Nursing During Pregnancy: Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born?

Let's talk about breastfeeding and pregnancy! There are several issues at work here, and I'll be talking about a few of them over the course of this week. 

The questions I'll be covering are:

Can I Get Pregnant while Breastfeeding?

Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant?

What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born?

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Today's Question: Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born?

If you're planning to nurse through your pregnancy, which we've established is safe and possible for most women, the next question that will logically arise is, What happens once the baby is born? Can and should I continue to nurse my toddler?

The short answer is, Yes! You absolutely can nurse more than one child at a time. Women with twins (and even triplets) do so successfully, and women also successfully and happily nurse a toddler and a newborn at the same time. Your body will make as much milk as your nurslings demand, so if two babies (or a baby and a toddler) are demanding milk, your body will increase production to meet that demand.

Nursing more than one child at a time is called "tandem nursing." You can nurse at literally the same time, with one child on each breast, or you can have them take turns.

Most women who have tandem nursed a toddler and a newborn have reported it to be a positive experience. It enables them to maintain that closeness with their toddler and continue to supply breastmilk to him or her, and it helps them to foster a bond between the toddler and the baby, as the toddler gets to "share" milk with the new baby brother or sister.

A few things to note if you decide to try tandem nursing:

1.  Feed the baby first.

Toddlers can eat solid foods, drink other milks and water, and should not need to nurse as much or as often as a newborn. Make sure you are meeting your newborn's nursing needs over those of your toddler, since nursing is your newborn's only source of nutrition. If your toddler is jealous of the time the baby has at the breast, you can make that time special for your toddler as well. Create a special "nursing basket" of activities you two can do together while the baby nurses, such as books to read or videos to watch, and bring those things out only when you sit down to nurse the baby.

2. Colostrum and newborn milk have laxative properties.

Breastmilk changes as your baby grows. The milk your body was making for your toddler was different from the milk your body will now make for your newborn. Colostrum and early milk have laxative properties, which means your toddler's stools may become looser when he starts getting that sweet, runny newborn milk. Just as a word of warning!

3. Your toddler will likely want to nurse more.

It's very likely that the increased flow of milk your toddler gets now that your body is back to making milk for a full-time nursing newborn will make him want to nurse more often. He will enjoy the flavor and volume of the milk. It is up to you to set limits on his nursing so that your newborn still gets "first dibs" on your milk.

What if I don't want to tandem nurse?

If you decide you don't want to try tandem nursing, you should wean your toddler at least six weeks before you expect the baby to be born. You want to establish the habit of not nursing before he sees a baby brother or sister nursing regularly. Some toddlers will be curious about nursing even if they've been weaned for a long time, and some will even ask to try it. This did not happen with my sons, but I have heard of this from other mothers. Some choose to allow the toddler to try nursing. Most toddlers who have been weaned for more than a month or two (or even a week or two) don't remember how to latch and cannot draw out any milk and quickly lose interest. If they do manage to get milk, many are no longer accustomed to the taste and find their usual foods more interesting.

If you have any questions about nursing during pregnancy, feel free to ask in the comments or on the Facebook page.

Did you nurse through your pregnancy? What issues, if any, did you encounter? Have you tandem nursed? Would you encourage another mother to try tandem nursing if she is unsure? What additional advice do you have for nursing through pregnancy or tandem nursing?

<< Previous: What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Nursing During Pregnancy: What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Let's talk about breastfeeding and pregnancy! There are several issues at work here, and I'll be talking about a few of them over the course of this week. 

The questions I'll be covering are:

Can I Get Pregnant while Breastfeeding?

Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant?

What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born?

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Today's Question: What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Now that we've addressed the efficacy of breastfeeding as contraceptive and of some of the safety concerns related to breastfeeding and pregnancy, let's look at some of the other issues some women have with nursing during pregnancy.

1. Sore breasts/nipples

Pregnancy can cause your breasts to be tender and your nipples to be sore whether you're breastfeeding or not. Many women report that nursing becomes very painful during pregnancy because of extremely sensitive nipples or nipple/breast tenderness. Not everyone will experience this, just as not everyone will experience other hormonal side effects of pregnancy. Some women find the pain bearable while others decide to wean or cut back on nursing because the pain is intolerable. Sometimes this pain can be helped a bit by ensuring that your toddler's latch is as good as possible. Toddlers can tend to become lazy about latching properly, and often we as mothers don't worry too much about correcting them because it no longer bothers us. However, a bad latch can make already existing nipple pain that much worse. If you suddenly notice sore nipples even if you've been nursing pain-free through your pregnancy so far, check for thrush. The hormonal disruptions of pregnancy can make some women more prone to yeast infections. It may also be that the nipple soreness is hormonal but is beginning later in the pregnancy. My nipples did not become appreciably sore until the second trimester.

2. Nausea

If you experience morning sickness, it can be that much harder to deal with a baby or toddler climbing you and demanding your attention. For some women, the act of nursing also increases the nausea. If your morning sickness generally goes away after the first trimester, you may find that you can stick it out knowing it will probably get better in a few weeks. Also, make sure you are sufficiently hydrated. I've found that dehydration can make the nausea much worse, and breastfeeding can add to the dehydration, especially in summer.

3. Physical discomfort

Pregnancy can cause pain in your lower back, ribs, and hips, and your growing belly may make it difficult to find a comfortable position in which to nurse. Fortunately, toddlers can be very creative about how and where they nurse, so your child may solve this problem for you! Experiment with different positions and try nursing in different places to find a tolerable and workable position.

4. Feeling "touched out"

The hormones of pregnancy make some women not want to be touched intimately, especially if they are also feeling ill from morning sickness or experiencing other bodily discomfort. The demands of a nursing toddler can compound these feelings of simply not wanting to be touched. Some women talk about how nursing makes their skin crawl. I found that occasionally I get "restless legs" while nursing. Unfortunately, there's not much to be done about this "touched out"-ness, except to try to find time for yourself if you can to settle your nerves.

5. Guilt

If you lose your milk or find you need to wean because of the pain or discomfort, you may feel guilty that you were not able to nurse your child as long as you'd hoped to. I had planned to nurse my third son until he was two, but my milk dried up about two months ago, when he was only 19 or 20 months old. I still allow him to "dry nurse" (nurse even though there's no milk) once a day for his nap for two reasons. One is so that he is not deprived of that closeness, and the other is so that he doesn't forget how to nurse, so that I can make the decision later whether to allow him to continue nursing after his brother is born. (This is called tandem nursing and will be addressed in the next section of this article.) Remember that even if you do have to wean completely before you had planned, you still gave your child as much as you could, you still love your child, and there are many other ways that you will continue to express that love. Remember, also, that when you begin nursing your new baby, you will find new ways to connect with your older child, and, if you want, you can even share some expressed breastmilk with your older child.

<< Previous: Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant | Next: Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born? >>

Nursing During Pregnancy: Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant?

Let's talk about breastfeeding and pregnancy! There are several issues at work here, and I'll be talking about a few of them over the course of this week. 

The questions I'll be covering are:

Can I Get Pregnant while Breastfeeding?

Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant?

What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born?

***

Today's question: Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant?

The short answer is: Yes! For most women, it is perfectly fine to continue to breastfeed throughout pregnancy.

There are generally three concerns raised about breastfeeding during pregnancy. These are:

1.  Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which also causes uterine contractions.

2.  Making breastmilk requires quite a lot of the mother's resources.

3.  Pregnancy will cause your milk to dry up.

Let's take a look at each of these concerns.

1. Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which also causes uterine contractions. 

This is true. Oxytocin is the main hormone that stimulates the uterus to contract during labor. Oxytocin is also released during orgasm and breastfeeding and is called the "love" hormone, because it encourages the bond between mother and baby or between partners.

Some women are concerned that the oxytocin released during breastfeeding may cause her to go into labor prematurely. Indeed, nipple stimulation (which is what causes the release of oxytocin) is one method of "natural" labor induction for women near or beyond their due dates. It is important to remember that your uterus is contracting occasionally throughout your pregnancy whether you are breastfeeding or not. These are not as strong or as regular as labor contractions, but they are normal and expected and are thought to "warm up" the uterus for labor. 

As mentioned, oxytocin is also released during orgasm, and sexual intercourse is considered safe for most women during pregnancy. Breastfeeding, as well, can continue through pregnancy.

Uterine contractions brought on by breastfeeding may become a concern if you have any complications, including a history of preterm labor. Please check with your care provider if you have reason to think breastfeeding during pregnancy may not be safe in your situation.

2. Making breastmilk requires a lot of the mother's resources.

This is also true. Making breastmilk requires nutrients and calories from the mother, just as pregnancy does. Some women may be concerned that they cannot take in enough to handle this doubled demand. 

However, unless you are already malnourished, there is no reason that you cannot eat and drink enough to provide for your nursling and your developing baby. Eat to your hunger and drink to your thirst. You will probably notice an increase in appetite and thirst, but that is reasonable given the amount of calories your pregnancy and breastfeeding combined will require. This will also depend greatly on the age of your nursling and how much he or she still nurses. An older toddler who is only nursing a couple of times a day will not require many additional calories from you. If your baby is still under a year old and mostly relies upon your milk for sustenance, you may find it more difficult to keep up. If he or she is old enough, you can try offering more solid foods if you need to cut back on nursing.

3. Pregnancy will cause your milk to dry up.

This may be true in some cases. For some women, the hormones of pregnancy will cause a supply drop in preparation for the switch back to colostrum when the new baby is born, while others continue to nurse regularly and comfortably all the way through their pregnancies. For some, supply problems begin almost immediately, while for others, the supply dip or drying up occurs during the second trimester. There's no way to know in advance whether you are one of these women, and an ample supply pre-pregnancy is not a predictor. I had plenty of milk before I became pregnant and did not expect pregnancy to affect my supply. Instead, I found my supply quickly dwindled to nothing despite my toddler's continuing to nurse. I could tell that he was eating considerably more solid foods and receiving very little breastmilk. I had trouble expressing even a couple of drops of milk by the middle of the second trimester. Some women are able to combat this supply dip by using foods and herbs that can increase milk supply, but this will not work for everyone.

You need to be aware of this possibility, because if you do become pregnant while your baby is still under a year old, it may be difficult to continue to meet his needs if your milk does dry up. You should take this into consideration if you're considering allowing breastfeeding to be your only form of birth control. (See the previous post for more on breastfeeding as contraception.)

Remember that this possibility doesn't mean you shouldn't at least try to continue breastfeeding during your pregnancy, if that is your desire.

<< Previous: Can I Get Pregnant while Breastfeeding? | Next: What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Nursing During Pregnancy: Can I Get Pregnant While Breastfeeding?

Let's talk about breastfeeding and pregnancy! There are several issues at work here, and I'll be talking about a few of them over the course of this week.

The questions I'll be covering are:

Can I Get Pregnant while Breastfeeding?

Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant?

What are Some Other Concerns about Nursing through Pregnancy?

Can I Continue to Nurse My Older Child after the Baby is Born?

***

Today's question: Can I get pregnant while breastfeeding?

The short answer is: Yes! It is certainly possible to get pregnant while you're still nursing. 

Let's break it down, though. 

Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive, given to us by nature to assist with child spacing to encourage safer and more viable pregnancies and childbirth and to ensure that there would be adequate resources for the existing child before another was born. However, the advent of agriculture, the addition of regular complex carbohydrates to our diets, our ample food supply, and the disruption of natural breastfeeding rhythms in favor of a more "scheduled" life have all weakened breastfeeding's ability to suppress ovulation.

Breastfeeding is as effective (over 99%) as the Pill for contraception provided you meet all of the following criteria:

1. Your baby is under six months old.

2. Your baby breastfeeds at night as well as during the day and sleeps in close proximity to you.

3. You use no artificial nipples (no bottles, no pumping, no pacifiers - all feedings and comforting are at-breast).

4. Your period has not returned.

This means that some women can get pregnant even while breastfeeding and meeting these conditions, just as some women can get pregnant while taking hormonal birth control correctly. However, most women will find exclusive breastfeeding to be very effective as contraception during the first six months. If a new pregnancy is absolutely not an option for you, consider using a backup method as well, such as condoms, hormonal birth control*, or an IUD.

*A note about the Pill: There are several forms of oral hormonal birth control (the Pill). There is evidence that the estrogen in the combination pill may have an effect on milk supply. It is recommended that nursing mothers who wish to use hormonal birth control try the "minipill," which contains only progesterone. The minipill is very effective, but only if used exactly as directed, which means that you must take it at exactly the same time every day. If you don't feel that this is realistic for you, talk with your OB or midwife about other birth control options.

After six months, you cannot rely upon breastfeeding alone for contraception. Some women find they are unable to get pregnant when they are breastfeeding at all, while others begin ovulating as soon as their babies start going longer between feedings, start sleeping through the night, or begin eating solid foods in addition to breastmilk.

Also, remember that you ovulate before you have a period, meaning that it is possible to become pregnant the first time you ovulate after giving birth, even if you haven't had a period yet.

I did not use any birth control after the birth of my third child, and breastfeeding alone prevented the return of my period until my baby was 12 months old. I got pregnant when G was about 16 months old, meaning I had about four periods before conceiving. G was still nursing pretty often, including at least three or four times at night, but he was also eating solid foods. My cycles were very irregular, ranging from 33 days to 57 days, and it was quite nerve-wracking when my period was so unpredictable. I took many, many pregnancy tests during that time! That's just my experience, but I think it's a fairly common one. If you decide to go the "let's let nature take its course route," be aware that you may not know you're pregnant until you finally decide to take a test!

Next: Is It Safe to Breastfeed while Pregnant? >>