Breast Feeding While Pregnant?

Updated on February 08, 2008
A.P. asks from San Diego, CA
8 answers

I have a 6 1/2 month old baby boy. My husband and I are thinking about getting pregnant in March or April. I'm not too excited about it, because I'm really enjoying my baby, but we have always wanted to have them close together. I know once the new baby is here we will be thrilled. I do want to continue breast feeding my baby boy until he is 1 years old. Has anyone else continued to breast feed baby #1 while pregnant with baby #2? Any suggestions for taking care of 2 kids under the age of two? Will I ever get any real sleep? I'm not the kind of person that needs a ton of sleep, but some is good. And last but not least, has anyone had a hard time getting pregnant with baby #2 while still breast feeding baby #1?

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M.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

My sons are 17 months apart. I breastfed while pregnant and even while in labor. Many times I fed both at once. It all can be done. I breastfed for about 2 years for each child. Sometimes we need to not worry so much as things really will work out. It all can be done and most of the time is not too tricky. I loved breastfeeding my sons and would not have done anything differently. Contact La Leche League with concerns and for advice. I had no problem getting pregnant while nursing- it is definately not a birth control technique! Good luck and you sound like a great parent. You will fine. Bless you

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K.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi!

I am a mother of two girls 16 months apart. I have a lot to say about what you are asking! If anything I think I can confirm for you some of the things mentioned by the other moms. First, we got pregnant while I was nursing baby number 1. Second, baby number 1 voluntarily stopped nursing when I was about 2 months pregnant with baby number 2. I did feel like I needed to pull my body back a little from sharing it with two other people - but I do think that the taste of breastmilk changes and that's how nature protects us! And lastly, I had a nanny for the first 6 months or so after having the second baby. I don't think I slept through the night for almost 3 years and I really needed the help! I look back on the pictures during that time and I looked EXHAUSTED. The nanny situation didn't work out as well as I would have liked and so baby number 1 started going to a great home daycare. THereafter, I was back at work part time and both kids would go to daycare. So, getting help of some kind is highly recommended!

I would say that now that my little one is almost 3, things are much better. THey play together and can keep each other company now and it is fun to hang out with both of them.

I wish you all the best!

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M.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

it is fine to breastfeed while pregnant. keep in mind that it may be more difficult to conceive, but not necessarily.

once pregnant, your breastmilik changes. your son may or may not want to continue because it tastes different. he may have an aversion to it but then decides he would still rather have it. some people experience exacerbated pregnancy symptoms while nursing, some do not.

once you do get pregnant, it is important for you to share this with your doctor. if you have a complicated pregnancy, you might not be able to continue to breastfeed. there are many websites with information on the risks to breastfeeding while pregnant. but for a normal healthy pregnancy, there should be no problem. You might end up educating your doctor even.

just know that you never know how it will work for you. and bringing in another new baby doesn't mean you have to split your love for your children, somehow you just have more to give. :)

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I breastfed my first while pregnant with our second, I was 5 months pregnant when she stopped, she was just over 2 years old.

2 kids under the age of two WILL be a lot of work but if that is what you want than' I'm sure you'll do great. Make sure it is what YOU want though, because if you have any resentment then the babies are going to pay the price. My kids are 2.5 years apart and I plan to try and get pregnant with number 3 after my youngest turns 3, so I can A) enjoy my last pregnancy B) still give plenty of attention to my older ones and even more important C) so I can give just as much attention to number 3 as my first two got. Hope that makes sense!

Oh, to answer your last question, we get pregnant right away but my cycles were regular as well.

Enjoy your baby!
M.

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R.P.

answers from Honolulu on

My first two children are 16 months apart. I was still nursing when I got pregnant with my second child. As soon as I said, "Okay, let's have another," it felt like I got pregnant! No problems there! I kept nursing baby #1 but with one of my pregnancy symptoms of tender nipples, it felt like I had just started nursing all over again and was too painful for me so I quit, when my first was 9 months old. He didn't have any problem quitting either. I've heard that the milk taste changes a little when you get pregnant so I don't know if that had an effect on why he had no problem switching to formula when he had never had it before. I do know of other's that had no problem nursing until the next baby was born so it is possible.

As for sleep...ha ha! It felt like I didn't sleep through the night for over 2 years! That's why I told my husband, "I want to sleep through the night at least once before we have another baby." Baby #3 came 26 months after baby #2. But you survive! Mommies have amazing strength and endurance!

Tips, make the children take a nap at the same time and you nap too! Stick to routines the best you can. Let baby #1 hold, touch, and love baby #2 (under supervision of course) so that there is no jealousy and they are friends. Get help from others to take baby #1 out to play especially when baby #2 is so little. Let baby #1 "help" as much as possible (go get a diaper...) I've got lots of advice! :)

The best part is that my first two a buddies. I love to see them play and love each other. So much so when one is using the potty the other is there keeping him company. ;) It DOES get easier!

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B.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

I breastfed my third child while I was pregnant with my fourth. He was 2 1/2 and only breastfed a few times a day mostly at bedtime. I nursed him the night I went into labor with #4. After the baby came he nursed a little but pretty much stopped after the birth. Nursing can cause the uterus to contract so if you are subject to premature labor it's not a good idea to nurse while pregnant. Having had 5 kids, the closest were 23 months apart..I nursed the last 3 and all totaled nursed for almost 5 years straight because I nursed while I was pregnant! It was the only way I survived because I could nurse and sleep at the same time. Re: having your next I wouldn't recommend having them closer that 2 years apart. Your first child will go through a lot of developmental stages in the first 2 years and you will want to give him the best of you! Unless you are an o 9 or 10 monthslder mom it probably won't hurt to wait a little longer before trying to get pregnant. Since you are most likely to be the one taking care of kids all day you should follow your instincts...you know what you can handle. Good luck!

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M.Z.

answers from Los Angeles on

What a perfect question. I had no problem getting pregnant while breastfeeding my son...you can totally continue to breastfeed all the way up to your due date and beyond if you want to. I am a perfect example of that. I just had a baby girl exactly one month ago. I breastfed my son all the way up to the day I went into the hospital to give birth to my daughter. Mind you I had weaned him from all feedings except for his afternoon nap and nighttime one up until this point. So, when I went into the hospital to give birth, that was when I cold turkey weaned him. I did give him on more feeding when we got home with the baby but told him it's baby's turn now and how he's a big boy and has his milk to drink. My two little ones are 21 months apart. My little guy won't be two until the end of March. He's totally content and understands that it's the baby's turn.

I was wondering what would happen with the colostrum and if more milk was going to come in when I gave birth to my daughter and let me reassure you...that a few days afterwards, my MILK TOTALLY CAME IN! We're going strong on the breastfeeding and everything has worked out well. Son got breastmilk for a year and a half and then some, now my baby girl gets her turn. Of course, I will be investing in some new boobs in the years to come, otherwise I might be on the next National Geographic cover!!
Good luck and don't worry you can get pregnant while breastfeeding, it's nice having them close in age, and as for sleep- one word- coffee. My baby wakes up every 2-3 hours but you just kind of adjust to it, and it does get better. My son was finally sleeping through the night at 21 months. So sleep, what is that:)

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H.K.

answers from Santa Barbara on

I got pregnant while I was breastfeeding. I continued breastfeeding for a couple more months, but it became painful/irritating for me. He was over one so I wasn't too worried. I know that medically it is fine to breastfeed while you are pregnant. I have even heard about women doing tandem nursing even.

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