Tandem nursing if older kiddo hasn't nursed in a while?

[OrangeMoon]

Hey everyone! Where to start? I was *totally* shocked to find myself pregnant with baby # 3 when my DD was just 6 months old. It was really heartbreaking for me because my milk had dried up when I was pregnant with her so I knew it would happen again. Anyway, I successfully breastfed her with the help of a lot of herbs until about a month or so agao, and despite doing *everything* my milk dried up and I got such a bad aversion to her dry nursing I just couldn't take it anymore and we weaned. I have been planning since the get go to tandem nurse and I have been really excited about it actually. Now, however, at almost 32 weeks my colostrum is coming in but my DD seems to have no interest in latching on? I am now really worried and saddened to think what if after I have this baby it will have been so long my DD won't want to nurse?  Or is she just waiting for when it's really back in full force? It would seriously break my heart if she doesn't want to nurse again. So I guess I am looking for similar stories, and reassurance that a kiddo can successfully learn to nurse again and things can go well?

Thanks so much Mamas <3

[pokeyAC]

I heard a story from a woman who is on MDC who recently who gave birth and afterwards her 2-year old starting nursing from her again after having stopped during her pregnancy, so it's possible. 

[Ava's Mama]

I have been wondering the same thing, but my story is a little different.  I am 36 weeks pregnant and my DD weaned a year ago in September, she is now 3.5 years old.  She keeps suggesting that once the milk comes in when the baby is born that she can nurse too.  I am not necessarily against it, but I was wondering if anyone had any experience like that.  I guess I kind of figured that it has been so long that she may try and then will have forgotten how, but maybe she was old enough when she weaned that she would remember?  If she does remember are there any negative things I should consider before letting her try again?

[kythe]

Yes, I've done this. :)

My kids are 21 months apart, and my older daughter weaned during my pregnancy.  It wasn't her choice, but by the second trimester, breastfeeding had become very painful for me and my milk dried up.  She was maybe 15-16 months old or so the last time she nursed.

After my son was born, he had latch difficulties due to a tongue tie that had to be surgically corrected, and I received a lot of help from many people in getting him to breastfeed well.  Somewhere along the line someone suggested letting my daughter nurse again to help with my milk supply.  I was nervous at first because it had been months since she had breastfed.  I didn't know if she would remember how or if she would bite. 

She nursed like a champ from the time I first offered, as if she had never stopped.  I ended up tandem nursing until my son self-weaned first when he was around 18 months old.  My daughter nursed until she was 5, with exception of those few months during my second pregnancy.