Older baby getting colostrum? :(

[JadeCrusader]

I just found out that I'm pregnant with #2 (super excited, btw! ). My first is just over a year old and we weren't ready to wean her yet, but at the same time I really want to ready my breasts for my new baby! When I finally give birth I really want my new baby to get ALL of the colostrum and first-milks to get the best head start possible, you know? I feel like there is only a limited amount of that and if my first daughter is eating too then she'll end up getting the majority of it.

I've been trying to gently wean her (don't offer, don't refuse method), but she has been fighting it and seems to realize there's something up and even with more food has begun asking for more breast. She is especially needy at nap time and refuses to try to nap without nursing. When she falls asleep and I try to get up she grapples on to me and holds me down, waking up and fighting to hold on.

I know she just really needs some love, especially now that soon her whole world is going to be turned upside-down, so I have been being very understanding and generous towards her, but at the same time I really need to wean her I think...

What would you do? What have you done? I really need some advice here... Any insights and conversation on the topic will help, so please, fire away!

 

[Tacey]

Possibly not very helpful, as I went don't the not weaning route. I just wanted to mention that there isn't a limited supply of colostrum. In fact, I had a lot more this time than with my first. It still works on supply and demand. Arthur never actually lost any of his birth weight. Having Alice still nursing was amazing for their bond, and she was really useful when my milk came in, and could 'take the edge off' the forceful let down.

If you are still keen to wean, you may get a helping hand, as most people seem to lose or at least have a significant drop in their milk during pregnancy, and many children are not as interested when that happens. You might find it easier to wean then.

Good luck, and congratulations!

 

[mumandco]

You won't run out of colostrum until your milk comes in there will be enough for your older lo and your new baby. The only thing you will notice is your older baby's nappy may be disgusting for a while as colostrum has a laxative effect.

I'm still feeding ds2 and ds3 is 16 weeks old. Ds3 hasn't missed out on any colustrum and gets all the milk he needs.

If you want to wean then of course that's fine but you definitely don't need to wean.

Oh and congratulations x

 

[Lauki]

Just wanted to confirm what the other ladies said . When women have twins they have more colostrum and milk because it will just work on demand and supply .
Your body knows what to do!

 

[JadeCrusader]

Oh wow, I guess I hadn't thought about it like that before (supply and demand thing)! That puts my mind quite a bit more at ease . Also, am I to understand that when my colostrum comes in my milk disappears and then returns afterward?

 

[mumandco]

Oh wow, I guess I hadn't thought about it like that before (supply and demand thing)! That puts my mind quite a bit more at ease . Also, am I to understand that when my colostrum comes in my milk disappears and then returns afterward?

Yes that's right,I think my colustrum came in at around 28weeks,my lo loved it especially as he had been dry nursing for a few weeks before then haha

 

[JessPape]

Do you NEED to wean her? if not I would just keep nursing. I am 5.5 weeks pregnant, I find nursing very exhausting sometimes painful now that we are pregnant, instead of weaning we have cut down to one nursing session a day (normally at night).

I did this buy timing our nursing sessions, pick on and do that one first. Than nurse a minute less each day, till its gone. Distractions, offer different drinks (my daughter LOVES coconut milk or almond milk), water, activities.

But once the soreness and the exhaustion goes away, and the new baby is here she can nurse all she wants again my mother in the law will kill me for this but I don't give a damn.