Giving up breastfeeding when pregnant...

[stickybean]

I have recently found out that i am pregnant again, I am still breastfeeding my 10 month old.
I would like to give up breastfeeding as i am on a strict diet due to allergies that my DD has, no diary being the one that concerns me the most.
She does also have a prescription formula once a day so i know that from her perspective she's ok. (I on the other hand feel very guilty for her)
I feel like i should give up so i can eat a much healthier diet for the new baby.

What are your experiences of stopping breastfeeding when pregnant?
How did it affect your body?

I have a fear that it may cause a miscarriage due to hormones dropping etc, that is not based on anything scientific and may be totally irrational but that is my main concern.

Any experiences / advice?

[francesrivis]

Hi sticky. I got pregnant when my dd1 was two and a bit and I was still feeding her. I carried on for the first four months or so. After this she pretty much self weaned, as she kept complaining that my boobs "weren't working" and the milk didn't taste nice. So it might be worth waiting to see if your dd does this - I know not all do though! Didn't notice any effects on my body (although this might have been because she had been having only two feeds a day for quite a while).

I had the same fear as you regarding miscarriage, but again it wasn't based on anything I had read or heard - just one of those weird worries you get when pregnant I think.

HTH and good luck with new baby

[francesrivis]

Hi sticky. I got pregnant when my dd1 was two and a bit and I was still feeding her. I carried on for the first four months or so. After this she pretty much self weaned, as she kept complaining that my boobs "weren't working" and the milk didn't taste nice. So it might be worth waiting to see if your dd does this - I know not all do though! Didn't notice any effects on my body (although this might have been because she had been having only two feeds a day for quite a while).

I had the same fear as you regarding miscarriage, but again it wasn't based on anything I had read or heard - just one of those weird worries you get when pregnant I think.

HTH and good luck with new baby

[helips]

I got pregnant when ds was 18 months old, he was only having 1 feed a day and I stopped breastfeeding when I was 3 months pregnant. My milk went pretty quickly and I only felt full for a few days then felt back to normal. Could you just start reducing your dd's feeds (not sure how many you are doing) slowly and then go from there?

[bethoo]

i got pregnant when my dd was 7 months and decided to wean her then as i found that the milk tends to disappear even if i still feed but then that may just be me! also gave up due to the fact wanted a break before bf a newborn again! my pregnancies happen close together. i got pregnant with dd when ds was 10 months!
i am now 3 months pregnant and milk completely gone as weaned her two months ago.
mind you my mum kept saying ''shouldn't you give up bf now you are pregnant?'' that was when i was still bf ds at a year but then she is just strange!

[coffeecups]

I discovered I was 15 weeks pregnant when breastfeeding my 9 month old. I didn't want to breastfeed and be pregnant as I didn't think it would be particularly good for my health and general nourishment for the foetus. However I also wanted to feed him until he was one (two weeks ago).

I read that around 4 to 5 months pregnant the milk starts to change and taste different as previously mentioned. So I started to drop the daytime feeds and was down to just milk in the morning and evening. And one day about the end of May he decided not to have a morning feed and last week he was given no bedtime milk and has been fine.

I haven't heard about hormone levels changing and not one of the midwives I've seen have said anything about it, and surprisingly have all assumed I was still feeding him

[stickybean]

Thanks for your advice everyone

[CantSleepWontSleep]

There is no reason why either stopping or continuing would affect your chances of miscarriage.

As long as you are eating healthily, and getting calcium from other sources, the lack of dairy will do no-one any harm.

So if you do want to continue feeding then you can .

[Babieseverywhere]

Your pregnancy will take the nutrients needed from your body, even if you had a terrible diet your unborn baby would not suffer. Of course a healthy diet will help you.

Breastfeeding during a healthy pregnancy will not cause miscarriages (nor prevent them either).

I continued to breastfeed though my second pregnancy. My DD claimed she had milk thoughout and I had virtual no pain,just a bit of discomfort at 8 weeks. I now tandem nurse my children (10 month old DS and 2.10 year old DD) and on the whole find it a positive experience for me and the children.

If you want to continue nursing there is a Nursing whilst pregnant and Tandem nursing support thread on Mumsnet