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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Must I stop breastfeeding now I'm pregnant with no 2?

21 replies

Lucy1977 · 13/04/2007 23:13

Hi

Sorry if this is a silly question to some but I think I saw something on here or another forum that there could be a risk to the pregnancy if you're still feeding? It wasn't recently so I hope I have got confused as I had hoped to feed DD (14 months) until she weaned herself.

Does anyone know anything about any risks affecting a pregnancy if you're still breastfeeding?

Thanks
Lucy

OP posts:

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SenoraPostrophe · 13/04/2007 23:15

no, you don't have to stop. You can feed both children when the baby's born too.

You're lucky: sometimes milk dries up.

butterflyflutterby · 13/04/2007 23:21

Bfing in pg is fine. The unborn baby stakes first claim to the nutrients it needs, so the bfing toddler may notice some reduction in the quantity of milk, or a change in the taste. But the toddler can still bf happily and safely through the pg and beyond if it suits you.

I bfed dd1 throughout my pg with dd2, and continued feeding dd1 in tandem with dd2 for about 6 months after dd2 was born. DD1 then gradually weaned.

butterflyflutterby · 13/04/2007 23:21

Bfing in pg is fine. The unborn baby stakes first claim to the nutrients it needs, so the bfing toddler may notice some reduction in the quantity of milk, or a change in the taste. But the toddler can still bf happily and safely through the pg and beyond if it suits you.

I bfed dd1 throughout my pg with dd2, and continued feeding dd1 in tandem with dd2 for about 6 months after dd2 was born. DD1 then gradually weaned.

butterflyflutterby · 13/04/2007 23:21

sorry

Lucy1977 · 13/04/2007 23:30

Thanks SP and BFFB for your reassuring replies. I'm only about 6wks so my milk might dry up but I wanted to check if I needed to stop for the health of my growing baby.

*funny that you say my milk might change in taste, this paste week my DD has started unlatching and smiling then chattering whilst rubbing her tummy (her version of "yummy in my tummy") - coincidence I know with her just learning to do this but very cute none the less

Lucy

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 13/04/2007 23:38

Congratulations!

I spoke to my obstetrician about this and he said the only two issues were (1) if you are tired through pregnancy bfing may make it worse if you don't eat enough/rest enough; (2) Implantation may be harder to achieve because of uterine contractions while bfing (but if you are already pregnant, guess that isn't a problem).

When you get to the fourth month your milk turns to colostrum so the flavour can change quite a lot apparently.

FairyEdwards · 13/04/2007 23:54

with me the child who was breastfeeding stopped when I was about 12 weeks pregnant - my friend said it was because my milk would start to taste different and they don't like it.

dancinggirl · 14/04/2007 00:10

From what I can remember I fed dd until I was about 4 momths pg with ds3, then dd just seemed to wean herself (maybe she didn't like the taste either?)

dancinggirl · 14/04/2007 00:10

*months

Snarf02 · 14/04/2007 07:38

mine stopped at 16 wks pg. I stopped mornign feed as got to painful, and then one night she did not ask for boob. Dont think i had a lot there and probably milk had changed. I felt sad as wanted to go on longer but fed for 19 mths so we had a good go. Congrats on your pg

mush4brains · 14/04/2007 15:29

I'm still bfing my ds on demand, several times a day & havent noticed a reduction as yet, it doesnt effect all women. According to Adventures in tandem Feeding about 30% of women dont notice a reduction. It has made me more tiered & very very hungry nearly all the time but I love food so its a great excuse!
Not sure about the 4 month colostrum info,I tohugh it varied from person to person & had a look in some books & the info I had from the bfc would suggest the same butI could be wrong.

Mumbojumbo · 14/04/2007 15:32

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I b/fed ds1 throughout my pregnancy (ds1 was 13 months old when I fell with ds2) and continued to tandem feed both ds1 and ds2. Stopped ds1 on his 3rd birthday and then ds2 also stopped on his 3rd birthday. Only problem I had was finding my lap to sit ds1 on when the bump got too big!

Good luck and enjoy!
mj

Mumbojumbo · 14/04/2007 15:37

Good website here: Nursingtwo.com

Also thoroughly recommend the book previously mentioned:
Adventures in Tandem Nursing

Lucy1977 · 14/04/2007 18:09

wow, lots more replies - thanks for sharing your experiences with me.

I'll just have to see how DD gets on with it but it's great knowing I'm not harming the growing baby in my tum.

Thanks

Lucy

OP posts:

MarsLady · 14/04/2007 18:10

No! Your older child will probably self-wean, but as long as you are happy... go for it!

tigerbalm · 14/04/2007 20:09

Congratulations Lucy on your pg.

Glad I saw your thread as I am 6wks pg and still feeding my 18m old dd. I am actually hoping she will self-wean due to the change in the milk, and was wondering when the change would happen. From reading the posts here it would seem to be around the 3-4 month time.

foxybrown · 14/04/2007 20:13

I found BF whilst difficult but only because I was so exhausted with the pregnancy. I'm sure you would be fine if you can physically cope, and have a good diet - although I would just run it past your HV or MW to double check. Good luck

CorrieDale · 14/04/2007 20:18

And maybe not, Tigerbalm! I hoped the same, but DS just powered on through. I'm now 7 months pregnant and he only has an evening feed. He sometimes seems dissatisfied with the quantity/taste, but his complaints haven't reached the stage of boycotting the product.

tigerbalm · 14/04/2007 20:22

Corriedale, I fear the same. Dd is a most determined little character and still an avid bfer on the days when she has me at home.

Dont mean to sound negative, but I cant face the thought of having two feeding, as I had such a struggle with dd in the early months to establish feeding.

Are you planning to stop or just go with the flow CD?

CorrieDale · 15/04/2007 21:25

I think I'll go with the flow. DS fed almost constantly for the first 3 months or so, and if the bump is the same then that will be a bit of a problem even if I weren't tandem feeding. In fact, I suspect it would be more of a problem. I'm hoping I'll be able to feed the baby in a sling but I have big boobs, which makes any kind of fancy bfing manoeuvre tricky. Mind you, with DS, it wasn't a case of 'having to', which it will be with the bump. (Also intend to crack bfing while lying down!)

DS hasn't had more than one feed a day in months now, but I expect some serious regression once bump arrives. I don't think it's going to be easy but I can't see that weaning DS at this stage is going to result in things being any easier - in a way, I'm hoping that if he can tuck in himself when I'm feeding the baby, then he might be less jealous in the round. Well, that's the theory.

tigerbalm · 16/04/2007 20:41

good for you CD, your ds is a lucky little boy

I also have same plans - a sling to bf in while getting on with things for dd, and lying down bf which I never managed with dd

I also never managed to get her to settle lying down cuddled next to me, rather than up and being rocked in my arms, I think because I was too scared to lie with her in the early weeks because of all the SIDs stuff I had read. I will be more confident this time round in that respect.

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