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Home › Articles › Issues for Mom › Breast, Baby and Belly

Breast, Baby and Belly

Can You Breastfeed Through a Pregnancy?

By Neilia Sherman

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People you know may be surprised if you decide to breastfeed during a pregnancy or even fear that it is dangerous. However, there is no documented danger to the mother or fetus when mothers breastfeed during a healthy pregnancy.

Joan Fisher, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in Ottawa, Ont., points out that uterine contractions, which are experienced during breastfeeding and sexual activity, are a normal part of pregnancy. She does caution, however, that if a mother has a history of premature delivery or is experiencing uterine pain or continued weight loss, then weaning should be considered.

Kristen Berggren of Burlington, Vt., is nursing her 19-month-old son and expecting her second child in late June. She plans to nurse as long as her son is interested. "I kind of hope that he keeps nursing because I've heard that tandem nursing is a great way for the toddler to bond with the new baby and feel less rivalry," she says.

Angela Imming of St. Louis, Mo., almost gave up nursing her 14-month-old daughter due to the extreme fatigue that she felt in early pregnancy. "But I was soon over that, and my daughter was so interested that I couldn't bear to wean," says Imming, who is pregnant with her third child. She also kept nursing because studies show that breastfeeding through the second year provides health benefits to the child.

The Challenges
The choice is a personal one with pros and cons, but it should be noted that there is the potential for added discomfort when nursing during a pregnancy.

For one thing, breasts and nipples tend to become quite sensitive during the first trimester, which can make nursing difficult. Berggren found that she was very sore at first, but the pain lessened in the second trimester. "However, I still have much more nipple sensitivity than usual and I've had to work with my son on latching properly to avoid abrading the nipple with his teeth," she says. "I had to say 'big open, no teeth' for about two weeks to help him re-learn a good latch."


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