Should I Stop Breastfeeding While Pregnant?
The decision to discontinue breastfeeding after pregnancy depends on individual circumstances. Breastfeeding is a crucial period, and if pregnancy occurs during this period with lactation, there are two options. One is to terminate the pregnancy, otherwise the amount of breast milk secreted will decrease. If breastfeeding continues, there is a risk of miscarriage, and only one of the two can be chosen. Therefore, the decision should be made based on your own situation. If pregnancy occurs during lactation, if the pregnancy is not terminated, the milk supply will suddenly decrease, affecting the breastfeeding of the infant. However, if breastfeeding is not stopped, the current pregnancy poses a risk of miscarriage to the fetus. Therefore, during lactation pregnancy, either breastfeeding should be stopped to keep the baby or breastfeeding should continue with termination of the pregnancy. Discontinuing breastfeeding is a very important period for infants and a significant turning point in their lives. It involves not only changes in food types and feeding methods, but more importantly, has a significant impact on the psychological development of infants. This is why psychologists refer to this process as the second mother-infant separation. How to Discontinue Breastfeeding?
1. Gradual Transition: The timing and method of weaning depend on many factors, and each mother and baby have different feelings about weaning, and the choice of methods varies from person to person. If you are fully prepared, and both you and your baby can adapt, the time for weaning is ripe, and you can quickly wean your baby from breastfeeding.
2. Reduce Dependence on Mother: Before weaning, consciously reduce the time spent with your baby and increase the time that dad spends caring for the baby to give the baby a psychological adaptation process. Let the baby understand that dad can also take care of him, gradually reducing the baby's dependence on mom. This is where dad's role comes into play to help the baby through the "weaning period."
3. Less Breastfeeding, More Cow's Milk: When starting to wean, you can give your baby some formula milk or fresh whole milk every day. Encourage the baby to drink more milk as much as possible, but if he wants to breastfeed, mom should not refuse him. Mom can also prepare some solid foods for the baby.
