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Need advice from BTDT Triandem Nursers (nursing three)

post #1 of 7
Thread Starter 
I'm currently 27w pg and tandem nursing with no plans to wean. I'm having trouble finding support and information about triandem nursing and am hoping for some here. For those who have btdt, do you have any resources for support or have any to give? I welcome advice from those nursing triplets, of course. But, since mine are multi-age nurslings, I'm most interested in the stories, experiences, and advice from those with multi-age nurslings. TIA
post #2 of 7
I read a great book called the the Adventures in Tandem Nursing, It was great on the info and had personal stories if I remember right. (It's been awhile since I read it)

I rented it from my local LLL but you may be able to find it at the library.

Way to go tandeming threw a pregnancy!
post #3 of 7
I only know one person IRL who's tandem nursed, so I DEFINITELY don't know anyone IRL who's triandem nursed. Until myself.

I am currently nursing my 4 year old, 22 month old, and 5 week old. I also pump for donation. Honestly it doesn't "feel" like I'm nursing 3 because DD1 just doesn't nurse that often anymore. But she does ask occasionally, usually when DD2 nurses (at least once a day, but it's been less since DS arrived since he's been a pretty constant nurser and we dealt with thrush so I cut her back during that so I could heal). But DD2 is the challenge- she doesn't enjoy waiting her turn. So we've had lots of fits on her part. It's been the most difficult when DH is gone (works 24-72 hr shifts) because DD2 often just wants to nurse before bed and that's usually when DS is fussy and I've got to walk him around and what-not.

Nights aren't bad though. During the pregnancy we nightweaned DD2 (did the same with DD1 last pregnancy), because that's one territory I don't want to enter. Nursing 3 in a day is cool with me...at night, not so much.

Gotta say though...for ME I'm hoping that at least nursing 3 might keep AF away longer. I've only gone 4 and 7 months (even while tandeming and pumping for donation) and feel like I'm getting ripped off. I think 3 at once and pumping to donate has got to earn me at least 12 months, right?
post #4 of 7
I tandem nursed DS and DD1 through my pregnancy with DD2, then triandem nursed until DS self-weaned at about 4.5 years. I don't really have any advice to give, adding the baby in just meshed really well with my other nurslings (though she obviously nursed a ton more!) and wasn't really an issue at all. DS didn't have any problems whatsoever, he had already been sharing with a younger sibling for a while. DD1 had a few times where she wanted to nurse every time she saw DD2 nursing, but it wasn't a big deal.

AF did stay away a bit longer that time, which was nice! 8 months after DS, 5 months after DD1 and then 12 months after DD2.
post #5 of 7
Thread Starter 
Thank you so much for the replies. I love that book, too. It got me through the tandem nursing changes. It's so nice to hear about how you each managed the different nursling characters as I'm very curious what will happen with three and managing the patience level with ds2, which is an issue much more than ds1. I know a few tandem nursers as well, but haven't met any tri-andemers in person. I'm going through an issue with ds2 right now whose nose is so stuffed up he's on his first ever nursing strike and I have to admit while I am satisfied with our nursing relationship, it is nice having a little break. Ds1 is a much more gentle nurser than ds2 and my breasts are pretty sore right now. The fun thing is both dcs have felt ds3 kick them while they've been nursing. So, he's already participating
post #6 of 7
I nursed my three for a few months after ds3 was born. By that time, ds1 was down to one before bedtime nursing only, and he knew that we would be ending when he turned 5. With my younger two, baby got first dibs and then ds2 was able to nurse. On occasion, when they really needed it, I would nurse the youngest two at the same time, but I've never really liked doing that.

The only way I have personally managed to tri-andem nurse was to have some limits and nursing ettiquette rules. It has worked out pretty well, because my younger ones have learned the rules from watching the older ones. I will end a nursing session with an older one with a 10-count. The first time I did this with my youngest (once he was a toddler), it was at night and I really needed to get up to go to the bathroom. He was half asleep, and I counted to 10 in desperation... and was shocked when he unlatched himself, rolled over, and fell back to sleep!

I did nightwean ds2 before ds3 was born. I did not nightwean ds1 before ds2 was born. It hadn't seemed necessary since most nights he slept through on his own... until his baby brother was born, that is.

I am hoping to be nursing three again when new baby arrives in October. I wouldn't mind if ds2 weaned himself before then, but that is very unlikely. I am kind of worried ds3 will wean, though, and I'm definitely not ready for that. That's another post, though.
post #7 of 7
Wow! This is an inspiration! I want to have another baby, but I was afraid of DD not weaning, and DS is nowhere near weaning either!
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