Pregnancy and BF - Need answers fast

Bamamom wrote: My OB says I have to stop. I don't want to stop! This has upset me so badly. I love BF Katie and I'm not ready to give it up. Somebody please point me towards some hard evidence saying it's okay to do both.

moped replied: For what reason do you have to stop did they say?

Kaitlin'smom replied: We have had PLEANTY of moms BF and who were PG (or are). I say find a new OB one that will support YOU.

you can do both, unless you have a medical reason, I dont see what the problem is. Did your OB give you a reason?

Bamamom replied: Actually I talked to my OB's nurse. I'm calling him on his cell tonight after he gets off work. We are very close to him and I kind of think he might support me on continuing to BF but if he really feels that it's harmful he won't. And I trust his judgement.

The reason the nurse gave was that it causes the uterus to contract and that can be dangerous/harmful during pg.

I'm hoping that he just RECOMMENDS that you stop and will give me the go ahead when he hears how important this is to me. I don't want to HAVE to wean her. That sucks.

moped replied: Well yeah! Lets see what some of the BF gurus say on here......

amynicole21 replied: No need to stop unless you are having complications. Your nurse is just being cautious, but she is wrong.

jcc64 replied: I think that's old school thinking. There are plenty of pg women who bf. Where's Karen when you need her??????

BabyOwen427 replied: I got this from kellymom.com
I think your nurse is misinformed and she needs to do her research before she goes around scaring patients like this.
----------------------------

Nursing During Pregnancy and Tandem Nursing FAQ:
Is it safe to nurse during pregnancy?
Yes, in most cases. At this time no medical study has been done on the safety of breastfeeding during pregnancy so it is impossible to list any definitive contraindications. If you are having a complicated pregnancy, such as lost weight, bleeding, or signs of preterm labor, you should problem-solve your individual situation with your caregiver. Depending on your individual situation and feelings you may decide that continued breastfeeding, reduced breastfeeding, or weaning is for the best.

Breastfeeding Contractions
Although uterine contractions are experienced during breastfeeding, they are a normal part of pregnancy. Similar contractions often occur during sexual intercourse, which many couples continue throughout pregnancy.

Miscarriage/Preterm Labor Risks
This is a common worry, but it does not appear to have a strong foundation. A recent review of research on the pregnant uterus reveals that there is actually no theoretical basis for the common concern that breastfeeding can lead to miscarriage or preterm labor in healthy pregnancies. Instead the uterus has many safeguards preventing a strong reaction to the oxytocin that breastfeeding releases.

Interestingly, experts on miscarriage and preterm labor are not among those who see a potential link between breastfeeding and these pregnancy complications. Miscarriage expert Lesley Regan, PhD, MD, quoted in Adventures in Tandem Nursing, saw no reason that breastfeeding should impact pregnancy, even if the mother has a history of miscarriage or is experiencing a threatened miscarriage.

Mother's health
There is no evidence that a well nourished mother who nurses during pregnancy is at risk nutritionally. Breastfeeding does not increase a mother's risk for osteoporosis, even when the mother nurses during pregnancy. Breastfeeding reduces the mother's risk of breast cancer.

Nursling's health
Your child will benefit from breastfeeding into the second year and beyond. The milk is just as safe during pregnancy, but pregnancy can cause milk to dwindle and can also motivate mother and child to wean. Thus if pregnancy does cause a child to receive less milk, the child will receive proportionally fewer of milk's health advantages. Indeed, weaning before two years increases the risk of illness for a child, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Jamison'smama replied: I nursed Jamison for several months into my pregnancy and would have kept going but she weaned herself---sometimes your supply gets lower so you may have to work to keep up the supply but it's certainly possible. There are plenty of moms who nurse through the entire pregnancy and tandem nurse afterwards....I can't remember who on here did, I think Tammy (paradisemommy) did and I'm sure there are others.

Definitely research before you wean.

maestra replied: I nursed Jaci until I was 21 weeks with Giselle, when my supply just stopped. I would have continued if I could have.

kit_kats_mom replied: I nursed Katherine until I was mos preg with Lauren. Your milk does change and your supply may drop signifigantly, but there is no reason to stop nursing unless you are at risk for miscarriage. Well, that and the fact that your nips may feel like they are going to explode with pain sometimes.

maestra replied:
I do have to agree with this one! This happened to me right before my supply stopped.

boyohboyohboy replied: karen is back how about pm'ing her?

Bamamom replied:
I'll do that - I've got a call in to my OB but from everything I've read I just don't see why I should have to stop.


As one website put it - if it's okay with your OB for you to have sex it should be okay for you to BF because they both cause the same type of uterine contractions.

Of course I don't know anyone who DTD 8 times a day!

moped replied:

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I heard it was okay. I wouldn't stop.

paradisemommy replied: i'm late as always but i nursed through-out my whole pregnancy and this was against my doctors orders too - i just played along - told them okay and ignored them.

i found out when i was pg with my dd that she only had a 2 vessel umbilical cord vs. a normal 3 vessel cord which kinda freaked me out too but she came out perfectly healthy - i had to have 2 c-sections and so i scheduled hers a little early and my doctor was completely shocked to hear that i did nurse the whole time i was pg WITH the 2 vessel cord and she came out 8 lbs. 1 oz.

i think docs like to err on the cautious side - there are no studies done on bf while pregnant because those studies would be unethical so it's really unchartered territory and what they don't know they automatically tell you don't do it. we as moms know how to listen to our internal clock - if something doesn't feel right then consult your dr. but i think it's perfectly safe..