breastfeeding & pregnancy question

[cheezelkat]

I was reading yesterday that it is not advisable for a mum-to-be to not pump colostrum before bub is due as it can cause contractions and pre-term labour.

Is this a problem for breastfeeding mums - or are our uteruses so toned already that it has no effect? What if the number of feeds increase?

I'm 36 weeks, breastfeeding mr 2 and I get some BH but nothing major...so I'm very curious on how all this works!

[Pixie]

TBH I can't see how it would be bad? I still like you BF Eliza and I get BH every hour during the day some very strong my uterus is sooo tired already! I think yes it increases the chances as nipple stimulation releases that hormone whatchamacallit....... but if you are already BF what difference will it make?

[cheezelkat]

yeah, I was just curious about if it does bring on labour earlier ? :)

I have no idea how these things work!

[Tam-I-Am]

Stimulating the nipples can increase the oxcytocin levels in the blood, which is part of what makes contractions and labour onset - but I think its only a problem if you stimulate BOTH nipples at once, and its more likely to have an effect if you're close to your EDD when bubs is also ready to come out - because its basically not going to do anything to start labour if the bub isn't ready also. Its thought that labour starts through a chain reaction of nerve and hormonal reactions, but that the very first thing that starts the chain comes from the baby - but 'they' really don't know.

[AM]

While you are pregnant, the placenta emits a hormone which protects the uterus from the effects of Oxytocin before the body is ready to give birth, so that is why many women, myself included, successfully breastfeed right through a pregnancy.

I personally would never go to the trouble of expressing colostrum while pregnant, but it shouldn't be problematic at all, single or twin pumping.

I should add though, a VERY small percentage of women do find that later in pregnancy breastfeeding or pumping can cause really strong BH/contractions, so much so they have had to desist. I'm talking about something really rare, which seems to have become an urban myth about breastfeeding while pregnant.

[Rainbowbrite]

Like ApprenticeMomma, I breastfed right through my pregnancy & am tandem feeding now. I had BH but never whilst bf, more due to overly exerting myself.

[Pixie]

I am rare :D
I got terrible ones while I feed Eliza drives me insane