To be angry at this GP

[yevans]

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??

[BiBabbles]

With that reasoning from the GP, emailing more up-to-date information might be useful. I had to do similar with menopause information, ended up emailing in the NICE guidelines. Next appointment with a different GP was much better in information, less better in finding out that if anyone had followed the guidelines and what my blood test results actually said the first time rather than just my most obvious symptoms, I wouldn't have been misdiagnosed with early menopause for 5 years.

Part of the issue is that women's health is an underresearched area, and so many places make absolute statements from research when that's not in the capacity of this research to do. As a pp said, it's bonkers to say an attachment disorder is inevitable in close spacing, we can at most say that there is a correlation to a X% of a higher rate of it compared to wider spacing. It's all about balancing the benefits with the risks, but until we get more information and have it spread well (which blog posts and science journalism are terrible at), that's going to be difficult.

The NHS website is better for this, but even they're going to give the general information that won't cover all the niggles and gaps and qualifiers in the information as we currently know it. As others have said, the concerns at this stage tend to be more about nutrients than calories, but the advice is always very generalized both in what to supplement and amounts until someone starts to present with symptoms of significant enough deficiencies, by which time damage may already be done (I say as someone who has been in this boat with repeated 'just take a multivitamin with iron, folic acid and Vit. D in it'. My nurse practitioner who helped me was very annoyed, but not surprised that that was all the guidance I had even after having been prescribed iron and Vit D more than once). It's an area that needs a lot more research to support women making their choices to reduce the risk factors, particularly in a mother's long-term health.

[yevans]

@WeAllHaveWings the main reason she gave was that it could increase the risk of miscarriage. This can be true if you have previously had issues with pre term labour or miscarriage but these don't apply in my case.

[yevans]

@SuzieQQQ this isn't about opinions on the subject though. I'm perfectly happy for her not to think 'breastfeeding is best' (hate that phrase myself) but I would still expect her to deliver factual medical advice on my choices. Not to tell me that breastfeeding while pregnant is dangerous when in my case, that is not correct as stated on the NHS website.

[SuzieQQQ]

Neither of you are right or wrong. You have different opinions. Some people think breastfeeding is best, some don’t, some think tongue ties exist, some don’t, same goes for feeding, sleep training, baby wearing, etc etc. It’s your choice to believe what you believe , just as she has that same right. If you don’t like her then change GPs

[WeAllHaveWings]

During her lecture what reasons did the GP give that bf while pregnant was dangerous?

[Reali]

Personally I’d write a calm factual letter and attach the NHS advice and a specialist site advice. Explain you are concerned other women may be pushed into making unnecessary choices at a time that can already be financially and emotionally hard.

For those who say GPs should be listened to without exception, I finally switched GPs when she refused to prescribe a calcium supplement for my dairy allergic child as the hospital requested as I could give my 5m old cheese instead. She would not accept the definition of dairy and went on to warn me about eggs.

[Mostlylurkingiam]

All these people saying "she is a GP she's right" GPs don't generally have much training in breastfeeding and don't get everything right. She is wrong, as long as you are well and eating plenty and feel ok you can carry on bf. This is the normal way of doing things in a lot of countries. I'm a healthcare professional also.

[yevans]

Thanks all for your opinions. I'm glad to know there's plenty who don't think I'm overreacting!

I'll be putting in some feedback to the practice, not naming the doctor specifically but linking the whole practice to some evidence that might help women get the best advice in future. Also going to suggest that GP's have a list of local lactation experts or breastfeeding groups to provide to women if they should want them as I'm very aware that the GP can't know everything about the subject.

Lovely to hear stories of all those who fed through pregnancy and beyond and I guess we'll just wait and see what happens with us!

[EdininiaMonsoon]

@OverTheRainbow88

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

I always thought the first trimester was the most important for growth.

Foetuses need surprisingly little from you in terms of calories at the beginning. Pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum often can't keep much down for the first few months. I was one of them, and I was terrified I was causing my baby harm because for months everything ended up in the toilet and I lost a couple of stone. However, I was reassured by doctors and midwives that it wouldn't impact the baby as long as I was getting enough folic acid, iron etc. via supplements.

[cctvrec]

The doctor is talking shite. Whilst I'm not one for disbelieving doctors I do know that they're not experts in every field and breastfeeding is often one they're iffy on.

When my DS was a few weeks old I saw a paediatrician to see if I could get his tongue tie cut. DS was having trouble breastfeeding and would grow tired trying to feed and fall asleep with an empty tummy. He lost a lot of weight.

The paediatrician asked if he could drink from a bottle. I said "yes, if it's free flowing". He shrugged and said,"That's fine. You can bottle feed him then"
I replied that I wanted him to have breast milk over formula and the idiot doc told me "Well you can pump if you insist on breast milk". I informed him I didn't get much milk pumping and the doctor said, "Obviously you're not making enough milk!"

He had no idea that pumping is NOTHING like a baby nursing and many women produce plenty of milk but are able to pump only a little.

DS's older sister was breastfed until 21 months (she stopped when I was pregnant) and never tried formula. She was a CHUNK so was clearly getting plenty.
Their older sister was combination fed for a long time too. I do know what the hell iI'm doing breastfeeding but the idiot doctor inferred that I was harming my son "trying to force my breastfeeding ideals on him."

He wouldn't cut DS's tongue tie (which has caused speech problems) and I was forced to switch to formula. My breastfeeding consultant and Health Visitor both went mad when I told them and put in official complaints. The Paediatrician was made to do some breastfeeding courses cos he didn't know shit.

[MadameMeursault]

In my third trimester I was hardly eating anything as I had such bad heartburn, and the midwife said not to worry, the unborn baby is like a parasite and gets its nutrition before I do. I suspect it’s the same when you’re breastfeeding.

[Staffy1]

GPs don't know everything. In fact I'm surprised how little they know the older I get. They don't even agree with each other, that's why they like you to stick with one GP.

[Isadora2007]

Yanbu at all!!!
As seen here- the level of ignorance regarding breastfeeding is staggering here in the UK.
Complain!!!

[perfectstorm]

[quote ThePlantsitter]@Volcanicorange I realise it was a while ago but I'm literally sitting here with my mouth open that somebody would take the time to type out such an utterly mean-spirited post to a woman who is pregnant with her second child.

Also your little brackety sources don't do anything other than make you look like a twat if you don't provide a reference list.

OP you seem like you're level-headed enough to deal with that mess of pseudo-academojizz without being upset by it; imagine if you were a more fragile person.[/quote]
@ThePlantsitter - the poster didn't even type it out. It's a direct copy and paste from here - leaving out the first half of the post, which provides all the positives for having babies close together. And given we have no clue who 'Alpha Parent' is, other than someone who runs a parenting blog/site, there's no way to know how well-regarded any of the links given are, how robust the data, nor even if the citations are peer reviewed. It's a copy pasta without any consideration, except, "how do I look like I know what I'm talking about, oh hey I know, I'll plagiarise this - better leave out the first half, though, as it contradicts me."

Absolutely agree on it being jaw-dropping, and a bloody good thing that the OP can spot bullshit at fifty paces. Not all women in that vulnerable life stage would be feeling as resilient.

[bumbledeedum]

I'm amazed by some of the comments on here! I would definitely raise this with the practice, I completely agree with you OP, it's very sad to think some women might feel they should stop based on incorrect advice. Just because someone has received medical training doesn't make them infallible to being wrong and needing to update their knowledge.

[LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus]

Just to add, I think this warrants a complaint to your GP practice.

[LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus]

This is so wrong, it is totally safe to breastfeed whilst pregnant. Your body will actually make very little milk as the pregnancy progresses, but it is still really good for your toddler in terms of nutrition and comfort. GPs do not get trained in breastfeeding. I am a midwife and lactation consultant.

[ThePlantsitter]

@Volcanicorange I realise it was a while ago but I'm literally sitting here with my mouth open that somebody would take the time to type out such an utterly mean-spirited post to a woman who is pregnant with her second child.

Also your little brackety sources don't do anything other than make you look like a twat if you don't provide a reference list.

OP you seem like you're level-headed enough to deal with that mess of pseudo-academojizz without being upset by it; imagine if you were a more fragile person.

[Horrible76]

Yanbu. I'd complain.

[sparkysdream]

@CayrolBaaaskin

I wouldn’t get angry at her, nor would I necessarily believe La Leche League over her. The references from that article are not scientific studies. Carry on breastfeeding if you like but given that there’s a risk of miscarriage associated with it, why would you be angry at gp for advising you to stop (or not accepting your googling as superior medical advice).

Except the NHS guidance says no issue, as do all the GPs and midwifes posting got on this thread so I think it’s very reasonable to be angry.

[caoraich]

I'm a doctor and I would complain in your situation. Postgraduate education in lactation is patchy at best. This link is for a recent guide for GPs and I know a number of people who have found it useful in interactions with HCPs as it is written by a GP and paediatrician. abm.me.uk/breastfeeding-information/breastfeeding-beyond-infancy-a-gp-guide/
They say "some mothers fall pregnant whilst breastfeeding, and may continue to breastfeed their older child throughout their pregnancy and once their baby is born (tandem nursing). There is no evidence that breastfeeding during a normal pregnancy causes miscarriage or premature labour (37)"

[CayrolBaaaskin]

I wouldn’t get angry at her, nor would I necessarily believe La Leche League over her. The references from that article are not scientific studies. Carry on breastfeeding if you like but given that there’s a risk of miscarriage associated with it, why would you be angry at gp for advising you to stop (or not accepting your googling as superior medical advice).

[MotherOfDragonite]

@bythehairsonmychinichinchin

Breastfeeding, pregnancy and menopause are 3 things that most GPs seem to know very little about...

It's strange that....

I wonder what those things have in common

[Serin]

I fed both my boys at the same time, they are 14months apart.
The youngest is actually even bigger than his brother (both over 6'2") so it dodnt do him any harm.
And my boobs are my best asset, so it didnt ruin them either

[Wobbitcatcher]

I’m 39 weeks and bf my toddler all the way through. There’s new evidence to suggest that breastfeeding is currently providing protection against covid. I felt it would be odd to stop during a pandemic when I could be providing my son some protection.
I do not trust gps with bf information. I had to have a biopsy on my breast while lactating and the surgeon wanted to know when I planned to stop as he preferred to wait until then (baby was only 4 months old) I told him I intended to feed in-line with the WHO recommended minimum. The well respected breast surgeon had to ask me what the WHO guidance was