Short answer
Yes. Nursing a baby while pregnant again is permissible. The Prophet ﷺ considered forbidding it out of concern for the child, then left it after seeing that it did not harm children. If a doctor says it is harming the baby, the unborn child or the mother, the parents may wean early by mutual agreement.
Breastfeeding during pregnancy is mubah (permissible). Weaning before two years is permitted when both parents agree and the child will not be harmed, and avoiding real harm comes first.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Arabs used the word ghilah for two related things: intercourse with a nursing mother, and nursing a child while the mother is pregnant. They believed both weakened the nursing child. The Prophet ﷺ said he had considered forbidding ghilah, then noticed that the Romans and Persians did it and it did not harm their children. So he left it permitted. The four schools agree it is not forbidden.
What this means in practice:
- You may keep nursing an older baby after you conceive again.
- Milk supply often drops and the taste changes in pregnancy, and some toddlers wean themselves. That is fine.
- If a doctor or midwife advises stopping, for example because of a risk of early labour, follow that advice. Avoiding harm is a rule of the Shariah.
- Nursing two children of different ages after birth (tandem feeding) is also permissible.
Weaning early. The Quran gives two years as the full term and allows weaning before that when both parents agree after consultation. Choosing to wean because of a pregnancy is a valid reason, and a baby may move to formula or other milk. See how long to breastfeed.
For fasting while pregnant or nursing, see fasting while pregnant or breastfeeding.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:233
۞ وَٱلْوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرْضِعْنَ أَوْلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوْلَيْنِ كَامِلَيْنِ ۖ لِمَنْ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَوْلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزْقُهُنَّ وَكِسْوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفْسٌ إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةٌۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوْلُودٌۭ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱلْوَارِثِ مِثْلُ ذَٰلِكَ ۗ فَإِنْ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضٍۢ مِّنْهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرٍۢ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِمَا ۗ وَإِنْ أَرَدتُّمْ أَن تَسْتَرْضِعُوٓا۟ أَوْلَٰدَكُمْ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذَا سَلَّمْتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيْتُم بِٱلْمَعْرُوفِ ۗ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌۭ ﴿٢٣٣﴾
Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Seeing of what you do.
Parents may wean before two years by agreement.
Sahih Muslim 1442
Sahih... لقد هممت أن أنهى عن الغيلة ...
"I had intended to forbid ghilah, until I saw that the Romans and Persians do it and it does not harm their children."
Nursing during pregnancy was left permitted.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Minhaj Sharh Sahih Muslim (al-Nawawi), Kitab al-Nikah, chapter on ghilah. Explains the two meanings of ghilah and that it is permitted.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Talaq, chapter on maintenance. The father's duty to provide for nursing, and weaning by agreement.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.