I did it! First, for about 9 months, it was ds and dd#1. As soon as ds weaned I got pregnant. Then, I tandem nursed them for over a year. I don't know how much help I'll be b/c I don't remember much about it! I have pictures, so I know that I did. My mommy memory is fading fast. What i didn't like about it was how strong the infant nurser would be and how different and weak the older one's suck was. I usually didn't nurse two at the same time. I would nurse one at a time, so I must have spent a lot of time sitting on the couch!
Well, sometimes. They are starting to wean themselves, so it's one day off, one day on... or, twice in one day, three times the next, whatever. Every day is different.
But for us, if one is nursing, the other has to at the same time. I just think they're used to always nursing together, so even if one is playing happily by herself, she has to join in if her sister nurses.
It has begun to feel a bit burdensome lately ~ because I do end up sitting on the couch for ages with my boobs hanging out! And I'm beginning to sense that they often ask to nurse when they're just bored or cranky.
Anyway I have loved tandem nursing, but even more special to me was nursing one at a time ~ since it was such a rarity!
Yes, I tandem nursed. I nursed my ds throughout my pregnancy, and then nursed two for over a year. It is not easy, but I am glad I held out as long as I could!
I'm still nursing my dd, who turned 2 in April.
You can do a search and find lots of threads about tandem nursing. Good luck!
It's so nice to hear the positives of tandem nursing! (I seem to hear a lot of the negatives as of late)
I'm pregnant and due next year. I'm nursing my 21 month DS. He nurses a lot and shows no signs of stopping. I'm really looking forward to nursing both my children.
And, I'm eager to buy "Adventures in Tandem Nursing."
I'm 32 weeks preggo and dd is 18 months and still nursing strong. We'll be tandeming soon. I just finished reading Adventures in Tandem Nursing. A really great book - I recommend it.
add me to the list of tandem nursers! I have 7 mos old and 3.5 years old. It has it challenging moments and its rewarding moments. There are no smooth paths in any directions.... just go with the flow and tread those hills carefully.
All I heard were positive things about tandem nursing and wished i was more prepared for the downside. Recently read preview of Adventure in Tandem Nursing in New Beginning (LLL mag) so my SIL ordered it for me...still waiting for it...(probably coming by shipment...arrgh!).
Anyway... the main thing to be flexible and take things as they come. Each child, mother, family, situation are different and you have to go with what works for you and have ways to handle burn out and meditation time etc. Its a lot of work either way...
I am glad to be nursing the twos... they seem to coordinate their naps and bedtime better than if I didnt. It is cute to watch the baby caress the older child's long hair (must be mimicing me). They are so cute looking at each other and at me when nursing.
You will need a good big stiff pillow for the bed to nurse sitting up when nursing two of them, a comfty couch for the daytime nursings.
Helps to have comfortable stations around the house. Of course you dont have to nurse the two at same time all the time all day long.
I was nursing 20mo DD when DS was born, tandem nursed them til last October (DD had turned 3 in June) and then I told DD it was time to potty train and wean, LOL, so I tandem nursed for 1 1/2 years. We never had a problem with it, although I never did it in public one time I nursed DD while DS napped and got a funny look from someone, I guess cuz I was nursing the older kid, LOL.
I have a 17 month old (almost) who is still nursing alot despite my supply being next to nothing and I am due in Feb with a new baby. I am excited and nervous about nursing 2. I also want to read that New book from LLL
I'm tandem nursing a 6 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. Not my favorite activity in the world to do both at the same time but am okay with having them nurse one by one. I'll have to get that book Adventures in Tandem Nursing!
One huge benefit I've noticed in tandem nursing is that my older child is immensely effective in helping me get rid of plugged milk ducts! He is so cute - last time I told him I had one he said "I'll get it out mommy!" He really tried hard and we were both so happy when it worked! I felt kind of guilty though - I usually try to keep him on the breast for a limited period of time - in hopes of giving him ideas of weaning himself, but when I've got a plugged milk duct all bets are off!
I bf my ds who is 2yr4mos. I'm pg and due in Jan, and planning on tandem nursing. I've been having a "discussion" on another (non-Mothering) email list on the pros/cons of tandem nursing. (i'm pro, of course)
Here's a quote from another woman on the list (she doesn't have any kids, and the whole discussion stemmed from a comment her boyfriend made about it):
"...this tandem nursing thing sounds like a big bad idea to me. Nourishing 2 kids at once-whether they are inside or outside yr body sounds like a recipe for disaster. and can we say--regression? aren't you trying to get the eldest to move on and develop, individuate, become a toddler? won't they re-identify with the infant?"
I don't know how to respond to this person. I have given her my opinion, but I am wondering if anyone knows any "science" I could throw at her. [lovingly, of course]
my dh just tells people(who seem to think tandem nursing is unnatural) that God (you could substitute with evolution if you want more science) gave mothers' two breasts ,not one, for a reason, to feed two babies!
If she doesn't think that 2 or 4 or 6 year olds should nurse anyway
Quote:
aren't you trying to get the eldest to move on and develop, individuate, become a toddler?
Then that would be the place to start- that 2 and 3 year olds should nurse- that the youngest a child should wean is about 2 1/2- I am sure you could find some better facts and links on here. Moving on to toddlerhood or childhood involves nursing still and weaning because I have gotten pregnant is not fair to my toddler. Of course if she can never be convinced that a part of being a toddler invoves nursing, then nothing you can tell her about tandem nursing is ever going to convince her.
I tandem nursed #1 & #2, and now #2 & #3 and occasionally #1 still. It is truley an adventure, with pros and cons, but I can't say I regret it. The hard times come when I am tired or dehydrated or just plain overwhelmed. But tandem nursing or not it would have been hard anyways. The good part is having the "lure" to keep the toddler nearby while you spend necessary down time with the infant, better than having the big one off tearing up the house in search of who knows what....
This time my older nurser is bigger and more aggressive so it is more difficult than last time around but it's working out ok. The first few months are the hardest for me, then it becomes somewhat routine. Occasionally I have to say no to the big one and that causes a tantrum but at least I know I am giving as much as I can before losing my mind!
tips from experience...
remember the good old "football hold"? never used it with one baby but with two it works great!
hydration & protien!!! oh yeah, and pillows!!!
Count me in as a "tandem nurser of the future"! My ds is 18 months now, and will be 25 months when baby #2 is born. He loves to nurse, and I have no intention of weaning him any time soon (no matter how irritating it can be at times, what with breast tenderness and hormones! But that's another thread...)
So, I'm gearing up to nurse them both! I'm sure it will be a bag of mixed blessings, but such is life!
Quote:
Originally posted by xacerb8
"...this tandem nursing thing sounds like a big bad idea to me. Nourishing 2 kids at once-whether they are inside or outside yr body sounds like a recipe for disaster...
Hmmm.....clearly, twins (or more!) is not an option for this woman....what would she do if she found herself expecting twins? Abort one? Because "nourishing 2 kids at once...is a recipe for disaster" don'cha know!
Yeah, it sounds like she's really thought this through and has it all figured out, huh?
Anyway, I'm sure I'll be checking back with you all frequently for advice once #2 is born....glad to have found a place of encouragement and support!
xo,
Sarah (SAHM to Elisha (02/28/02) and Blessing#2 (EDD 03/25/04)
(It's Tiffany, following you around the internet!)
Well, I am due any day with # 2 and ds still loves to nurse at least a couple times during the day, at bedtime, and when he wakes. He just turned 12 mo, and I have had to supplement w/ an SNS since six months. I will be sooooo happy to see that thing go.
I have had too many nursing challenges to count, but I believe I have done the right thing by keeping on nursing him. He seems to do a lot better b/c of it!
I has been miserable at times, but I would do it again b/c of the benefits. I will be sooo thrilled when my milk comes in, I can hardly wait! I know it will be difficult, but hey, it will be a change!
MamaTT! Hey girl! Good to see you around here! (How lame am I, that i can't even think of a new screen name??)
T I dunno what's up with this, but I dreamed about you again last night....you'd just gotten your dog, and decided to name him Mousse (as in chocolate....I know, lame, but I was *dreaming*!!)
Anyway, I'm sending you major baby-birthing vibes!
We have been tandem nursing for 10 1/2 months now! It really does not seem that long at all! We usually nurse separately, but I did nurse both frequently in the beginning! Just wanted to chime in and add my support! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be tandem nursing a 2 1/2 year old and a 10 1/2 month old baby! It won't be long till I will have two EBFs!
The funny thing is I would have totally made a comment about someone like me just a few years ago! I was hoping to nurse dd for a year, ha ha!:LOL
I tandem nursed for exactly one year, ds just weaned in June. Dd is a nursing queen!
I actually had the opportunity to share some of our experiences with Hilary Flower (the author of "Advenutres in Tandem Nursing" and she ended up using some of my quotes in the book
that was fun, and actually helped me get through some of the rough spots in tandeming.
I am SO glad dh and I decided to not wean our son and go on to tandem nurse. (Dh was an incredible support, couldn't have done it with out him) It was certainly difficult and while I was doing it I said to myself and others that I never wanted to do it again.
But now that ds has weaned and Dd (14.5 months now) is nursing lots and lots, and we are sort of thinking of bringing baby #3 into the mix...I might be tandeming again!
Even though it is challenging, the benefits (especially long-term) definately outweigh the difficulties.
Hindsight, I feel so much better about tandeming now than I did while I was doing it.
I see the result of being there for my son, the relationship between my children is so sweet and tender, and I feel good about that aspect of my mothering. I tend to be extremely hard on myself for not measuring up to my many expectations, this is one area where I actually feel sucessful.
I'm currently nursing a 7 week old and a 3 year old. I think it has really helped my 3 year old handle the new baby and he just seems to glow after he nurses, like he's all filled up with love.
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