Breastfeeding while pregnant?

Clementine13 · November 2011

Did anyone here become pregnant while still breastfeeding #1?? My DD is just turning 9months old and I am 6 weeks pregnant. My doctor recommends weaning, but my DD is NOT ready for that!! She's still so small and VERY attached to her nursing routine--it's the only thing that comforts her. I would totally wean her if she was steadily on solid foods and ready to move on--but she's not. It's hard enough to get her to eat solids because she loves nursing so much. I have read some Le Leche articles that support breastfeeding while pregnant . . . but part of me feels guilty about possibly putting my pregnancy in danger. I just wanted to hear what your experiences were if you faced this?

Under.the.Rose · November 2011

Is your pregnancy high risk? Why is your doctor recommending weaning?

Normally you can continue breastfeeding as long as your body sustains it while you're pregnant without any risk to your pregnancy.

FWIW I'm still breastfeeding my 1 year old and it's going fine. I just went back to work in mid-October so he's been cutting down on his sessions quite a bit... but other than that, no concerns here.

goodgolly_mrsmolly · November 2011

One of my son's pedis told me to stop breastfeeding but my midwife said it's okay. Just make sure you're eating enough & getting enough water & calcium. I got pregnant when my son was 10 months old & I'm still nursing, but he's down to like 2-3 sessions a day and I don't even know that he's getting much anymore,. I'm not ready to wean just yet- it's our cuddle time.

jorden&kristin · November 2011

I am 24 weeks pregnant and just stopped BF at 23w2d. Her choice not mine. She's 17 months old and just suddenly stopped asking to nurse. Just make sure your water, calcium and iron intake is high enough!

KRB8 · November 2011

I'm still BFing DD, but I have to have her weaned by the time I reach 14 weeks. That's my OB's "rule" since BFing causes the uterus to contract. I know it can be considered an old school medicine view, but I do trust my OB's opinion so I'll be stopping soon. Although, my DD is over 1 year old and she's only BFin 1x per day now.

Qmommy · November 2011

You will not harm your unborn by BFing #1. I am 35 weeks pregnant and still BFing DD1.

I highly recommend reading Adventures in Tandem Nursing even if you plan on weaning before #2 arrives. The book covers BFing while pregnant extensively and has been very helpful for me. I thought my DD would self wean when my supply dropped at 19 weeks, nope... she still nursed. Then I thought she would wean when my milk changed to colostrum... nope... she's still nursing! I'm all about self weaning though so it looks like I probably will be a tandem nursing mother. She will nurse 3-4 times a day even though she's not getting much of anything.

BrittKav · November 2011

Unless your pregnancy is high-risk there's no reason to wean. BFing causes harmless uterine contractions- just like the ones you have after orgasm. If you're cleared to have sex, then you're okay to keep breastfeeding. I BF throughout my pregnancy with no issues other than my supply dropping.

VABride2008 · November 2011

I got pregnant while nursing. My doctor wanted me to wean by the time I was 20 weeks along to reduce the risk of pre-term labor (even though I am not high risk). LOs 1st birthday was about 2 weeks after I hit the 20 week mark so we went ahead with WCM. My supply was tanking anyways so it worked out well.

jf198400 · November 2011

I got pregnant when DD was 9months and my OB also told me to wean (he said to do it by the time I was 20 weeks), so I continued BFing, and slowly cut back as DD started eating more foods and I stopped pumping at work. We transitioned her to whole milk at 12months and continued nursing twice a day until DD was 13months. I was 22 weeks at the time and my doctor reminded me that I should stop BFing. DD was fine giving up her last nursing session.

You have plenty of time to wean your LO, don't feel like you have to rush into it if you and DD aren't ready.

silkyhorse · November 2011

Another breastfeeding pregnant woman here! Shortly after finding out I was pregnant, I dropped from 4 nursings a day to 2 nursings a day (before nap and before bed) - mostly because the timing worked out with a stuffy nose my son had. Plus, he LOVES to eat, so nursing is mostly emotional for him.

I have a midwife, and I haven't met with her yet for this pregnancy, but I know she won't have problems with my continued breastfeeding.

I would like to wean my son by about 20-22 weeks, only because I want there to be plenty of time for him to forget about breastfeeding before the new baby comes. I read the Adventures in Tandem Breastfeeding book and decided that tandem nursing is just not for me

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