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Breastfeeding During Pregnancy

- Introduction -
The first thing I was unprepared for was successfully becoming pregnant while breastfeeding, fighting a short luteal phase and irregular cycles seemed like an endless battle at times I felt I would never win and would eventually have to wean from breastfeeding. Once that battled was conquered, I entered another unknown territory: breastfeeding during pregnancy. 

There is so much conflicting information from doctors telling you to wean to become pregnant and wean from breastfeeding once you've achieved pregnancy while breastfeeding to myths that your body could never sustain a nursing toddler and growing baby. A mother who is healthy and has a low-risk pregnancy can breastfeed through pregnancy. I nursed my first child to 30 months, during 22 weeks of my 2nd pregnancy and I carried my second child to full term, 39 weeks and 2 days and delivered a healthy 8 lb and 2 oz baby unmedicated, without intervention.

I've composed a list of resources below and some of my own experiences to help mothers who maybe in the shoes I've been in, being the first to practice extended breastfeeding (breastfeeding past the first year), trying to conceive while breastfeeding, becoming pregnant while breastfeeding and breastfeeding through pregnancy among their family and friends. I don't know about you, but until I joined a local moms group (attached parenting style) during the end of my second pregnancy, I did not know any mothers in my real life who had done any of those things I listed and it was hard to find the support and knowledge. 
- What To Watch Out For -
  • Nipple Sensitivity
Depending on the breastfeeding mother who has become pregnant while breastfeeding, nipple sensitivity may be an issue. With my first child, I didn't have nipple sensitivity in the beginning. It wasn't until I was around 20 weeks pregnant it started to become very uncomfortable to nurse her. Perhaps this was a result of the milk changing back to colostrum? I tried to ease the comfort by applying nipple cream, but by 22 weeks, I was unable to push through the pain and weaned her. I felt a tremendous amount of mommy guilt over weaning her (although I had successful breastfeed her for 30 months and during 22 weeks of my second pregnancy). This is some of the reason I pushed harder when I was breastfeeding my second child during my 3rd pregnancy. I got pregnant sooner and did not want to fall short of my goal of nursing for at least 2 years. I became pregnant with my 3rd child when my second child was 21.5 months. I also felt the nipple sensitivity from the beginning of my third pregnancy and feared my milk may dry out in the first trimester or he would self-wean because I was wanting to nurse for shorter periods than I did prior to pregnancy. Breastfeeding during pregnancy is not easy for every mother. It really does take some dedication and commitment to your goal, if your desire is to breastfeed throughout your entire pregnancy and tandem if your breastfeeding child is still interested in continuing to nurse.

- Tips for Breastfeeding Through Pregnancy - 
You may be wondering how to overcome some of these challenges. Here are a few things that have helped me push through the discomfort.
  • Breastfeed for Shorter Periods
This truly was the most helpful. Nursing for shorter periods allowed me to my nurse my second child, but also gave me the permission to stop when it got too uncomfortable. I believe this was on the reason I was able to pass breastfeeding for 22 weeks, a goal I had reached when nursing my first child during my second pregnancy.
  • Distractions
Whenever I would nurse my second child during my 3rd pregnancy, it helped if I did so while distracting myself with something else. TV or Netflixing a show during an afternoon or night feeding helped me push through the discomfort a little. Listening to music was sometimes helpful.

  • Focus on Short Term Goals
My goal for breastfeeding my second child during my 3rd pregnancy was to see how far I could go with nursing and if I could make it to tandem nursing a toddler and newborn. However, I felt the nipple sensitivity almost right away from the beginning and had to take it one day at a time than focusing on making it through 38 weeks + of pregnancy.


- Resources -



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