Is breastfeeding acceptable during pregnancy?

Mom, who is carrying the second baby at the time when the first is still very small, often wonders if breastfeeding during pregnancy is acceptable . Her doubts and anxieties are quite understandable - you do not want to deprive the older karapuza of useful breast milk, and at the same time it is terrible to harm the developing organism of crumbs, which lives under the heart. In general, according to medical recommendations, the interval between pregnancies should last at least two years, during which the maternal organism can fully recover. However, in practice, there are different situations, and sometimes a woman learns of a new pregnancy, when the older baby is only 2-3 months old. In any case, a short period between pregnancies is an additional burden on the female body, so the mother should not forget to show the doctor regularly and take all the recommended tests and listen to her health.

Often a woman can hear recommendations as soon as possible to stop breastfeeding during pregnancy. This is motivated by the fact that the older child can "take away" the younger from useful substances, as a result of which the crumb in the abdomen will suffer and develop more slowly than expected. Because of the increased release 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 related problems (increased uterine tone, spontaneous abortions in the past), then breastfeeding and pregnancy are not mutually exclusive. It is necessary to focus on the mother's well-being, the age and needs of the baby - many women gradually turn off breastfeeding during pregnancy (to the second-third trimester), gradually reducing the number of attachments to the chest and introducing 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, so that the child often refuses the breast.

If to speak about medical recommendations, obstetricians advise to turn off breastfeeding by the middle of 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 by breastfeeding, but in a later period the probability of premature birth is much greater. Moreover, by this time the production of breast milk has been 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, the tone of the uterus, a strong toxicosis is a weighty reason to finish breastfeeding as quickly as possible. After all, both the elder and the youngest baby need a healthy mother!

If a woman continues breastfeeding an 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 stimuli, so the process of feeding often causes unpleasant sensations. In this case, the number and time of feeding should be limited, not allowing the child to "hang" on the chest for a long time. It is very good if my mother has an assistant (grandmother, father, someone from relatives or friends) who can distract the crumbs, play with him, and if necessary put him to bed. Mom is very important to decide how she sees breastfeeding after the birth of a second baby. If she plans to feed a "tandem", that is, two at once, then no special action can be taken. And if she wants to feed only the younger, it is desirable to complete breastfeeding as early as possible, at least a few months before delivery, so that the youngster does not associate the appearance of a brother or sister with excommunication.