thread: What is BF whilst pregnant really like??

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Oct 2009
    Sydney
    27

    What is BF whilst pregnant really like??

    OK, so I'm not pregnant yet, however, DH and I are keen to TTC No2....

    Our DS is 21 months old and is still a massive boobie addict. He still feeds about 5-7 times in 24 hours (2 or 3 of those are during the night). I have tried to reduce this, however, he is EXTREMELY determined and I'm finding it difficult to have much success!

    We're also quite reliant on the boobie for sleep - technically he doesn't feed to sleep, but needs the boobie to calm down in bed before dropping off to sleep. If I'm home it is impossible to get him to bed/sleep without boobie - again he gets incredibly distressed.

    Anyway - I'm very keen to TTC, however, I'm also very nervous/anxious and I guess confused about how to handle DS and his BF obsession.

    I never imagined myself BF'ing whilst pregnant and TBH I'm not sure that I'm particularly keen....? However, I can't see myself being able to gently wean DS anytime soon as he just loves it too much as seems to still 'need' it.

    Has anyone had a similar scenario?? Does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences?

    Is BF'ing whilst pregnant really difficult - does it make you resent BF'ing? If you did wean whilst TTC, did you regret it?

    I've heard it is common for children to self wean when their mother is pregnant, yet DS is such an addict I doubt whether anything would sway him!

    <sigh> so 'torn' with what to do....

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Add Sterla on Facebook

    Jun 2008
    Tasmania
    3,011

    Check out this thread:

    https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad-142749.html

    We're all sharing our experiences along the way .

    Your DS sounds very much the same as my DS was before I fell pregnant. My milk has dried up, however DS still has one or two comfort sucks a day. We used to feed to sleep too, but when my milk went he didn't want to be fed to sleep anymore. We did find another way though, and you know what - he's actually sleeping better now than he was before!

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add Sterla on Facebook

    Jun 2008
    Tasmania
    3,011

    Double post

  4. #4
    Registered User

    May 2008
    ...where jumping on the bed is mandatory!
    2,225

    DD is 27 months and also a big fan of Boobie When we were TTC she was having about 5-7 a day too, when i got pregnant i decided id start to wean her really slowly and its been good so far. she now has only 3 feeds a day, Feed to sleep for her afternoon nap and a feed just before bed for her night sleep and one when she jumps into bed with us at 5am, i think thats as good as im going to get for now, but im really happy to keep feeding her, it hasnt been a problem feeding while pregnant, i still enjoy those quiet cuddles and always think that il be sad if/when she does wean!

    The only worries i have is knowing that when i have my second baby i probably wont be able to feed DD when she needs me and i dont want her to link not being able to feed and the baby and casue any resentment! so i was hoping to have her able to go to sleep with out me actually having to feed her to sleep, but we will have to work on that after xmas i think. Im due in march.

    I think if your both happy to BF while pregnant and kind of play it by ear, see if her will wean when it gets closer to having a second baby, then i dont see why you would find it hard. although eveyone is different.

    As for night weaning, it took us about a week, i did it when she was about 25 months, explained it to her for a few days, 'shes a big girl and doesnt need boobie in the night time' then on the agreed night i had a water ready and a tight top on and when she woke up i just reminded her that she had agreed that she was a big girl and didnt need it. had a cuddle and gave her the water, we had some tears and a few really sleepless nights, but she got the hang of it and now sleeps right through and if on the odd occation she does wake up she doesnt even ask for boobie!!! but maybe i was just lucky

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    6,900

    Don't worry about it!! I had all the same thoughts too. My DD is the biggest booby addict and was feeding the same amount. When I got pregnant I didn't have to cut it down or anything she did it herself, probably because there wasn't as much milk. Now she feeds 3 times a day, morning, nap time, and bed. She still feeds to sleep. It will all work out fine and he'll adjust

  6. #6
    Registered User

    May 2007
    Warrnambool Vic
    1,476

    Well, there were periods esp early on when my nipples were sore, especially early on. But for most of the time it was a quick way to get DS1 to sleep and I got to rest.
    My two boys tandem fed for 2 year. They have an amazingly close bond, even 15 years later
    DS2 weaned naturally when I got pregnant with my daughter when he was 2.5 (the same week as his 4.5 yr old brother - they share the same birthday)

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Add Kazbah on Facebook Follow Kazbah On Twitter

    Sep 2006
    Dandy Ranges ;)
    7,526

    Sorry to hijack, but Barb, (or anyone!) is there still colestrum for the newborn? or how does it work, as I understood that milk changed as bubs grew?

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Jan 2006
    11,633

    It switches back when you're pregnant Kaz and makes milk for the newborn.

    My DS was only feeding fairly infrequently when I fell pregnant and weaned himself at around 9-10 weeks as my milk supply disappeared (due largely to the IFV meds). It was quite painful for a while there. I actually still miss it sometimes - when DS is sick or particularly upset or grumpy... it's such an easy way to settle them.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Jul 2007
    melb
    8,498

    DS1 was and still is Boobie obsessed, He was BF up to 8 times a day. While preg my nipples were more tender and at times I didnt want to feed. Towards the end of preg he was not feeding for long at all and I often thought he would wean but once DS2 born and milk came in he started feeding much longer and more frequently.

    I have been tandem feeding for 10 months and BF for last 28 months, some days when tired and irritable I want to stop feeding DS1 (he can be very demanding for BF) and I do have fleeting thoughts on resenting BF but in the end I love that DS1 still enjoys BF and wants it and only I can offer that to him.

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Jan 2008
    SE suburbs, Vic
    1,377

    DD was still feeding to sleep during the day & at night, by the end of the PG she was only feeding to sleep at night (& whenever she woke up). There were times when it was more sensitive than others but not overly painful IYKWIM
    The hardest thing was tandem feeding because DD would get frustrated that she had to wait for DS to feed before she could feed. She ended up finding a dummy in the toy box when DS was around 2 months old & transitioned to going to sleep with that instead which really surprised me because she'd never taken a dummy before.