Nursing moms who get pregnant often wonder if they can continue breastfeeding throughout pregnancy and after the birth of the new baby. Yes, it is possible to do both depending on your medical history, your older baby’s response , your milk supply and how you feel.

Nursing mothers who have miscarried previously or have a history of premature labor should ask their obstetrician and report any uterine contractions . This is because nipple stimulation of breastfeeding may increase the risk of being delivered too soon. Most often there is no cause for alarm but its important to be careful and listen to your body.

Milk supply may diminish in a way after  few months of pregnancy . It may also change taste as well. These changes may cause your baby to refuse breastmilk and eventually wean himself. If you have too much breast tenderness and discomfort, you can go ahead with weaning your baby. However if you decide to continue nursing, you have to know that both breast-feeding and pregnancy take a lot of energy and so you need to monitor your food intake as you prepare for childbirth and get a lot of rest.

Tandem nursing is the term used to describe breastfeeding your older kid as well as your infant. This type of nursing in some cases eases the older child’s adjustment to the new baby  and address your own desire to maintain closeness with the older child and even make child care easy in some cases as both children are comforted and fed on the breast.

It is important to know that the new baby’s breastfeeding needs are the most important right now. Your baby urgently needs  the colostrum and immune-protective benefits more than your older child. To make sure that the baby receives adequate milk, you should breastfeed her first before feeding the older child. The baby’s  breastfeeding needs should be top priority. The older child can  supplement with nutritious solid food if breastmilk is inadequate.  It is important to wash hands frequently when taking care of  an older and a newborn to prevent the spread of germs from one to the other.