Breast milk provides the best nourishment for babies, and the benefits don't stop after infancy. The longer a child breastfeeds, the longer he gets the immune protection and brain-boosting benefits that his mother's milk provides. But mothers who choose to continue breastfeeding up to two years and beyond, as the World Health Organization recommends, often find themselves juggling both the breastfeeding relationship and a pregnancy. Fortunately for both mother and baby, most women can safely breastfeed throughout the entire pregnancy, and some continue to tandem-nurse both children after the birth of the new baby.
Milk Changes
During pregnancy, a mother's breast milk changes due to the hormones flooding her system. As progesterone levels rise, her milk supply may dwindle, although as long as the older child is still breastfeeding, it is unlikely to disappear completely. The milk also changes consistency as the pregnancy progresses, becoming higher in sodium and protein and lower in potassium and the sugars glucose and galactose. This consistency is closer to the early yellowish milk called "colostrum" that is produced during the first few days of breastfeeding. An older baby or toddler can continue to drink this milk without any health issues, but some older children self-wean or cut back on nursing because they do not like the change in taste or diminishing supply.
Nutrition
Breastfeeding does not take any nutrients away from the developing baby, so mothers needn't worry about this. You should talk to your doctor about your calorie and protein needs, though, since these are both higher than normal in a pregnant, breastfeeding mother. It's not possible for the older nursing child to use up the milk or colostrum, so your new baby will have enough after birth. The milk that your breasts make remains a healthy source of antibodies and nutrients for your older baby or toddler throughout the pregnancy.
Discomfort
Some breastfeeding mothers notice that their breasts and nipples become more sensitive during pregnancy, making breastfeeding the older child uncomfortable or even painful. Because these changes are hormonal, methods of reducing discomfort that worked earlier in the breastfeeding relationship might not work during pregnancy. Increasing fluid intake, changing the nursing position and asking an older child to be gentle while nursing can all help ease the pain.
Safety
In most cases, breastfeeding while pregnant is completely safe. However, some doctors warn against it if the mother has a history of miscarriage or preterm labor. The reasoning behind this is that a woman's body releases the hormone oxytocin while nursing, which can cause the uterus to contract. In most women, the uterus isn't sensitive to this hormone because it has fewer receptors during the early part of pregnancy and the normal hormones of pregnancy counteract it. Women who have had problems with the uterus' ability to sustain a pregnancy might react to this compound and trigger early labor or a miscarriage. If you are at high risk and plan to continue breastfeeding your older child, ask your doctor about monitoring your pregnancy for signs of potential problems.
References
- University of Nebraska Medical Center: Can I Breastfeed During Pregnancy?; January 2003
- KellyMom: Nursing During Pregnancy and Tandem Nursing FAQ; September 1999
- KellyMom: A New Look at the Safety of Breastfeeding During Pregnancy; Hilary Dervin Flower, M.A.; August 2003
- AskDrSears.com: Breastfeeding While Pregnant; Robert W. Sears, M.D.
