Breastfeeding – Unexpected Pregnancies – What Should Be Done?

Unexpected situations of pregnancy can be confounding to mothers that are already breastfeeding.

Unanticipated Pregnancies Occurring While You Are Breastfeeding

In several cases where a woman is already breastfeeding an infant, an unplanned pregnancy can be shocking. In many of these types of situations, the mother may choose to terminate the pregnancy, simply because she is already overwhelmed taking care of one baby and certainly not ready to give birth to another.

There are two different options for termination that are available for women that find themselves in this type of situation, and a great deal of consideration over which choice is best for their particular situation. The choices available are surgical abortions and medical abortions.

In women who opt for a surgical abortion, they are able to continue breastfeeding. However, when a medical abortion is chosen, the woman will be unable to continue breastfeeding. The breastfeeding must be discontinued for at least two days, during which time an abortion pill is taken. This pill contains a substance  known as misoprostol that can travel through the body and end up in the breast milk. When breastfeeding is continued after taking this pill, the misoprostol in the milk could cause the baby to suffer from diarrhea.

Medical abortion, which involves consuming an abortion pill, is generally the option women elect to choose. This is simply because it is a safer and less invasive procedure. This option for an abortion also does not involve a stay in the hospital, whereas with a surgical abortion hospitalization is needed.

There are a variety of medical conditions that will prohibit a woman from choosing a medical abortion, and because of this, it is extremely important to consult your physician about the options that are most healthy for you.

Breastfeeding and PCOS

There are many women that show to be capable of producing an adequate supply of breast milk when they have PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. However, there are several others that do not produce a sufficient amount of milk to sustain the baby. Estrogen levels are a possible reason that inadequate milk secretion occurs among certain women that have PCOS, and in women who have had PCOS over a long period of time, a growth on the mammary gland could be the culprit facilitating the milk secretion.

Even the women who do not produce large amounts of milk, should have no concerns, as even small amounts of breast milk sufficiently supply the baby with immunity building benefits, and it will certainly increase the bond between baby and mother. Formula can easily be used to make up for amounts that breastfeeding may lack.

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