Those that find out they are expecting another baby while they are breastfeeding may be unsure of how to proceed. They may be unsure of how breastfeeding will impact the growth of their now baby or if this process could interfere with the pregnancy in some way. You may be worried that you will not have enough milk for your child or find that breastfeeding is uncomfortable as your breasts responds to the pregnancy. There are some points to consider if you are breastfeeding while pregnant to ensure that you will be able to manage the development of both children effectively.

Is It Safe to Breastfeed While Pregnant?

Your body will continue to produce breast milk while you are pregnant and you will be able to breastfeed. Breastfeeding while pregnant is safe as long as you are healthy and your pregnancy is continuing normally. You should make an effort to get a balanced diet to ensure that you and your child is getting the nutrients you need during this time. If you are suffering from morning sickness, eat whatever you can manage.

You may need to stop breastfeeding if you have experienced bleeding or have had premature labor or a miscarriage in the past. Four to five months into your pregnancy breast milk will revert back to colostrum, the pre-milk that your baby will need in the initial days after birth. Your currently breastfeeding child may notice because this milk will taste differently and your body will produce less of it. Because of this your child may begin to wean itself, but some continue to breastfeed without any changes. If you continue to breastfeed your body will continue to produce colostrum as necessary. If your child is less than a year old and you are breastfeeding while you are pregnant, watch to ensure they are putting on weight properly after your milk converts to colostrum.

You can decide whether or not you want to continue breastfeeding your child once the new baby arrives. If you decide to continue breastfeeding both children, tandem feeding has been found to reduce the risk of mastitis in mothers. If you are not comfortable with tandem feeding, try to wean your child while you are still pregnant to avoid any feelings of jealousy or overwhelming amounts of change the child will need to experience when the new baby arrives.

Experiences and advice from other moms

“I am 38 weeks into pregnancy and have been breastfeeding my son heavily throughout my entire pregnancy. My doctor told me I would probably dry up, so I decided that I would just keep breastfeeding until that point. My doctor has told me that I have a two vessel umbilical cord and my baby is big and healthy inside me which to me proves that breastfeeding does not take anything away from your fetus or that you will dry up because your new baby is taking anything away from your baby. I bottle feed my son most weekdays because I work full time. I also try to eat healthy and take a prenatal pill every day but I don’t have a strict diet. I try to think that your body is smarter than you and works to put your fetus first – then the nursing baby – then you; but, I have had my regular amount of energy even with very little sleep. I don’t sleep much because my son nurses through the night for comfort. If you are thinking about nursing through pregnancy I would recommend you follow your instincts because it really is the best for your baby.”

 

“I am nursing a 15 month old and am 27 weeks into pregnancy. Any doctor or OB that has told you shouldn’t breastfeed when you are pregnant is lying unless you are high risk. There are some other reasons why you might not be able to breastfeed, but most of the time it’s safe. I have had three OBs tell me that it is just fine to breastfeed and two midwives from two different locations have told me the same thing. Women have been breastfeeding while pregnant for a long time. Formula is also a lot less healthy than breast milk which is why you should put a lot of research into picking a formula before you agree to switch your baby over. Pumping is also not as good for a baby because the baby’s saliva is what tells your breast what antibodies it needs to make. Pumping is still better than formula, but nothing is better than nursing your baby from your breast.”

What to Watch Out for If You Are Breastfeeding While Pregnant?

• Healthy diet and lifestyle. You will need to increase the amount you rest each day if you are breastfeeding while pregnant as this can increase your risk of fatigue. Eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of rest throughout the day taking breaks from activities as necessary will help with this problem. Getting enough nutrients is essential to sustaining both your pregnancy and breast milk production.
• Nipple care. You will also need to make an additional effort to care for your nipples because they will likely become sore from your pregnancy. If your nipples are quite sensitive you may not be able to breastfeed.

Avoid using creams, lotion or soap on the nipples as this can increase their tenderness. Also air-dry your nipples or gently pat them dry with a soft towel after bathing to avoid irritating the skin. Try to ensure your baby latches onto your nipple properly during each breastfeeding session to prevent soreness or cracking skin.

If your nipples do crack, seek out proper treatment such as nipple butter, lanolin creams or coating the skin in breast milk as soon as possible to ensure this irritation does not become worse.