Tandem moms

[Astraia]

How's it going? How're you liking it? Is it like you expected or better or worse? I'm surprised by how EXHAUSTING I find it. I can't nurse them both at once without very very careful positioning otherwise Nigella just jabs Orrin in the face the whole time. I'm also really horribly touched out by the end of the day, I wish there was some pill I could take to help my nerve endings settle because even the dog touching me drives me insane.

[Gray's Mommy]

I'm not tandeming, but cheers to you for doing it! My milk supply completely dissapated during the pregnancy.
to you for the whole touched out thing too...have you tried any aromatherapy to help while nursing for calmness?

[mamakims]

Some days I love it and other days not so much. Last week my toddler was sick so he was needing to nurse ALL THE TIME so I felt like a 24 hour milk bar and was definitely touched out by the end of the day.
I've tried nursing them both at the same time but it's too much juggling for me and I don't feel like I can really relax.

I bought Rescue Remedy for days that I'm touched out and stressed out and it helps me.

[Astraia]

Oh, rescue remedy. I have that! Could never think of a time to use it, but that's a good idea. And LOL at the 24 hr milk bar, that's it exactly.

[paxye]

For me it has just been a continuation of normal life... I have been nursing non-stop for almost 8 years now and tandem nursing or triandem nursing for nearly 6 years...

I just love nursing a newborn again and am glad that I have more milk...

I get you with the touched out feeling though, I get that too... it is not nursing that does it for me but just a result of life with four kids, a DH and two cats... I go for a walk, or coffee, or shopping "alone" (with baby) when I feel the need to... it helps...

[smokeylo]

sometimes i love it, sometimes i hate it. it's fine if my older daughter sticks to a few times a day. but she is kind of obsessed with nursing so that's not always the case. and she wakes at night more often than holly . even though i'm in a different room!

[boigrrrlwonder]

It's been rough. I haven't found a very comfortable for us all to nurse at the same time, and my older one wants to nurse all the time. I regret not weaning her during my pregnancy.

[mamakims]

I think (or maybe I'm just holding onto hope here!) that once our older ones feel a little more secure and become more used to life with a new baby that they'll begin to nurse less.
I'd love it if Parker went down to twice a day but I know that nursing is a comfort for him and because the rest of my time is so consumed with taking care of his sister, it's one of our only tmes in the day that he gets me all to himself.
And has anyone else noticed how freakishly huge their older ones look now when they're nursing? It blows my mind when I go from nursing Sophie to nursing Parker!

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by boigrrrlwonder

It's been rough. I haven't found a very comfortable for us all to nurse at the same time, and my older one wants to nurse all the time. I regret not weaning her during my pregnancy.

Yup SOOOO jealous of my friend due next month, with a daughter the same age as mine, who weaned her daughter.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by mamakims

I think (or maybe I'm just holding onto hope here!) that once our older ones feel a little more secure and become more used to life with a new baby that they'll begin to nurse less.

Oh, now you've given me hope!

[nummies]

Well, I am not nursing a toddler and a newborn but two newborns...can I chime in?

I really hate tandem nursing. When I have to nurse them at the same time, I find myself angry and wanting to jump off a bridge. The feeling of two let-downs is torture. This has made my nursing experience this time around miserable. So miserable that I have a countdown going in my head of how many more days I have left until they turn 1 and I can wean. Which isn't like me at all! I nursed my DS until he was 2, so this is just awful that I hate it this much.

[smokeylo]

I also find it really unpleasant to nurse them at the same time!!

I don't regret not weaning... I guess I'm learning just how important nursing is to Robin. I think it would have/would really hurt her to force her to stop before she's ready. Most of the time she accepts the limits I place on nursing. I will have to tolerate it for a few more months. As much as I'd like to be down to one nursling, in some ways her persistence (Robin's) tells me it's that much more significant to NOT stop her, to let her continue. And so I will continue to grit my teeth...

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by smokeylo

I also find it really unpleasant to nurse them at the same time!!

I don't regret not weaning... I guess I'm learning just how important nursing is to Robin. I think it would have/would really hurt her to force her to stop before she's ready. Most of the time she accepts the limits I place on nursing. I will have to tolerate it for a few more months. As much as I'd like to be down to one nursling, in some ways her persistence (Robin's) tells me it's that much more significant to NOT stop her, to let her continue. And so I will continue to grit my teeth...

This is so true. As much as i might wish i had weaned during pregnancy, she needed it then an obviously still needs it now. That's the only thing that keeps me going. She obviously needs it, so I'm gritting my teeth as well.

[Astraia]

Originally Posted by nummies

Well, I am not nursing a toddler and a newborn but two newborns...can I chime in?

I really hate tandem nursing. When I have to nurse them at the same time, I find myself angry and wanting to jump off a bridge. The feeling of two let-downs is torture. This has made my nursing experience this time around miserable. So miserable that I have a countdown going in my head of how many more days I have left until they turn 1 and I can wean. Which isn't like me at all! I nursed my DS until he was 2, so this is just awful that I hate it this much.

I was really surprised by the feelings of anger I get too. I would get that while I was pregnant, and figured that was normal and hormones, etc, and it'd get better when I had milk again and the baby was on the outside. But nope. Still there. Sometimes even worse than before. It makes me feel terrible but... eh, what can you do? No sense beating myself up about something I can't control. So I don't. I tell myself it's normal, it'll get better, and work on coping mechanisms.

[jillmamma]

Originally Posted by mamakims

I think (or maybe I'm just holding onto hope here!) that once our older ones feel a little more secure and become more used to life with a new baby that they'll begin to nurse less.
I'd love it if Parker went down to twice a day but I know that nursing is a comfort for him and because the rest of my time is so consumed with taking care of his sister, it's one of our only tmes in the day that he gets me all to himself.
And has anyone else noticed how freakishly huge their older ones look now when they're nursing? It blows my mind when I go from nursing Sophie to nursing Parker!

I am not tandeming this time, but did with my last baby for 2 years (4.5yoDD just self weaned a few weeks ago...about the time Marissa was born). My oldest did ask less after the first few weeks, although at the very first, he wanted to nurse almost every time she did. But it did taper off, and he was later able to accept the limits I felt necessary. He was almost 3 when #2 was born, so was able to undestand my explanation that since he could eat all kinds of good foods, he needed less "muh" than the baby who could only have "muh". And yes, I remember how HUGE he looked next to her! And that feeling of just being touched out (I am getting that again, even not tandem nursing as I often have 3 kids just "on" me!). Hang in there, when they hold hands and smile and giggle at each other it is all worth it!