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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be angry at this GP

164 replies

yevans · 28/09/2020 20:17

Went to my usual surgery and saw a lovely GP. She was really great until she found out that I was pregnant (first trimester) and also breastfeeding my 1 year old at the same time. I then got a lecture about how it could be dangerous to breastfeed whilst pregnant and that I should think about stopping. I am really mad about this. I told her that it was only an issue if you have problems with pre term labour previously. She disagreed and seemed to refuse to believe me. I'm glad I knew that it was fine for me to carry on but others may not and if told that would be guilt tripped into stopping before they or baby are ready.

AIBU to be really angry that breastfeeding is pushed so heavily when your baby is little then as soon as they are over 1 it's frowned upon and not supported? Why is this??

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 28/09/2020 20:25

Isn’t it about most your nutrition should go to the fetus growing rather than 1 year old?

1Morewineplease · 28/09/2020 20:26

@OverTheRainbow88

Isn’t it about most your nutrition should go to the fetus growing rather than 1 year old?
That's what I was thinking.
1Morewineplease · 28/09/2020 20:27

Do you think that you might have mis-read your GP's concerns?

Disfordarkchocolate · 28/09/2020 20:30

Having done this it became virtually impossible to eat enough to not feel faint.

Are you going to feed both at the same time?

MorganKitten · 28/09/2020 20:30

She disagreed and seemed to refuse to believe me.

The one with medical training has advised you to stop, for your unborn babies nutrition.... ffs

UserFriendly14 · 28/09/2020 20:30

One MW I spoke to during this pregnancy thought it was strange that I’d stopped BF at 15 months when I found out I was pregnant again. She told me there was no reason I couldn’t have continued. We were winding down anyway and early pregnancy sore breasts weren’t helping.

ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing · 28/09/2020 20:32

Not much point being angry really, GPs know no more about bf than the average poster on MN (as evidenced by above comments). You are right.

emilyfrost · 28/09/2020 20:32

YABU. Your midwife with medical knowledge and training knows more about this than you do. You should listen to her; she’s right.

emilyfrost · 28/09/2020 20:33

*GP sorry, not midwife

UpYaKilt · 28/09/2020 20:35

YANBU, GPs have very little training in supporting breastfeeding. Better info here: www.laleche.org.uk/pregnant-and-breastfeeding/
So frustrating!

YomAsalYomBasal · 28/09/2020 20:35

Wtf? Of course it's fine to continue breastfeeding. Where have you lot got these myths from about nutrition?! I'm sure OP can manage to feed herself well enough to feed a baby and a foetus at the same time. You know people grow and feed twins and triplets, right?!

Original poster
yevans · 28/09/2020 20:35

From reading Kelly mom, La Leche League and other breastfeeding specialist sites, you need a certain amount of extra calories in order to carry on but not a crazy amount more and it's definitely not dangerous at all. Currently my 1 year old feeds morning and night so I wouldn't exactly say she was 'taking most of my nutrition'. Breast milk is produced via blood not mother's nutrition hence why malnourished mothers in third world countries can still breastfeed their children.

I just think it's a shame that her first initial reaction was to make me stop and then after that wouldn't consider the idea that she might be misinformed.

OP posts:
Heathrr · 28/09/2020 20:35

YANBU

There is good evidence that there is no reason pregnant women can't breastfeed in pregnancy if no other concerns. It's a shame the GP doesn't know this but not unsurprising.

Keep going and make sure you're eating plenty!

ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing · 28/09/2020 20:36

Quote from NHS Website

Getting pregnant again

If you get pregnant again while you are breastfeeding, it should not affect your baby or the pregnancy. However, you may feel tired, and changes in your appetite and emotions can make breastfeeding more challenging.

In rare cases, women are advised to stop breastfeeding before getting pregnant again, particularly if they have previously had a miscarriage or premature labour.

Do not be put off feeding an older baby and a newborn (tandem nursing). The more milk your babies take, the more your breasts produce, so it's possible to feed more than 1 baby

Ohtherewearethen · 28/09/2020 20:36

AIBU to be really angry that breastfeeding is pushed so heavily when your baby is little then as soon as they are over 1 it's frowned upon and not supported? Why is this??

Do you really believe that this is about breastfeeding past the age of one? Or might it, possibly, be about the GP's concern that you will end up sucked completely dry of any nutrition and you're using up a lot on producing breast milk when it should be going towards growing your baby. But sure, if you want to ignore medical advice and carry on breastfeeding because you have a bee in your bonnet about it then carry on.

gamerchick · 28/09/2020 20:37

@OverTheRainbow88

Isn’t it about most your nutrition should go to the fetus growing rather than 1 year old?
Really? Christ. Hmm
OverTheRainbow88 · 28/09/2020 20:38

mothers in third world countries can still breastfeed their children.

Developing countries not third world!!

Original poster
yevans · 28/09/2020 20:38

@emilyfrost

YABU. Your midwife with medical knowledge and training knows more about this than you do. You should listen to her; she’s right.
She's wrong though. See the poster who above who linked to specialist breastfeeding advice. Surely this is one of the reasons breastfeeding rates are so low in Britain, medical professionals are giving out misinformation. (Am in no way saying everyone should breastfeed by the way, it's obviously everyone's personal choice, but they should at least be supported in that choice by the right information)
OP posts:
Original poster
yevans · 28/09/2020 20:40

@OverTheRainbow88 apologies, yes that should be 'developing countries'

OP posts:
PinkDaffodil2 · 28/09/2020 20:40

GPs don’t get specific training about this so are probably about as informed as the above posters.
So long as you are healthy and well nourished yourself there’s no reason not to feed to term and tandem feed, though you may find that your supply drops during pregnancy or your toddler goes off it as the composition of your milk changes.
Also what about your 1 year old - it’s clearly best for them to keep breastfeeding for now if it is going well. WHO says 2 years and I’m doing anything I can right now to reduce the chance of my toddler getting a febrile illness or cough as it’ll be such a pain if we have to self isolate waiting for tests.
(GP trainee and know loads of doctors who tandem feed / breastfeed while pregnant).

Original poster
yevans · 28/09/2020 20:41

@ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing

Quote from NHS Website

Getting pregnant again

If you get pregnant again while you are breastfeeding, it should not affect your baby or the pregnancy. However, you may feel tired, and changes in your appetite and emotions can make breastfeeding more challenging.

In rare cases, women are advised to stop breastfeeding before getting pregnant again, particularly if they have previously had a miscarriage or premature labour.

Do not be put off feeding an older baby and a newborn (tandem nursing). The more milk your babies take, the more your breasts produce, so it's possible to feed more than 1 baby

THIS. It's literally right there but a GP doesn't know that??
OP posts:
Laughingcrow · 28/09/2020 20:42

4 kids here. All breastfed and all breastfed whilst pregnant apart from first and last. All babies fine and was praised by the midwife. It's not uncommon or u heard of and is fine aslong as you are eating properly

PinkDaffodil2 · 28/09/2020 20:45

I’d also consider feeding back to the practice some of the info from la leche / NHS advice, maybe not naming a specific doctor.
It’s bad enough when doctors give poor advice about something which is our job and we are trained in, somehow it feels even worse when we overstep and give crap advice about something which we have no training in and no one asked us about.

Frannibananni · 28/09/2020 20:48

I can find information to support any fact I want on the internet. The GP is giving you the information she believes is right, you can’t get angry at that.

Poppinjay · 28/09/2020 20:50

Isn’t it about most your nutrition should go to the fetus growing rather than 1 year old?

How much nutrition do you think a tiny foetus in the first trimester takes?

Women can easily sustain two growing babies for months at a time so one baby who is also receiving additional nutrition and one tiny foetus is not going to be a problem.