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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 11:34am | IP Logged
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I'm not sure if this is the right forum for this question but I would really like input from you moms who have had experience with lots of babies....
I just went to my ob for a follow up after my recent miscarriage and she strongly recommended that I wean my 19 month old before "trying" again. (We don't "try" or not try....but I didn't even get into that with her). She really felt that all the nursing that my dd does compromised this pregnancy. I understand that nursing causes the uterus to contract but am not totally "sold" on the idea that it compromised this last pregnancy. Now, I have nursed during other pregnancies...I tandem nursed my first 2 children and my oldest kept nursing even after my second weaned...then each of the others weaned themselves by the middle of the next pregnancies. But my youngest is my most serious nurser. She is *always* nursing...even right now when she saw me at the desk, she climbed up and is nursing...I could sit in a chair all day long and she would just switch sides. And I am not exagerating (sp-how do you spell it, nothing looked right!). We don't even make it through our 15 minute weekday Mass without her wanting to nurse.
All of that is ok with me...she is who she is and I don't have a problem with it, but I would reallly like some good input...could all her nursing continue to compromise another pregnancy? Have any of you dealt with this and if so, what did you do?
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Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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Hollee,
I don't have any "medical" advice, just personal experience. I have been pregnant and/or nursing for 12 years (in June). I have not had a miscarriage that I know of, although I guess an early one that is unknown is always possible. None of my OBs or midwives have ever encouraged me to wean during a pregnancy. The only thing that really becomes an issue is hydration. I am struggling with that right now again. My 12 month old still nurses exclusively and I am about 9 weeks along in this pregnancy. With the last pregnancy and this one, my uterus is cramping constantly, whether I am nursing the baby or not. I think it is a combination of dehydration and a slightly tired uterus.
God knows what your body can handle, and He has a plan for the children He sends you. Obviously, your little one really needs the comfort of nursing. It would be sad to wean her too early based on the supposition that the nursing could compromise another pregnancy.
Follow your instincts. God bless you!
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In Christ,
Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
Remembering Today
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Bookswithtea
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 4:04pm | IP Logged
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Congratulations, Molly! I must have missed an announcement earlier??? Wonderful news. 
I've nursed entirely through one of my pregnancies and at least halfway through all the others. I've never read anything reputable that suggested its a danger...only old wive's tales. That said, it does sound like your youngest is a heavy nurser. What if maybe you just cut her back a bit and were careful with hydration? That's probably what I'd do...
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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Lisbet
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 4:22pm | IP Logged
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I second, (or is it thrid?) the hydration issue. I've been tandem nursing for 10 years straight now, this includes nursing 2 through a few pregnancies and beyond. While I have had quite a few miscarriages, I don't think it's been because of nursing, because I've carried more to term than I have lost while nursing. :) I think good nutrition and hydration is key though, and extra care for mom is essential during pregnancy either way, but especially while nursing.
I had not realized you miscarried Hollee, I am terribly sorry. Please don't think it's the nursing, I think that's a buncha hooey! :)
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 4:28pm | IP Logged
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i nursed through the 2nd trimester with one and through the 1st trimester with another and went full term with both.
my midwife and ob said that my misscarraiges (two nursing during , 1 not) had nothing to do with nursing and that they had never heard of a proven case of nursing causing losses.
in my case it turns out to be a clotting disorder-but i still have people blame the nursing.
your dd's nursing might reduuce your chances of ovulating but not increase your chances of loss.
Many prayers for your loss. Just take care of your self and your current nursling and dont let the ob phase you.
Maggie
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Angie Mc
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Here's information from Kelly.mom.
I'm always cautious when a care provider suggests complete weaning as an answer to any problem. Often, breastfeeding doesn't have to be an all or nothing thing. Plans to reduce breastfeeding can be made to meet the real needs of both mother and baby. If complete and immediate weaning is recommended by a care provider, I feel that they need to provide solid proof for it's necessity.
On a personal note, I'm 43, 8.5 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 2yo...it feels like the right thing for us to do.
Hollee, I'm praying that you can find a solution to your challenge that brings peace to your heart.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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MaryM
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Thanks, Angie, for linking the Kellymom article. Basically I was going to type in that same general info and that saved me time. I always forget what great stuff she already has on-line.
The point I would make that has been mentioned above as well as in the article - a large percentage of pregnancies end in miscarriage regardless of if the mother is breastfeeding or not.
Another point - If the pregnancy is high risk and the mother has been advised against having marital relations during the pregnancy, then breastfeeding would also be contraindicated. Mostly they don't tell pregnant women not to have marital relations as easily as they say to wean. The amount of stimulation/oxytocin that breastfeeding would create would be similar in the two scenarios and might be necessary in a high risk/pre-term situation but not the typical pregnancy.
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Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 8:29pm | IP Logged
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Oh thank you both! I had overlooked the hydration component. I have been looking for info on this and the only thing that I have found is something that says that a woman who has a history of miscarriages may want to wean. But I have only had this one (and maybe another that would have been a VERY early one). This dr. is especially cautious as far as I can tell and doesn't even want us "trying" again for another couple of weeks (and I miscarried on April 19). I am not particularly following that advice but felt unsure about the weaning part. I think I am going to just let her keep nursing. Thanks for helping me quiet my worries!
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Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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rm4mrfrus
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| Posted: May 09 2007 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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While I was posting my response, Lisa, Angie, Maggie and Mary all responded! Well, actually, I started a reply and then had to attend to dinner! You all have reaffirmed what I have felt in my "gut". I am going to make sure that I am fully hydrated. I don't usually have much of a problem but don't want to let it become one!
I appreciate the dr's caution but I don't think that she is used to having patients who have very many babies, let alone ones who do extended nursing. I have a feeling her experience with real life cases is much less than that of the knowledgeable ladies here! I am quite the oddity in her practice. She has only delivered one of my babies (the 19 month old super nurser) yet the ladies in the office ALL know me and ask about the kids!
*editing to add that that was a great article and backed up something else that I had found in my research (the part about the uterus not having as many oxytocin receptors in early pregnancy). Thank you for linking it. Also to add that I have never been considered high risk although I am advanced maternal age (38) or had any problems with preterm labor.
Thank you all so much! I love hearing everyone's stories! Sometimes I want to cut back on her nursing (when I am having a bad day and getting nothing done) but mostly we just go with the flow!
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Hollee married to dh in 94,
ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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Lisbet
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| Posted: May 10 2007 at 4:00am | IP Logged
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rm4mrfrus wrote:
I appreciate the dr's caution but I don't think that she is used to having patients who have very many babies, let alone ones who do extended nursing. I have a feeling her experience with real life cases is much less than that of the knowledgeable ladies here! I am quite the oddity in her practice. She has only delivered one of my babies (the 19 month old super nurser) yet the ladies in the office ALL know me and ask about the kids!
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This is SUCH a great point. There are not many of us around anymore that are having our babies back to back, often while still nursing the last one. Sometimes I think we just dumbfound them with our very existence!  Then they have to 'blame' whatever goes on, on either nursing or having so many babies!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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mary theresa
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Thanks for asking this question Hollee! I am still nursing in this pregnancy and have been wondering about what to do. I do feel more drained nutritionally, esp. with the morning sickness, but its good to know that I'm not neccessarily causing problems for the baby while nursing.
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Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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Lisbet
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| Posted: May 11 2007 at 10:34am | IP Logged
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Mary Theresa! I didn't realize you were expecting also! Wonderful! Congrats!
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Lisa, wife to Tony,
Mama to:
Nick, 17
Abby, 15
Gabe, 13
Isaac, 11
Mary, 10
Sam, 9
Henry, 7
Molly, 6
Mark, 5
Greta, 3
Cecilia born 10.29.10
Josephine born 6.11.12
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Does nursing impact pregnancy?
