Breastfeeding while ttc/pregnant: too draining?

[babytobe]

Hi mommas,
I'd love to hear your experience with breastfeeding while ttc and during pregnancy. I'm just not sure if I should be trying to wean my toddler or if I should continue breastfeeding.

My toddler is almost 16 months old and breastfeeds 2-3 times per day. We just started ttc last month and I do feel pregnant now this month (though it's still too early to confirm). I'm just wondering if this is going to be okay for my body and the possible new baby growing in me if I continue to breastfeed my toddler. I love breastfeeding and don't feel in a hurry to wean, but sometimes I wonder if my body is suffering a bit from continuing to produce milk. I look a bit like a rag doll these days.....my weight has gotten really really low, and my energy levels are still not really back to pre-pregnancy levels (but maybe that's just normal mommy energy levels?!). I take lots of different supplements to support my body, get a good amount of sleep, and I eat well. My iron levels tested a bit low 5 months ago but are almost back to normal now.

What do you think? I know breastfeeding is super healthy for my toddler, but could it be draining me too much? And I want to make sure that when I am pregnant my baby inside me is getting enough nutrition. It doesn't seem to matter how much I eat....I don't gain weight. I don't really know the science relating to this subject, so I'm just curious if anyone has some good advice/perspective in this area. It would be much appreciated!

 

[kajastarlight]

From everything I have read you just need to up your calorie intake a little and your water a lot. Around 2nd trimester you will experience a significant drop in supply. Some Mom's I know "dry nurse" until milk returns after baby is born. I have no personal experience though

 

[luvymom]

I breastfed while pregnant for a few weeks maybe a little longer. I knew both my nursing baby and my growing baby were getting the nutrition they needed but I started feeling like I was the one not getting the nutrition I needed after they got theirs. So I stopped. I'm in the same situation again but hoping to last a couple more months until my nurser turns one.

 

[babytobe]

I breastfed while pregnant for a few weeks maybe a little longer. I knew both my nursing baby and my growing baby were getting the nutrition they needed but I started feeling like I was the one not getting the nutrition I needed after they got theirs. So I stopped. I'm in the same situation again but hoping to last a couple more months until my nurser turns one.

Thanks Luvymom for sharing your experience. I have started to try to wean my toddler down to 1-2 feeds a day instead of 2-3. He's 16 months too, so I know at least hes had good long run of bf! I'm thinking that of my milk starts decreasing while pregnant or tastes different maybe it will be a natural time to wean. He doesn't even notice that I've cut out the nap time feed so far, so that's encouraging!

 

[Tink1o5]

I was breastfeeding my first when I got pregnant with my 2nd. My first was 15 months old. I continued to breastfeed on demand but then at 18 months old my first weaned himself.

They say when you are pregnant your breastmilk begins to change taste for the new baby and that can sometimes cause current breastfeeding children to wean themselves because of the change in taste.

Long story short I got pregnant while breastfeeding. Continued breastfeeding my oldest for 3 months after finding out I was pregnant, then he weaned himself.


Good luck in your journey

 

[tu123]

My third is 22 mths and we are still going. She has always boobed a lot.

I found my nips were VERY sensitive the first 6 weeks and they still are but not so bad.
Milk supply as reduced I'm sure because she wants a sippy cup at night. As well as boob. But there is still milk.

I found out I was pregnant after I started getting super strong/newborn like letdown sensations. Looking back I think it must have started pretty soon after conception.

 

[tu123]

It's still early but I don't think BF has made a big difference to my energy levels. She has always boobed a lot.

 

[Marumi]

I'm about 9 weeks along and my 4 year old nurses about 2-3 times. I feel pretty well and I make sure to eat a nutrient dense diet without many empty calorie foods like noodles, pasta, rice, bread. I feel much better physically than I did when pregnant with my son.

 

[LiLi2]

I've been wondering this as well. My son is 16 months and nurses many times throughout the day. We are currently TTC and I plan on allowing him to nurse freely throughout pregnancy and beyond, but can't help but wonder how difficult that may be. Lol

 

[misspriss]

I conceived when DS was 18 months,we nursed through and he still nurses at 2.5 years. DD is 4 months. I did find it draining, but anytime you are pregnant with a toddler it will probably be draining regardless of breastfeeding or not.

My son was not ready to wean at 18 months, crap he isn't ready to wean at 2.5 years and I'm kind of wishing he was now...

 

[babytobe]

Thanks for all your replies, ladies! Sorry for my delayed response.

I think half my problem is that I just go back and forth about this kind of stuff all the time (changing my mind). One day I'm totally happy to breastfeed him as much as he needs (up to 3 times these days), but other days I've been really trying to limit it to one time per day.

I think since I first posted here I've started to get more into the mindset of weaning him. My iron has been low, and although I'm still not pregnant, every month we've been ttc I feel pregnant and drained during the tww (I think my body is trying to implant but just not getting there). He seems to be actually doing fine with just one feed a day, and is super healthy, so I think I'm just going to try to limit it to once per day for another week or two, and then try to phase it out! I'm amazed at how long some of you have gone though with your little ones! Good for you! My goal was 1-2 years, so I'm pretty happy with getting to about 17 months .

 

[Bevziibubble]

I am breastfeeding throughout pregnancy. I feel incredibly drained all the time, but I don't know if it's the breastfeeding or just the lack of sleep I get from her being on the boob all night, plus I'm anaemic! I have tried gently encouraging her to wean but it hasn't worked!