To ask about your children if you breastfed in pregnancy?

[LotsofOcelots]

We're thinking of TTC our second child but I am still breastfeeding 20 month old and although I'm encouraging distraction and alternatives she does still feed quite often.

My cycles are normal although I know I may not get pregnant until weaned.

There's no research to suggest any negative effects of breastfeeding while pregnant but as my DD was born with congenital problems of unknown cause (we've been told it is very rare and unlikely to happen again) I am extra cautious.

If you breastfed in pregnancy, especially first trimester, please could you tell me about your children now? Thanks

I'm also curious about personalities as I know a lot of that is programmed by early hormones!

I concieved while breastfeeding my 12 month old. We weaned night-feeds, as this supposedly has an impact on concieving. I breastfed throughout my second pregnancy and continued tandem feeding for a while. My milk dropped right off and really, really sensitive breasts during pregnancy made it hard, but it was a great comfort for DC1 who still fed often, so I persevered.

The only problem that DC2 has had was needing to be induced at 33 weeks due to placental problems. There was no definite reason given as to why but I had always put it down to being very ill in my 26th and 27th weeks of pregnancy. Otherwise, DC2 is a fit, healthy and happy child.

DD had one early morning feed throughout my pregnancy. She was nearly 3 when DS was born and she stopped then (it had been tailing off for a while). The only issue for me was some soreness when feeding in 1st trimester.

DS is 8 months old. He is super smiley, super active (cruising and crawling) and generally thriving. He is a rubbish sleeper (getting a bit better) and quite clingy to me (DD was at this age too) but I'm fine with that for now.

DD is 3;6, just started nursery and thriving too.

I read stuff on breastfeeding whilst pregnant (I think on Kellymom) and was happy to continue, although it was only one feed a day. I figured it must be reasonably biologically normal as in the past (and in other countries) it would be common. I can understand your concern though.

One thing found interesting was the theory that you can induce the return of fertility by increasing your calories, as your body gets the message it has sufficient resource to sustain another pregnancy. Once pregnant I figured then that my body would prioritise the unborn baby, then the milk, then me. Even when people are very sick and barely eating, their unborn babies seem to be fine. I don't know if this makes any sense, so feel free to ignore if not!

Every child is different, it's just the way they're meant to be. No point agonising over what could have been done differently.

DC1 self-weaned when DC2 was 3 days old.
DC2 stopped 5 days before the birth of DC3.

DC2 and 3 were big, healthy, full-term babies.

@BendingSpoons I haven’t heard the theory re increasing calorie intake, but...

... me likey

Yes, I think Christmas is a good time to practise eating all the cheese, chocolate, biscuits and see if it works!

I had really bad breastfeeding aversion when I was 15-20 weeks pregnant and would if rather of peeled off my own skin than kept breastfeeding.
Up until then it was totally fine.

Dd1 was weened completely very soon after.

I was still breastfeeding DC2 when DC3 was conceived, DC2 was 2.5 yrs at the time. He self weaned when I was around 3-4 months pregnant which was fine with me as I was having breastfeeding aversion then - don’t know if that was related to the pregnancy or not.

DC3 was induced just after 37 weeks because he’d stopped growing, but the consultants said that DC1 and DC2 were also smaller than expected, so I don’t think that can have had anything to do with the breastfeeding.

DC3 is almost 3 now and developmentally everything’s within normal ranges. He’s a quiet cautious sort of toddler, but then so was I and so was DC2.

I weaned DD when I was about 6 weeks pregnant. DS is very healthy and happy. He has mild excema and he had an infection when he was born which needed antibiotics, but nothing else.

I breast fed Dd up until i was 4 months pregnant with Ds ( she was 2.5) she said around that time that there was no milk left and seemed happy enough to stop, which i was pleased about as it was getting quite sensitive. Ds was born at 40+4 and was and still is lovely! Also had no problem conceiving whilst breast feeding. I think it must have been very normal in the past...?

I conceived my third child 6 weeks post partum while exclusively bf DD. I didn't realise for about 6 weeks, but noticed that bf had become very difficult and DD was always hungry. So, I bf throughout whole first trimester of pregnancy and until DD was 9 months old. DS2 was born healthy when DD was 11 months, but he was very skinny and piled on the weight in the first few weeks after birth! Neither has suffered any ill-effects longer term and they are very close friends.

I think the negative consequences were for my own body. Body still hadn't recovered from pregnancy and then I was growing another baby, as well as looking after young baby and older son (age 4). Midwife said absolutely 'no problem' to continue breastfeeding DD after conceiving DS2 , but it was exhausting physically. With hindsight, I don't think midwife had any experience of bf when children are conceived so close together, so didn't give good advice.

I can't see any reason why it would be a problem for the OP though. Your child is a toddler and doesn't rely on bf exclusively for nutrition. I have never heard of any ill effects from breast feeding during first trimester and can't imagine what they would be for a 20-month old. You may find you no longer want to though, as the hormonal changes of pregnancy make it feel different. as mentioned by @Mypathtriedtokillme.

I conceived while breastfeeding a 2.5-3 year old - by then it was a morning feed only, unless he was feeling a bit overtired or upset or ill.

My milk dried up by the time I was about 3 months in - I had to have a little conversation about the milk being all gone because he was starting to hurt me trying to get more milk out that just wasn't there (we'd already been having some issues of lower supply at some points in my cycle).

I’m not much use to you as I’m only 17 weeks with my second and breastfeeding my 18mo so I can’t tell you the full outcome, but other than it being quite sore for me there haven’t been any problems so far. My milk has gone already but my son still feeds for comfort and it doesn’t seem to bother him. I’ll let him carry on as long as he wants to. All the HCPs I have seen have been nothing but encouraging

DD was 3yo when I was pregnant with DS and she continued bf until my mild dried out at 28 weeks (bf was then painful for me and unsatisfying for her). DS was born healthy and is now 5yo.

I've never heard any mention of ill effects from bf while pregnant. I do understand that sometimes you can't help but worry. My DD has a non-hereditary, spontaneous genetic mutation that occurs in utero and causes a rare bone disease. Intellectually I understand it was just bad luck, emotionally I keep thinking back to the piece of salami I ate when I was pregnant! Can't be helped!

I’ve 3 dc. My youngest 2 are 11 months apart so I have Brest fed all through out pregnancy, didn’t really notice a difference in milk supply and my dc are just fine.

At 20 months it’s likely child will see wean soon anyway. They often do around that age.

I bf dc1 until I was 15weeks pregnant with dc2. She self weaned. No issues I'm aware of. Dc2 a daily happy personality still by at 2yo. Im not sure of my exit plan with this one as no more babies planned!

I breastfed dd1 until shortly before dd2 was born (when she suddenly went off feeding, I think perhaps the taste of the milk changed). It caused no issues whatsoever.

I breastfed throughout second pregnancy and continued tandem feeding after birth. No ill effects for second child - or me, while pregnant. Tandem feeding took a lot out of me though - literally. I've never been so skinny. Try to keep your calorie intake high.

I conceived Ds2 when Ds1 was six months old. I stopped bf Ds1 at twelve months.

Ds1 is now studying vetmed and Ds2 is at college three days a week following a short stint in the army.

Surely it's impossible to unpick what has affected a childs personality, as there are so many factors. A second child from a breastfeeding pregnancy might have a particular trait, disability or condition but they might have had that anyway - theres no evidence that these children are more likely to be a certain way caused by breastfeeding.

I had a hg pregnancy for both dc and was completely miserable, stressed and lost weight from constant nausea and vomiting in both pregnancies. Fed dc1 throughout the pregnancy and still feeding both. Dc2 was a big baby and is a giggly, laid back and chubby 9 month old who is cruising around the living room as I write this.

Thanks for these reassuring replies! Hopefully we can conceive again. It took a year last time with miscarriage in between.

@BeanBag7 yes, you are absolutely right. I know it's utterly unscientific but some nice positive anecdotal tales just make me feel better

@P1nkHeartLovesCake I hope she does wean soon! She asks for it all the time including at night. I'm not actively trying to wean her but do always offer alternatives

DD2 is a happy smiley healthy large baby, very similar in temperament to my firstborn.