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Original poster

Can breastfeeding cause miscarriage?

15 replies

TTC0123 · 22/03/2023 09:13

I’ve read a few things on here of people having miscarriages when breastfeeding I’m freaking myself out massively. I’m 4w+5 pregnant and I’m feeding my 18month old 3/4 times a day and I’m worried now if I should try and stop feeding!? It’s taken us a long time to get pregnant so this is a much wanted pregnancy. TIA!

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FriedEggChocolate · 22/03/2023 09:17

I've never heard of any link between breastfeeding and mscarriage. Breastfeeding and a reduced chance of conception, yes, but no impact once the pregnancy is viable. Best of luck with your pregnancy and well done for keeping going with BF for so long with your 18 month old.

isitjustmey · 22/03/2023 09:21

No, the 2 are not linked. Please stop worrying about that. Good luck x

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 22/03/2023 09:23

@TTC0123 I have to heard this but maybe for your own peace of mind give the midwife I call x

Asiama · 22/03/2023 09:23

My midwife told me there was a slightly elevated chance of miscarriage in the first trimester. I still carried on though.

Twizbe · 22/03/2023 09:24

Nope.

Your body will prioritise the new pregnancy so you might find your milk dries up instead.

Wenfy · 22/03/2023 09:30
  1. The study quoted in this nonsense wasn’t a medical one. It was an analysis of past data by an economic historian.
  2. It was based on materal recollections rather than scientific facts - there was doubt at the time whether some women were actually breastfeeding or just saying they were.
  3. The nutritional status of the women studied wasn’t checked.
  4. No distinction made between high and low risk pregnancies.
  5. The number of women who exclusively breastfeed is so tiny in the UK / US that any ‘link’ to miscarriage is dubious. Similar studies in India, where breastfeeding until 3 months is much higher, indicated that women who exclusively breastfeed beyond 3 mths are more likely to be poor and that most miscarriages are due to insufficient folate / insufficient ultrasounds / undiagnosed thyroid problems.
Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 22/03/2023 09:39

Sorry I ment I hadn't heard of this

Original poster
TTC0123 · 22/03/2023 11:54

FriedEggChocolate · 22/03/2023 09:17

I've never heard of any link between breastfeeding and mscarriage. Breastfeeding and a reduced chance of conception, yes, but no impact once the pregnancy is viable. Best of luck with your pregnancy and well done for keeping going with BF for so long with your 18 month old.

Thank you so much, we’re so lucky it’s been such an easy journey so I don’t want to stop if I don’t have to! Going to try and just stay calm and tell myself everything is going to be ok!

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Original poster
TTC0123 · 22/03/2023 11:55

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 22/03/2023 09:23

@TTC0123 I have to heard this but maybe for your own peace of mind give the midwife I call x

I haven’t been assigned a midwife yet as I’m still so early into the pregnancy but I’ve been reassured by people on here now which is great just have to trust my body! X

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Original poster
TTC0123 · 22/03/2023 11:56

Wenfy · 22/03/2023 09:30

  1. The study quoted in this nonsense wasn’t a medical one. It was an analysis of past data by an economic historian.
  2. It was based on materal recollections rather than scientific facts - there was doubt at the time whether some women were actually breastfeeding or just saying they were.
  3. The nutritional status of the women studied wasn’t checked.
  4. No distinction made between high and low risk pregnancies.
  5. The number of women who exclusively breastfeed is so tiny in the UK / US that any ‘link’ to miscarriage is dubious. Similar studies in India, where breastfeeding until 3 months is much higher, indicated that women who exclusively breastfeed beyond 3 mths are more likely to be poor and that most miscarriages are due to insufficient folate / insufficient ultrasounds / undiagnosed thyroid problems.

Thanks for this information, it’s reassuring it’s not based on scientific facts!

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Recoba · 22/03/2023 18:19

@TTC0123 as others have said, no link. Congratulations on your pregnancy and still breastfeeding your 18m old. I'm currently 19wks with my second and still breastfeeding my nearly 3 year old. I found the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding during pregnancy and beyond" really helpful in dispelling myths and providing some guidance on understanding what's going on physiologically.

Cindy974 · 22/03/2023 19:26

Ive known a lot of women who carry to term while breastfeeding however from experience I do think so peoples bodies can’t handle breastfeeding and pregnancy (this is my personal opinion).

Ive had three miscarriages in a row, with each pregnancy I dropped feeds and got further along each with pregnancy. They did carry out tests and found no medical reason for me miscarrying and the last fetus had no chromosomal abnormalities. Of course it could just be a coincidence but after my third miscarriage I did stop breastfeeding and now I am 24 weeks pregnant-the furthest I have gotten with a healthy baby boy. I honestly would just see how you go and try to stay positive, in my case I do think my body couldn’t handle being pregnant and breastfeeding but I know its not the case for alot of women x

Anybridget · 22/03/2023 20:08

Most likely everything will be fine. However my milk dried up and baby self weaned by 8weeks - just to warn you. Think this is more common speaking to other mums.

Wenfy · 23/03/2023 16:54

Cindy974 · 22/03/2023 19:26

Ive known a lot of women who carry to term while breastfeeding however from experience I do think so peoples bodies can’t handle breastfeeding and pregnancy (this is my personal opinion).

Ive had three miscarriages in a row, with each pregnancy I dropped feeds and got further along each with pregnancy. They did carry out tests and found no medical reason for me miscarrying and the last fetus had no chromosomal abnormalities. Of course it could just be a coincidence but after my third miscarriage I did stop breastfeeding and now I am 24 weeks pregnant-the furthest I have gotten with a healthy baby boy. I honestly would just see how you go and try to stay positive, in my case I do think my body couldn’t handle being pregnant and breastfeeding but I know its not the case for alot of women x

Did you ever get tested? My miscarriages were due to a genetic abnormality that prevented me from absorbing folic acid and breastfeeding made things much worse. I eventually fixed it by taking folate.

Cindy974 · 23/03/2023 18:32

Wenfy · 23/03/2023 16:54

Did you ever get tested? My miscarriages were due to a genetic abnormality that prevented me from absorbing folic acid and breastfeeding made things much worse. I eventually fixed it by taking folate.

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Wow thats so interesting! I did get tested but by the time I had been tested I had stopped breastfeeding for a month so my hormone levels probably had time to go back to normal. I never had an answer and I never know but I always did blame breastfeeding for mine! Im glad you have answers x

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