Nursing While Pregenant

As most of the other Moms will tell you, its best to check with your Doctor and maybe even get a few other Medical Opinions. However, I believe from EVERYTHING I've read (and, I've read a whole lot on breastfeeding), that you should continue for as long as you can, up until the 3rd trimester. Some say that breastfeeding can bring on early contractions...but this is noted as usually only a "potential" concern in the last trimester.

If possible, your first child should have the best advantage possible of receiving PRICELESS nutrition and protection that will last him a LIFETIME (and, this is proven science).

It will be important that you go out of your way to really take care of yourself, adjust your work schedule and other activities as necessary, in order for your body/mind/emotions to be able to ramp-up for this pregnancy while still nourishing your 1st born.

The beautiful thing is that God created women's bodies to provide all the nutrition their child needs for at least the first year. And, only God can allow a new life to come about too.

You're doing the right thing in gaining counsel from many, checking with your doctor and commiting your decisions in the end to God and agreements with your mate and yourself.

Take care. Congrats! Many Blessings - L.

Many clients in my midwifery practice breast feed while pregnant and quite a few choose to continue and breastfeed both children at once, in other words breastfeed throughout the pregnancy and beyond (tandem nursing). It is not for everyone as it can be very demanding, but for some mothers it is the best way to ease the firstborn into being a big brother or sister and avoid the stress of weaning.

M.,
Your story sounds so familiar. I'm 3 mo. pregnant and have an 11 mo. old that just weaned a few weeks ago. All of the research I did online & after talking to my OB/GYN it is ok to keep nursing as long as you aren't feeling any uterine tightening. Our pediatrician's opinion though was the opposite. She says to wean by 12 wks. Needless to say we are changing peds now. My son ended up weaning himself when we had to introduce formula because he wasn't gaining any weight. Anyway, regardless of other's opinions, do what you feel is best. Your gut is always right. Congrats on the new one!
C.

Hi M.,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You will surely have full hands. However, I wouldn't recommend breastfeeding while pregnant. It takes so much of your body and its nutrients to produce breastmilk and obviously those first few months are extremely important and require soo soo much of your body and its nutrients too.

I don't want to alarm you, but I would definitely check with your doctor. When my daughter was 10 months and breastfeeding I found out I was pregnant. I was a bit defiant in warnings to wean her, thinking that surely many mothers around the world breastfeed while pregnant. Unfortunately, I miscarried. So, this may not be the case in every situation, but just be sure you have your doctor's blessing and make sure she is following you carefully.

Best Wishes!!!

S.

This is something that you will need to discuss with your doctor. I did nurse for an extremely short amount of time after I learned I was pregnant with my second child. I stopped when my daughter was 10 months old. I stopped because she was essentially weaning herself anyway. I also wanted to give my body a break before the next round of nursing.

Good luck and God Bless!

I would check with your OB to make sure, but I got pregnant when my daughter was 5 months old. With my doctor's blessing, I continued nursing my daughter until she was 8 months old. She quit on her own (my doc told me that the taste of the milk is sometimes altered when you are pregnant).

I found that my energy level went down very easily if I didn't take care of myself. Like I said, check with your doctor to make sure, but I did it for several months with very little trouble.

Good luck - raising two kids that close together can be a challenge but it is also really fun!

C.

Yes!! It is fine to nurse while pregnant! The only downside might be if your breasts get tender from the pregnancy, nursing could be a little uncomfortable.

Try checking out www.lalecheleague.org They have many chapters in the DFW area and the leaders/members are very helpful with any questions regarding breastfeeding.

:-) H.
Mommy to Mandy (BF for 13 months), & Joey (BF for 16 mo)

You should ask a physician. My husband is in the medical arena and he has always said that it would be best to not get pregnant with another child until at least 18 months after the first. This is because your body has lost so much in terms of energy, nutrition, blood, etc and it needs that time to rehab and get back to being fit enough to have another one. There are higher rates of even minor problems with pregnancies that occur back to back (that's not to scare you...the % is still low, just higher than waiting the 18 mos...a doc would tell you that too). But, my guess is that a doc will tell you to discontinue the breast feeding bc you will need to keep your energy up, keep all the nutrients going to your new baby, and get ready for breastfeeding the new one. Congrats on the new addition!

M.,

I, too, found myself in a similar situation as you. My first sone was only six months old when I conceived my second. My doctor recommended that I stop breastfeeding initially. But I just couldn't. I did not want to cheat my son out of this experience. I continued on until about three months into my pregnancy, my milk dried up. I will give you this advice - trust your body. If you are dead set on it and everyone is healthy - do it. If it becomes too much and your new baby needs that nutrition, your body will tell you. I just don't think God makes mistakes. If you were not intended to breastfeed while pregnant, you would have not milk. This is my opinion only. Take it for what it's worth.

All in all, I am glad that I continued on as my son has a ton of food allergies and at least I was able to give him a good start on nutrition. My second son is very healthy. All is well. Good luck M.!

- C.