For those who have had experience tandem nursing ...

[newyorkmommy]

My youngest will be 3 and a few months this one is born. She usually just nurses to sleep, sometimes one or two other times during the day.

My milk supply decreased to just about nothing a while back, but she's kept nursing and I've gotten to the point where I'm good with it. However I do have questions about what will happen physically after the baby arrives.

The colostrum is only around for the first couple of days, and if I should only give that to the baby, then that means not allowing my youngest to visit me in the hospital during that time (I'll have had a cesarean), which would be very tough for both of us. Any advice?

Also wondering whether my youngest nursing right up until delivery will help my milk come in again? I would it if this were true since sometimes it takes a little longer after a cesarean.

Thoughts/experience? Thanks in advance!

[Mama~Love]

When I tandemed, I limited my older nursling those first few days when I had colostrum, just to make sure the newborn got as much as she needed & wanted. While I was in the hospital, I did nurse her when DH brought her to visit, but very, very briefly (the afterpains are brutal for me, plus the sensitive nipples didn't help either). My older one was almost 2 at the time.

I think it does help bring your milk in; I don't remember exactly when mine came in as I never got really engorged. If you can get a copy, Adventures in Tandem Nursing by Hilary Flower is a great book. You can read more here: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/index.html .

Good luck, I LOVED tandem nursing! I hope it's an enjoyable experience for you! I tandemed mine for over 2 1/2 years .

[theboysmama]

I have never limited my older child and saved the colostrum for the baby. I personally don't think that is fair and would make the transition even more challenging. If you will be in the hospital the few times that your older child will be in there to nurse isn't going to make much difference and certainly will not harm the baby. My mw said that it is totally fine so we just went with it. My milk too 3 days to come in w/ ds1 (obviously I wasn't tandem nursing him) and about 24hrs with the others. Then there is plenty of milk for the baby bcs of all of the stimulation from the toddler.

I usually let my older one have at it (as long as the baby is gaining) for the first 3-4 wks. This helps us all settle in, brings in my milk, boosts my supply, etc. Then I start to set limits on the older child depending on their personality. Takes a little while (like slowly weaning) but then we are back on track and they are down to about 3 times a day (or so depending on the child).

[emmaegbert]

theboysmama, thanks for this. I will also be tandem nursing and my 2yo is adamant that she likes to nurse, she still nurses, etc, though in reality she doesn't nurse much anymore. My MWs seem totally comfortable with the whole idea but I am having a HB so its not like the hospital stay will limit the older child's access... But I was thinking something along the lines you describe... no restrictions for the first few weeks and then nudge the older nursling back to her "normal" (if she doesn't go there on her own). She will be 2y6m. My oldest was 4.5 when his sister was born and I didn't have to deal with this!

[newyorkmommy]

Thanks, all. I think I'm just going to go with it and see what happens. I actually told my husband the other day that I want him to bring the kids to the hospital as soon as possible after the birth -- partly to meet their new sibling, and partly so our youngest can help get the milk flowing for the baby.

All of my babies have had a bit of jaundice and if you get the wrong pediatrician they start making noises about supplementing with formula. Avoiding even just that discussion would be great, so I'm hoping more milk and sooner = less chance of jaundice.

I've had 3 hospital births, though, and never had a problem with siblings coming to see me or the baby. The rule seems to be that *only* sibling kids can come in, just to keep other visitors from bringing their own kids -- which, frankly, makes great sense to me.

Can you tell I'm overthinking this just a little?

Anyway, thanks again.