Breastfeeding during labour - a help or hindrance?

[mummamia]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with breastfeeding during labour. Was it feasible? distracting? painful? beneficial? relaxing? etc.
I know nipple stimulation can help the cervix open so was curious as to whether breastfeeding would help during first stage of labour.
I am due in May and my 16 month old seems to be getting MORE interested in breastfeeding since I started producing colostrum (he was almost weaned) so I am preparing for tandem feeding and would like him at the birth (if he is awake).
Any info would be great as I have found absolutely nothing mentioned about this through my googling.

[Marmee]

Welcome to our forums! Wow - another birth to get excited about here at NP

I was in the very early stages of labour when I breastfed our, then, 20 month old to sleep. We then laboured and birthed during the night, so there was no need to feed again....but, having said that, I doubt very strongly that I would have wanted to.

I don't know that the breastfeed did too much for progressing the first stage of our labour??

Interesting that you little one is enjoying breastfeeding again. Wait until the milk gushes in again, not long after birth

[hanabi]

Breastfeeding is often recommended for third stage and expelling the placenta.

Nipple stimulation in early labour can bring contractions on stronger but who can say whether it would make a labour shorter? I think not.

[**raifaerie**]

ive wondered this myself, just in musings

i know that very definitely it was nipple stimulation that got things happening for my sis last year with her first birth. after 16 hrs of farting around and nothing much happening, it got her contractions really going and things moving. lol its quite a funny story really - my mum suggesting to her Son IL that he 'get busy' with her daughters boobs! poor nik couldnt bear to look at lells boobs for a month afterwards! but she said that it really was what made the difference, and then if she felt things slowing down a bit, nik had to do his bit to help, and things stayed on track.

as the result of sharing that story with a friend, this also helped her friend to go into labour as well.

personally, thinking about it and remembering my state of mind and presence when i was labouring with DD, i dont think that i could handle bfeeding. but i would definitely use it or other stimulation early on if things needed a push along.

i LOVE your avatar mummamia, it is beautiful

[mummamia]

Thanks! And thanks for all the feedback. I know that nipple stimulation increases the oxytoxin levels which stimulates contractions and have read in a few books (by Inna May Gaskin and also Dr Robert Bradley) that nipple stimulation has helped labour get established and sped up cervical dilation so I think it could be beneficial during first stage like raifaeri says as well as when it is typically recommended - to help expell the placenta.
Anyway I will see how I go. I'm due in 4 weeks now and hoping for a three to four hour labour this time so my little man will probably sleep through the whole thing!

[Marmee]

All the best for a beautiful birth You'll have to let us know how the breastfeeding goes!