Pregnant with 8 Month Old :(

[Livvy]

Hi all.

I am totally freaking out over here. I just found out a few hours ago that I'm pregnant again, and I was really hoping to nurse my 8 month old until he's 2! There are soooo many things I am stressed about, firstly, I tested in the first place because he was acting hungry after nursing which is very unusual for him. He also has been more interested in solids in the last week which I now know is probably because my supply tastes different or is already lower. His last few poops have been pretty hard, which makes me think he's not getting enough fluid (he is teething, too though, so that may be part of it. 3 teeth through in the last week). Now I'm afraid I may have to start supplementing. :'(

To top it all off, I am dairy, soy, and egg free which has done wonders for his eczema, but now I'm worried that I will have even more trouble making milk for him as my body will be maintaining a pregnancy as well.

Trying hard not to be sad but I am pretty upset about something hurting our nursing relationship. It has been wonderful until now. Could use some help and virtual hugs.

 

[jessmke]

I'm sorry, I don't have any advice but want to follow this thread because we are wanting to try for #2 when DD is 10 months old, but this is a big concern for me as well. I know some women successfully breastfeed throughout pregnancy, so hopefully some of those women will chime in and provide some good advice!

 

[Marumi]

Breastfeeding in pregnancy can be tough and there will be changes, but it is totally possible to get through it.

As you pregnancy progresses the amount of milk can change as well as the taste. In times where you make less it is no problem to nurse a bit less, feed more solids or even supplement some if necessary. Your nursling should stay interested in the boob and resume nursing more eventually. I had less milk at the end of the first trimester, then it came back, and since the third I have been making a larger amount of milk.
My son is 4 years old, so I probably make less milk than you with an 8 month old.

What I find more difficult than supply and BM changes is the pain...and worst of all nursing aversion. It has been strong for me lately. I hope it will resolve once the baby is here.
The upsides for me were/ are numerous too though, and so I fought through it.

 

[Livvy]

Thanks for answering jessmke and marumi Thanks Marumi, I know it's different for each person and baby so I'm just stressed I'll be one of the ones that loses their milk right away, and that's so not what I want. My son is still pretty little, so I don't think he'll be interested in just comfort or dry nursing if there isn't any milk there. I'm afraid he'll self-wean. I've already noticed a decrease in supply and for night feedings half the time I'm not letting down which is leaving us both very frustrated and tired.

 

[Snufflepop]

My dd was 12 months when I found out I was pregnant with baby no 2. Sadly my supply was affected pretty much from the start and by the time I was 5 months pg my supply had completely gone. My dd was not interested in dry nursing and as my supply dipped she just started getting frustrated and began biting me. Sadly I couldn't stand the pain so that was the end of our nursing relationship which I did struggle to accept as I had been hoping to get to 2. There are lots of ladies on here who do manage to nurse through pg and then tandem nurse so hopefully you will be one of them rather than like me. Good luck, and whatever happens 8 months BF is amazing so if you do end up stopping don't feel bad.