Breastfeeding question

[mokster26]

This is a bit similar to a recent post but I am at a bit of a loss so here goes. I'm 27 weeks pregnant and have fed Max with no drama up til now (he is almost 20 months). My problem is my milk seems to have disappeared . I can't express even a drop of milk - only clear fluid. I've noticed he spends less and less time nursing - more like he cuddles the breast with less than a minute of sucking each side. He generally only nurses twice per day - before day nap and before night sleep. DH would be happy for me to wean and if I didn't offer I think Max may only want to nurse every few days but I'm not ready for that - I still find the comfort and pleasure it gives him worthwhile and I'm scared if I cut down the nursing time there will be nothing left.
I am not sure what's going on - whether the milk has gone for good, whether it's the start of colostrum . I was really hoping some tandem feeders or Bf gurus might be able to shed some light.

[johT]

yup colustrum - very good for him and if he continues he will get lots of milk after baby is born

[mokster26]

It's a pitiful amount of colostrum then It seems like there's nothing much there - I certainly can only raise a drop with almost painful squeezing (ouchie). He has to suck pretty hard to get anything at all - he may give it up soon (unless he's happy to still cuddle and patthe breast indefinitely )

[~*Bron*~]

yep, colostrum. a newborn's tum, in the first 24 hours, is only 5ml - so you can see why we produce tiny amounts of colostrum

[mokster26]

So now even more questions
if it's turned to colostrum already will this be all I produce for the next 13 weeks??
As Max has started to suck harder my boobs are sore for the first time ever - is there anything I can do? I am worried I will get cracked nipples
Is it possible the colostrum will just dry up at some stage?
If I only feed when max wants to nurse and this ends up being only once a day or every two days will it dry up then?
Sorry for the 101 questions - I am planning to rejoin ABA before July and bub no 2 joins us but am broke from buying new baby stuff on B4B

[johT]

im no expert but i think i can answer these correctly

Originally Posted by mokster26

So now even more questions
if it's turned to colostrum already will this be all I produce for the next 13 weeks??yes
As Max has started to suck harder my boobs are sore for the first time ever - is there anything I can do? I am worried I will get cracked nipples you have done better than me - bree got to that stage in the first trimester and i stopped offering.
just make sure his attachment is right i guess...?
Is it possible the colostrum will just dry up at some stage?nope it will be there for your nb
If I only feed when max wants to nurse and this ends up being only once a day or every two days will it dry up then?i dont think so....i leaked colostrum in my pregs when i wasnt bf.
Sorry for the 101 questions - I am planning to rejoin ABA before July and bub no 2 joins us but am broke from buying new baby stuff on B4B

eta if you go to the aba website they have info on tandem feeding and pregnancy

[~*Bron*~]

as joh said you won't get cracked nipples, though they might become tender. that's due to pregnancy hormones though, not from poor attachment. your colostrum will remain till your mature milk comes in - it's all hormonally controlled and pregnancy hormones are mighty powerful

[robbo3]

Nate weaned when I was about 6mths pregnant....my milk turned to colostrum and after a while he would have a suck and say YUCK....he was 21mths when he weaned and when I offered him a taste of babies milk on my finger after my milk came in he wiped it away, yelled yuck and ran away

[mokster26]

Thanks everyone - Joh especially for the answers to every question . I guess I will just keep going the way I have been and see how things go. He was content tonight to just have a short nurse each side with four breaks for cuddles. It's gorgeous - he starts to nurse then pulls off, snuggles right in to the boob, looks up at me with a big smile then gives it a pat and goes back to nursing. I think he's happy even if he isn't getting much boob milk . Thanks too Bron - we have never had any problems Bfing - I didn't even consider pregnancy hormones.