Can we do that?
But the nursing child may take away all the nutrients from the developing baby!
It’s just not good to the pregnancy.
You could go into labor if you breastfeed.
All of these are questions and statements we hear from moms and even from physicians about the “risks” associated with breastfeeding and sustaining a pregnancy at the same time. The reality is that every time there’re more and more moms who choose to breastfeed their children while pregnant, and even continue to do it after delivery,while becoming “tandem nursing moms”.
The concern is related to the fact that the act of nursing releases oxytocin, which is the hormone responsible of the uterine contractions; thus the fear that breastfeeding may induce labor. However, up to these days, there’s not enough scientific evidence to support this; in fact, most studies have found no direct connection between breastfeeding and going into pre-term labor.
These studies conclude that in a healthy pregnancy (with no mom’s history or risk of pre-term births or miscarriages), breastfeeding should not be a concern.
Breastfeeding moms and babies have the right to wean at their own pace, and some babies and mommies are just not ready, even when a new baby is on its way… If you’re pregnant and you don’t feel is your time to wean, then talk to your physician about your particular case; you deserve an coherent and evidence-based medical advice. Remember that each case and each pregnancy are different.
References:
Cetin, Irene, Assandro, Paola, Massari, Maddalena, Sagone, Antonella, Gennaretti, Raffaella, Donzelli, Gianpaolo, Knowles, Alessandra, Monasta, Lorenzo, and Davanzo, Riccardo. Breastfeeding during Pregnancy: Position Paper of the Italian Society of Perinatal Medicine and the Task Force on Breastfeeding, Ministry of Health, Italy. Journal of Human Lactation, 2014, Vol 30(1) 20–27.
Madarshahian, Farah & Hassanabadi, Mohsen. A Comparative Study of Breastfeeding During Pregnancy: Impact on Maternal and Newborn Outcomes. Journal of Nursing Research, 2012, Vol 20(1) 74-80.
Ayrim, Aylin, Gunduz, Suzan, Akcal, Banu, and Kafali, Hasan. Breastfeeding Throughout Pregnancy in Turkish Women. Breastfeeding Medicine, 2014, Vol 9(3) 157-160.