Does breastfeeding affect my growing baby? This is a concern for mothers who immediately feel that they need to wean. One thing to consider is your health. Are you in a healthy condition? Are you eating well and getting your vitamins? Then, it is good to carry on breastfeeding. Your breast milk is separate from your growing baby, and more of the body’s nutrients will go to the growing baby.
If you are concerned, please speak to your healthcare provider. In my case, the midwife was happy for me to continue if I wanted to, so I did for a few months longer. I didn’t feel drained or a significant difference while I was breastfeeding. My family was concerned but I gave them reasons not to worry.
When you are breastfeeding while pregnant, you might experience a drop in your milk supply. So take that into consideration as well.
Should I wean my baby?
No, there is no rush to suddenly wean your baby. If you feel uncomfortable breastfeeding, then you can start a gradual weaning process with your older baby. Always communicate to your baby as often as you can so that they can understand the process they are going through with you.
But sure, you can carry on breastfeeding throughout your pregnancy; it all depends on you and your child’s preferences.
What are the best ways to wean?
Natural weaning
You can wait for nature to take its course. Did you know that around 5 months into your pregnancy, your milk will gradually change to colostrum? This change is to get your body prepared for the new baby. Many times, babies don’t like the change in taste, so they wean themselves off the breast naturally.
This is not the case for all babies, as some babies like the colostrum taste! But if you are willing to give it a try and wait and see, this is a good step to take.
Another consideration is the reduction in milk supply, this is due to hormonal changes in the body and the body focusing more on the baby in the womb. So your older baby might notice the drop in milk and start to wean naturally.
In my experience, my first baby weaned off naturally when my milk started to change. I noticed that she was feeding less and less every day, and then the next day, she just stopped. Me being curious, I tried to hand express a little to see if I could see anything. I noticed that my milk was thick and yellow, and that was a sign to me that my milk had changed to colostrum. It was such an easy weaning process.
Guided weaning
Always take your time when weaning; don’t force the process. So the best way to wean in this way is to slowly decrease your baby’s feeding time every day. Then cut out the day feed gradually and then the night feeds. This could take from 2 weeks to a month. When your baby cries, give them hugs, sing to them, or distract them with something else. Try to stay calm and help your baby go through this process gently.
Another way you can help with the weaning process is to pump your milk and put it into a bottle or have alternate milk like oat milk, formula or cows/goat milk if they are over 1 year old. My recommended bottles for breastfed babies are MAM bottles, as they replicate the nipple shape during feeding, and they have the right flow depending on the age. If you are looking for a good, reliable pump, try Medela’s pumps and milk catchers.
With these things in place, I would always recommend giving your little one a comforter like a cuddly toy or a blanket. They can hold it while you breastfeed. This is great as your baby transitions to be weaned off the breast. It brings your child a sense of comfort that is not attached to you, and this will help them to be comforted when they want to go to sleep. I used this method with my middle daughter, and it worked a treat!!!
But from my experience, I would always wean gradually because if you go cold turkey (cut the milk completely straight away), it can cause your little one to be anxious as they grow. My daughter is 4 now, and I weaned her at 2, and I’ve only just started to get her to be less anxious. She is better now, but it wasn’t worth the push on her.
Tandem Feeding
Tandem feeding is feeding a newborn and an older baby together. This could be at the same time or separate intervals. I have had no experience with this, but I know it can be done. It is much easier to feed separately, but you can feed together using positions like the football hold. Check out my blog about the Top 5 Breastfeeding Positions. But again, if it is too much for you, you can try to wean the older baby.
Otherwise, carry on, and just make sure you are in a comfortable position so that your newborn is comfortable. Remember, you don’t have to feed at the same time, you could bring a book to read while you are feeding your newborn. This method has worked, too.
I’m getting sore nipples; what can I do?
Yes, your nipples can become tender during pregnancy and, in turn, can make breastfeeding uncomfortable for some women. It did for me because my daughter was teething at the same time!! She had a tight latch. This caused me to have sore nipples. As hormones are changing during pregnancy, your nipples might be a bit more tender.
If you are experiencing sore nipples, you can use nipple cream to help soothe your nipples during this time.
In Conclusion
Yes, you can breastfeed during pregnancy; just remember to look after yourself. I love my go-to vitamins from WILD NUTRITION; their whole-food vitamins really digest well.
- Keep drinking water.
- Rest while you can.
- Wean when and if your ready
- Enjoy every moment
If you would like to have something pretty to drink when you are trying to stay hydrated throughout the day, please check out my shop for tasteful mugs, cups, and teapots for breastfeeding mums.
So keep it going, Mama; feel free to leave a comment below or contact me with any questions you may have.
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