 Following on from my last blog when I was 20 weeks, I am now 32 weeks. I was breastfeeding Daniel at night and I had noticed my milk supply had dropped significantly when I wrote the last blog. Daniel was just feeding at night at this stage and it really was only for a few minutes. I love putting the boys to bed and enjoy those snuggles. Id feed Daniel, read some books and he’d snuggle in and we’d sing our songs. He’d happily go into his cot then with his teddy and was now sleeping the night until about 5.30am-6am. Yes, an early riser! And to remind you all, he didn’t sleep the night until about 18 months. This is normal. My first boy Oisín was sleeping the night at 3 months. He was breastfed and we did nothing differently. So, each baby is differently. Don’t ever get hung up on it, especially when people ask you ‘And how is your baby sleeping?’…my answer is ‘like a baby’!!! As that phrase confuses me!! It should be ‘Like their Dad’ if you have a good sleeper but ‘like a baby’ can mean anything!!! I had also increased my calories in my diet both healthy and unhealthy!! The girls in the GP practice, where I work as a Practice Nurse too, can vouch for my daily scones and any chocolate around, I was the taster. I also increased good fats e.g. daily avocados, homemade granola, so, I was getting lots of extra omega’s and calories. I was after all, supporting a growing baby and feeding a toddler. Daniel had also increased his food intake. He is a good grubber. The feeds were pretty short now at this stage and I can’t remember exactly the last night of the last breastfeed, it just happened. I don’t get hung up on it. It’s nature. It’s our body. The last few nights or maybe even a week, he was doing a lot of eye contact with me as much to say ‘mummy, I think there is no milk there’. Why does milk production usually decrease during pregnancy? Progesterone levels gradually rise during pregnancy. One theory for the cause of decreased milk supply during pregnancy (Flower 2003) is that the progesterone makes the alveoli permeable, or “leaky,” so they can’t store milk well. He would tap my chest when he wanted a feed. I may have missed a night feeding him if I was away or not at home. The next night I remember putting him to bed and he didn’t look for it and I didn’t push it. It was totally Daniels decision and I respect that. He did snuggle in, in the same position as I would feed him after we read your books and we sang our songs and had cuddles and he was happy with this but never looked for it. I would have being about 24 weeks when our breastfeeding journey came to an end. I would have liked to have tandem fed but that wasn’t part of our breastfeeding journey with Daniel. I am happy with this. I’m not upset by it as it, was Daniels decision and I would never force him to feed especially when my milk supply had stopped. It is a relationship between 2 people and there has to be respect. I never set out when I started Breastfeeding saying, ‘I’ll stop now at 12 months, 2 years etc.’ For me, it’s a natural progression. He was still getting all the comfort and attention he needed in other ways. We still did the same routine at bedtime. Cuddles, books and more cuddles and made it lots of fun with lots of smiles and chats. He is a very happy and healthy little 21 month old so, he was not deprived. Approximately 6 weeks now since our last breastfeed and I have noticed my breasts have enlarged and I am producing a small amount of colostrum from one of my breasts. This is normal and natural. Our bodies are amazing and should be regarded as temples during this special time… wouldn’t you agree!!! I hope to blog a bit when my new nursling arrives or maybe snap chat might be easier, if all goes to plan with the birth and early weeks. So, keep in touch and any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. Orla Dorgan Practice Nurse & Lactation Consultant Website: www.lactationtalk.com Facebook: Lactation Talk with Orla Dorgan Mob: 087 403 3352
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