Pregnant w/milk drop - How to tell if baby is getting enough

Amanda - posted on 07/18/2010

I didn't really notice that her bowel movements changed, but that was almost 3 years ago now! :) She was one of those BF babies that only went once every 10-14 days so I don't think she did, but I know that it is really common for that to happen. I'm 16 weeks pregnant now and nursing a 2 year old...I have noticed that he has a little more loose stool than before, and goes twice a day now instead of just once. Way to go on trying to let your child wean! I feel that is best for my kids, but some days I want to tell my 2 year old that my booboos (breasts) just fell off and dried up! I don't think he would buy it! If you are having tenderness with nursing it is suppose to decrease once you hit 12 weeks or so, but it didn't with my first and hasn't with this pregnancy either. I'm not sore in general....only when he latches on initially just like the first couple of weeks you are nursing a newborn. That is the only part I really dislike about nursing when pregnant. Otherwise it is the perfect reason for me to sit down and put my feet up! Every kid is different and I think my daughter's personality was to just say it wasn't worth it to get nothing out, but my son now is very persistent. Even when I know he isn't getting any milk out (because he has been nursing for 30 minutes or so) he still wants to keep trying for more! Sorry for the long post, but I love that there are other moms out there who want to nurse their kids and let them decide when to wean...I get a lot of negative feedback from my family and friends for "allowing" my son to nurse. I try to laugh and tell them that yes I would prefer a screaming toddler yelling "I want booboos" vs a happy content one cradled in my arms! :)

Tanya - posted on 07/17/2010

Amanda, I have a quick question for you. Did your daughter's bowel movements become more watery and more frequent? I noticed that with my son, though I read that may be due to the milk being partially colustrum. Thanks so much for that helpful info! I really want to let my son self-wean. He is so dependent on nursing right now and we both still enjoy it.

Amanda - posted on 07/17/2010

My oldest was about that age when I got pregnant with our second. OH MY did the number of nursing increase!! I would still let her nurse on demand, but there were times when I could tell she was not happy with the results so we did exactly as you are thinking. We gave frozen milk esp at bedtime when she was trying to settle down. I think if your son is eating solids he may be getting fluids from that. It just depends on what you are giving as solids. I tried frozen milk from a sippy cup too, but my daughter wouldn't have it..she liked warm and from a nipple (mine or a bottle). So I just let her nurse whenever she wanted and she actually weaned when I was 7 months pregnant. I think mostly because she was getting nothing out. So as long as your son is peeing and pooping the same and looks overall healthy I wouldn't start juices unless you were planning on doing that anyway. If he looks/acts ahppy then I wouldn't worry too much about it so long as he keeps growing and meeting milestones. Happy pregnancy!