The Nursing Baby - Q&A

Nicole Garrett asks:
I am 19 weeks pregnant with my second child. My son is 18 months old and still nurses once at night. I already feel bad because we did not plan this pregnancy (though it is a blessing) and did not want to wean my son so early. The day we found out we were pregnant (he was 14 months) he was still nursing as a primary food source, more than 5 times a day. My question is that I have heard that if I don't wean completely by the time I am in my third trimester, my milk won't be formulated for the new baby and won't provide the same benefits as it did my son. Please tell me if this is true. Thank you so much for helping me.

Dear Nicole,

The milk will be freshened and comes in with absolutely no difference whether your toddler is still nursing or not. Your newborn will receive colostrum for the right amount of time, then the mature milk will come in as normally as if you weren't tandem nursing. What tends to vary for nursing mothers is when the colostrum comes in during the pregnancy, and whether their older nursling likes it or not (it has a slightly different flavor, that toddlers are sometimes picky about).

Sometimes I am asked the reverse question...whether the freshened milk is as good for the toddler as the previous milk is. The main differences in the milk is copper and zinc levels are higher in newborn milk. However, the difference is small and the milk is perfectly within the range of vitamins/minerals healthy for your toddler (most people would consider it "extra" healthy because of the higher level of minerals), and still about 100 times better for your toddler than cow milk since it has antibodies!

There are a lot of old wives tales about breastmilk in our society. Don't fall for them!

As to the safety for your pregnancy during breastfeeding, that often depends on a healthy pregnancy. If your first pregnancy was healthy, there will likely be little need to wean for medical reasons. Because nursing does stimulate contractions, it may need to be halted for those with early labor or frequent Braxton-Hicks. You should always consult your healthcare provider for more information.

Another issue for tandem nursers is the health of their first baby. If the baby is young and still mostly dependent on breastmilk, you should keep an eye on baby's number of wet diapers, and be sure baby is still getting plenty of nutrition. Because many women lose a significant portion of their milk supply, it is important to be sure that your baby is still satisfied, and to supplement if necessary. Since your toddler is 18 months, you will probably not need to watch or worry much about his nutrition.

There is one final word of warning on nursing through your pregnancy - it can be painful. Many women find at some point that nursing becomes uncomfortable. Sometimes it's just at latch on, and yet others find it painful enough that they lead their baby in weaning. While it may not happen to you, you should be aware that nipple soreness during pregnancy is a fairly common occurrence.

Happy Nursing!

These tips are not intended to be medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have questions.

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