Tandem Nursing - Or Not

paradisemommy wrote: For any mom's that have/are tandem nursed/ing, I was wondering if you could tell me what the difference is and/or if the transformation (for lack of a better word) is easier than if you were to quit nursing then start up again? Or if it doesn't really make a difference?

We are going to ttc at the end of this year and i told myself that i would bf taven until he was 2. well, he turns 2 at the end of july and he shows no signs of giving it up and I just don't have the heart to just *take it away* so now i'm rethinking my plan..

Does anyone have any advice or can give me some btdt tips?

MomToMany replied: I'm currently tandem nursing Hannah and Kayla. We we're trying to conceive Kayla; it just happened. I wasn't ready for Hannah to be done nursing and she wasn't ready to quit either. DH was worried that the baby "wouldn't get enough nutrients" if I kept nursing Hannah. I looked on kellymom.com for advice (LOL, and I bugged supermom here, too!!) to see if it was reallyOK to do. It was; I wasn't high-risk or anything, so Hannah continued to nurse throughout my pregnancy. The only part I was worried about was the separation at the hospital. Hannah did great, and the nurses were amazing! No one under age 6 was allowed in back because it was during the flu/RSV season. They were going to make an exception for Hannah since she was still nursing, but it upset the other moms who had older kids. SO, they gave us a private meeting room were I nursed her. It wasn't too comfortable for me, since those after-pains are worse than contractions (for me anyway).

I'm not sure how good it would be to quit then try to start again. Some kids forget how to latch on, even though they might ask to nurse again. I would just keep nursing Taven. Have your cycles been regular for awhile now? I got AF back when Hannah was 11 months old, then they weren't regular for the 3 months til I conceived Kayla. I guess that's why she was such a surprise, LOL!!

It's also an incredible experience nursing both of them at the same time. Some women don't like nursing both at the same time, but I do. Hannah usually holds Kayla's hand, or pats her back; I think that is SO sweet!! LOL, sometimes Kayla gets her foot in Hannah's face, and Hannah says, Peeyoo!! Stinky feet! It makes me feel good knowing that I'm giving them the best thing they can get for the best start in life .

Here's what kellymom.com has to say about TTC and other fertility issues:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/fertility.html#transition

There's lots of great links at the bottom of the page about TTC and fertility.

I hope this helps you some. If you want to talk more, just PM me!

jem0622 replied: I don't have any tips. I'd check kellymom's site. I plan to tandem nurse the twins (each getting a boob simultaneously)...so that will be different.

Your supply may be non-existent by 6 mos pregnant, so he may self wean. Just food for thought.

supermom replied: Teehee - glad to see I've got some advocates on this board ... (WTG TeddyBearMom!!!) It was a little harder for me to tandem nurse Anders, he was over three when Emily was born, and very big for his age. Of couse, I know that "tandem nursing" doesn't mean both at the exact same time, but very difficult to get them on my lap at the same time, but he still had his turn for a while after Emily was born. I think HE was more suprised than anything when my milk came in after a few months of not getting much when I was PG. But of course, at his age it was definately more of a comfort thing than a nutrition thing.

Unless there is any medical reason you should not (history of miscarriage, etc, etc) I would certainly encourage you to at least give it a shot. If it's not right for you, you'll know it....and work it out then.

Good luck to you in TTC......

kit_kats_mom replied: Well, I've been nursing through this pregnancy even though K has cut WAY back to 2-3 times a day.
I would reccomend the book "Adventures in Tandem Nursing". It has a lot of info on nursing during pregnancy and then nursing 2.

coasterqueen replied: I haven't tandem nurses, obviously, but I have a friend who is pg and nursing her 2+ year old and plans to tandem nursed. Her mother is VERY knowledgeable in BF and is what I'd consider a BF expert. I've talked to her on numerous occassions of the "what-ifs" with Kylie and baby #2. She recommended that book too, so I plan to get it soon.

MomToMany replied:
I have this book, too! It is wonderful; full of very useful information! I highly recommend it, even if you are thinking about TTC. It will help get you ready for what might happen.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that in my first post.

paradisemommy replied: thanks everyone for some great info and especially on the book. i'll check into that book. just another question - from your posts it sounds like while you are pg that your supply goes down? is this true?

coasterqueen replied:
Yes it is true. At least that is what I'm told from close friends. Now, not everyone has supply issues. Some babies go on to nurse throughout the entire pg and some wean because of supply issues.

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I'm hoping that Kylie will wean when I'm pg. I REALLY want her to self-wean, but I'm not sure if I want to tandem nurse or not. I know if she weans during my pg that it will be "parent-led" weaning, but at least it will be a gentle one.

MomToMany replied:

Yes, this happens. It never bothered Hannah in the least. She would keep nursing no matter what! She even talks in her sleep about her "yummies", LOL!! There can even be a period of "dry nursing" where you are producing nothing, but the child still nurses.

Another thbing that happens is breastfeeding agitation; when you can't stand the child nursing anymore. I felt this way while PG and Hannah nursing. She would nurse til I counted to 10, then that was it til the next time she wanted to nurse. I just couldn't stand it, especially later in PG when it was hard finding a comfortable position.

Don't be scared off by some of this stuff. Just follow your heart and it will lead you the right way!

paradisemommy replied: wow..interesting! i never knew that! thanks guys! as always, YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!

kit_kats_mom replied:
Yup. Mine is drying up...just a few drops. K keeps nursing and saying "stuck". I ask her if the milk is stuck and she says yet. LOL