I am currently pregnant with my second child and am having a home birth. I am writing my birth plan out atm and I'm trying to find out some information about breastfeeding a toddler during labour. My first labour was 36 hours long and I am assuming my second labour will be at least 12 hours but friends who have breastfed toddlers during labour experienced a much quicker labour, most likely because the breastfeeding sped labour up.

I was hoping to get some feedback from any women who have breastfed during labour and whether their labour progressed quickly. My 2 year old is unlikely to go 12 hours without a feed and my midwife said that research shows breastfeeding during labour inceases oxytoxin levels which stimulates contractions and speeds up cervical dilation but I am hoping to get some personal accounts of different experiences.

Firstly, let me congratulate you on your extended breastfeeding - that is one lucky 2 year old!

Many women do find that breastfeeding, particularly during early labour, helps to get things moving. Most of the women I have spoken to have only fed during the early stages of labour but I do know several women who have dilated to 9cm before things slowed right down, then, once they put their toddlers to the breast, dilate fully.