[newbymom05]

I'm 10 wks pregnant and saw my endo today and told the asst I was nursing. "WHAT? You're pregnant AND nursing? Didn't they tell you to STOP?!?" I was very calm and firm, "No, because I don't need to stop and my doc is aware." She must have realized I was slightly p*ssed so she lost her horrified look and said, "Well I'll have to make a note for the doctor" and I could see it over her shoulder on her laptop--all caps, all bold "PREGNANT BUT STILL NURSING" in the middle of the page. Sheesh. Then I have to hear it from the endo, "Wow, is this right? You're still nursing while pregnant? Wow" Lovely, right?<br><br>
So rant aside, I fibbed--I haven't seen an OB yet but am scheduled to next week. Not my old OB, who told me only babies in third world countries needed to breastfeed past 1 year <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">: but a new one. I'm seriously wondering if I even want to tell her. I mean, I'm trying to wean my 28 m/o, but I'm not going to do it overnight, y/k? Would you tell or wait? I don't hve a history of miscarriage or premature labor so I can't even think why it'd matter. Does it matter?

 

[pbjmama]

When I was looking for a new ob I got a few recommendations for the same guy. I called and asked the nurse some questions and told her I was nursing my toddler - I wanted to gauge a reaction. She didn't even hesitate to say it was fine and reminded me to be faithful in taking my prenatals. So I did tell the doctor and he had the same reaction. I guess I don't have advice for you - just sharing what I did.

 

[alegna]

Personally I wouldn't trust a dr. so ignorant with my care. I'd find a new one.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[JessicaS]

I would tell. It is a good gauge of a good OB IMO. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> If they flip out then you know to run the other way.

 

[newbymom05]

Ugh, thanks mamas, it's just that I so don't want to be shopping for docs! What w/ scheduling DH to come w/ and having someone to watch DS it's a mighty pain, not to mention who likes going to the OB?! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I had a hard time finding OB #1 who wasn't my dream doc and it looks like I"m in the same predicament w/ #2. It's bad enough having to be all preemptive and suspcious re: interventions w/o having some asinine judgement about nursing placed on us.<br><br>
Oh well, thanks for the advice!

 

[CherryBomb]

I don't think it's any of their business, honestly. My OB doesn't know I'm "still" nursing my 27 month old even though I'm 20 weeks pregnant because I see no reason to tell her.

 

[momto l&a]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>alegna</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9467281"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Personally I wouldn't trust a dr. so ignorant with my care. I'd find a new one.<br><br>
-Angela</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>abimommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9469241"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would tell. It is a good gauge of a good OB IMO. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> If they flip out then you know to run the other way.</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>CherryBomb</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9470707"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I don't think it's any of their business, honestly. My OB doesn't know I'm "still" nursing my 27 month old even though I'm 20 weeks pregnant because I see no reason to tell her.</div>
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I have to agree with all of the above, even if it is contradictory. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
Edited to add that when my mw had found I was nursing and about 7 months preggo she thought it was great <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[broodymama]

For the first part of my pregnancy with DD I saw my general practitioner as well as my homebirth midwife. Both of them were very supportive of me nursing DS through my pregnancy, even though I had a history of preterm labor with my first pregnancy.

 

[EmilyNY]

I think it's your choice. My midwife (and the doctor she works with) were both pleased about my continuing to nurse while pregnant. But I'm fortunate to be in an area where there are some great, enlightened healthcare providers.<br><br>
If you are willing to shop around, go ahead and tell. If the doctor gives you a hard time, it might be a sign they're not a good match for you. Can you shop around without bringing your DH? And can you bring your son with you? I think a good OB practice should be accommodating about bringing a child along, especially when you're just there to meet them, not even being examined.<br><br>
If you're not willing to shop around and just don't want to get into it, don't tell! But I would recommend the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" by Hilary Flower to set your mind at ease. There's really not any need to wean your toddler if you don't want to, even after the baby comes.

 

[kerikadi]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>alegna</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9467281"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Personally I wouldn't trust a dr. so ignorant with my care. I'd find a new one.<br><br>
-Angela</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>abimommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9469241"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would tell. It is a good gauge of a good OB IMO. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> If they flip out then you know to run the other way.</div>
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<br>
I know how hard it can be to search and find a caregiver. However, this is yours and your baby's health we are talking about here. Set up interviews over the phone first. Make a list of 10 caregivers and ask if you can have 5 minutes of their time for a phone interview. Ask them questions important to you including nursing through your pregnancy. You will quickly narrow it down and then you can meet wtih those caregivers in person. I'd suggest trying to find a midwife and interviewing them along with OBs.<br><br>
Good luck,<br>
Keri

 

[amanda_jo]

I've nursed while pregnant through 1 pregnancy, and 1/2 way through another. Both times I was the first woman in the practice to do so. (moved states between the births of my kids)<br>
I encourage you to tell your doctor. I had done my research and knew that it was perfectly fine to nurse through my pregnancy. So when I told my doc I wasn't asking for permission, I was just letting him know for the breast exam.<br>
Both practices were initially surprised/concerned, but by the next visit when they had also done their research they were very supportive.<br>
In the second practice a women came in asking if it was okay to nurse her toddler through her pregnancy and due to my pregnancy the practice had experience dealing with it and encouraged her from the beginning that it was okay.

 

[mclisa]

Give the OB a break. OK, so he has an opinion about breastfeeding. Technically, OB's aren't experts in breastfeeding. He was probably just expressing his own opinion. If your eye doctor told you this, would you care? It wouldn't mean that you wouldn't want him to be your eye doctor.

 

[jillmamma]

I only said something about it if they directly asked me. I had to bring my then 2 year old to most of my appointments, and most of them I think assumed I had already weaned him. I did my own research and took the needs of my son into consideration, and have now been tandem nursing for 2 years. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1">

 

[mom2tatum]

I agree to "tell" but I would be prepared with my own information in my defense even if I was going to walk out and never return. A little education for them never hurts either, yk? Even if they don't believe you or agree with you, its something they may never hear from anyone else, so I'd wanna put it in their ear for sure.<br><br>
For instance, like why many miscarriages often happen in a nursing preggo mother. From my understanding, it so commonly happens not because the mother is nursing, but because often she became pregnant during one of the first times she ovulated. The first three months you ovulate PP, the more vulnerable you are to miscarry if you conceive then because of your hormone levels just returning to "normal". Each month you ovulate PP the stronger the hormones become, and the stronger your chances are of the pregnancy "sticking". I can't quite remember any resource or link to verify the accuracy of that info right now, but if I do, I will let you know - if you're really interested.<br><br>
Let us know about your search and what the docs reactions are. I'm interested, at least. Are you set on an OB, or would you consider a midwife, either hospital, birth center, or home ? Either way, they are usually sooo much more supportive for things like that - and more. IMO.

 

[eepster]

I would not feel comfortable going to a Dr I couldn't tell very basic things like this to. I would also be fine if they were shocked though. So your endo said "wow." He was surprised that's ok, not great but ok. However, if he prescribed some thing you shouldn't take while nursing b/c you hadn't told him that wouldn't be ok.<br><br>
As long as the new OB isn't blatantly disrespectful let him be shocked. I surprise and shock DS's ped all the time, and that's ok. Sometimes she has recommendations I don't agree with, like trying to convince DS to sleep alone, but she simply makes them then leaves the choice mine. She is often curious about some things. Like she asked when I thought that we should start breaking the adhessions of DS's foreskin and I explain how we didn't need to and that DS worked on it himself, and she <b>listened</b> and <b>learned</b>. A good Dr should be open to new info.<br><br>
Tell the OB. If he's shocked and surprised, then educate him. If he is unreasonable and belittles you, then he will almost surely give you a hard time about other things and you will need a new one anyway.

 

[smeisnotapirate]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mclisa</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9473091"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Give the OB a break. OK, so he has an opinion about breastfeeding. Technically, OB's aren't experts in breastfeeding. He was probably just expressing his own opinion. If your eye doctor told you this, would you care? It wouldn't mean that you wouldn't want him to be your eye doctor.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:<br><br>
He's an OB! He's supposed to know what's good/allowed/etc. during pregnancy, and if he's not already educated as to the benefits of something SO BASIC, I can understand the OP feeling uncomfortable.<br><br>
I don't see it as my job to educate my OB while PAYING him for service. I'll find another OB/MW who gets it and then send the previous one materials and articles. I REFUSE to be the guinea pig for an OB who is judgemental to a patient, AND I refuse to let him charge me for it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:

 

[transformed]

Dont tell. She doesnt need to know. If she asks, dont lie. and then have ammo from La Leche's website to back you up that its safe.

 

[transformed]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>smeisnotapirate</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/9481493"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:<br><br>
He's an OB! He's supposed to know what's good/allowed/etc. during pregnancy, . <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:</div>
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Thats not true. OB's have hardly any training about breastfeeding at all.<br><br>
They are surgeons, not lactation consultants.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/innocent.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shy"><br><br>
Its like asking a pediatrician for parenting advice. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[transformed]

<a href="http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug00p116.html" target="_blank">http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug00p116.html</a>

 

[reikimama]

I nursed my first DD through pg with 2nd DD. I told my OB and he said I shouldn't be nursing. I said, "Okay." And I never said a word about it again to him. He was the best OB in the area and I wasn't going to fight with him about it.<br><br>
I nursed throughout the pregancy, even in public, and never talked to him about it because I didn't feel like having to be on the defensive. I had educated myself & I knew I wasn't at risk for a miscarriage. He was a great doctor for the birth of our second child and I couldn't have had better care.<br><br>
We have to pick our battles carefully. Know what's best for you & your family. Sometimes, we have to balance what our truth is compared to others, outside our homes, including our physicians. We also have to make the best choices in regards the prenatal care we want to have.<br><br>
Brightest blessings!