bubs, but I will manage that if and when it happens.

Good luck!

Oh and the other thing I wanted to add is something I read on the ABA website (love it) - some time between 4 to 8mths pg, your milk will start to change to colostrum and this can affect baby's feeds and also their poo!

Colostrum is a laxative - so your DS2 will start having more runny poos, I have definitely noticed that with DD over the last month or so! Its delightful, esp when coupled with MS! :sick:

You might also find when your milk changes your DS2 might wean himself, if he doesn't adjust to the taste of colostrum. There isn't anything wrong with them having colostrum though, in fact its quite good for them! And my DD seems to like it :D

hi,
My sons a#were born on the same day - 2 years apart. They tandem fed for 2 and a half years. They share a particularly strong bond - even for brothers - even as teenagers. No science - but it was surely the tandem feeding

Thanks ladies for the replys.

I love the sound of the holding hands Feebs and had a giggle at the stealing the nipple :lol: It really does sound like a beautiful opportunity to do with your LOs and even to be put in the position to be able to do so.

OP I too have been thinking about positioning once i get a big belly. Like you i suppose we'll just have to have a play around and see what works best. I currently feed DS lying down for his am feed and i love that. I wonder if lying would make it any easier??

I'm thinking if we get that far there will obviously be some adjusting to do but once all is settled could be great for both. Knowing my LO now i think being able to continue will be a good thing for him if he wants to and a great way for him to bond being as young as he will be.

Thanks also Barb, i got my book in the mail today and have had a fair bit of a read already.

I'm kind of excited to do this now. Just have to wait 8 months :lol:

There were a few issues here in the very early weeks when DS1 (who was 20 months) would give DS2 a bit of a tap on the head at feed times. But it was really not much of an issue and I can't say for sure whether it was because I was b'feeding him. I actually haven't fed the boys together, I feed them seperately and so DS1 came to know when it was his 'turn' and when it was his brother's turn. I couldn't physically work out how to feed a 20 mo and a 10 lb newborn at the same time! LOL.