A working title for this post, which I had been thinking about for a while now, was “My Nipples Hurt.” Prompted by a question from a good friend and Green Mamma reader, I thought about the discomfort I had been feeling (and trying to ignore) while breastfeeding my toddler during pregnancy. To be honest, painful nursing session began months earlier than my pregnancy during the weeks prior to and of menses. Whenever my daughter would ask to nurse at that time, I would cringe a bit since I anticipated the discomfort, but continued to nurse on demand, though I did try to keep nursing sessions short and sweet.
Once I became pregnant, the breast tenderness I had experienced during menses returned and would not go away. Meanwhile, my husband and I had already started transitioning our daughter to a sleep space beside our bed and later to her own room (though we do co-sleep for part of the night when she asks us to). With our daughter’s sleep transitions came lessened nighttime nursing; I have a theory about this: since she could not smell me nor my breastmilk supply, her night wakings slowed down because she was not waking up with the desire to nurse. What this has meant for me during a tiring first trimester is that I experienced deeper nighttime sleep (which believe me, I am so in need of since I am both pregnant and nursing during the day) and less breast tenderness at night (that also allows me to stay in a deeper sleep).
With lessening nighttime nursing (I still do when she wakes up and asks to sleep next to me and nurse) and feeling more energized during the day, I have noticed that I am more willing to nurse my daughter during the day. Still, our nursing relationship has changed; prior to my pregnancy, I nursed wherever and whenever my daughter wanted, whereas now, I am actively limited her nursing to a morning session, naptime session, and 2 nighttime sessions. When I ask her whether she is able to get “milk” from mamma’s “num-nums,” she says no, and she also frequently asks to switch sides (perhaps with the intent of stimulating more milk?). At age 2, she is eating solids and obtaining almost all of her caloric needs from meals. Since breastfeeding for my daughter seems to be more about comfort than nutrition, we spend more and more time together cuddling, having hugs and kisses, playing, bathing and reading together.
For those of you who are nursing during pregnancy, have nursed during pregnancy, or are planning a pregnancy and nursing an older child, how would or did you encourage and stimulate bonding with your child without relying as much on nursing?
To learn more about breastfeeding during pregnancy, I found the following helpful resources, discussing everything from safety, nutrition, breast tenderness, pain relief, breastmilk quality, weaning, and tandem nursing.
Kelly Mom
Nursing During Pregnancy and Tandem Nursing
A hub at Kelly Mom’s web-site linking to several articles regarding nursing during pregnancy and tandem nursing.
Sore nipples and agitation during pregnancy
Includes explanations and suggestions regarding breast tenderness when nursing through pregnancy.
Addresses the changes in milk composition during pregnancy, as well as how to supplement your child’s diet should weaning occur.
Will Nursing Affect the Nutrition of My Unborn Child?
Includes research regarding the healthiness of newborns whose mothers nursed while pregnant, as well as Kelly’s personal experience.
Is it Safe to Nurse During Pregnancy?
Addresses breastfeeding contractions, pregnancy complications, miscarriage/preterm labor risks, as well as the mother’s health.
La Leche League
“Breastfeeding During Pregnancy” I
A hub at La Leche League’s web-site that links to several articles regarding nursing during pregnancy and tandem nursing.
“Breastfeeding During Pregnancy” II
Discusses the safety and potential risks involved with breastfeeding during pregnancy, as well as how mothers may gain the extra rest needed to support a pregnancy and breastfeed a child. Also includes suggestions for coping with breast tenderness.
Discusses the hormonal changes in a mother during early pregnancy and onward; also addresses nipple soreness, decreased milk supply, as well as mother’s intense feelings about breastfeeding.
Parenting Magazine’s Ask Dr. Sears
Discusses the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy, as well as the potential risks involved with nursing during pregnancy, with suggestions for how to enhance bonding with your child should you choose to wean him/her.
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Hi Robin, I like your idea of morning snuggling and lots of holding and wearing during the day. Actually I am noticing that Annabelle seems more easily upset and sensitive during the day now that she is nursing less often (and I feel less patient and sensitive at times too). Today I spent much of my day holding her, making up games, holding her hands, etc. so that we could reconnect, which is so important to me and I feel that is so for her too.
Also, I have heard other nursing moms share similar stories in which their older nursling would fiddle with mamma’s belly button or jelly roll. =) Annabelle sometimes will do this too.
And thank you so much for sharing! Believe me, I need insights and help from other parents as much as the next gal. So thank you!
i also nursed through my pregnancy and as your are experiencing my ds nursed less often. he ended up night weaning on his own during the end of my second trimester and limited his nursing during the day to falling asleep for bedtime and naptime. i tried to encourage him to snuggle in bed in the mornings when he dropped that nursing session, and we did a lot of holding, wearing, etc throughout the day. he also replaced his nursing with a habit of twiddling the mole on my stomach. he actually self weaned the day my dd was born but continues to twiddle my mole when he falls asleep and if he needs comfort during the night.
hope that is not tmi! sorry to go on and on.
Congrats! I am finding it is less worrisome being pregnant the second time around. I am due in mid August; yes, I just announced in on Green Mamma and to friends about 2 weeks ago.
I had no idea you were pregnant again – congrats! When are you due? I’m due with #2 around the end of June/beginning of July.
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