Yes, it is possible to breastfeed a child during pregnancy if the mother is healthy and not at risk of preterm delivery.
The risks of breastfeeding during pregnancy to the fetus appear to be minimal if the mother is healthy and the pregnancy is without complications. For more information about the risks of breastfeeding during pregnancy, click here. There has been no reported impact of breastfeeding on the birth weight of the newborn, apart from in a population of women who were already largely malnourished.
The nursing child will be most affected by breastfeeding during pregnancy, since milk production and taste vary according to the hormonal changes of pregnancy. In the fourth month of pregnancy, breast milk production can decrease significantly. Breast milk becomes insufficient for the nursing child, who must be supplemented with another type of milk adapted to their age. Therefore, it is important to monitor the child’s growth. For more information, see the following article.
It is recommended to consult your doctor to make sure that breastfeeding is not contraindicated. Certain medical conditions may require weaning of the breastfed child:
- Risk of premature birth
- Previous history(s) of preterm labor and/or birth
- Previous history(s) of miscarriage
- Vaginal bleeding
- Incompetent cervix
- Multiple pregnancy
- No sexual relations due to risk of contractions
All in all, for the majority of women, it is possible to continue breastfeeding their child, especially since breastfeeding offers nutritional and immunological benefits that commercial infant formulas do not. The decision to continue breastfeeding during pregnancy is up to the mother. It should be noted that both pregnancy and breastfeeding are energy demanding for the mother. Fatigue is often felt from the latter. It is important that the mother eat adequately and sufficiently. To learn more, click here.
