I can understand the concern. Many eight month olds are reliant on human
milk for a good proportion of their caloric as well as nutritional needs.
I have seen very very few clients who can support a supply high enough for a
nearly fully breastfed baby, after 8 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. Nearly all I have
worked with have seen dramatic decrease in milk, no matter what they do.
With an older child, solids can be used for nutrition and cals, (while some still
nurse for comfort) with a younger baby, though, growth issues can ensue, if
something is not done to substitute the cals and nutrition.
Forgive me if I am wrong, but the last I read, about 70% of babies and
toddlers will wean during the pregnancy, usually due to lack of milk, or differing
composition, which can effect taste, not to mention increased hunger, if the
baby is dependent on milk for most or all of his food needs.
It is one of the reasons I strongly urge my clients to either make sure they are
completely Ecologically breastfeeding, (something a lot of people don't do) or,
especially if they are young or have a large proportion of body fat (issues
which seem to increase estrogen and can cause premature resuming of
Menses even during full lactation) to "be careful" about becoming pregnant,
too soon after the birth of the baby they are currently nursing.
A baby under a year (or even older) who relies on milk for his main nutrition
and calories can certainly start to have nutritional problems, if Mom becomes
pregnant and he is not ready for solids. More than a few need to use some
type of supplement, especially with babies under a year. Many babies this age
simply can't obtain the calories, nor the nutrients be the intake of solids. I
have seen many many women whose milk supply virtually disappears during the
second trimester, not to return until after the second baby is born. This can
be devastating to a child who is nursing for nearly all his nutritional and caloric
needs.
Mary Jozwiak IBCLC, RLC, LLLL
Private Practice
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