Breastfeeding and weaning while pregnant weren’t things I anticipated when I started my breastfeeding journey. Like so much in motherhood, it just happened! When I looked for stories from other moms who breastfed and weaned while pregnant, I came up short. That’s why I’m sharing my experience, now one year later, to reflect on what it was like and how far we’ve come.
Whether you’re breastfeeding, weaning, pregnant, or all three at once, know that you’re not alone. What worked for me might not work for you, and that’s perfectly okay. Every mama’s journey is unique!
Setting Breastfeeding Goals and Adapting Plans
When I was pregnant with my daughter, my goal was to breastfeed for six months. I planned to take most of that time off work and use the last month to transition to pumping. However, midway through my maternity leave, I was laid off. My husband and I decided I’d stay home with our daughter, which allowed me to extend breastfeeding past six months since I didn’t need to pump for work.
As six months approached, breastfeeding was going well, so I set a new goal to make it to a year. Switching to formula didn’t feel necessary to me since nursing was manageable, and I wanted to keep the momentum going.
Navigating Weaning While Pregnant
When my daughter turned one, I was ready to start weaning, but she wasn’t on board. Every time we made progress, something like teething or a growth spurt would throw us off track. Slowly, she started dropping daytime feeds, except for nap time. The daytime feeds I was able to replace with snacks, which helped immensely.
When I found out I was pregnant with my second, I decided to move forward with weaning at a steadier pace. Breastfeeding while pregnant during the first trimester didn’t bother me physically, but I knew I wanted to finish weaning by the end of the year. By then, we were down to about four daily feeds—morning, nap time, bedtime, and occasionally overnight. I tackled them one at a time, starting with the morning feed. After her middle-of-the-night nursing session, I would sleep in another room so my husband could handle mornings. Within a week, she stopped asking for that feed.
Second Trimester Challenges
By my second trimester, breastfeeding while pregnant became more difficult as my milk supply dwindled and nursing grew uncomfortable. Dropping the overnight feed became easier as my daughter started sleeping through the night, leaving us with nap and bedtime feeds—the hardest to let go of.
For bedtime, I gradually reduced the amount of time she nursed, offering water or cereal if she seemed hungry. She wasn’t thrilled about the change but adjusted. Nap time was trickier. She wasn’t satisfied with snacks or water as replacements and often skipped naps entirely, leaving her cranky. I reminded myself it was just a phase, and she’d get back to napping once we figured out how to drop the feed.
The Final Stretch
On Thanksgiving last year, we started the day with a 5k. While we were at home getting ready to go to my parents for dinner, my daughter fell asleep on the couch without a feed. Later, she fell asleep in the car on the way home and stayed asleep when we put her in her crib—a rare occurrence. That was her first day without nursing.
The rest of the weekend, my husband handled naps and bedtime to keep the momentum going. I remember sitting downstairs and realizing our breastfeeding journey had come to an end. It was bittersweet—18 months of breastfeeding, a full year longer than I originally planned.
The mix of pregnancy hormones and weaning hormones hit hard that weekend. I felt emotional, grumpy, and exhausted, but I reminded myself this was a huge accomplishment. My body needed time to adjust, and I gave myself lots of grace (and ice cream, to be honest!).
Reflecting One Year Later
Now, one year later, I look back on breastfeeding while pregnant and weaning with a sense of pride and gratitude. At the time, it was an emotional rollercoaster, but it also taught me so much about patience and adaptability. That experience prepared me for parenting two littles, where flexibility is key.
My daughter occasionally asked for nursing in the weeks after we stopped, but she quickly moved on. She never took to other types of milk, but our pediatrician reassured us that she was getting enough dairy from other sources. She asked once more recently, more out of curiosity and because her brother was doing it, but quickly lost interest. Now, it’s just a memory—a meaningful chapter in our motherhood journey.
Final Thoughts for Moms Breastfeeding While Pregnant
If you’re breastfeeding while pregnant or navigating the weaning process, know that you’re not alone. It’s a challenging, emotional journey, but you’re doing an amazing job. Give yourself the time and space to adapt, and remember, every mom’s journey is unique.
Have you experienced breastfeeding while pregnant or weaning a toddler? Your story might be exactly what another mom needs to hear today. Drop a comment below to share your experience or ask questions. Let’s support each other, mama to mama!
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