How often do babies wean when you get pregnant again??

[Heaven]

No, I'm not pregnant, lol.

I would like to breastfeed DD until she's at least 2 years old.
But I would also like my kids about 2 years apart.

So that means I would at least be feeding DD when I'm pregnant next. But I hear lots of stories about babies weaning during pregnancy So how common is it?? Can you prevent it?? Don't suppose I can make her keep feeding if she doesn't want too!!

[Ginger]

I think it's fairly common. It happened to me when i was 25wks pg, but tbh i was kinda happy it happened as i was looking forward to having a small break from bfing before my newborn came along. i have to say as well that self-weaning was a really pain-free and gentle way for my ds1 to stop bfing, as i was sure i would have a bad time trying to wean him..but he did it all by himself.

[Nelle]

Mine weaned in early pregnancy...maybe at the end of the first tri? Can't remember properly. But I sort of didn't fight the weaning, I'd introduced cow's milk as part of his diet, that was about a week before he turned 1. For me, it sort of had to happen, because I was losing quite a bit of weight, I think that breastfeeding and growing a new baby put a lot of demand on my body at a time when I found it really hard to eat.
That was just me though - I definitely know that pregnancy and breastfeeding can co-exist!

[Sterla]

Just subscribing - I want to know this too.

[StrawberryMumma]

Hey Heaven

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.

Wishing you all the best

[Laranna]

DS weaned when he was 14.5 months - I was about 3 months pregnant I think.

[MummyTummy]

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?

[Astrid]

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.

[Curly]

DS would still be breastfeeding now if I let him!

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...

[MantaRay]

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.

It's a tough decision I guess

[~kellie~]

My DD, who was 21 months at the time, kind of lost interest when I was about 7 weeks, and I then kind of encouraged the weaning, she didnt miss it all though, I think she may have asked for it about twice after our last feed, and even when we were feeding she'd often ask for cows milk over breast, so I think she was definitely ready

[Heaven]

Hmm... so it seems like it's fairly common for them to wean
DD might not though. She is no where near ready, she is still having lots and lots of feeds both for hunger and comfort. ATM she is teething and BF must make her feel better, she's been asking for it every hr today and won't be distracted!! God knows what I'd do if she was weaned, teething would be miserable!!

[megs]

Hi Heaven,

I accidently fell pregnant with DS2, when my eldest son was 7 months old. It didn't effect me breastfeeding at all and he didn't change at all. He wasn't a comfort feeder so slowly weaned the feeds down as solids increased but he was still having a morning and night feed at 12 months.

He weaned himself at around 14 months, I think I was about 30 weeks pregnant at the time.

Good Luck with it all

[feeb]

DS1 was 9 months when i conceived and he kept feeding around 17 months as milk droped right back but he would still have a few sucks a few times a day then crawl off, now that DS2 is here DS1 is feeding more and for longer as of course there is milk there now. Its hard getting him to wait till DS2 is on 2nd side or finished thought as at 18 months he doesnt understand wait or gentle!! or anything else that would help with a little baby also.

God luck

[Heaven]

I am thinking about this more and more as we are getting closer to TTC again. I feel like if I get pg again I am being selfish and might be making her wean before she's ready Is it still self-weaning if she weans bc I'm pregnant?

I just feel like she's nowhere near ready yet, she hasn't dropped ANY feeds yet and she's almost 1!! She loves booby so much! lol.

Does the amount of milk you have before your pg have any effect on if your milk supply drops or not? Or does it just happen to everyone? I have always had a lot of milk. 11 months on and I still get let downs during the day when she's not feeding and leak a couple of times a day. Maybe I will keep making enough so she doesn't wean. Hmm...it's such a tough decision isn't it??

I never thought of it as being a problem, I thought I'd wean around 1 yr old but now that I have an almost 1 year old I see that she's still a baby!! And I want her to wean in her own time.

[Sterla]

I am thinking about this more and more as we are getting closer to TTC again. I feel like if I get pg again I am being selfish and might be making her wean before she's ready Is it still self-weaning if she weans bc I'm pregnant?

I just feel like she's nowhere near ready yet, she hasn't dropped ANY feeds yet and she's almost 1!! She loves booby so much! lol.

Does the amount of milk you have before your pg have any effect on if your milk supply drops or not? Or does it just happen to everyone? I have always had a lot of milk. 11 months on and I still get let downs during the day when she's not feeding and leak a couple of times a day. Maybe I will keep making enough so she doesn't wean. Hmm...it's such a tough decision isn't it??

I never thought of it as being a problem, I thought I'd wean around 1 yr old but now that I have an almost 1 year old I see that she's still a baby!! And I want her to wean in her own time.

Heaven, I know exactly how you feel! I've wondered the same thing.

DS has only just started dropping a couple of feeds, but he won't be fully weaning anytime soon on his own. It's so hard - I don't want to force DS to wean before he's ready, but I don't want to wait too long to start TTC either. It's a tough one.

[MummyTummy]

Heaven - I think if she loves booby that much and you still have a strong supply then she will continue as long as she feels the need. My DS had dropped so many feeds and could go a whole day without booby with no complaints (in fact he would choose that rather than EBM if I wasn't around). He never sucked for comfort and always seemed as if he could take it or leave it, so I was expecting that he would have weaned in the few months following anyway.

[OceanPrincess]

Heaven, don't depair - like you I've always had a plentiful supply and I have found DD showing NO interest in weaning at all!

In fact yesterday (also teething) she had four feeds during the day whereas since I've been back at work she's dropped day feeds altogether. Obviously a comfort thing yesterday!!

So not all babies do- we are half way and she shows no intention of weaning!

I am pretty happy about this, even if similar to a PP my BBs have become pretty sensitive and it can hurt, esp when she is anxious or upset - the first latch can be a killer. But we are persisting as like you I can't bear the thought of my little baby weaning!!

So it can happen!