Ok, Moms, I need some advice. I just found out we're pregnant with baby #2 (5wks), but am still nursing our 15 month old before bed each night. I was planning to continue to do this at least until the end of flu season in February. Now, I was wondering if nursing would take away any nutrients from the little one on the way. I haven't talked to my doctor yet about this. We just took the home test this morning. Any thoughts?
My girlfriend nursed while pg, and she is a La Leche counselor so sge is pretty well informed. Congrats on your baby on the way!
I nursed my daughter until 3 weeks before I had my son. My milk dried up toward the end (which probably made it easier to wean), but we had no problems. I have a friend who weaned her son while pregnant due to uncomfortable nipples, but I did not experience this.
There are many women who tandem nurse, or nurse more than one child at a time. It was not for me, but it is possible!
Congratulations on yor new baby! It is generally considered safe to continue breastfeeding while pregnant, but often doctors may be unaware. Unless the previous pregnancy had specific high risk issues, it's a "go." Nipple stimulation is the usual excuse given for not breastfeeding. Unless a mother has miscarried three times while breastfeeding, it is not considered "linked." Some moms do notice a few contractions, but these are considered safe and mild for most moms. Milk generally dries up sometimes by the 3rd month, so natural weaning by the older baby is usually in process by the birth. Good luck!
Amy
Baby will get its nutrients, no worries there. The problem is that w/you nursing, baby in utero & you trying to help everyone combat flu season they'll be taking nutrients from you. Talk to your doc, see what you can do to boost your own nutrition & such. I don't see why with building up your vitamin & mineral levels you couldn't nurse & be pregnant at the same time.
Eat a well balanced diet and increase your calorie intake by about 300 a day. Also take a mulit-vitamin and drink lots of water, and you should be okay for the next few months.
Hi Angela-
Unless their are high risk issues, you are totally safe nursing while pregnant, I have as well--the most helpful piece of advice is to get the book Adventures in Tandem Nursing: http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tandem-Nursing-Breastfeeding-Pregnancy/dp/0912500972. It's fantastic and talks about nutrition, pregnancy, emotions, etc. Great to nurse through flu/respiratory season. I hope my toddler will as well. Let me know if you have questions!
Hi Angela,
Congratulations! Everything everyone else mentioned is right on. The Adventures in Tandem Nursing has been my support, in addition to my La Leche League group. I am four months pregnant. When we found out, my son was still nursing numerous times a day. He has weaned to nursing only 1-3 times per day most days. He can't get the flu shot due to egg allergies, so I, too, am hoping to get us through flu season.
Sore nipples have been a hurdle for me, but knowing what my reasons are for continuing to provide this to my son keep me going, much like overcoming obstacles in the early breastfeeding relationship.
There are many benefits to continuing to nurse the older one, if you wish to, with the second one. One is that the older can help with engorgement issues early on. The other, more important one to my mind, is the reports of there being a closer sibling relationship and bonding, as the older child still gets bonding time with mom while nursing and doesn't feel as "displaced".
There was also an excellent article in Mothering magazine maybe three issues back titled "Unweaning Georgia" about a mom whose 3 yo had weaned before the baby, but there were so many issues after the baby mom decided to try nursing the older sibling again, and the relationships all improved immediately.
La Leche League (www.llli.org) has support forums and meetings. Mothering has support forums also (www.mothering.com).
I have found it more important to set limits for myself and respect my body. I have been more tired and nauseaus this time around, so have been taking frequent rest breaks, or even resuming the early habit of sleep when the baby sleeps, meaning taking naps if/when he does and going to bed some nights at 7:30 right after him. Exercise has also helped, which I wasn't doing consistently before getting pregnant. Eating food, let alone healthy food, was an issue first trimester, but now that the nausea is going away, I'm finding it easier to resume previously better eating habits.
Good luck in your pregancy and nursing relationship.
~Heather
Hi Angela,
If you nurse while pregnant it doesn't affect the baby you're carrying, but it takes a huge toll on your body-particularly your calcium levels. I've known people who had horrible teeth problems because of nursing while pregnant. Your 15 month old isn't getting any nutrients from your milk at this point anyways. They get the most nutrients from you in the first year, after that it's purely for soothing.
I hope this helps! Congratulations on your new little one on the way :)
Blessings,
Jeni
I nursed my 1 year old for a bit while pregnant too, with no problems. My son basically weaned himself, since the milk did dry up dramatically at about 16 weeks...just be prepared.
But I can't agree enough with the ladies who say to be super-vigilant about getting a ton of good nutrition. My older son was still relying on breastmilk for a good part of his calories when I became pregnant, and he developed anemia during that time. It may not have been related, but if I'd been more careful about his and my iron intake, I think it could've been avoided.
Do you take an Omega-3 supplement or DHA? That's not in most pre-natal vitamins, but it would be a good idea, since there are now 3 of you to nourish! Good luck!
Talk to the La Leche League folks in your area for information on this. Personally, I nursed my then-2-y.o. until my pregnancy with my second was twenty weeks along, at which point she self-weaned (I think my milk supply was diminishing at that point, plus, according to her, the taste had changed.) My doctor supported me in doing so. His one piece of advice was to pay careful attention to what I was eating, and to be sure that I drank water constantly. I have had several friends who also nursed through a pregnancy.
Hi Angela--
I nursed my son until two weeks before my second was born. The only thing is you have to make sure you are getting enough water and nutrients for all three of you. The person who said your son isn't getting benefit from breast milk anymore is just plain wrong. There are still lots of benefits nutritionally and emotionally for your son. The nutrients you take in will go to you and baby first, so make sure you are eating enough and drinking enough to also make breast milk and you will be fine. As long as you are comfortable with it it's fine to continue. You may start to get sore and uncomfortable and you can reasses at that time if that happens.
Good luck!
Jodi
So good to keep breastfeeding. I did it while I was pregnant and it was encouraged by my midwife to keep going. So glad I did.
I nursed while pregnant with my second. My boys are only 16 months apart. My OB/GYN suggested that I stop though because it was taking calories away from the fetus. I nursed mornings only up until I was about 25 weeks so?? I would just ask your doctor and she was he/she suggests.
Congratulations!
It's definitely OK to breastfeed through a pregnancy. I'll echo the recommendations for the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing," since it addresses this issue thoroughly and accurately. You could order it through llli.org or look up your local La Leche League contact there and call her--she probably has this book available to borrow for free. LLL is an awesome resource. Their Web site is big and comprehensive, and talking with a Leader or going to a meeting is fun and reassuring. You might also like the book "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler."
Studies have shown many mothers experience a drop in calcium while they are breastfeeding. As their babies gradually wean, they experience an intense "re-calcification" of their bones over the following year. There is no need to worry about calcium, beyond your normal healthy pregnancy efforts, and breastfeeding offers some protection against osteoporosis.
Some people have concerns about breastfeeding during pregnancy because they believe it can cause enough nipple stimulation to trigger pre-term labor or miscarriage. New research shows that is not accurate, except in extreme cases. It is safe for you to enjoy nursing your baby while you wait for another baby to join you.
Best wishes!
Definitely absolutely fine to nurse while pregnant. You may find however that your son may not want to nurse because the taste can change. I also had a problem with my milk supply. I am in that situation right now. I nursed as long as my little one would let me. Right now she won't nurse. Absolutely will not. Turns her head, purses her lips and fusses. But I am pumping once a day so she gets my milk about once a day. I talked to my pediatrician and he said that that it is fine to nurse while pregnant; you need to make extra sure that you are getting enough nutrients yourself, but many babies will wean themselves. This has been my experience, I'm a little sad about it, but happy to have another one on the way. You may find yourself extra tired, from being pregnant and nursing, but if you are only doing it once a day it probably won't make that big of a difference.
Good luck nursing and congrats on the new one.
You have gotten a lot of great advice. You can absolutely keep nursing. I have done it with 4 children now. You are doing a great job. Just increase your calories a little more and don't forget your vitimans. Good luck and congradulations.
My friend has her kids really close together (her babies were much younger than yours), and she always tried to keep nursing while she was pregnant. She didn't have much success because the babies decided to quit. She figured it was the change in taste.
I always worried about HER getting the nutrients! She stayed on top of taking her vitamins, etc., because she was nursing or pregnant for many years in a row, with no break! I think the mother's body is the one that sacrifices.
Good luck!
I did it with my first. My husband kept telling me it wasn't okay-he is a doctor, but not in pediatrics or ob. So most of what I had read is that it was okay. So my daughter was about 14 months when I found out I was pregnant with my second and I went ahead a breastfed for about 2 more months-slowly weening her off in those two months. It is not a problem.
Hi Angela,
If you ask your ob/gyn about it you are likely to get the advice to quit. I think it's simply a lack of complete understanding of nursing through the childbearing years. Here are some wonderful links that will start you on your own education about what is right for you and your babies. You can also find great resources here on the benefits of breastfeeding through two years of age.
http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/faq/01safety.html
http://www.kellymom.com/nursingtwo/articles/bfpregnancy_safety.html