Parenting Forums

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 12:04pm | IP Logged

There seems to be so much conflicting advice about breastfeeding and being pregnant.  Some experts state that it is not safe to breastfeed and be pregnant, others state it's only if you have miscarried in the past that it might not be safe.  Hasn't the human race been breastfeeding and being pregnant for thousands of years?

I know that in the later stages of pregnancy that nipple stimulation can be used to bring on contractions but surely if you have been breastfeeding all the way through your pregnancy your body is used to this.

What do you think?  Is it safe or not?

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 12:21pm | IP Logged

I personally don't listen to the 'experts'!  In my opinion breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world, and until formula was developed the only way to feed your child!  I have to say when I had my eldest I only heard about 2 different types of formula!  Now there seems to be loads!  I have been lucky in living in this day and age, as I dried up with 2 of my babies, and with the 3rd I had to take her off the breast because my blood condition that only affected me during pregnancy was affecting her.  My antibodies were killing off her platelets, so if I hadn't stopped feeding her myself, she would have needed a blood transusion at only a few days old!

This time however I am determined to make sure I rest as much as possible, keep my fluid and food intake to what they should be and avoid foods known to give baby a bad belly!  I am determined I want to breastfeed this time, and I know I have the milk, as I have already started leaking!

To me I think breast feeding is the only way you should feed your child!

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 12:56pm | IP Logged

Personally if I was still breastfeeding Edward and ttc it woundnt worry me. Have you spoken to your own gp to see their feelings on it? (Not that some of them have a clue about bfing anyway!)

Experts say all kinds of things - they have to be safe rather than sorry unfortunatly so always air on the side of caution. As parents we have to choose what to take notice of.

As long as you keep calm, dont put your body under unnessesary stress, eat and drink well etc then I dont see that there should be a problem. Just make sure you are happy with your decision or the stress will affect you.

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 1:03pm | IP Logged

Safe, safe, safe!!

Women have always been breastfeeding while pregnant.  They do in most third world countries where huge families (and lack of contraception) are the norm.  It was a common occurance to see heavily pregnant women suckling their babies in The Gambia where we used to live.

Besides, when I went overdue with both boys I read somewhere nipple stimulation was supposed to bring on contractions.  What a load of poo that was!

If you want peace of mind though I would seek advice from the dr/mw.

This is just my opinion afterall.

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 7:41pm | IP Logged

My sisters mil fell pregnant with Mike (my bil) when her eldest was 6 weeks old, and she continued to breastfeed Jonathan right up to when Mike was born.

My sister was still feeding Noah when she was pg with Joe, although she did stop but that was because Noah was having problems feeding - it since transpires that he has a problem with muscles in his mouth.

I used to work with a lady who breastfed her dd up to the age of 18 months and also fed DD2 who was born when DD1 was 14 months. Her mw at the time suggested she express and freeze enough for DD1 in the month leading up to DD2 being born as when the baby came, her breasts did produce colostrum.

So from the people I know or know of, they've done it sucessfully so go for it!

Posted: 17 June 2006 at 8:00pm | IP Logged

I would think it is safe...like vickmom said, formula didn't exist years ago - also the idea that you can't get pregnant while bfing is a myth, and contraception didn't exist years ago either so your body must be able to cope with both..

my SIL fed her son until he was 8 months old and she was 5 months pregnant then...

I must admit the whole thing about breastfeeding a baby/toddler and a newborn at the same time is a bit confusing because your body is supposed to produce milk to suit the baby so the toddler would be getting milk not designed for it? 

Posted: 18 June 2006 at 1:34pm | IP Logged

That kind of confuses me too Greedy.  When I did the breastfeeding counselling course I asked that question and they said that if you have another baby it kind of resets so that you go back to colostrum and then supply the milk for the needs of the newborn.  I am presuming that newborn breastmilk is rich in fats and antibodies so apart from maybe putting more weight on a toddler would be ok on this.  Who knows the human body is amasing at doing the right thing so maybe one boob produces one sort of milk and the other boob the other (only joking).

It was the nipple stimulation that was not concerning me but making me think.  I know in the US that they use nipple stimulation when trying to induce and regulate contractions, which I find a little bizarre anyway but if it works will try anything by the time your full term.

Posted: 18 June 2006 at 2:15pm | IP Logged

lol

Certainly not, Greedy!

I wouldn/couldn't even allow DH near mine when b/f.  We tried everything (I mean everything) to kick start labour (both times) including nipple tweakling (rofl), but nothing happened.  I don't understand how it brings on labour.

I fell pregnant with little time off in between.  I only stopped b/f Max at 7 and a half months because he was too demanding and I really couldn't keep up with him. Then I fell pregnant about 6 weeks later (might even be less).  But I would've still carried on b/f if I could.

Hope that made sense.