8 wks pregnant with a 9 month old breastfeeding baby

I breastfed my toddler until I was 3mths pregnant - I never felt there was any risk to the unborn baby, nor was I discouraged from doing so by any of the doctors I saw - both here and back home. Unfortunately, I got food poisoning and ended up in hospital away from my toddler and that's how she was forced to wean herself at 17mths. If you're able to continue, I think it would be great especially since your baby is still quite young. Good luck!

was he only feeding once a day before you got pregnant? thats really not a lot for a 9 month old, you might want to add at least another day feed to keep your supply up until you wean. Formula tastes awful, but if you do decide to wean you could try making a milkshake with formula and banana/berries etc, he might drink it from a cup or with a straw that way and you can also add formula or breastmilk to his food. He should really be having meat at least once a day too, especially given the low milk intake.

There is no research to say that breastfeeding while pregnant take nutrients from the fetus, in fact studies have shown the opposite. Its actually quite normal around the world to nurse during pregnancy. Can you provide links to what you have read that shows otherwise? I am 19 weeks pregnant and still breastfeeding, I've read so much on the issue and everything I read says it is completely safe, if you think your diet is lacking then take a prenatal vit (I'm not even doing that, besides taking folic acid in the first trimester, although I am watching my iron and spending plenty of time outdoors for vitamin D). Your fetus is not at risk but might decide to wean at some point for your own sake due to nipple tenderness or nausea, whatever you decide, there is no reason to start on regular cows milk. Are you sure your Dr wasn't just saying to give formula from a sippy cup? As far as weaning, if you'd like to wean (and you definitely don't have to wean unless you are a high risk pregnancy, the type they also advise no *** and plenty of bed-rest etc) you'll probably find it happens slowly and naturally as your milk supply diminishes later in pregnancy (I had plenty of milk at the start but don't think there is a whole lot now). And you may find you need to supplement if your milk is not enough to satisfy your baby (mine is 21 months old so he gets plenty from his diet anyway). If you do wean, wean SLOWLY, the last thing you want is mastitis or an abscess during pregnancy as then you'd have to take antibiotics or even risk surgery. I am planning to wean my son by the time I'm six months pregnant as I think it is a good time now (he is naturally losing interest with the low supply) and I want to avoid potential jealousy issues with the newborn nursing. You haven't really been given very good advice by your OBGYN and they are showing they are out of date. I have seen 3 different Drs (all consultants) during my pregnancy and none of them had a problem with my breastfeeding. Its frankly appalling that you would be told to give cows milk over formula too, and ironic, when you are talking about taking away nutrients from your fetus, because you would actually be taking away nutrients from your 9 month old at a time when their brain really needs them to develop properly, there are many studies that show risk to children who are fed cows milk instead of formula before age one due to low iron content and high sodium content among other things. Cows milk and formula are very very different, formula has loads of stuff added to it to make it more like breastmilk. http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/special-situations/breastfeeding-while-pregnant http://www.livestrong.com/article/371552-nutrition-breastfeeding-while-pregnant/ http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/ask-heidi/breastfeeding-while-pregnant.aspx

i've heard/researched a few different things that say you shouldn't breastfeed while pregnant because it takes nutrients away from the fetus, which is all fine, but i've also read that 9 months may be too early to start the baby on cow's milk. i had my first appointment today and my ob said i should try to start weaning and that he should be fine to start drinking milk with a sippy cup. i have an appointment with the pediatrician, but that's not for a few weeks from now. anyone have any experiences or suggestions with this? what is the best method of weaning and starting cow's milk earlier than 1 year? should i dilute it? boil it? start off with an ounce every other day? edited by na115 on 07/05/2012 You should switch OB's because modern science has demonstrated with complete clarity that you can be pregnant and breastfeed as well. Please do not put your child on cow's milk at less that a year as it can do irreparable harm to your child's internal organs. Is that what your doctor told you to do? Please get a second opinion. Don't jeopardize your first child's health because you are expecting another.