Does breastmilk lose its nutritive qualities during pregnancy?
In the first few months, there is very little change, but then with the increased development of the placenta and the change to higher levels of the hormone oestrogen, the production of milk may decline. This usually occurs around the second to the fifth month. However, the quality of milk makes up for the reduction in quantity, so that the milk produced is richer in fats and vitamins. It can therefore provide just as much nutrition as before. As long as the mother is getting an adequate diet, neither she nor her developing foetus need suffer nutritionally if lactation continues during, and beyond pregnancy. Won’t the newborn baby miss out on the advantages of receiving colostrum? Colostrum, the rich anti-infective substance produced by the breasts in the later months of pregnancy, will be present even if you continue to breastfeed. This in itself may encourage your older child to wean spontaneously as he finds the composition and taste different from before. How can I encourage my old
