Does anyone tandum nurse? Older and younger LO?

noah-bear

I really want to tandem nurse and I'm looking for advice. I'm still really early in pregnancy, but I'm worried about being able to go until birth.

I'm also getting a lot of snark from family and friends for it. They don't care about "it's healthy for babies" or even "it's what Noah and I want". Everyone keeps telling me I will regret it, I won't be able to, gives me dirty looks, etc.

Thanks! 

trinny

I'm going to try to keep nursing through pg.  I want to make it to 12m dor DD and beyond if I can keep up with her.  (I heard your milk turns to collostrum ~4-5m and some babies self-wean after that).

I got this book on Tandum nursing, mainly wanting to read about nursing during pg, but the focos is really about nursing a toddler and newborn.  It is by LLL.

Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond by Hilary Flower (Paperback - Jul 2003)

Buy new: $14.95 $10.17

 

14 new from $9.66

18 used from $4.24

Get it by Tuesday, Dec 8 if you order in the next 6 hours and choose one-day shipping.

   (35)

Books: See all 12 items

tommigirle

i was able to keep nursing my toddler through pregnancy, however we got down to 1 session a day (before bed) and still had to supplement with cow's milk for that feeding (about 8 oz cow's milk and whatever she could get from nursing). my friend was able to do it as well, nursing her 22 month old several times per day. i think if you keep offering, they'll keep nursing, they're just not getting much. but after the baby comes and the new milk comes in, you'll be fine. it's a LOT though, to be nursing 2. i'm only doing the 1 feeding with my toddler but planning on weaning her within the next month or so. 

 

 

CaitlinJ22

call your local LLL--I bet someone there has done it. I agree with pp about the book she posted. It highly recommended--even if you arent tandem nursing and just nursing while pg. I plan on weaning in the next few months, so im not help. Im sure its a lot on your body, and who knows if LO will want to continue. You may also feel weird when you are nursing a tiny baby and then nurse a big toddler....who knows. Everyone is different, and you need to do whats right for you. I wouldnt talk to family or friends about it...people are weirded out when I say im still nursing, so I keep it to myself. F them

also the book the womanly art of Bfing has a section on it.

 Also, I know your DS was early...there might be a risk to nurse after a certain point of premature labor. just a thought. I know my LLL leader said that most people are fine to tandem nurse, but there are certain circumstances that it may be not a good idea.only you and your doc would know that.

mrstice

I also recommend Adventures in Tandem Nursing. I continued to bf DS when I got pregnant, and after reading this book decided to just go about it with an open mind...if DS wanted to continue nursing, that would be fine, and if he wanted to stop, that was okay too. DS weaned himself (I actually continued to offer for quite some time and he was just not interested) completely at 14 months (when I was about 5 months pregnant).

hamilton.ja

My son is 25 months old and is nursing roughly 2-4 times a day. I don't think he gets much but he certainly wants to nurse, he isn't interested in cows milk. We offer water or water with a splash of juice throughout the day. He has OJ or a smoothie at breakfast and milk with lunch if we can convince him to drink it. I'm just letting him do his thing. If he wants to keep nursing he can, if not I'm fine for him to wean. We've had a great run so far. My family were all shocked when I told them I was pregnant and then they realized he was still nursing and asked what I was going "to do about that??" and I said "nothing." and they just stared at me.... whatever, not their bodies, not their choice.