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Abortion/Breastfeeding and abortions

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Expert: - 7/14/2010


Question
I just had a baby on April 20th. He is now about 3 months old. I believe I am pregnant again but do not want to have the baby. I'm not ready for another one yet. I was wondering if you can have an abortion and still breastfeed. Or if an abortion is out of the question.

Answer
Hello, Cassie,

I would say an abortion is out of the question. It would most likely disrupt your breastfeeding. If you have a pill abortion, that means taking powerful drugs that could get into your breast milk. Any kind of abortion disrupts a woman's hormones. In order to breastfeed, you certainly don't want to disrupt your hormones.

Any kind of abortion can kill you. If that happens, who will take care of your baby?

It is unlikely you are pregnant again so soon after having a baby, with breastfeeding. If you are not pregnant, your best safeguard is to breastfeed on demand, and not to give your baby anything else (not even water). This should stop your fertility. If you are pregnant again, you can still breastfeed for some time. Some women are able to breastfeed throughout a new pregnancy and then nurse in tandem after the younger child is born.

I recommend you get some counseling. Go top La Leche League, and find an organization near you that can help you deal with a new pregnancy. You really deserve better than abortion. You can find an organization by going to this web site:

http://www.pregnancycenters.org/

Please take care of yourself and your baby. Abortion is nothing to mess with. If it doesn't kill you, it can still cause serious harm. Please stay safe. Let me know what happens.

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Volunteer

Pat G

Expertise

I can help women with the consideration of their decision, and with resources, and I can share my own experiences as the mother of seven and grandmother of eleven. My approach is to show love and concern, and help women work through the issues, emotional, spiritual, practical. I also help women deal with boyfriend and family issues. I am not a doctor, but I have done extensive medical research, so I may be able to help with information. I am female. When you write, if you are or were pregnant, please tell me how far along you were or are, and if you have had an abortion, please tell me what kind. Thank you.

Experience

I have been working with women who are considering abortion for several years. I also work with women who have had abortions. Our family has also experienced adoption, so I can talk about that as well.

Education/Credentials
I am mostly self-taught. I also studied midwifery for awhile. I have spent years doing research on this topic. In fact, I have been doing research and working in this area since the early 1970's. I have been helping women online for a few years, under the guidance of a woman who was formally training in counseling.

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