Pros and cons of breastfeeding while pregnant

Yes, your body will carry on making milk while you're pregnant, so you'll be able to continue breastfeeding your older child if you want to.

Is it safe to breastfeed during pregnancy?

It is usually perfectly safe to breastfeed your child if you are having a straightforward pregnancy.

While you're breastfeeding, your unborn baby will still get all the nutrients they need from your body (Albadran 2013). Make sure you're eating well, so you don't go short yourself. Keep taking your daily vitamin D and folic acid supplements.

You may be worried that breastfeeding triggers the release of oxytocin, the hormone that helps the womb contract.

While we know that many pregnant women experience mild contractions while breastfeeding their older child, there is no evidence to suggest that it can cause labour to start (Flower 2018).

However, if you're expecting twins or more, or you've had a miscarriage, or premature birth in the past, your midwife may caution against breastfeeding during pregnancy.

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