Nursing During Pregnancy

A common misconception about getting pregnant is that you have to stop nursing your first child. I think about when I first heard this notion and believed that you couldn't keep nursing while you were pregnant or that you had to stop by the end of your first trimester

I kind of wanted to smack someone when I hear that now. You can absolutely breastfeed while you are pregnant! I heard all kinds of stories about how if you get pregnant your milk immediately dries up and you can't breastfeed (this can happen to some women, though it doesn't happen to the majority). I also heard stories about how breastfeeding depletes all nutrition for your growing baby or your nursing child. Though it is true that it can take the nutrition away from you. Your body is going to put creating breast milk and growing that baby first, leaving you with whatever nutrients are left. If you choose, you can nurse your first child all the way through your pregnancy and tandem nurse both of children when the second is born.

A few thoughts about nursing during pregnancy:

• Make sure you stay hydrated and drink plenty of water. Your body needs to increase blood volume for the growing baby and needs to produce milk so it makes sense that your body would need more water. Your milk supply can diminish if you don't drink enough water when you aren't expecting, so it is even more important now to make sure you are hydrated.
• Make sure you eat nutritiously and be sure to eat enough. Again, both the baby and your child are using up the vital nutrition they need to grow and thrive, so you aren't getting as much as you may need to keep your energy level up and to keep you healthy. Not to mention, if you don't eat enough, your milk supply can suffer.
• Make sure to continue taking your prenatal vitamin. This is providing your body with the essentials you are likely not getting from your food.
• Your first child might wean themselves around the 2nd trimester due to the milk changing to colostrum. Some children are very sensitive to the flavor change and others continue nursing without noticing.

I nursed my first child through the first trimester of my second pregnancy. Shortly into the second trimester, she lost interest in nursing and weaned herself. Whether it was due to the flavor change of the milk or just her getting annoyed having to sit too long, I don't know. Regardless, it was a great experience, and I am so glad that I got the proper information so I didn't have to stop before both of us were ready.