To be irritated by acupuncturist telling me miscarriages are due to breastfeeding?

[Pinkandwhite]

I breastfed my daughter for 2 years before stopping very recently. I have had 2 miscarriages in the past 5 months. When I went to see an acupuncturist about this, he blamed the losses on the fact that I breastfed for so long. I feel irritated by this because I can't find any evidence that this could be the case. Does anyone know if extended breastfeeding can lead to major nutritional deficiencies and would you be annoyed at being told this? Thanks in advance for any replies.

You didn't fail. Nature is a bastard sometimes. I'm so sorry for your losses.

This man sounds like an insensitive, unprofessional arsehole. If acupuncture is your thing, fine, but it doesn't make him a doctor. If you can complain about him, you should. Wanker.

Sorry for your losses. Was he from a different culture? Still doesn't make it right though and he is not a medical professional so just try to let it go.

He's talking rubbish. I'm sorry for your losses.

I know a fair number of women who breastfed all the way through pregnancy and had healthy babies.

I'm 36 weeks pregnant now, was breastfeeding when I conceived (although DS2 has since self weaned). I did briefly wonder about this when I had a bit of spotting early on, but all the evidence I found basically said that there was no evidence that breastfeeding in pregnancy would affect a healthy pregnancy, and that if a miscarriage happened, it would have happened whether you were breastfeeding or not.

Its bollocks

I used to be a peer counsellor for breast feeding

I fed ds1 til he was nearly 18 months old and lost a baby when he was 14 months old

A "friend" told me it was because i was breastfeeding and i went to the HV and looked through the handbook to check. Its complete bullshit

Sadly she had a miscarriage herself about a year later.

Oh and breast fed dd til she was 10 months old when i was about 3 months pregnant...had ds2 6 months later

Please complain. What an utter twat

you need to report him for professional misconduct he has been a total arse.

And is talking bollocks.

Who is your acunpuncturist? My cousin had great success with John Tsagaris - google him and Ruth Crilly the blogger also went to him I think re fertility. Just thought I should mention if you are seeing one specifically re miscarriages he might be worth a shot. In general I am pretty unconvinced by acupuncture etc but he is a name I have heard come up positively a few times. Although like you I think the advice you were given re breastfeeding sounds pretty out there - hope it isn't him who said this to you cause then I will look like a total arse!

Urgh sorry just read the rest - how you 'failed'???!!!!!!!!! If he advocates medical advice can you advocate punching him in the face and then maybe blame your 'failing' hormones? I think if someone said that to me it would definitely give me violent rage feelings. Inappopriate yeah but wow. Dick.

Thanks everyone. I'm glad you can see where I'm coming from with this. I really hoped that acupuncture would help me but I won't be going back for more. I just need to decide whether or not to say something/complain. I don't want him to hurt other women in the same way so I feel I should.

Really sorry about your miscarriages and the rude way he described them. I'm in a group on fb for women feeding beyond a year and loads tandem nurse currently or are nursing through pg

I'm so sorry for your loss.

He was being a jerk and incorrect. If you have your period back then your hormones are at a level that can carry a pregnancy even if you are still breastfeeding.

I've had two pregnancies while breastfeeding one ended in a miscarriage and one ended with a live birth.

If you can be bothered it would be worth reporting him to to his professional standards body. But i understand if you can't do that.

What has your "friend's" miscarriage got to do with your anecdote Rufus? It sounds a little like you are gloating.

I used to have acupuncture. The person I used to see is a Chinese medical doctor and former GP, so medically trained. I'm sorry you've been so upset. I would look for someone else. There are better qualified and/or informed people out there.

What I can't believe is that you are giving this a second thought...

My mum breastfed all of us for long periods... I was up to 4.5yrs one of my sisters was 6 yrs. I have 7 siblings...the last one was conceived (accidentally) when she was 48yrs.

My mum had a miscarriage ...twins late in the pregnancy... all up would have been 10 children she carried.

He's an acupuncturist :/

sofa and Bored, while breastfeeding generally delays the return to fertility, there's no evidence that it increases the risk of miscarriage once you have conceived. I looked into the research fairly intensively when I got pregnant this time as my two-year-old decided to start feeding like a newborn again, and I was a bit paranoid myself. I couldn't find any evidence of a link (and I'm a doctor so used to searching the literature), and the cohort studies that have been done are reassuring.

OP, he's wrong. Please don't give it another thought.

mother

No

She also had a miscarriage and had not breastfed while pregnant

I had a miscarriage whilst still feeding abs later I did read that it can be pretty common.

Sofa - don't be ridiculous - yes, it might inhibit an egg being released, but once you're pregnant, your body prioritises that.

I was BFing when I got pregnant with DS2 - my milk had completely dried up by the time I was about 3 months in (DS1 was only feeding once a day by then anyway - so there wasn't a lot to lose).

As many on here are saying, he's unqualified, and talking bollocks. And I'm sorry OP.

Breastfeeding prevented pregnancy by preventing ovulation, not causing miscarriages afaik

I have heard from a few friends there's benefit to bf through a pregnancy, several havn't experienced hg whilst nursing the toddler or two while pregnant.

Sorry for your losses op. Please report him and don't go back. The majority of miscarriages have no known reason, something that can be so hard to accept when you really want one.

When I miscarried I had someone tell me confidently that I was too stressed and had worked too hard. Absolute bull crap, given the ultrasound it was more likely the baby had been very poorly. Didn't stop her saying though and she's still in Healthcare.

Thanks again for the replies. So helpful to hear what other people think.

Is he an acupuncturist? This is the first time I'm hearing breastfeeding leading to miscarriage. Acupuncturists have the medical qualification and I personally have experience with one of the acupuncturists in Toronto. I had severe back pain after my second delivery and I underwent the acupuncture therapy from a clinic in my locality ( www.physiomobility.com/acupuncture-toronto-north-york-richmond-hill.html ). It was very much helpful for me. Not all the acupuncturists are the same.

I would say you should consult with OB/GYN in your locality and see what is the issue of miscarriage. You have all the rights to complain about this acupuncturist.

Sorry for your loss.

The vast majority of miscarriages are caused by chromosome abnormalities which would happen regardless of whether you BF or not.

I seem to be in the minority here in that I support acupuncture for fertility problems but only if you see a good person and it doesn't sound like this person is.

Wanker. Complain. Complementary therapy is meant to make you feel better, not worse.