anyone bf'd while pregnant after pprom?

[samhope]

So my 28mo still bf's regularly (we just night weaned a few weeks ago), about 5-7x a day. My midwife thinks it is fine to bf unless contractions start (anything regular- even braxton hicks if frequent), but my obgyn who wanted me to stop bfing before getting pregnant told me today to stop bfing immediately b/c the first contraction might go straight into labor. Is she being super alarmist? It really felt like that today, but she is also saying something I don't particularly want to hear. Any experience with this? My son was born at 34wks2days and spent 21 days in the nicu- not an experience we want to repeat; however, breastfeeding is a special part of our relationship and I always hoped to tandem murse if that is what he wanted. Thanks!..

[sunnygir1]

My dd was born at 34w6d, premature rupture of membranes.  I breastfed her until 27 months.  I was about 4 months pregnant with ds when we weaned.  He was born at 35 weeks, premature rupture of membranes.

I didn't wean because of the risk of early labor, I just couldn't stand breastfeeding anymore, so I would let her nurse for a few minutes and then stop her -- the result was her weaning.  I never really intended to tandem nurse, but breastfeeding was so uncomfortable for me at that point in my pregnancy that I don't think I could have carried on no matter how much I wanted to.

Sorry I don't have any experience making the decision for the reason you are considering.  But in my case weaning didn't prevent preterm labor.  Neither my doctor nor my midwives thought I was at increased risk for preterm labor with my second, so I don't know if they would have encouraged me to wean or not.  I was not dilated and not having much for contractions prior to my membranes rupturing, so there was no known cause.

What was the reason for your preterm labor?

[samhope]

No known cause and they think I will be fine going full term with this baby, but as your experience shows you just never know.  I have decided for right now to left him keep bfing and try to ween when the milk goes away (fingers crossed that it does:)

[nikkimcg]

I'm still nursing my 15 month old who was born at 30 weeks (unknown reason) and I'm currently 17wks pregnant. My doctor also wanted me to not get pregnant while nursing. Not what I wanted to hear. But it sounds like most doctors say that. After talking to my lactation consultants and midwives and after reading Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hilary Flowers, my husband and I decided to move ahead and try for another baby. My midwives are having me see a nutritionist to make sure I'm eating right for a pregnant and breastfeeding woman. I have cut down on DS nursings because after I got pregnant I became pretty sensitive and latching on can be painful. I'm hoping sensitivity goes away soon. If we run into any signs of trouble with the pregnancy, we'll wean. But based on a lot of the research I've found, there's not a whole lot of studies proving that breastfeeding while pregnant is a problem and there's next to none specifically addressing those of us who had premature babies. I highly recommend the book. I sympathize with your dilemma. We had 40 days of NICU and don't want to go through that again. But you just have to do your research, talk to people you trust and make the decision you feel is right. In the end it's your decision, not your OB's. Good luck to you!

[samhope]

We decided the same thing.  After stressing for a few days and contacting everyone under the sun for info, we decided to take a wait and see approach and as long as things are going well we will continue bfing.  I am going to see a high risk doc for an appt (based on high # of contractions over the month prior to pprom) and will ask then too.  Definately going to get the book.  Wishing you a long and uneventful pregnancy:)

[star*mora]

hoping for a long pregnancy for you

my 33+6 ds1 self weaned at 27months when i was 6 and a bit months pregnant which worked out as i had little supply and ended up going on strict bedrest 2wks later until i had ds2 at 36wks

i was never told to stop breastfeeding while i was pregnant, and went with a wait and see approach too