CG Breastfeeding through a New Pregnancy -

Breastfeeding through a New Pregnancy

Congratulations! Expecting a new baby while still breastfeeding can be an exciting, yet challenging journey. You’re not only nurturing your older child but also welcoming a new life into your family. This transition can bring a mix of emotions—joy, anticipation, and sometimes even a bit of worry about how to care for both children. This guide will help you understand how to balance the needs of both of your babies while ensuring you take care of yourself, too. You’ll learn about the benefits of breastfeeding during pregnancy, tips for managing any discomfort, and ways to support your body as it goes through these changes.¹

Understanding the Benefits

Breastfeeding while pregnant continues to offer benefits to both you and your nursing toddler.²,³ One of the most significant advantages is that your breast milk continues to provide essential nutrients and immune protection to your older child. This support is especially important as they grow and explore the world around them, helping to keep them healthy and strong.

Additionally, breastfeeding fosters a deep emotional connection between you and your toddler. The familiarity of breastfeeding can provide a sense of stability and comfort, helping your toddler feel more at ease during this time of transition. Breastfeeding is one of your best parenting tools. Continuing to breastfeed into toddlerhood can help calm a fussy child, making it easier for them to nap and easing bedtime struggles.

Important Considerations

As your pregnancy progresses, especially into the second trimester, you may notice a natural decrease in your milk supply. Depending on their age, this reduction can impact the nutritional needs of your older nursing child.

For babies less than 6 months old:
They may require additional calories to meet their needs. In this case, consider supplementing with previously frozen expressed breast milk or formula to ensure they’re getting enough nutrition.
For babies older than 6 months:
If they eating a wide variety of solid foods, the decrease in milk supply may be less concerning. However, it’s still important to monitor their diaper output, weight gain, and overall contentment between feedings.

If you have any concerns about what to offer your baby in place of breast milk, consult your baby’s healthcare provider for personalized advice and recommendations.

Safety of Continued Breastfeeding

While many women can safely continue breastfeeding during a subsequent pregnancy, there are some situations where it may not be recommended.⁴ Here are a few considerations:

High-Risk Pregnancy: If you have a high-risk pregnancy due to conditions such as preterm labor, placental problems, or certain medical complications, your healthcare provider may advise against continuing to breastfeed.
Multiple Pregnancies: If you are pregnant with multiples (e.g., twins, triplets), breastfeeding may be discouraged due to the increased demands on your body and risk of preterm delivery.
Previous History: If you have a history of miscarriages or other complications in previous pregnancies, your healthcare provider may recommend weaning.
Personal Preference: Some mothers may choose to wean during pregnancy for personal or emotional reasons, and that decision is entirely valid.

Listening to Your Body

As you navigate this journey, it’s essential to listen to your body. Pregnancy can be exhausting, especially while caring for an older child. Morning sickness may also make frequent breastfeeding challenging, so be gentle with yourself and try to get extra rest during this time.⁵ Sore nipples and breast tenderness are common in early pregnancy, but these issues often improve as hormone levels stabilize.⁶ Some mothers experience a sudden and intense aversion to breastfeeding, which can be difficult to manage. Setting limits on how long or how often you breastfeed can help you conserve energy and maintain your own comfort levels.

As your pregnancy progresses, you might find different breastfeeding positions more comfortable. For example, side-lying positions can help you rest or even nap when your toddler does.⁷ It’s also important to note that your toddler may want to nurse more or less frequently than before. Some older babies may even self-wean as your milk supply naturally decreases in the second trimester. This may be a welcome relief or not, depending on your breastfeeding goals.

Nutritional Needs

Staying well-hydrated is essential. Breastfeeding requires extra fluid intake, especially during pregnancy and warmer weather. Your nutritional needs for protein, calcium, and iron will increase, so include foods that provide these important nutrients. It’s also a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider about your caloric needs, as you may require additional calories above and beyond what is needed to support your pregnancy.⁸

Focus on a balanced diet rich in:

Fruits and vegetables
Whole grains
Lean proteins
Healthy fats

Preparing for the New Baby

Discuss Expectations: Talk with your older child about the new baby and the changes coming. It is important to emphasize that the new baby will need your milk too.
Reading Books: Storytime is a great way to introduce the idea of a new baby and what that will look like for your older child.
Plan for Tandem Nursing: If you plan to breastfeed both children, educate yourself about tandem nursing. It can be beneficial to learn techniques and positions for nursing both a newborn and a toddler.⁹
Weaning: If you would like to wean before your new baby arrives, give yourself and your older nursing baby at least a month or two to adjust prior to the baby’s birth.

Postpartum Considerations

Prioritizing the New Baby: If tandem nursing, prioritize the new baby’s needs for milk prior to nursing your older baby.
Postpartum Recovery: Pay attention to your body, rest whenever you can, eat enough calories, and stay well hydrated.
Emotional Support: The postpartum period can be emotional. Seek support from your partner, family, friends, or professionals if needed.
Breastfeeding Help: A Lactation Consultant can provide invaluable support in overcoming breastfeeding challenges and help you achieve your breastfeeding goals. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or need support.

What If I Have Questions?

If you are interested in learning more, these Aeroflow classes expand on some of the topics discussed above:

The Ultimate Breastfeeding Prep
Moms Circle
The Brain-Boob Connection

To register for these classes, log into your portal or click here.

Want More Info?

For a directory of Aeroflow’s other Care Guides offering information on pregnancy, baby care, and more, browse our comprehensive list of titles:

https://www.hersourcehealth.com/aeroflow-care-guides/ ‎

References