A mother who bears a second baby at a time when the first is still completely baby, often wonders if breastfeeding during pregnancy is acceptable . Her doubts and worries are quite understandable - I don’t want to deprive the older peanut of healthy breast milk, and at the same time it is scary to harm the developing organism of crumbs that lives under the heart. In general, according to medical recommendations, the interval between pregnancies should last at least two years, during which the mother's body has the opportunity to fully recover. However, in practice there are various situations, and sometimes a woman learns about a new pregnancy when the eldest crumb is only 2-3 months old. In any case, a short period between pregnancies is an additional burden on the female body, so mom should not forget to regularly see a doctor and take all the recommended tests, as well as listen to his health.
Often a woman can hear recommendations to stop breastfeeding during pregnancy as soon as possible. This is motivated by the fact that the oldest child can “take” useful substances from the youngest, as a result of which the crumbs in the stomach will suffer and develop more slowly than expected. Due to the increased secretion of oxytocin, breastfeeding during pregnancy can provoke uterine contractions and even lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
However, not everything is so sad. If a woman does not have any associated problems (increased tonus of the uterus, spontaneous abortions in the past), then breastfeeding and pregnancy are not mutually exclusive things. It is necessary to focus on maternal well-being, age and needs of the baby - many women gradually stop breast-feeding during pregnancy (by the second or third trimester), gradually reducing the number of attachments to the breast and introducing the crumbs to new dishes. Moreover, by the third trimester (or even earlier), under the influence of hormonal changes in the mother's body, the taste of breast milk changes, and therefore the child often refuses to breast.
If we talk about medical recommendations, then obstetricians advise minimizing breastfeeding by mid-pregnancy. This is due to the fact that up to 20 weeks the uterus is not so sensitive to the effects of oxytocin, which is released during breastfeeding, but in a later period, the likelihood of premature birth increases significantly. Moreover, by this time, the production of breast milk is significantly reduced. Similar recommendations are valid for those mothers whose second pregnancy passes without any pathologies. However, if a woman has any problems: a constant feeling of fatigue, uterine tone, severe toxicosis - this is a good reason to end breastfeeding as quickly as possible. After all, both the elder and younger little ones need a healthy mother!
If a woman continues to breastfeed her older baby during pregnancy, she needs to eat and eat foods rich in calcium (milk, cottage cheese, cheese), iron (beef, buckwheat, pomegranates) and other vitamins and minerals, include protein foods and more relax. The breast of a pregnant woman is very sensitive to external irritants, so the feeding process often causes unpleasant sensations. In this case, the number and time of feeding should be limited, not allowing the child to "hang" on his chest for a long time. It is very good if mom has an assistant (grandmother, dad, someone from relatives or friends) who can distract the baby, play with him, and put him to bed if necessary. It is very important for mom to decide how she sees breastfeeding after the birth of a second baby. If she plans to feed “tandem”, that is, two at once, then no special actions can be taken. And if she wants to feed only the youngest, then it is advisable to complete breastfeeding as early as possible, at least a few months before giving birth, so that the little one does not connect the appearance of a brother or sister with excommunication.