6 weeks pregnant, bleeding and cramping a little. Going to EPU tomorrow, Do I tell them that I am still bf 2yo ds?

[mawbroon]

I have done some Googling and the general consencus seems to be that there is no link between breastfeeding and miscarriage in normal circumstances.

However, I have a bi-corunuate uterus which carries a much higher risk of miscarriage.

I am willing to bet that if they know at the EPU that I am breastfeeding, they will tell me to stop.

So, do I tell them? Or wait to be asked? Or what?

Obviously if this wee one is gone, then I can carry on feeding ds regardless. But if it's hanging on in there, I am willing to bet that I will be told to stop feeding ds.

Any experience of this anyone? Or words of advice?

You can decide in advance what you want to do, can't you? I mean whether you are going to stop bf or not.

I am not sure what difference it will make to the care you receive at the EPU, if you tell them or not. If the only difference is that they will tell you to stop, I would keep quiet. If it affects your care in any other way, I would tell them.

Sorry for your troubles right now. I do hope all is well.

I have no experience or expert knowledge but if I were you I would tell them. They may tell you to stop, in which case you can decide whether you beleive it is necessary. Or they may tell you it makes no difference, which would probably put your mind at ease and give you one less thing to worry about.

Whatever you do I hope you get news .

Why might they tell you to stop?

If stopping would help the baby, then you have a choice to make.

I hope all is well.

I would tell them - but if they tell you to stop be sure to find out why they believe that to be best.

Thanks for your replies.

I reckon they will tell me to stop because breastfeeding causes uterine contractions, however, as I said in my OP, there hasn't been shown to be any link between breastfeeding and miscarriage in a normal pregnancy. Sex and exercise cause uterine contactions too and they don't tell you to stop those!

If I stop feeding, it may not save the baby (this is all theoretical of course, everything may well be just fine!). If I don't stop, and lose the baby anyway then there's nothing to prove that breastfeeding was the cause. In other words, do I cut short my nursing relationship with ds for something that has no guaranteed outcome?

Hard, hard choice.

It may help to talk it through with someone like LLL who have up to date medical advice on bf, and understand about bfing toddlers so will not automatically say "oh yes you must stop, I mean, there is no point in carrying on, anyway"

As I understand it, uterine contractions are good for a pg because they increase blood flow to the uterus.

WHich is why orgasms are supposed to be good for you when pg under normal circs.

I'm not sure how strong uterine contractions are so far on in b/feeding and I fear that an ill-informed hcp will tell you something that just isnt true.

In any case, I'm sorry you are having to deal with all this.

Fingers crossed for you.

I agree with F&Z, try and talk to a BF expert. It sounds like your real dilemma is not whether to tell the EPU but how to make your own decision about what to do.

I've done that Franny. The LLL official line is that it is my decision!! Obviously it's always going to be my decision, but they specifically state that in higher risk pregnancies, it is up to the mother to decide.

My gut instinct is just to carry on feeding ds regardless, so I wonder if there's any point in even mentioning it at EPU.

Ok, I am glad you phoned them

I could understand if you chose to put the well being of your existing child before the possible (small risk?) to wellbeing of your potential child

Yes, you are right Artichokes. I can already see myself posting tomorrow. "Been to EPU, they told me to stop, and well, I'm just going to ignore them"

Oh mawbroon . Have no idea what to suggest, but hoping that all turns out to be ok for you and both children.

(Were you the name changed announcement that we spoke on btw?)

Yes, that was me CSWS.

And ds has a renewed interest in the salad spinner obsession before you ask!

@ salad spinner.

Yay for knowing it was you, but for finding out under these circumstances.

I don't think I would tell EPU unless they ask you know, or unless they try to give you anything that would be contra-indicated (unlikely I'd think).

If you stopped feeding ds and then m/c'ed anyway, would you feel worse than if you didn't stop and m/c'ed? I suspect that I would, so would most likely carry on (plus dd would have such hissy fits if I tried to stop that the added stress would be counterproductive).

Is there anything stopping me using my mooncup for the bleeding btw? It's getting heavier.

I am going to phone EPU once ds is in bed. Bleeding is heavier with some clotting now.

hang in there mawbroon.

Thank you

i think berolina had a similar experience , she had bleeeding due to placental issues, IIRC, and was told to stop BF. i don;t think she did, i am pretty sure she is tandem feeding her two boys now.

as you said lower down, the ctx caused by BF would not alter a normal pregnancy. if your pregnancy is not destined to last, then i don;t think anything you do , or don;t do will actually have an impact, IFYSWIM

take care, and i hope things are not as bleak as you fear x

Oh, Mawbroon, I'm sorry you're having this worry. I don't know enough about this specific situation - I know that in general, bfeeding and pg are compatible and there's no need to stop bf because you're pg.

Will try to find out more, but I would imagine there's not a vast amount of research out there for "unusual situation" reasons, which is possibly why the LLL counsellor said it was your decision. I think, as Lulumama says, Bero would be helpful to talk to.

Thinking of you.

EPU told me to come in. They poked and prodded and took blood but we are still none the wiser.

Cervix is high and closed which is good. BFP in urine is only faint which is not so good.

Genuinely completely forgot to mention breastfeeding, and they didn't ask. It didn't seem at all relevant tbh.

Going back tomorrow am for a scan.

Hope you get an answer and hopefully good news tomorrow mawbroon

I had placenta praevia for a large portion of my pg with ds2, with the lacentacompletely covering the cervix at one point, and had two enormous bleeds and 'old' bleeding that went on for quite a long time after. I was advised at the hospital to stop bf ds1 (again, because of the contractions), but, weighing up what I knew and my own assessment of the situation, didn't stop and was fine. I also have a history of repeated - but not recurrent - mc.

• Ooh, just read further up the thread and saw that lulumama and hunker mentioned me Yes, I am indeed tandem feeding my lovely boys.

I do hope you get good news tomorrow. FWIW, the EPU's assesssment of things would indicate that if the pregnancy is failing (which we all very much hope not), that it would be due to hormone issues (faint BFP) rather than contractions, bf-induced or otherwise (after all, your cervix is fine). Does that make sense?

HTH.