Aunty Lactivist is all of us and here are some of the answers to this question that were on the Lactivist facebook page.
If you can help with any ideas, links or your personal experience please leave a comment.
It varies from mama to mama though, some find their milk stops during pg, others (like me) only notice a slight dip in supply. Some also find it painful or uncomfortable to feed, but I have been fine. Some LOs self-wean due to changing taste or supply, others like my LO feed without seeming to notice any difference! It really does vary but can be very possible.
I’m out and about so don’t have my peer supporter folder with me which has info on this bit do remember that you can successfully feed throughout pregnancy, the milk might change but it is possible to continue to feed your first!
I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant and breastfeeding my 2 yo. I have found it more uncomfortable and, to be honest, was hoping he would self wean now but he is showing no signs of doing so.
I tandem fed two children while expecting my third, having continued to feed my first child during the second pregnancy. My first son weaned himself during the third pregnancy at the age of 3 years 10 months, but my daughter carried on right through. It did get a bit painful, but we persevered.
I was one of the 30% whose milk disappeared almost overnight at about 20 weeks. My nursing was 23 months.
I am pregnant and still nursing my almost 15 month old no problems so far.. just have to eat a lot lol
My milk dries up when I am pregnant but my kiddos still nurse through it. Generally speaking even if your milk dries up they will still get colostrum (which starts to appear at about 20 wks). You don’t have to stop just because your milk dries up though
well if it really did dry your milk up or was risky I think the human race would have died out. It can change the quality of the milk because more of the nutrients will go to the baby in your womb, but you can eat more healthy food to compensate I think. Some kids self wean because of the change in the taste of the milk when you’re pregnant, but I think they’d only do that if they were ready to self wean anyway. My friend carried on breastfeeding her 2 yr old through most of her pregnancy with no problems. Around 7 months pregnant her daughter stopped asking for feeds and she stopped offering them. (she’s 9 months now so we’re just waiting for the new baby to arrive!)
I’m still nursing at 39 wks pg. I think I lost most milk around 19 weeks, but my Ds was happy to dry nurse / comfort nurse and something that meant I heard swallowing (!) came back around 32 weeks I think. The Adventures in Tandem Nursing has helped me massively deal with lots of things around the feelings of nursing aversion and resentment so it is definitely worth reading if you get the chance x
I was lucky enough to continue to feed my 2.5 year old right through my recent pregnancy. She was quite happy and only seemed to notice a difference in the milk, two weeks before I gave birth my dd told me “the milks changed mummy”. I experienced some discomfort at times but persevered with it and am now tandem feeding both my daughters. Also found my milk returned within 2 days . I agree it seems to be a personal thing, good luck.
For me DS1 self-weaned I think because the taste changed but I believe my supply dried up causing DS2 to self-wean. It really does depend on your body as well as how often you’re feeding LO. I do know a few people who’ve continued through and beyond subsequent pregnancies though, so I know it’s perfectly possible!
I got pregnant with no5 whilst bf no4…. She self weaned at almost 14 months tho when I was about 13 weeks, there didn’t seem to be much going on in the milk dept so not sure if it did start drying up maybe? I think you just need to do what your body and your little one tells you. I was hoping to tandem feed but it wasn’t to be!
I’ve not read all the replies but I know a lot of them do wean around 20 wk or so. I’m 28wk pg and still feeding my son who will be 3 in July. I have very limited supply now and am unfortunately experiencing breastfeeding aversion:-( its not put him off at all though and he is still interested x x although I know it’s just comfort now
I have nursed through 2 pregnancies. My ds self weaned when I was about 34 weeks as he didn’t like the taste he was just over 2. He did have a few feeds after she was born but wasn’t that interested. L fed throughout Ms pregnancy and am happily tandem feeding her at 2 and 4 months and M who’s 8 months. Good luck.
Every mom’s baody is so different. I fed my toddler during the first half of my current pregnancy. I am 35 weeks right now. My supply was fine (pregnqant with #8) it always was OK. My toddler didn’t complain and my health was fine. AS a CLC I see moms all teh time with this question. Start healthy, eat healthy, and everything should be fine. I weaned my toddler because of my personal reasons during this pregnancy. Milk may dry up and come back. Some moms have a lot of nipple sensitivity some none at all. Take it one day at a time…..
I nursed my dd all the way through my pregnancy and even when the supply dropped to zero weeks 19-25 (I knew because I couldn’t hear dd swallow anymore) she kept nursing without complaint. The book “Adventures in Tandem Nursing” is well worth a read for excellent factual info and other mum’s experiences. I found nursing through pregnancy very worthwhile. I wish you all the best.
I’m 32 weeks and still nursing my 18 mth old. Like anything everyone is different so my advice would be go with the flow. We hit a ‘rough’ patch about 20 weeks where my milk either changed in taste or slowed down. I did find my boy wanted to nurse more which on sensitive nipples I found really hard. Adventures in tandem nursing by Hilary flowers is an excellent book for advice. X
I tried to bf my 14month old while pregnant but it didn’t work for me. I still had milk but it seemed to be less than she wanted – she was frustrated and I was exhausted, she would be nursing for 2 or 3 hours at bedtime and still not be satisfied. I agree it depends on your body and your baby. Mine was very dependent on the breast and didn’t really start eating properly until I stopped. There’s nothing to lose by trying though 
)
I got pregnant with number 2 when my eldest was about 16 months old. I did keep breastfeeding her. She ended up self-weaning at about 19-20 months or so.However, she had already started to take cow’s milk before that and I was quite happy for her to gradually drink more and more of that and less breastmilk.
Also, she didn’t feed again until her brother was about 6 months old when all of a sudden she asked for “booby juice”. I saw no good reason to refuse so she had some. She has had the odd feed (maybe once every month or 2 ever since and she will be 5 next month. I don’t encourage her. I did not want her to start feeding full time again. I have seen some friends struggle with older toddlers becoming quite obsessed with it again and wanting to feed many times a day and I was a bit scared that would happen. So whenever she asked, I usually offered another drink first or told her she had to wait until I cleaned up the kitchen or something like that. But if she still wanted to, I let her. I didn’t want it to cause jealousy issues. I do not mind occasional feedings. I think it’s quite lovely, really. We finished nursing at around 24 weeks pregnant as he lost interest. Throughout that time i had hyperemesis and was hospitalised for dehydration and not once did my milk dry up. I don’t think ds2 liked the taste change. If he wants to go back to nursing when the baby arrives that’s fine by me as he is only 2 1/2. Though it will be on a only if requested basis My daughter was 4months when i got pregnant and i stopped bf when she was 7 months. I didnt notice a change in supply and she didnt go off it at all. Think our midwifes suggest stopping 6wks before due but not sure on what grounds. A friend of my aunts continued feeding successfully throughout and beyond pregnancy. I guess it would bring your milk in quicker? In any case i certainly never fully stopped lactating after my little girl stopped feeding. Hilary Flower is the author of Adventures in Tandem Nursing. http://kellymom.com/blog-post/links-nursingpregnant/ My daughter was 6 mths wen we fell preg so really really wasn’t keen to give up that early. Dd carried on until I was 8 mth prg, no sore nipples/aversions, and we had a lovely time as she wud feed and talk to bump. She just stopped one day wen we were on holiday, kept offering even after no 2 was born but no interest until dd2 was about 12 mths and since then she’s been on and off, once or twice a week. All snouty, ur body, what makes u n ur family happy n comfortable. Oh and before dd2 came back to the breast, any milk u expressed for the fridge/freezer went to her…. Even tiny amounts proved to be a lovely treat. Far better received than anything else. Good luck with it hon and read the tandem feeding book. If the Lll doesn’t have it at the moment, I’ve got a nct homebirth group copy u’d b welcome to borrow
“Any old Cow” Short Sleeved T 6-12 months 
Mummy Milk Rocks – Shopping Bag 
Care Instructions – Shopping Bag 
“Any old Cow” Short Sleeved T 3-6 months 
Any Old Cow – Shopping Bag 
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