Is it safe to take pineapple during pregnancy? Is it advisable at the end of a pregnancy to take pineapple juice or eat the flesh in order to bring on labour?
Maybe.
Eating pineapple or drinking pineapple juice is said to be an old wive’s tale to bring on labour for woman past their due date. Large amounts of pineapple juice can in fact cause uterine contractions. It’s for this reason that in early pregnancy, it’s often suggested that you don’t drink pineapple juice in excess amounts.
Why pineapple can cause contractions
Fresh pineapple contains Bromelain which can also soften the cervix but it is said that it takes large quantities to have any effect which can also result in diarrhea. Some women say that they’ve had zero problems having plenty of pineapple and pineapple juice during pregnancy and others claim it brought on labour. The verdict on pineapple during pregnancy? Some would say that you should eat it in moderation and watch for any signs of problems before your due date. If you’re at or past your due date, it might help you.
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Tags: bring on labor, bring on labour, pineapple and pregnancy, pineapple during pregnancy, pineapple juice during pregnancy, pineapple safety during pregnancy
June 10th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
it is true, u should not have pineapple during any time of pregnancy. it is better not take any kind of risk, when things are doubtful on any issues during pregnancy, instead of trying to find out what the truth is actualy about.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Thanks for commenting. I’d say that erring on the side of caution is always worthwhile especially when it comes to pregnancy. Pineapple is delicious and nutritious but is certainly something that can be avoided for nine months.
Cheers!
November 4th, 2008 at 7:04 am
for me it is false because during my 9 months pregnancy i ate fresh pine apple everyday but no contraction until the 39 weeks of my pregnancy. pine apple is very healthy rich in calcium that help a baby strong bones, vitamins C to fight infection. my baby is very healthy.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Arlyn,
So glad all worked out for you. When I wrote this post I was astounded at finding this information as I’d read many baby books and done a lot of research in my own pregnancies and had never heard this information before.
I’m coming across the info more frequently so thought it worthwhile to report it to my readers.
February 27th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
I heard from a lot of my friends that pineapples were a no no during pregnancy, yet I never read or heard anything about it before I got pregnant. I am 20 weeks now and I know that I am passed the critical months, but I think after reading what you guys said, I am going to just stay away from them. If there is anything that is questionable about eating pineapples, I rather not eat it, and then regret it in the long run. Some people are luckier than others. Every pregnancy is different.
February 28th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Good call Bonnie. Definitely better safe than regretful!
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:54 am
Pineapple was the thing I most craved throughout my pregnancy. I’m now at 39 weeks and have probably eaten over 30 pineapples during the last 9 months. No contractions for me!
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 am
Good to know, Em. I’m sure a lot of women haven’t even heard of this issue. I don’t remember reading anything about it until very recently.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
when my aunty was pregnant she use to eat alot of pineapple..she ended up having a stillborn,so i’v always been told to avoid pineapple and fizzy drinks,but i gues not all pregnancys are the same!
April 27th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I have had loads of probs with ‘Braxton Hicks’ contractions for a few months weeks (now 33 weeks so been a long time…) - daily on and off for hours at a time, and midwives and doctors can’t find anything as a cause. It is now really problematic and effecting everything I do.I have just found out that the Bromelain in pineapple may have this effect of causing contractions AS WELL as the positive effect of softening the cervix when you want it to at 40 weeks. I have eaten fresh pineapple nearly every day of my pregnancy and am now definitely STOPPING. It is very frightening when this happens to you. So I would really advise caution.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
i hav just eaten a whole pineapple to try n bring on the labour im nearly 36 week cant feel out at min lol i didnt no it cud b harmful just want this baby to come out but healthy, i should hav read this b4 i ate it really :s
June 7th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I used three different drinks to quicken up delivery. I had un timed contractions for 2 days and was anxious to deliver. So I drank a whole Liter of pineapple juice, I drank tea with cinnamon which is supposed to cause contractions and I took 2 tablespoons of castor oil. I took a nap and woke 2 hours later at 9h47 pm with contractions timed at 10 min. At 1h41 am I had my baby boy. That’s 3h56 min, no laxative effect at all. No epidural!
June 9th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Thanks for all the info! I’ve been craving for pineapple during my 2nd pregnancy, as I’m in my 31st week now. I did not even have a single bite during my 1st one, as I wasn’t that craving for it. But, I’ve been having almost a pc everyday now. Can’t stop from having it. Maybe i should stop… as for the sake of having my healthy baby delivered naturally…
June 19th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
There is no known scientific evidence to prove that fruits like pineapples and papayas are harmful during pregnancy. If you were to consider the medical evidence touted by some people, it would require consuming kilograms of these fruits at frequent intervals throughout the day to even make a small differece.
Wake up, throw out all these rubbish old wives tales !!!
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:21 am
This thing is true but unless you have a strong uterus, it doesn’t affect you. Once, a teacher ate just a bite of it and her blood was everywhere. There was another teacher who was pregnant at that time too but she ate loads of Pineapple but it didn’t affect her one bit.
So, unless you KNOW that your uterus is REALLY strong, you can eat them. BUT most women can’t tell, so better not consume it.
July 8th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I had never heard of this until today. I’m 29 weeks pregnant, and drank a lot of pineapple juice in the first months, and couldn’t get enough. I also by the pineapple tid bits, and don’t have anything like labor going on.
September 15th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
aaaaaaaaaa i jus had 2 slices…….n im 9 weeks……im worried
September 15th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Laila, Hope all is well. I’m sure a lot of people have done that without realising it. I only ever heard about this in the last year and in my second pregnancy, Dole pineapple juice was something I drank a lot of in the beginning — thinking it was healthy and good for me & my baby! Now that you know, I’d just refrain going forward.
Cheers.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:45 pm
i am 40 weeks preg. just pass my due date and i cant take it no more am done deen preg. drink some Dole pineapple juice hours ago and nothing happen no contractions, now what do i do?
September 21st, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Best of luck with L&D when it comes, Anonymous. I wrote this post with labour inducing tips: http://pregnancyglee.com/?p=130. I say have some sex with plenty of nipple stimulation, maybe?
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:21 pm
my friend who works as a midwife advised me to have a portion of pineapple at least once a week throughout my pregnancy which i did with no harmful effect. according to her it is bad in excess but a few portions a week can boost a number of vitamins combating tierdness and if used in later pregnancy there is evidence that i can be beneficial in the labour. she also warned me to be careful of any advice or articles published online as they don’t have to actually support thier finding with any research to be published, they just have to be able to pay for the space. this means that alot of people publish medical advice and old wives tales as fact when they have no medical training of qualifications. It’s also important to remember that alot of factors can cause problems on preganancy. I do Avoid anything that worries me but at the same time walking down a street next to a traffic jam is bad for your baby because of the pollution. i agree with doc, everything in moderation.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
It is said that pineapple will not have any affect unless your baby is ready to come out anyway…. yes it can soften the cervix but not untill the cervix is ready to ripen on it’s own. My cervix is already softened and I am eating pineapple at the very moment in hopes it will bring on contractions!
October 26th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Hi, I am now 15 weeks pregent and i am having craving for Pineapple.
This is my 3rd pregnencies. I never have craving for pineapples and never take any pineapples in my prev. 2 prenencies.
But this round, I can eat about 2 fresh pineapples in a week.
I asked my doctor about this, she said it’s ok to take pineapple during pregenency (but i didn’t tell her how much i have taken).
I think i will control in not more than 2 per week. hope is ok… since the doctor said.. it’s ok.
November 19th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Old wives tale and no scientific proof to back it up. That’s just like saying you can’t reach over your head for anything because it will wrap the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck.
I’m an OB, take my word for it. I’ve NEVER heard of this happening. Underripe pineapple can cause MINOR uterine contractions, but nothing more than a braxton hicks type thing. And more people won’t eat underripe fruit of any kind because of the stomach cramps it can cause (this includes bananas).
Eat away.
November 20th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I am 14 weeks pregnant, and just ate a bowl of pineapples, because it felt kind of acidy on my tongue, i decided to check out if it was safe for pregnant women and now i’m reading these posts. I have never heard this before and thought it was safe and nutritious for the baby. Even though there may not be any medical proof against pineapples, i think its better safe than sorry so i think i can stay away from pineapples for the next 6 months seeing that its not something that i’m craving.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I understand no soft cheeses, raw eggs and meat, but pineapple? Please!! I was also told that once baby is here one should drink two to three beers a day to make sure you have enough milk. Would you do that too??
November 26th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Pregnant women in Hawaii eat pineapple all day everyday.
November 28th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
I found this website because I was looking for information supporting Pineapple decreasing morning sickness. I’m not sure if I’m pregnant, but I’m definately feeling queasy. Over the holidays my Mother-In-Love made a pineapple pie (with whip creme and creme cheese), and it’s the only thing I can eat that settles my stomach. I did find some sites supporting pineapple and I’m sure they are not governed by US medical stuff, if you know what I mean. I like Dayna’a post, women in Hawaii eat pineapple everyday. I think all things made by God have a benefit for us someway.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:27 am
I’ve been eating a whole pineapple every other week (small amount at a time) since my 2nd trimester and I am still doing fine at 31 wks. Unless there is a scientific report, I think you should use your own judgement. Like anything in life, moderation is the key.
I like Dayna’s post too. Also, pregnant women in SouthEast Asia eat pineapple all the time and they’re fine. Same thing with sushi and Japanese women. I’m sure they didn’t quit eating their national food altogether for 9 months. I’m not saying go to town on raw fish but moderation is the key.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Hmmm i am 36 wks pregnant and have just been told im gonna have a ten pound baby…..if im not lucky.
I have been craving for pineapple for the last two weeks and i think that your body will tell you what you need and what you dont.
So with this i say bring on the pineapple!
Obviously if you eat pineapple and it makes you bleed, get cramps, dont do it again.. the same applies to bunjie jumping or other extreme sports.
I do however agree with the morning sickness quote, ginger biscuits stops it in its tracks! fantastic!
December 11th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Good grief, people. Why are you taking the advice of a stranger’s sister’s best friend? There’s all sorts of junk online and all sorts of wives tales, as others have pointed out. Your body knows what it needs. If you crave it, your body probably needs something in what you’re craving (donuts and candy bars aside if you have a nasty sweet tooth.)
Unless you’re deathly allergic, a bit of pineapple won’t hurt. Eat some and see how your body reacts. If it makes you naseous, avoid it for now. Listen to your body, not strangers.
I’ve been eating a lot of fresh pineapple while pregnant and for me, it is the ONLY thing that combats the constipation brought on by the iron pills I need to take. And I’ve had only 1 BH contraction that I’m aware of and I’m due in 7 weeks. For me, pineapple does me lots of good
While you’re avoiding all these fresh fruits and veggies that strangers warn you about, take a moment to go Google the side effects of Pitocin and epidurals on both you and your baby. THAT ought to concern you FAR more for the safety of your baby than fresh fruit. That, and if you don’t deliver in a hospital within about 24 hours of being admitted, they’ll do a c-section on you because your baby’s delivery isn’t meeting the hospital’s schedule. But don’t take my word for it… go look it up for yourselves.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Right on, Anonymous poster above! It absolutely boggles the mind that so many of us will go lengths to avoid eating healthy natural foods that may or may not be harmful in large doses/or *could* pose a risk of bacteria, etc … and yet an amazing number of women don’t even question the drugs & procedures that are routinely given/done to make sure birth occurs on the hospital’s schedule.
Stop freaking out about eating a serving of fruit and read “Pushed” by Jennifer Block.
January 1st, 2010 at 9:51 pm
People around the world eat all kinds of things and have healthy babies. I bet women in Hawaii don’t stop eating Pineapple. Women in Japan don’t stop eating sushi. I’d rather eat Pineapple than take prescription medication. It boggles the mind that a woman feels safer taking tylenol than say eating a natural fruit.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:51 am
So I found the below article, and thought I’d share!:
Source:http://www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=87948.0
Pineapple contains selenium…and selenium (an anti-oxident) helps promote a healthy womb lining which is why it is thought to aid implantation. Pineapple also contains an enzyme called bromelain which is contraindicated during pregnancy as it may cause uterine contractions (many people, especially in Asian cultures, suggest eating fresh pineapple to induce labour if overdue)….however, during processing this delicate enzyme is destroyed which is why its ok to drink pineapple juice in moderation when ttc or pg but not to eat fresh pineapple/pineapple pieces etc .
The preferred juice to drink is fresh, pressed or “not from concentrate”….although not the best, its still ok to drink “from concentrate”…all this means is that the pineapple pulp has been frozen or freeze dried for exportation and then reconstituted with water.
A small glass of pineapple juice a day is supposed to be good but there are also many other food sources richer in selenium than pineapple (brazil nuts included!)
This link provides some info on selenium & a list of food souces:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium.asp
February 13th, 2010 at 8:04 pm
I craved pineapple through my whole pregnancy and have eaten loads of the fruit. My due date is day after tomorrow - and the pineapple didn’t cause any issues with the baby. He’s already 9 lbs! It definitely hasn’t caused any early labor or Braxton-Hicks contractions (although at this point I wish it would…).
So from my experience - totally safe - and delicious.
February 16th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
My Midwife & OB both said I could eat whatever I want except for unpasterized cheese. Goat is fine, raw fish is fine from a good source. Smoked salmon is fine if its freshly made and for the past few weeks I drove myself crazy worrying about Lemon Grass, Pinapple & Cinnamon.
As long as you eat moderately its fine, fish maximum twice a week. If you find yourself craving something continueously like a bowl of pinapple everyday then maybe you’re missing something in your diet. Acid & Sweet can also mean a drop of Protien and something else.
Other than that, enjoy and be reasonable!
February 24th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Hello,
I have been eating ALOT of fresh pineapple (sometimes one a day - oink)in the past two weeks. Yesterday, I ended up having to go in to the hospital because of strong Braxton Hicks. I am going to lay off the pineapple now. I had no idea until I started “Googling”.
March 5th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
I ate pineapple and drunk raspberry leaf tea at the end of my first pregnancy and gave birth on my due date, I do think they helped but evrything in moderation surely!? Everyone is different whose to say my labour would have been any different without it?? The french eat evry cheese and fresh shellfish through their pregnancies when we’re told not to! Go with your own feelings!?
March 9th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
WOW!! People say all sorts of things…i live in the Caribbean and i must say we eat everything…fresh fruits and veggies FISH of all sorts etc. Women here have been eating shark for decades and nothing has ever happened to their babies, in fact my aunt ate loads of it with my cousin and he is such a smarty pants, the guy is a senior lecturer at the university and he is a doctor…go figure. Papaya and pineapple is great for bloating and constipation in pregnancy and baby comes out with such beautiful skin. Moderation is the key…and call it barbaric, but unless you go to a private hospital and pay $10000+ to have your baby, its natural birth all the way at the hospitals…give me a break with all the “what not to eat” mumbo jumbo. I’m 22 weeks pregnant, just ate a pineapple, going to have fish for dinner.
My sister is due in a month and all she eats is fish and fruits. Nice healthy baby boy on the way. don’t be fooled be old wives’ tales peoples
March 18th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Old wives tale. I see a lot of hypochondriacs and alarmists on here.
March 22nd, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I am 11 Weeks and starting eating pineapple and almonds to help with my migrain headaches and morning sickness. The very day I started eating them, the symptoms dissappeared! I had four straight days of feeling great, and it was wonderful. The day I stopped eating them, the headaches and nausea returned.
I hadn’t heard about the risk factor involved (bringing on labor), so I will take it easy on the pineapple.
March 23rd, 2010 at 6:46 pm
I found the article below on a website I consider to be credible.
http://www.drugs.com/npc/pineapple.html
Long story short, don’t eat too much pineapple in one day or one sitting and you’ll be fine. I’ve been eating it every day for the past month and a half and haven’t had any issues. I’m 14 weeks and went in for my checkup yesterday. Doctor said baby and mother are fine. Like someone said above, its an old wives tale. If there were any validity to pineapple being dangerous the doctor would have specifically told you not to eat it and it would be published by a medical journal somewhere!!
March 24th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Save yourself all the chewing…. Just go find yourself some Bromelain and Papain tablets at a health food store. It’s these ingredients in the Pineapple that everyone is referring to. They’re digestive enzymes…. That’s why one of the ladies recently said that the pineapple settled her stomach… She’s right… And someone else said that it prevented constipation. It does work. I’ve used it many times. Papaya is a good choice, too.
May 3rd, 2010 at 3:14 am
Just to say that i’m back from Asia and over different places, locals warned me from eating pineapple while pregnant (am over my 9th week), so Dayna’s argument doesn’t apply….
May 12th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Wow, never heard about all the negative stuff about pineapple and pregnancy. I’m asian and a lot of asian older people have told me to EAT fresh pineapple because my feet have been so swollen (35 weeks). I thought this was bull. So I googled “Pineapple health benefits” and found out the the bromelin in pineapple is an anti-inflammatory, thus reduces swelling. So I eat it in between meals (with meals it’ll just help with food digestion) and the swelling goes down A LOT.
I’ve only heard asian myths about Papaya and Coconut Juice causing miscarriages in the first trimester and in the 3rd it’ll help you induce labor.
May 26th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Im 39 weeks and cant wait to have this baby…. i was telling my nurse this at my appointment and she reccommended pinneaple… i would say to everyone to avoid it until you get close to due date and WANT to go into labor because it produces contractions and thins the cervix
June 2nd, 2010 at 1:57 pm
im only 8weeks pregnant and have been feeing relly ill, and all i wante to drink is pinapple juice i did find it made me feel alot better, but i was drinking alot of pinapple juice it was all i was drinking and about 8days after i started drinking pinapple i started bleeding luckly everything was ok. but i thought i would google things not to eat an had seen about pinapple, now im not touching it for nine months! i dont care if its not medical advice and some may be fine to have it but why take the risk when you know there is a possiblity! the old wifes tales used to be all they went on so im guna belive this one and leave out the pinapples!
June 5th, 2010 at 11:17 am
hi what a load of rubbish, fruit especially fresh fruit is very good for you as for pineapple just as good and defiantly helps with morning sickness bloating swelling and constipation have been eating this throughout my pregnancy and has definitely been of help for me have also
been drinking coconut juice and guess what no problems if these fruits where to cause problems then the medical community would have recommended that all pregnant women avoid them this is not the case so as with everything eat in moderation and enjoy.
June 7th, 2010 at 10:12 am
i am confused whether to eat or not.. i am 6 weeks pregnent
June 7th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Whoever wrote this article needs to chill out and realize that they’re scaring women for nothing.
June 7th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
If there is a possibility that this could cause problems for women, it’s good for them to know. Some may try a piece and see if they have any reaction before deciding if it’s safe for them. Women at high risk of premature delivery might choose to stay away from pineapple entirely. Either way, I think it’s good to at least have the information.
June 15th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
I think this is false. I think most people have either heard it from a friend, read it in an unreliable book or just made it up altogether. Alot of people I believe just eat pineapple, look up that its not good and blame it on problems they may have been having before even having consumed it. Pineapple is not to blame, and the same peptides and vitamins can be found in strawberries and other berries as well as tropical fruit. So to say that you should avoid pineapple is to say to avoid papaya, mangoes, bananas etc. Are you doing that? Chances are you’re not!
June 24th, 2010 at 6:11 am
Hi whatever tasy, beautiful things are later dangerous. Take care
June 27th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Ridiculous! You’d have to eat a ton of it for it to be bad for you! The internet is THE worst place to get info on pregnancy! Stick to one source of information instead of all these ridiculous, unfounded stories!
July 4th, 2010 at 10:07 am
Papaya has been mentioned above as safe. This is not true. Papaya has been used in SE Asia as an abortifacient for many years. This is taken in powder form from UNRIPE papaya. I have seen it used, first hand, and it works. Two small sachets taken 3 times in one day with warm water.
For this reason I always strongly recommend to pregnant women to avoid Papaya completely - just to be safe.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Ok…Stop scaring all these young mother’s with the pineapple. God gave you a ‘natural instinct’ for what your growing baby is lacking in nutrition (WHAT HE/SHE NEEDS in order to grow).
AS far as what other people recommend that you do or don’t do; LISTEN TO YOUR BODY……. NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S RECOMMENDATION… YOU DON’T KNOW IF THEY ARE A DOCTOR, NURSE, a HOMELESS PERSON ON THE STREET, OR A 12 YEAR OLD ON A COMPUTER GETTIN’ HIS JOLLY’S BY TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO……
I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and excited about the arrival of my little boy….. I have eaten fresh pineapple that I personally cut up throughout my pregnancy. I would get cravings for that fresh pineapple so bad…mmmmm… that I went to publix and bought some already cut up….I ate all of it before I got home (which is about five minutes up the road from a publix).
Just listen to your body…. If your scared and choose not to partake, that’s fine, more for me
By the Way, I have not experienced any problems, however, my body told me to eat pineapple. Good Luck!
July 27th, 2010 at 11:21 pm
I haven’t even thought about pineapple until reading this site. Now, I’m craving some pineapple! But, kinda scared to eat any. Sounds so good, though………….ahhhhhh.
What to do!?!?
July 31st, 2010 at 4:16 am
hii…
now am 1 month pregnant,and my doctor told me to dopnt take pineapple and pappayas in firsth 3 monthss
bt 2day morning accidentally ate one or two small cubes of dries pineppale in cornflakesss..am worrying abt daatt..plzz pray 4 meee
August 14th, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I was 34 weeks pregnant with my son last year i had a huge craving for pineapple, I went to the store bought two pineapples and watermellon. I let them sit out on the counter for about 3 hours so that they would let all the juice conctrate. I ate one whole pineapple. the next day I ate the other, in 6 hours I was being flown out to the nearist hospital with a nicu. The pineapples had in fact made me go into labor. So Im now 16 weeks pregnant and Im so gonna eat pienapples at the end of this pregnancy since they obvoiusly helped me before, I had no clue that they could do this. The doctor said that I had ate a large amount of the pineapple and it helped put me into labor. WHO knew????
August 21st, 2010 at 3:44 am
i ate a bit too much pineapple when i was 7 months pregnant with my second child and boy did my stomach hurt for hours. It really freaked me out, and then i found a article about this being an old wives tale. Then i just ended up having a large bm(sorry tmi).
I’m 39 weeks, and five days and bought some sliced fresh pineapple in hopes to start some labor, but will do in moderation. Last time i just totally over did it lol…..
August 26th, 2010 at 1:31 am
Oh sheesh… more fear-mongering! Eating ANY healthy food is better for you than most of the junk I see pregnant women eating every week!
PLEASE enjoy some pineapple, as much berries, bananas, as you like. Mix it all up in a lovely smoothie, add some fresh baby spinach leaves (the flavor’s so mild you won’t taste it, I promise!), and drink a refreshing and delicious Green Smoothie. Your body and your baby will both than you for nourishing them so healthfully!
If you put a 1/4 cup of flax seed in FIRST, then add the fruit and veggies, you’ll add good omega-3 fats too, which your baby will need for growing brain cells during that third trimester.
Be well, be happy, be RELAXED! Then love your precious baby and sing to him/her while you nurse - and drink more green smoothies post partum to help your body recover, and to nourish your milk for the baby.
Hugs,
Mary