Nursing Pregnant

Wow...theres an "I want" if I ever heard one...welcome to motherhood. Gestational diabetes is not an "except", it puts you in the high risk pregnancy category. Maybe talk to your doctor and find out exactly what the risks for you and the new baby are. Sometimes as mothers, taking care of our bodies(this includes our mental health), is the first step in taking care of our kids. What is better for your daughter? A full year of breast milk with a mom who's over tired and or worse, or a healthy mom who did the best she could given the circumstances. Make no mistake, 9 months of breast milk is great. If that's all you can do than you did very well. The most important thing you can do right now is take care of yourself in order to take care of your new baby.
Sorry if this sounds harsh, but sometimes we need to hear it.

There is absolutely no medical reason to stop breastfeeding while pregnant. Your doctor is not very lactation friendly, is he? I nursed throughout my whole second pregnancy and tandem nurse now. It's perfectly fine and healthy. I never had one contraction until labor. Orgasms give some woman contractions too, but that doesn't mean you can't have sex while your pregnant. Keep doing what you are happy with and I would look for a new doctor who is supportive of breastfeeding.

I would ask the doctor why he thinks it would be too hard. Is it because of the gestational diabetes or because of your schedule? Does he think you would be too tired? It takes a lot of energy to bf and then being pregnant on top of that... If you really want to, maybe try and see what happens. Obviously, you need to take care of yourself for the new little one on the way. of course, if you ever feel any cramping while nursing or pumping, you should stop. I have read of women that continued while pregnant until the last trimester and others that had to stop. It is true that this can cause premature labor. One of the suggestions I read when I was expecting--running a week late--was breast stimulation to move things along. Good luck.

Hi Jenn,
It is great to hear that you want to continue nursing while pregnant. I too was pregnant with my second while nursing my first. (I did that till I was 6 mo. preg.) My doctor said it was fine to do and often times if you quit before mom and baby are ready, it is even more stressful and harder on you both. I would speak to another doctor if possible and maybe even a lactaion consultant. Make sure you are up front with everyone about you health, but if it something you want to do and feel good about it, I would continue to look into it more.
Good luck,
K.

There really is no reason to stop nursing while you are pregnant, many women do it, and some even continue on to tandem nurse (nursing both toddler and baby). Some women do see a decrease in supply, so be sure to pay attention. If you had GD before, I would start a healthy diet now, similar to what you were on during the previous pregnancy. If you do only nurse her until one year you would be done nursing before the anti-insulin hormones of the placenta have had much, if any, time to affect you. If you have not been to the website kellymom.com, it is a great nursing resource, they have a section specifically about nursing during pregnancy. I would read some information on the topic, continue nursing until your next appt if you decide that is what you want, and then discuss your concerns, desires and plans with your doctor. Good luck. S.
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/index.html

Hi Jenn,

My daughter was 10 months when I got pregnant with my son, and I as well was told by my OB/GYN to stop breastfeeding. He told me it could cause premature contractions. Well, that explained why I was getting cramps everytime I breastfed. I stopped right away. I wanted to breastfeed until my daughter was 1yr as well but I couldn't put my son at risk like that (and I was only 6 weeks pregnant at the time).

I hope that helps. Good luck.

Jen