Breastfeeding while Pregnant...

[Madi]

Hi :wave:

I just have a couple of questions re breastfeeding while pregnant...

Firstly, am I going to get a lot of pressure from Drs etc to stop? Is it better for me to just not say anything?:confused:

Secondly, I'm sure I read somewhere that the order of nutrients goes baby, breastfeeder, mummy - is this true? How much more good food do I need to eat to keep me healthy as well?

and lastly, does anyone have any tips, hints, personal stories, or info links they would care to share? :D

Thanks

Madi.

[MummaBear03]

It's always best not to tell anyone you are breastfeeding while you are pregnant if you want to avoid judgement. It's the unfortunate way of the world today. When you are pregnant and parenting the last thing you'll need is to deal with judgement and lack of support. However if you are strong enough in yourself to stand by your beliefs and ignore it then go for it, the more people see it the more normal it will become. I would suggest maybe throwing in an extra serve of fruit or veges each day just to make sure you are getting enough, but I've never heard of a mother dying of malnutrition from tandem feeding. There is a book called "Adventures in Tandem Feeding" that you might like to look up, and of course contact the ABA for any advice, they are a great support.

[TeamAwesome]

Hi,

I have always been encouraged that so long as I personally would do it to keep on going by medical professionals. My DS was 8 months when my DD1 was conceived and I only stopped due to my having bad m/s in the late afternoon and well into the night. my DD1 was 12.5months when we conceived DD2 I stopped when she was 16months but that was for me (I had bad m/s and couldn't cope with feeding her alf the night and being sick during the day) but I was funnily enough told off by the Obstetrician at the hospital for stopping her.

As PP said I just added some more vegies in, a bit more dairy and iron type foods (or used supps when I couldn't eat much) to ensure we all got enough.

HTH

Natalie

[zenifa]

I breastfed DD1 until she self weaned when I was 12 weeks pregnant with DD2 (DD1 was nearly 20mths). It seems my milk must of changed when I hit 12 weeks, due perhaps to increased hormones, as DD1 suddenly self weaned which was a little sad, but I had 6 mths until DD2 was born and a new bf relationship began.

I didn't tell many people that I was still bf DD1 (my GP was supportive, but ill informed, and my OB said it would be best for me to wean her, but respected my decision not to), as I didn't want the comments/suggestions that I should wean her. I had a great BF relationship with DD1 and I didn't feel that this should suffer because I was pregnant.
I did increase my vegie/fruit intake, took my pregnancy multivitamin and felt okay (aside from tiredness and some preg related nausea).
Good luck!!

[bigglet]

Are you already pregnant?

Just that sometimes if you are breastfeeding and pregnant your little one may wean themselves off because your milk changes due to your hormones changing - it happened to a few of my friends and their babies self weaned. With me I knew I was pregnant when my baby screwed up her face when I was breastfeeding as if to say "Gross - your milk is off!" and she did it on both breasts :D She kept pulling away because she didn't like the taste but I guess hunger overtook her dislike and after a few unsettled feeds she just got used to it - she self weaned a few months later though.

And yes I have heard that nutrients do go first to baby, then to breastfed bub and then you... so if you start feeling tired etc just make sure to keep your nutrients up especially iron, calcium and zinc.

:thumbsup:

[Madi]

Yes, already pregnant. My DS has been telling me that my milk tastes like pickles for the last week or so! :D But he keeps on going!

[bel_aiden]

ds1 was about 9 months old wen i fell pregnant. not once did a health profesional tell me to wean.
they didnt have alot of info on it i had to find most of it out myself, but never was i told to wean.
dont feel you have to keep it to yourself either, if some1 makes comment educate them as to why you are feeding if you want (thats what i did) alot of people simply dont know that its possible to feed 2 babies or feed whilst preggas!

tips.... enjoy feeding, its an excuse to put your feet up and rest for 10 mins a few times a day!!
it can be painful for the 1st trimester.... i was almost in tears with some feeds it hurt that much, but it did end!
your milk supply can drop, so try remeber to drink lotsa water and eat a well balanced diet.
between 20-30 weeks your milk normaly tuirns to colostrum... watch out for the newborn poos from your toddler!!! but it doesnt take long for them to adjust to it.

any other info have a look at the aba and kellymom website!!!

good luck!:wave:

[OM]

Firstly, am I going to get a lot of pressure from Drs etc to stop? Is it better for me to just not say anything?:confused:


What reason are they giving as to why you should wean?

[stellarella]

In my experience so far I have just decided not to tell anyone who is likely to criticise me or question me. So I just don't mention it to my GP even though she is pretty cool and what not I just don't feel the need to tell her. I like telling my grandmother however because I like shocking her :devil::laughing:

You may be surprised with other peoples reactions both good and bad but the important thing is to just have confidence that you are doing no damage to either child or yourself and don't be pressured by anyone. If you feel pressure just tell them you have weaned or don't discuss it.

I'm only 10 weeks pregnant, have had no drop in supply and Oscar has not indicated there has been a change in taste. I still get engorged and leak at let down.

I eat a lot of food, I often wake up in the night and have a banana and a glass of milk, my meal portions are much larger and I eat lots more snacks. Your body will tell you what you need. I take a good multi vitamin as well.

I had slightly sore nipples for a few weeks but they are fine now, nothing feels different.

[Sheer Bliss]

Firstly - congrats on the pregnancy & congrats on continuing b/f! I would love to tandem feed, but i barely make it through pregnancy myself, let alone trying to feed a baby while growing one. I think it is great - so if you are worried about negative comments, here is a positive one to start off with. If you feel it will upset you when people tell you not to do it - don't tell them, if you think you'll enjoy the shock factor then go for it. Do what you need to do to make yourself & bubs comfortable.

All the best!!

[Bearskin]

Congrats on your pregnancy!

My Dr has been rather uncaring about me feeding DD whilst pregnant. I told him at my first appointment and he just muttered, "That is not a problem" and it hasn't been mentioned since :)

DD has been feeding consistently throughout this pregnancy - I had sore nipples for 14 weeks and initial attachment is still painful but after a few seconds the pain goes away. I had thought that DD might self wean as my milk changed to colostrum but she loves that even more and has upped her feeds to about 5 -6 per day/night and asks for 'yummy milk please!"

My mum and a couple of friends have been very unsupportive of me breastfeeding during pregnancy and informed me that my baby is missing out and will be small, that I will tire myself out etc but I just smile and ignore these comments now.

Best of luck with your pregnancy and feeding your LO throughout - don't worry about what others think just do what is best for your baby and you!

[Mum&bubs]

Well firstly Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I will just give you my input on the judgments that you might receive.

When I fell pregnant and I was still breastfeeding, people automatically assumed that I would wean Summer way before the baby was actually born. I was asked by all my doctors when I'm going to wean her, I didn't even think of weaning her.

Then when Taliyah was born more comments came about how I don't have enough milk to feed two, how Summer is drinking all the babies milk, how it's so stupid what I'm doing.

Best thing to do is NOT listen to them. Just do what you want to do after all it's your body and your babies!

[bel_aiden]

:hugs: i cant believe how some health profesionals have treated you ladies :hugs:

would be nice if they were all a little more educated on the subject :yes:

[AM]

www.kellymom.com HEAPS of GREAT info there :)

I never got any flack about breastfeedingwhile pg really, some people expressed surprise, but I just took it as a learning oppurtunity, as I had read up on it all extensively.

It seems to be kind of a 50/50 chance whether your child will wean or not, and anecdotally it seems girls tend to give up the boob more easily than boys (my son kept going)

I am now tandem feeding, and I didn't really find I had to change much while I was pregnant and breastfeeding, just keep on top of my diet, sleep with my child during the day, and drink to thirst.

There is the myth that it can cause preterm labour, but this is not true, in rare cases, at the end of pregnancy, sometimes bf can stimulate braxton hicks, and I know of one woman who chose to temporarily wean her child as the pain was severe, but when bub was born, the older child picked up where he had left off, and they tandem nursed.

All the best with it :)

[lishwill]

i guess this thread is over

[AM]

i guess this thread is over


Not if you don't want it to be... ;)

[squiglet]

I've bought up feeding DD to all the medical people that I meet. Sort of just to see the reaction:p
Nothing, not a peep, no raised eyebrows nothing. Everyone just accepts it as what I'm doing and continues on happily.

But on the other side. Dh and I have not told family members who are not very bf supportive. So why bother.