Breastfeeding & miscarriage?

9 replies

Weeyun · 19/08/2012 13:29

I don't know what to do. I've just had 2 early miscarriages / chemical pregnancies. I'm currently breastfeeding a 2 year old, only twice a day but they're pretty long feeds. I can't help thinking the breastfeeding is causing the miscarriages but I don't want to believe that it is & there's so much conflicting advice on the subject. Does anybody know anything about this? I don't want to suddenly wean unnecessarily, but I don't want to cause another miscarriage either. I really don't know what to do.

OP posts:

NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown · 19/08/2012 13:53

I'm really sorry for your losses, I believe there is some info on whether breastfeeding is a risk to pregnancy on Kellymom and the la leche league websites. If I recall correctly there is no link between the two. My GP advised me to wean my toddler in order to get pregnant but I didn't. I'm now 32 weeks pregnant and still feeding my 18 month old 3 or more times a day. I really hope you get lucky soon

BartletForTeamGB · 19/08/2012 16:52

There is no convincing evidence that BFing can cause a MC. It can, in some women, prevent ovulation so it can make it harder to get pregnant (again, only in some people), but doesn't make a difference in terms of an ongoing pregnancy.

maples · 19/08/2012 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Weeyun · 19/08/2012 18:32

Thank you, I just read that breastfeeding can cause low progesterone which can apparently cause early losses in some people, possibly because of problems with implantation? It's mostly just in forums though, no reputable sources really so hopefully it's just a ttc myth? I really do hope so because I hate associating feeding DS with the miscarriages. None of the things I've read really say anything about it, apart from a few which suggest weaning if you've had multiple miscarriages, but don't really explain why. So thank you all for replying, it's really re-assuring to hear that it's probably nonsense. I haven't had my thyroid checked or anything, I think I'll ask the GP about that too thanks!

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serendipity81 · 20/08/2012 20:01

Hi weeyun,
I have a now 2 1/2 year old and stopped bf when she was about 21 months, partly due to blaming my mc on it. However, I have since had more mcs, so obviously bf wasn't the cause in my case. Although this is just my experience, I would encourage you to keep going as long as you both feel happy. As I feel some regret about stopping before she was completely ready and can think of occasions when she has been poorly etc that it would have been a huge benefit. Chances are your ds will be ready to self wean in the near future anyway. It's so hard to know what to do when there doesn't seem to be any evidence either way. I'm currently preg again for the 6th time! (only 1 dd tho) and am trying to think of what I can do differently this time to make it stick! So I feel for u and am keeping my fingers crossed and sending u lots of good vibes for the future xxx

serendipity81 · 20/08/2012 20:03

Maybe try the bf board too as there seem to be many experience bfeeders over there x

Original poster

Weeyun · 20/08/2012 22:16

Thank you so much serendipity, that's exactly what I want to do. It's just been so confusing and it's so re-assuring to have advice I that actually want to hear, if that makes sense? I wasn't sure where to post but thought people here might have some experience of this so thank you for sharing yours. I'm so sorry for your losses, I really really hope this one sticks for you.

OP posts:

MurderOfProse · 22/08/2012 12:14

I conceived two of my children whilst breastfeeding. I've also had two first trimester losses whilst breastfeeding too, but given I also had a loss before I ever had a baby, I don't think there's a connection.

You've been given the advice I'd have given you anyway (i.e. at most it affects ovulation and makes cycles a bit wonky) so just thought you might like to hear of success stories!

Good luck :)

HoratiaWinwood · 22/08/2012 12:22

I had a cp and a mmc when bf DS1, but I was still feeding him when I conceived DS2.

My very good hv (who had herself bf three children, of whom two in tandem) expressed concern during the mmc pgy that I was doing too much - she gently said that bfing a toddler and working pt and being pg was a lot. She was right, as it turned out, although it was norovirus that tipped the scales.

Sorry to hear about your losses. Carrying to term whilst bfing is definitely possible but I think it is worth being gentle on yourself.

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