Posted by Bethany Park on August 23, 2010
Breastfeeding While Pregnant
My journey as a breastfeeding mom got off to a bit of a rough start with some latching difficulties, but after a month, my daughter Layla and I had things figured out and it was all smooth sailing from there. Until I got pregnant again when Layla was almost 10 months old. I had not planned on having another baby so soon, and I was more than a little nervous.
My biggest concern was being able to continue nursing Layla to the 12 month mark. Would I be able to give her the nourishment that she needed? Was it safe to breastfeed during pregnancy? In addition to Hilary Flower’s Adventures in Tandem Nursing, I consulted KellyMom and La Leche League- two of my favorite breastfeeding resources- and was reassured that in the majority of cases, it is perfectly safe to continue breastfeeding your baby while pregnant, but it can present some challenges.
Possible Challenges
- Discomfort Many women who have gone through the first trimester of pregnancy are all too familiar with the breast sensitivity that can go along with a new pregnancy. Add a nursing baby to the mix and the problem can be compounded. I was lucky enough that I have not had any pain while nursing Layla during this pregnancy, but some women are not so fortunate. Some women even experience a creepy-crawly, or antsy sensation, which can take some of the joy out of the breastfeeding relationship.
- Your Own Nutrition When you are pregnant and nursing, you are supporting three people, and the nutrients are distributed according to priority. The growing fetus gets dibs, followed by your nursing child, and then you come in third. Ensuring that you are eating and drinking adequately is key. A pregnant woman needs 200 extra calories per day. A nursing mother needs about 500 extra calories daily. Making sure that you eat well can be difficult when you’re experiencing the nausea and exhaustion of early pregnancy, all while chasing after a baby or toddler. This is where your husband or partner really needs to help you out as much as possible to make sure you’re taken care of.
- Dip in Milk Supply Around the 6 week mark, I noticed that Layla was getting very fussy at the breast. She would would latch on only to pop off a few seconds later, acting very frustrated. I tried to hand express my milk and very little milk came out. I promptly freaked. The next day she did the same thing. Not only was I worried that she wasn’t getting enough milk, I was heartbroken, thinking that our breastfeeding relationship was over just like that. As a last ditch effort, I went online to look for pregnancy safe galactogogues (herbs, medicines, and foods that increase milk supply) and I found More Milk Two , an herbal supplement that is safe to take during pregnancy. Within a few days of starting the supplement, my milk supply was back and we were able to continue nursing. Every woman’s experience will be different. Some women I have talked to noticed absolutely no change in supply until well into the second trimester, while others had absolutely no milk by the time they were 10 weeks along.
- Nutrition and The Age of Your Nursing Baby When you are pregnant and nursing, your breastmilk will change back over to colostrum at some point in the second trimester, usually around 20 weeks gestation. If you are nursing an older infant or toddler, there will probably be no real nutritional issues to deal with. Toddlers’ nutritional needs can be met through whole milk and solid foods, but mothers of infants will need to pay close attention to make sure their babies’ needs are being met. Mothers of older infants that are close to turning one will likely have enough milk to at least make it to the 12 month mark, when whole milk can be introduced. The woman who gets pregnant while nursing a younger infant will likely have to make the switch to formula to meet her baby’s nutritional needs if her milk converts to colostrum before the baby turns one.
Looking Back
Layla and I were able to continue breastfeeding past her first birthday, and now at 13 months (and 18 weeks pregnant) we are on the road to weaning. I find myself treasuring these last few weeks that we get to share this special bond. It makes the difficult times we had at the beginning and toward the end feel so worthwhile. I am glad (and darn proud!) that I was able to provide her with the best nourishment that I could for her first year of life. Like many other areas of motherhood, the decision to continue nursing during pregnancy and beyond is a personal one, and the needs of all parties involved- the mother, the nursling, and the fetus need to be balanced, but it’s good to know that a new pregnancy does not mean that your breastfeeding relationship has to come to an end.
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