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Parentpedia
Breastfeeding During Pregnancy
Congratulations, you'll be welcoming a brand new member to your family in a matter of months. You probably never expected to still be nursing during pregnancy, but you may not be ready yet to say goodbye to that special relationship. Does pregnancy have to mean an end to breastfeeding?
What to Expect If You Nurse While Pregnant
Most healthy women can safely continue to nurse during pregnancy.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, "If the pregnancy is normal and the mother is healthy, breastfeeding during pregnancy is the mothers' decision."
Unless you have a history of preterm labor or fetal death and your doctor has recommended against breast stimulation or reaching orgasm during lovemaking, it is considered safe to continue breastfeeding during pregnancy. (Oxytocin, the same hormone that is released during breastfeeding is also released during orgasm.)
Tender nipples and breasts are common in early pregnancy.
If you are nursing a toddler, let her know it hurts you to nurse and that you need her to be gentle, or you need to take a break from nursing. Be ready with a favorite book, toy, and healthy drink or snack to help distract your little one.
It's normal to feel more restless than usual.
The same pregnancy hormones that cause tender nipples also can make some moms-to-be feel agitated while nursing. This may be nature's way of encouraging weaning and preparing you to focus on your new baby. If you do decide to wean at this time, it's best for both you and your baby if you do it gradually.
Your milk supply may decrease around the beginning of the second trimester.
The taste of your milk can also change at this time. These changes can cause many babies to wean, while others just keep plugging along.
Nursing throughout pregnancy will not use up your supply of colostrum.
This is a common worry for moms nursing through late pregnancy. Your body will continue producing colostrum and you will have just the right amount for your new baby when the time comes.
You're not alone.
Though friends and relatives may be questioning your sanity, many women have continued to nurse safely throughout pregnancy. Breastfeeding is a shared relationship, and if you and your little one are not yet ready to wean, you have the experts on your side. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired" and the World Health Organization advises "continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond."
Safety Note
Breast milk is the priority during your baby's first year of life. If your baby weans before the age of 1, you will need to offer formula to replace feeds.
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