The Nurse at my pediatrian freaked me out :(

[HeliMom]

I really love where we go but my Dr. was unavailable to confirm my pregnancy yesterday so I met with the Nurse Practitioner.

She seemed really awesome and was supportive of my choice to homebirth but when I told her I was still nursing my 19month old during the day and at night, she said  that my toddler might steal nutrients from the baby. That the baby could be born prematurely  or I might miscarry because of it or  the baby could be born with deficiencies. I have no history of miscarriage or premature labor.

So throw some facts my way to assure me my wanting to continue nursing my toddler isn't going to screw up the baby.

TYIA

Edited by HeliMom - 11/17/10 at 6:56am

[PatioGardener]

She is WOEFULLY misinformed.

http://kellymom.com/nursingtwo/faq/index.html

You need to take care of yourself and make sure that you get enough nutrition as your new baby (congrats!) and your toddler will suck it out of you!  :)

http://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/mom-vitamins.html

Personally, I would get my vit D levels tested and supplement myself if I was low.

[Buzzer Beater]

Holy cow I can't believe any HCP said that to you. Where do they get these ideas?

Congrats on your pregnancy!!

[Marissamom]

you can expect to be extremely hungry and really need to up your nutrient intake, and your supply will start to diminish because of the hormones, and your nipples will be sensitive and sore. but it's not going to do damage to either the baby or your toddler. she is working on old assumptions and outdated information. 

[hildare]

those are good links posted above.  that nurse didn't know what she/he was speaking of- i am right now nursing while preggo.  it's totally fine.

and... have you seen this yet?  http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1274410/nursing-mamas-thread  

congratulations!!!

[Storm Bride]

No links, but I will say that I nursed dd1 when I was pregnant with ds2. DS2 is healthy as a horse, and weighed in at 10lb.8oz. at birth. I was always told that our bodies will give nutrients to the baby first, the nursling second, and ourselves last. So...take care of yourself!

[fruitfulmomma]

I've nursed through four pregnancies, no problems. No early babies and they were big and healthy too.

[Mrs.Music]

That is ridiculous. I DO have a history of PTL and I wasn't told to wean my DD during my pregnancy with DS until the contractions became uncomfortable and I was put on bed rest. And it had nothing to do with the nursing. My OB and my MW assured me of that. And to top it off... My son was huge. Ok, so he was only 5lbs, but at 33 weeks that is quite big. I can safely say, DD wasn't stealing a thing from him.