nursing while expecting

[mo2]

Hypothetical situation for today:

 

You believe in child-led weaning. You are still nursing your toddler and recently found out you are pregnant. Your doctor tells you to stop nursing. Do you:

 

A) Wean your toddler.

B) Continue nursing but don't tell your doctor.

C) Find a new doctor.

[Tammy]

My doctor acted like it was a crime to nurse while pregnant...but I felt my body would continue to produce milk if it was meant to be....and it did....and everything was fine!

 

Tammy

[Mom2legomaniacs]

What might the reason be that the doctor said to stop nursing? Is there a medical issue? I nursed while pregnant. I know many who nursed while pregnant. In a normal, healthy situation, that should be possible.

[Moxie]

If my OB/Gyn has a reason, I'd listen and research. If his/her reason is that tandem nursing isn't "normal" I'd find a new doctor.

 

BTW, you might want to slowly try to wean the toddler. I found nursing at the end of pregnancy to be the absolute WORST feeling! I really felt like the skin was being ripped off my entire body. Hormones, big fun!

 

Congrats on the baby!

[Jenn in Mo]

I'd question the doctor and research his reasoning for the specific cause he gave.

 

As long as it is a low-risk, healthy pregnancy and your diet is healthy and weight/growth is steady, there is no medical reason to wean. I've nursed while pregnant and both girls were happy and healthy. The baby in utero turned out to be my fattest and healthiest of all.

[mo2]

There are 2 reasons, both of which I have researched and consider to be invalid:

 

1. Nursing will steal valuable nutrients from the developing baby. (Not true. I think if there is a problem, the milk supply will decrease, not the baby suffer.)

2. Nursing can cause contractions. (These contractions are similar to the ones some people have after intercourse, but no doctor routinely tells their patients to stop having sex.)

[forty-two]

B or C, depending on how much I otherwise liked the doc.

 

I've been nursing my toddler throughout this pg, and my mw has completely supported me. Do you have a history of m/c or preterm labor that might explain his rec? Did he even give a reason? My understanding is that nursing, like teA, is completely safe during pg unless you have specific risk factors.

[Lovedtodeath]

If you have an irritable uterus or nutritional/health issues yourself (I have both) then it is not a good idea. For a normal, healthy person it is possible and normal. But, it can get uncomfortable. And of course, it will deplete the momma more to provide for two children. I would definitely get a good nutritional whole food supplement and stick to it.

[Michele B]

"Everyone" I know that has nursed while pregnant has been fine - except me! I lost a baby at 10 weeks. I was nursing a 17-month old a couple of times a day. My doctor said it was fine, women have been doing it. Your body gives the pregnancy priority over breastmilk. But when I later went to a reproductive specialist when I was trying to conceive again - they were adamant that I NOT nurse while pregnant. That they would not treat me if I nursed while pregnant again. So I urge caution, but I don't personally know anyone else this has happened to.

[Mama2Three]

Full disclosure: I am a firm believer in the benefits of extended nursing. I nursed all my DC until they were ready to wean. That also means that I've been pregnant and/or nursing for 7 1/2 years, lol!

 

I agree with other posters who said to ask your doctor. For example, if premature labor is a concern, that might be a reason not to nurse your older DC. From my understanding, in a normal, healthy pregnancy, there is no concern that the baby in utero would be at risk because an older sibling is nursing. The babies take what they need from mom's body, and you just need to make sure that you get lots of good food, rest, exercise -- basically, just taking care of yourself. You might want to ask about supplements, esp if you aren't already taking prenatal vitamins. But if your OB isn't supportive about BFing in general, I would be concerned that he/she might not be supportive in other ways as well.

 

La Leche League is a great resource -- lalecheleague.org -- they even have a book on tandem nursing that would address your questions in detail.

 

My first DS nursed through my second pregnancy (and well beyond). My DD was nursing at the beginning of my 3rd pregnancy, but she weaned when I was about 4-5 months along. PM me if you have any other questions from someone who's BTDT. :)

[hsmamainva]

As a former LLL Leader, I would say that my suggestion would depend on why the doctor wants you to stop nursing. If it's just because it's "different" or "not the norm", then I'd either find a new doctor, or just say, "I'll take it under consideration" and keep on nursing.

 

Now, if there's a physical reason why you need to stop nursing (pre-term labor, for instance) then that's something to take into consideration in making your decision.

 

And I'd also need to know how old the toddler / child is that's still nursing. Most will stop nursing on their own when the milk supply naturally decreases (around the 5th month of pregnancy). Some persistent ones will keep right on going, no matter how little milk there is.

 

My oldest child stopped nursing at 2 1/2, when I reached my 5th month of pregnancy with #2. It was almost textbook! She even said something to the effect of, "It's not worth the effort," and she was done.

 

Now my 3rd child nursed through my pregnancy with my 4th child, and kept on nursing for another 6 months after she was born! So I was tandem nursing two of them for awhile. Some moms are uncomfortable doing it, so that's something else to consider in your decision.

 

I hope this helps!

[Mom24bz1g]

I have tandem nursed 2 kids and been *regnant. (My * * key doesn't work). I had an irritable uterus. From 4.5 months on with all my kiddos (including the first) I have contractions. Nursing didn't make it more or less, it just was. The only child I delivered early was the first so clearly nursing didn't make a difference. The other children were right on their due date or weeks late.

 

My last child is 4. She has just sto**ed nursing. It has been 13 years of nursing and the end has been very *eaceful.

 

I would tandem nurse unless there was a real medical reason for me not to. I know my doctor's didn't like it, but I guess I didn't really care. I only saw them once a month. The midwife's didnt' have a *roblem with it.

 

I would say to go with your instincts.

 

Blessings,

Michele

[~Tara~]

Ditto the others....question Drs reasons for telling you NOT to nurse the toddler. If it doesn't jive with your findings, find a new Dr. Or just do what you want and ignore further such advice from current Dr. .. just keep seeing him/her for whatever reason you choose to do so.

[Kim in Appalachia]

until it started hurting a lot! My dd was only 15 months old. I cried when I weaned her. (of course, she didn't care at all. She went to bed without a complaint and never once asked to nurse) But it was the pain that made me stop, not the pregnancy (the pain was caused by the pregnancy, a change in hormones, but I didn't stop because I was pregnant).

 

My doc just told me to eat more, especially more protein.

 

HTH

[Perry]

I'd find out what the doctor's concerns are, first. If they don't seem well informed, I'd just tell him/her that I have researched it and feel comfortable with continuing for now. That said, I had the opposite experience. I tried to nurse baby #2 while pregnant with baby #3, and I felt horrible and exhausted. Many people, including health care professionals, urged me to continue anyway. I felt much better after weaning, although they did manage to make me feel inadequate and guilty.

[Lovedtodeath]

 

I'd find out what the doctor's concerns are, first. If they don't seem well informed, I'd just tell him/her that I have researched it and feel comfortable with continuing for now. That said, I had the opposite experience. I tried to nurse baby #2 while pregnant with baby #3, and I felt horrible and exhausted. Many people, including health care professionals, urged me to continue anyway. I felt much better after weaning, although they did manage to make me feel inadequate and guilty.

:grouphug: How horrible. To me nursing and weaning is a very personal choice. I am starting on weaning now because I don't think my health can take much more of this. It is a delicate balance as to how much nursing exhausts a mother and if her health improved with weaning can benefit her children.

[joannqn]

I would find a new doctor unless you have a legitimate health issue that makes it risky to nurse while pregnant.

 

You need to drink extra to account for your needs, your pregnancy needs, and your nursing needs.

 

I know from personal experience that dehydration can cause both miscarriage and preterm labor so guard against that. If I get pregnant again before my toddler weans, I'll still continue to nurse.

[Laurie4b]

I stopped nursing when I got pregnant because a friend who had been nursing when pregnant had to stop cold turkey when it began to contribute to premature labor. I didn't want my child to be weaned cold turkey, so I weaned gradually when I first got pregnant, before premature labor was an issue.

[Chris in VA]

I nursed for 3 months into my second pregnancy without a problem. My midwife said the taste of the breastmilk actually changes when you are pregnant--I don't have any personal experience to vouch for that one;) but it does make sense as there are so many hormones racing around, and the body does give priority to the pregnancy.

 

I agree with everyone else that this is personal but find out why your dr said what he did. I wanted my firstborn to be done nursing (didn't want to tandem nurse) when the newest one came, and I needed all my energy to grow the new one and look after the first one!

[cathmom]

I nursed my second child through my pregnancy with my third and then tandem nursed with no problems.

 

I got pregnant twice while tandem nursing and lost both babies (they were blighted ovum pregnancies). After a lot of research, I concluded that my body was very depleted of vitamins and nutrients and could not nurse 2 dc and build another. I then concentrated on building up my system again. (Many have argued with me about my conclusion here so I just want to say that it's not up for debate!)

 

#4 was still nursing when I got pg with the twins. Both my midwife and OB urged me to wean him completely. He was 20 months and only nursing at nap and bedtime. I was conflicted about weaning him when he weaned himself.

 

The twins were still nursing last year when I got pg with #7. They both weaned themselves in February when I was 3-4 months pg.

 

So, personally, I think you can nurse during pregnancy if you don't have any risk factors and take seriously your nutrition and hydration.

[Punks in Ontario]

I've nursed all the way through pregnancy, and felt great! You do need to drink and eat ALOT though. By the way, I found that the pregnancies that I nursed through, I didn't feel nauseous or tired for either. The midwife said it was the different hormonal balance. I decided then I always wanted to nurse if I was preg. again! Too bad I couldn't talk dh into having more. LOL.

 

Punks

boys, boys and boys (12, 10, 5, 4)

[abbeyej]

Unless I had a history of premature labor, or had indications that it was a concern this time, or was borderline malnourished already, I would keep nursing the toddler. (And know that the toddler might wean soon anyway due to change in taste, lack of milk, or my own inability to stand being touched.)

 

If I liked everything else about the doctor (at least as well or better than the options available to me), I simply wouldn't mention nursing again and would stay put. If this was just one of many small signs that the doctor wasn't well-versed in more "natural" ways of doing things, I'd be putting out feelers for another doctor or midwife.

 

I did nurse my first all the way through my second pregnancy and tandem nursed for almost 6 months after that. (Obviously the toddler didn't nurse often like the newborn did, but occasionally certainly.) My doctor knew and never expressed any concerns about it at all. But he was a big proponent of natural birth and nursing, etc.

[Quiver0f10]

I saw a Dr at the beginning of my pregnancy with William and the Dr told me to wean ASAP. I found a MW and she encouraged me to continue nursing. I nursed for 5 more months with no trouble.

[Joanne]

I'd find a new doctor because my personal and observational experience is that dr's who advise weaning in the absence of risk factors do so "automatically" and without knowledge of a natural breastfeeding relationship.

 

It also is connected to other choices that would be of import to me. It's unlikely such a medical professional would honor my approach to pregancy, labor and delivery.

 

I nursed through 3 pregnancies (one miscarried), tandem nursed nearly 2 years and nursed 3 children for {an undisclosed amount of time}.

[CactusPair]

I'd speak to a new doctor. Unless there's something serious going on medically the advice seems out-of-date and misinformed.

 

I nursed through the 6th month of pregnancy, then my 2 yo weaned himself. If he hadn't weaned, I planned to tandem nurse.

 

I had a healthy pregnancy and my newborn was robust. No problems with nutrition, etc. for any party concerned.:001_smile:

[Rosie_0801]

If my doctor was to come out with that, I'd want to know why. If the reasons were good, I'd do some extra research. If the reasons were stupid, I'd tell him/her I had already done some research (which I have) and didn't feel it was a problem. I certainly wouldn't hide it. Urgh. I spent an hour the other day refusing to go on insulin and that was with the registrar, diabetic educator and midwife trying to convince me. If my doctor was going to be horrid about it, I'd find another. If their attitude was "I've told you, now it's your responsibility" then I'd stay, assuming I was in all other ways happy. That's how it is with my prenatal care at the moment...

Dd is nearly 18 months and still asks most days. She can't be getting more than half a teaspoon out of each side though. If she still wants it after this baby is born and I start producing a decent amount again, that'll be ok. If she doesn't want to, that will be even more ok! Neither my midwives nor the registrar (who I see regularly because of the gestational diabetes) ever asked, and when it came up in conversation, didn't care.

:)

Rosie

[nmoira]

I nursed while pregnant, with no ill effects. My doctor thought nothing of it.

[gandpsmommy]

If these are his only reasons then tell him he can either deal with it and it is no longer up for debate or you will find another Dr. who is more comfortable with your choices. If the milk dries up the toddler will quit on his own and if you get uncomfortable you can always decide you are done but don't stop based on the faulty logic of some dr.

 

:iagree:If these are the only reasons your doctor has, then I would politely make your decision clear to your doctor, letting him/her know that you have researched it and thought it through. If the doctor agrees to let you make the decision and not pressure you to change it, then I would stay. If the doctor continues to try to persuade you to change your mind, I would seek out another doctor whose views are more in line with yours. FWIW, I nursed my daughter throughout my entire second pregnancy. My son was born very healthy, with the same height and weight at birth as my daughter had been. I tandem nursed them until ds was almost 9 months old. They are both healthy children.

[Ellie]

There's no reason to stop nursing just because you're pregnant. Now, you might find it difficult to nurse--sore *body parts* and all that; your nursing toddler might not like the taste of your milk as changes in preparation for the new baby; but those are things you wait and see.

 

I wouldn't even have a long conversation with the doctor. I'd probably not say anything at all, but if he asked I'd tell him that no, I was not planning to stop, and I'd refuse to discuss it. The end.