to wonder where my GP and midwife get their information from (re: breastfeeding while pregnant)

[BlueBubblegum]

DD is almost 1years old, still breastfeeding her 3 times a day. I'm just over 3months pregnant (15weeks).

When I went to the GP to get a referral, I told him I'm still breastfeeding and intend to continue throughout the pregnancy and up until she's two if I can manage it. He strongly advised against this, he said my supply would decrease and she wouldnt get enough. So I said I'd supplement her when that does happen and for now I think she's getting enough as she doesnt seem to be complaining, seems as content as ever when she's finished. His reply was well it still wont be good enough for her, you need to stop.

Several reasons why I want to continue for as long as I can, one of them is because DD will not take any milk (formula or expressed) from a bottle or beaker, she can drink upto 3 ounces of water from a beaker but as soon as I pour some milk in there, she wont have any, no matter how hungry she is.

Had an appointment this morning with the midwife to get results back for blood tests (all OK thankfully) and she said very firmly to stop right away from toight, apparently the milk isnt good enough for DD, because it contains pregnancy hormones. I asked if there has been research done to prove that breastfeeding is harmful and she replied 'yes I think so'.

I've done my own research and as far as I can see, its perfectly safe unless there is a history of miscarriage (which thankfully I dont). I know it will get uncomfortable as my pregnancy progresses but ofcourse if its get too much, I wont put any pressure on myself to continue.

So where do they get information from? Is there any research to prove that breastfeeding when pregnant isnt safe?

Just need a bit of reassurance really. I know I will get asked about it the next time I see my midwife.

Oh and just to add, even the dentist said I shouldn't be breastfeeding her, I should have stopped when she was 6 months old, its no good for her teeth (even though she only got her first too tooth at 10 months). Well she's only feeding three times a day for no more than 5 minutes at a time, I doubt thats going to have any last damage on her teeth. Seriosly, I thought health professionals are supposed to be encouraging breastfeeding?

What absoloute rubbish. Although supply may go down, if your DD is not going to take milk fom any other source surely some is better than none.
Feed away for as long as you and DD want.
I wouldn't worry to much about her not taking formula/cow's milk. I fed both of mine until they were 1 and neither of them took to other milk after they (self -)weaned. My DD took some formulas for a couple of months after, DS not at all. Once they get recommended dairy from other sources that is fine. If your daughter is a good eater she probably gets enough cheese, yogurts etc anyway. I just mention this in case she self weans during the pregnancy (common enough) and you are worrying yourself. I give mine Ready Brek in the morning as this is fortified with loads of calcium.

What a load of bolleux! I am 10 weeks pregnant and still feeding 21 mo DD. I was pleasantly surprised that my MW was curious and supportive and has been doing some research so she can advise me (bless her).

Didn't see anyone else recommend this book, it has got some brilliant info on breastfeeding during pregnancy. When you've read it, maybe you could lend it to your GP and MW

Interesting. Can someone please link tot he WHO part re breastfeeding? Would like to show DH as I would like to feed as long as possible this time, but he thinks maybe a year is ok to wean.

here
grey box at the top

If you need evidence based info the NCT Breastfeeding helpline can help: 0300 330 0771

(I'm an NCT branch volunteer )

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
*breathes deeply
Why oh why do they spout this kind of utter crap?
I've BF through the first 4 months of one pregnancy and the whole way through another. (and I've been tandem nursing for 17 months now) my children don't seem malnourished.
The next thing will be 'but the baby won't get the colostrum/enough milk'.
Kellymom, LLL, Nct all have plenty of info that might help.

If your DD won't take anything except a little water from a beaker then you need to keep nursing unless you want to go cold turkey and try to force her to take a cup/beaker of milk (not sure that would be a good idea though). If you are giving her green leafy vegetables, letting her play in the sun without suncream for 10-15 mins a day, and giving calcium rich foods like cheese/yoghurt/beans see here for more ideas she doesn't need cows' milk.

I've bfed through two pgs (actually tandem nursed through to 8m in DD3's pg as well ) and whilst my milk supply disappeared from weeks 14-24/26 DD1 & DD2 never complained (barring a 2 week nursing strike by both at the same time). DD1 & DD2 both nursed exactly as though I had milk until I got colostrum at the 3rd trimester and then they gorged themselves and got the squits. Colostrum fed toddlers have erm interesting nappies.

On the conceiving front DD1 took 5 cycles to conceive, DD2 took 1 cycle and DD3 took the once . I was tandem nursing when DD3 was conceived!

The midwifes have on the whole been interested and/or supportive about tandem nursing, whereas GP's have shown how little they know and it.

I went to the GP last week when I wanted a thrush treatment for my nipples. I explained I was still nursing toddler DS, she told me straight off that I would have to stop that now. Reason being that I am about to drop next baby any day now. I laughed and said of course I won't have to I'll nurse them both.

TBH I will be nursing them three as DS older sister still nurses too, but I thought the concept of tri-nursing would be a bit much for her to deal with

As for losing milk etc, every pregnancy is different and the nurselings reaction to the milk changing is different too. My DD tells me my milk is different, taste of lemons now (usually tastes of strawberries) and she says there isn't much there. SO I am guessing my colostrum is in now.

As for dentists, ours has said what good teeth both my children have, not that he knows that they are still breastfed.

Bloody hell this makes me so angry.

I am BFing DS who has just turned 2, and 5 weeks pg. I have no intention of stopping, if DS stops then that is one thing but I shan't be encouraging him to.

all a load of shit, but others have pointed that out

For some context (I am a fellow HCP and loosely involved in the infant feeding strategy locally)
-midwifes are NOT BF experts, contrary to what you might expect. Some are but certainly not all. Depends on their personal interest/position/responsibilities. Many midwifes, just like many other women, don't BF themselves, so don't even have personal experience.
-GP's may or may not have had BF training since qualifying. During their training that "training" might have been one day, at most one week.

Good luck with your pregnancy.

What a load of crap. I was BF DD when four/five months pregnant with DS and my GP, HV and midwife didn't bat an eye. Where are they getting their information?

As for 'not getting enough' - a one year-old is on solids! You're not exclusively BFing. Idiots.

actually with regards to the dental opinion, breastmilk is fairly high in naturally occurring sugars so if your breastfed baby has teeth then it is best to gently clean these with a tiny amount of toothpaste on finger after each feed or at least twice a day. otherwise the front teeth especially will be likely to decay rapidly. however it still wouldnt necessarily contraindicate the breastfeeding.

why the front teeth especially?

Your dd is a year old - surely if she goes off breastfeeding or there isn't enough for her she can just have cows milk or cheese and yoghurt instead, like any other one year old

well exactly MUA
I do think they are hearing "exclusively" where it's not said

well just to add to this thread, it is crap, but it's also fairly normal.

I stopped telling health professionals that I was pregnant and breastfeeding because of the negative reactions (sample one from my midwife at booking "you'll want to stop that as soon as possible, it will de draining all the nutrients from your baby")

I don't like confrontation so I simply stopped telling people. Which worked very well.

And also wanted to add to the post that said Adventures in Tandem Nursing is FAB. Really informative and fully referenced so you can back up your claims if you need to. Just don't be put off by the cheesy cartoons

my dentist told me to stop breastfeeding my 21 month old. No signs of decay (she has most of her teeth) butsaid she sees lots of breastfed todllers with decay. Ireligiouslybrush her teeth twice a day but obviously if I feed her to sleep I can't get in there with a brush. I did think it might be bad but then I know of loads of fed to sleep kidsand they don't all have rotten teeth.

So what should I do,and is there evidence its harmful?

stealthpolarbear: the front teeth because during suckling the breastmilk washes over them first so they get the most attack from the breastmilk sugars.

yummytummy, my understanding was that the nipple goes so far back in the mouth that milk direct from the breast pretty much bypasses the teeth, is that not right? FWIW I fed my son until he was 15 months and his teeth don't show any signs of decay - although of course I have been cleaning them since they appeared.

Agree with so many other, tis utter crap. Sadly I've had the exact same reaction from medical professionals

I BF DD1 throughout my pregnancy with DD2 and then tandem fed both of them. My MW was far from impressed and pushed at every appointment for me to stop BFing DD1 and got increasingly pissed off with me when I didn't

Sorry, x-posted with your reply to SPB. That's interesting, I'll have to look into it.

otchayaniye: the evidence its harmful is when you are taking out the decayed teeth of such toddlers under a general anaaesthetic every week. however these are most likely those who havent brushed or who are consistently fed to sleep so teeth are pretty much bathed in sugars throughout the night. i realise however if you are feeding to sleep it isnt always possible to brush.

intergalactic: as you say you have been cleaning so thats probably why there is no decay. and the milk will still be in contact with the teeth enough to cause decay, unfortunately it does happen quite commonly and enough in many cases to need extraction which is always a shame seeing as these teeth have only just erupted.

My DS1 had night feeds until he was 3 and has perfect teeth. I know that's not scientific, but you know

FWIW formula and cows milk is worse for decay because the milk pools in the front of the mouth in a way that breast milk doesn't.

Also breastmilk alone is relatively benign as it does contain sugars, but it also contains natural antibodies which help counteract the bacteria which cause the sugar to attack the teeth.

There is some interesting info here, particularly this bit, I thought:

"The 1999 Erickson study (in which healthy teeth were immersed in different solutions) indicated that breastmilk alone was practically identical to water and did not cause tooth decay - another experiment even indicated that the teeth became stronger when immersed in breastmilk. However, when a small amount of sugar was added to the breastmilk, the mixture was worse than a sugar solution when it came to causing tooth decay. This study emphasizes the importance of tooth brushing and good dental hygiene."

So yes - definitely brush brush brush, but night-weaning, well, the jury's out on the validity of that.

well, I feed to sleep once after she's had her teeth brushed and recently night weaned but feed her again inthe mornings and she has her teeth brushed again. I pin her down.

Will this be adequate? I am quite good with my own teeth, and it has nagged at me. I want to to the best thing. I would freak out if she had decay.