So you're going to welcome another angel,
congratulations! The problem is you are pregnant while still breastfeeding your
older baby.
Maybe your baby can eat food, be bottle-fed
and drink by cup, but you still want to breast-feed it because of the
nutritional benefits of breast milk. So you are wondering if you can continue
breastfeeding during pregnancy, and what will happen after giving birth?
So
you're going to welcome another angel, congratulations! The problem is you are
pregnant while still breastfeeding your older baby.
In most cases, you can continue
breastfeeding during pregnancy, and many mothers continue to breastfeeding both
babies after birth even though it is not easy. These notes below can help you
do that:
First, ask your doctor for advice, but
breastfeeding during pregnancy is usually not a problem. However, in some
situations, such as you had premature birth because of early stretching uterus,
or signs of premature birth during pregnancy, or unusual bleeding, your doctor
may suggest you wean older baby. The problem now is that uterus contracts
unusually because of breast stimulation. Most of these cases, your doctor will
advise you to abstain from sex.
For some women, the symptoms of morning
sickness seem worse if they are breastfeeding. If you have the same symptoms,
always reserve food, when finishing breast-feeding your older baby, eat a few
biscuits or bread to decrease nausea. In serious case, you may have to wean
your baby.
Breastfeeding
while being pregnant is not a problem.
Make sure that you have a good and healthy
diet. Remember that in this case, your body is providing nutrients for a baby
and a fetus, so enough nutrients for mother is essential.
Be ready for nipple pain (due to hormonal
changes) which is common in pregnancy! Most mothers find the easiest way to
deal with it is feeding many short times. Depending on the age of the older
baby, you can negotiate with it about the time it can be breastfed (such as
tell it "You will be breastfed while counting to 10, then you will be
bottle-fed, or find something delicious to eat, or go outside!") Remind your
older baby to open mouth larger and help it be breastfed properly. Though
nipple pain is mainly due to hormonal changes when you're pregnant, but it may
be due to the way your older baby breastfeeds (especially when it has teeth),
moreover, at this age, baby is more hyperactive and naughty.
When mother's milk is less - a normal part
of pregnancy, the older baby will need more additional food and drink in its
diet.
If your baby always need breastfeeding to
sleep, you'll want to familiarize it with other habits because you are about to
have a new baby. For example, you can rub or slap its back gently and sing a
lullaby at the last breastfeeding before bedtime. When it is familiar with this
procedure, gradually separate each procedure, first, sing and rub its back for
a while then breastfeed. When you extend the time delay between the procedures,
it may fall asleep before breastfeeding. Your husband can also help you to do
it, at least a few times, or it can have his own way to make baby sleep without
breastfeeding. There is nothing wrong if you continue breastfeeding your baby
to sleep, but it is better if your baby can sleep well in many ways when you
cannot breastfeed, so it will be easier for both mother and child.
When your belly is big, you will need to
find a more appropriate position. No, no, this is not a matter of sex positions
- although you might also need a new position for "sex" - but the
traditional breastfeed position holding baby in your arms and on thighs will no
longer fit when you are pregnant with a big belly. You and your baby lie in
parallel, face to face, is usually good position. In addition, your baby can
sit, kneel or even stand next to you to breastfeed.
If your baby has understood things, you
need to talk to it about sharing breast milk for new baby after birth. Many
children will resist it - as a child talked to its mother "baby will be
breastfed by grandmother!" when you mentions it. Do not be strained to
your baby, you just need to explain to it about that.
Keep in mind that colostrum is very
important for newborn baby, so, in the first days after birth, you should limit
your older baby to breastfeed to prioritize for newborn baby. If possible, you
should ask someone to take care of the older baby like your husband or
grandparents. Breastfeeding both babies can speed up milk production - you do
not have to worry too much about time to breastfeed. Some mothers, especially
those have older baby that is too little and still breastfed regularly, will
divide each breast for a baby. Other mothers breastfeed their babies depending
on their demand.
If
your baby has understood things, you need to talk to it about sharing breast
milk for new baby after birth.
Do not be surprised if your older baby -
just a few days ago is very little - suddenly is filled out a lot when you have
new baby. You even feel a bit uncomfortable when breastfeeding older baby,
opposite to the feeling of caressing, gentle and protecting with newborn baby.
It is normal, everything will be fine.
Some children is very happy when breast
milk becomes more plentiful in a few days after birth, some babies are used to
less milk and even can wean because they do not like getting too much milk like
that. You will see your older baby has liquid stool in the first week after you
gave birth, because colostrum is aperient.
If possible, ask for advice from
experienced mothers (the mother of twin or triplet) - if there is no one like
friends and relatives, please share with twin mothers on the internet to be
able to solve difficult situations when breastfeeding two children. Remember
that most of toddlers tend to be jealous with newborn babies, and may be angry,
sulky or behave perversely with their brothers/sisters. If your older baby also
acts like that (or worse), it is not because it is still breastfed, but because
having new brother/sister is stressful to it.
Parallel breastfeeding is hard but still
has many advantages. If you have problems in breastfeeding, your older baby may
be an efficient supporter than anybody else. Your breasts are full of milk or
too much milk? Your older baby can help you suck first to reduce the milk
pressure to fit with its brother's/sister’s sucking ability. Your lactiferous
duct is blocked? With a stronger sucking power, older baby can help clear it.
And more important, it helps you calm a baby who is sad and suffer because of
the feeling of desolated, help it feel that it is still loved and near its
mother. There will be a day you feel thankful for this hard period.
