Having children is certainly a happy gift for every parent. However, young mothers often feel uneasy when they find out that they are pregnant again while still breastfeeding. Can you still breastfeed while pregnant?
Many breastfeeding mothers feel anxious when they find out that they are pregnant again. The reasons are various, it could be because they are still having trouble taking care of their children, are still traumatized by their last pregnancy and delivery, or are worried about miscarriage if they continue to breastfeed while pregnant.
Indeed, there are many scary myths about the dangers of breastfeeding during pregnancy, which makes pregnant women finally decide to stop breastfeeding. In fact, these myths are not necessarily true you know, Bun. Come on, we peel one by one the myths about breastfeeding during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding Myths vs Facts saat pregnant
The following are some of the myths or assumptions that are not appropriate regarding breastfeeding during pregnancy along with explanations to straighten them out:
Myth #1: breastfeeding while pregnant causes miscarriage and premature labor
When breastfeeding, the body produces the hormone oxytocin which functions to encourage the release of breast milk (ASI) from the breast glands. The hormone oxytocin also plays a role in causing uterine contractions during childbirth. That is why, it is thought that breastfeeding can cause miscarriage.
But actually, the amount of hormone released during breastfeeding is much less than during childbirth, so the risk for miscarriage and premature labor is very small.
When breastfeeding while pregnant, your stomach can feel a little tight or feel a little heartburn. But as long as this is only felt for a moment and can go away on its own, you can continue breastfeeding.
Myth #2: fetal growthhampered if mother pregnant breast-feed
This assumption is circulating because of the assumption that more nutrients from the mother's diet are channeled into breast milk, so that the fetus will experience nutritional deficiencies and impaired growth and development.
Indeed, there are no studies that explain the effect of breastfeeding pregnant women on the growth of the baby after birth. However, from existing research, it appears that breastfeeding during pregnancy does not affect fetal weight.
If you are worried that the growth of the fetus will be disturbed, you can stop breastfeeding when the pregnancy has entered the third trimester, because in this trimester, the fetus experiences the most weight gain.
Myth #3: milk soreduce momentpregnant
During pregnancy, your body will continue to increase the production of the hormone estrogen to maintain the fetus in the womb. But on the other hand, estrogen can also reduce milk production.
In addition, towards the third trimester, breast milk slowly turns into colostrum in preparation for breastfeeding the baby to be born. This can make the taste of breast milk also change, so the older sibling may stop breastfeeding because he doesn't like the taste.
The frequency of breastfeeding can also be reduced due to pain in your nipples and breasts due to hormonal changes during pregnancy. If the frequency of breastfeeding decreases, then milk production will also decrease, because milk production depends on how often you breastfeed.
If the milk production is running low and the older sibling is 6 months old, you can give him MPASI to complete his nutritional intake, and iron-fortified formula milk as a substitute for breast milk.
Meanwhile, if the milk production runs low when the older sibling is not yet 6 months old, you should consult a pediatrician regarding additional intakes that can be given to meet their nutritional needs.
Myth #4: mother will lack of nutrition if you continue to breastfeed during pregnancy
Various studies have shown that pregnant women who are breastfeeding can experience a decrease in fat stores, hemoglobin (red blood cells), and body weight. However, this can be overcome by consuming adequate nutritious food and taking prenatal supplements regularly, since the first trimester of pregnancy.
In the first trimester of pregnancy, you may experience decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, and weakness. These various complaints can indeed make you lazy to eat. However, try to keep eating, Bun, so that the nutritional needs of the fetus, breastfed baby, and the mother's own body can be fulfilled.
If you experience nausea and vomiting that are so severe that you cannot eat or drink at all, or even faint, you should immediately consult a doctor.
From the description above, it can be concluded that breastfeeding during pregnancy is generally safe to do. However, there are some conditions in which pregnant women should stop breastfeeding, namely:
- High risk pregnancy.
- There is a risk of preterm delivery.
- Twin pregnancy.
- Doctors recommend avoiding intercourse during pregnancy.
- There are complaints of lower abdominal pain or bleeding from the birth canal.
If you experience these conditions, it is recommended that you consult with your obstetrician to determine whether or not you need to stop breastfeeding. However, if you don't have any of the above conditions, consider considering your sibling's breastfeeding pattern, age, and the psychological effects of being weaned before deciding to stop or continue breastfeeding.
Written by:
dr. Alya Hananti
