this is really really really really really hard... (new developments!!)

[Llyra]

UPDATING: DD (2) just announced that she wants to nurse again. Ye gods, I'm gonna be sucked dry! Do I tell her she can't? Let her try, hope she loses interest fast? CAN I nurse three???? I think it might kill me!!!


please excuse my lack of capitals. i'm nak one baby and : the other, and it's a challenge.

this is the single biggest challenge of my life i think trying to ap two babies at once. dh took dd out for lunch, mil left for the day, and 20 seconds after they left both babies started crying. ack.

i've been nursing literally continuously since 6 am, and it's 12:30.. have not had one single entire minute when milk wasn't flowing. i think they're trying to boost supply, but then again maybe it's a ploy to make me lose my mind. : i can't put either one down for a second. right now i've got james in a ring sling sort of tucked under one armpit (hilarious sight, considering the sling is huge and he's so tiny), where he's sucking on a fold of skin he apparently finds appealing. if i stop swaying he howls. rachel's latched onto the other boob, kinda curved around her brother's back, flutter sucking and making bird noises. oops, she just got a letdown... James just pooped but there's no way in heck i'm disturbing this happy arrangement. no way, poop or no poop.

and then there's me, in a ratty nursing gown with the entire top pulled down around my waist. heaven help me if anyone stops by....

and think--in two weeks i have to do this full time, alone, with a two year old.

and some people think a sahm mom does "nothing" all day. :

[mamaglee]

[blessed with boys]

Oh mama I wish I lived near you to help you out.

[PGNPORTLAND]

Your amazing!

[Elaina_Bell_19]

Girl i have all respect for you, im trying to nurse just one baby i cant imagine what it must be like with 2.

[maranapanda]

wow. I have nothing to offer in the way of support, but Hang in there mama.

[paisley]

That sounds so hard. I would make it better for you in an instant if I could.

Have you looked into post-partum doulas at all? If you have the chance, take a look at DONA's site (www.dona.org). I was able to find a lady locally who is in the process of getting certified and is offering 8 hours of free post-partum help in exchange for me filling out a survey at the end. Hopefully you could find something similar.

[jkg]

I am going to have hard enough time with one newborn and a toddler. I give you tons of credit. I wish I had advice, but just know that I think you're an awesome mommy!

[mamafish9]

Big hugs, mama.... is there a moms of multiples group near you? A friend of mine had twins, and she found her local group was so incredibly supportive and helpful in those early days...

Here's a website that lists local moms of multiples clubs...

http://www.nomotc.org/index.php?opti...arch&Itemid=43

[Mummytwice]

Originally Posted by PGNPORTLAND

Your amazing!

:

[Nani]

Make sure you keep taking vitamins, drink lots and lots of good liquids (I even heard that an occasional beer at this stage helps, alcohol-free if you prefer), eat a very healthy and hearty diet and once in a while just lay or sit down, even if they're both tandem nursing. Be in the moment and relax as much as you possibly can!

I feel for you, mama, YOU'RE AWSOME!! And things will get easier as you get more and more into a rhythm with the two new babes.

[MrsTC]

WOW! You're a champ, lady!

...just for you, I think they should add a smilie of that topless tandem nursing in a sling, bouncing around. Do THAT, computer wizards! Sounds hard enough in real life, sheesh!

Sending energy your way. Hang in there!

[lunabelly]

My cousin had twins, and she said, "I wish that when God gave me twins she would have given me a third arm!"


Hang in there!

[momof4peppers]

YOU CAN DO IT!!! We found the first 6 weeks to be the worst/hardest. Then we were able to move them to a "schedule" (not a strict Ezzo-type, more of a here's what you seem to have been doing, let me guide you to formalizing it) and it helped TREMENDOUSLY. We were able to know when we'd get that 45 minutes of sleep, which for us, meant the difference between killing each other or the babes, and being blissful new parents. Maybe you want (since you're losing your help so soon) to think about tracking their trends and "scheduling" them a little earlier? To make it easier on yourself? Like if your toddler still naps, EVERYONE naps at the same time (including you!). Sign on the door "new family sleeping", turn on the answering machine, don't get tempted by the computer, all those things that your told but you feel you can never do. :smile

I know "schedules" aren't AP, but I can't imagine life with three without at least a predictible "routine". Hang in there - you can do it!

[MsElle07]

You are an amazing mama doing amazing things for her babies!

[Mizelenius]

I SERIOUSLY bow down to you. I will be having no pity parties here for myself-- I will spend that time wishing YOU energy and peace!

[lunadoula]

You rock mama!!

[Wild Flowers]

Well, how long has she been weaned? because for the most part kids lose the ability to effectly nurse. They can even do this when they are nursing regularly. So two suggestions
1. tell her that it is nurses for the little babies. She can have this special drink that they can't have
2. tell her that she can try it, but she can't nurse. I am assuming you can pump. Give her a small glass of it. She will most likely lose interest.
Really, I love tandem nursing, but I didn't do it with three. I really do feel that they kept each other healthy, because of the whole your body produces things to fight off colds. But nursing three, and most likely a toddler who will have a lazy latch may drive you nuts.
I wish you luck and I also wish I could help you in some way. I am sure that most of us feel this way.

[paisley]

Originally Posted by Llyra

UPDATING: DD (2) just announced that she wants to nurse again. Ye gods, I'm gonna be sucked dry! Do I tell her she can't? Let her try, hope she loses interest fast? CAN I nurse three???? I think it might kill me!!!

Weeelllll... From what I hear this is not uncommon. How long has it been since she weaned? Ds weaned when I got pregnant once and then wanted to nurse again a couple weeks later after I miscarried. I said ok but he couldn't remember how - just sat there with his mouth open waiting for something to happen, but didn't realize that he was the one who needed to make it happen. My friend's 3yo also wanted to nurse again after her 2nd was born and she said sure, but same thing, he couldn't remember how. He did, however, enjoy snuggling next to Mama at her breast while baby nursed.

So chances are that if it's been awhile she might not be able to anymore. In which case you might end up comfort "nursing" her for I don't know how long until she's contented. But you'd have to be prepared for that to be more than a couple times. And then if she can remember how to, well that's a whole 'nother can of nursies. I think thought that she is probably processing her new place in the family as not the baby and wanting to revisit that particular form of comfort before she moves on. I'd say go with what your instinct tells you. Maybe find a special new way to snuggle with her instead if you are not wanting to go down the road of nursing three, even if one is faking it. HTH.

[ILoveMySofie]

oh man im not much help just want to say - my respects to you and !!!