Tandem Nursing - Rancho Cordova,CA

I got pregnant with my second when my first was 11 months old. She actually stopped herself nursing at around 17 months, because the milk tastes different when you are pregnant. I planned on tandem nursing, I read all the books, spoke with La Leche and other mothers.
My breast were very tender and it was very painful for my first to nurse when I was pregnant, so I felt guilty that she lost that extra year when she weaned herself.
I would make all the plans, then wait and see what happens for you once the baby is born. Whatever you decide, remember, the best gift you can give your first child is a sibling. so let go of the guilt, do the best you can, and see what happens for you.
Congrats and good luck!
Also, be prepared. An older woman once told me (regarding children) one is like none, and two is like ten!

I did that and I will say it was really tough. I didn't wean my first until my 2nd was 6 months old. Pregnancy made nursing really uncomfortable, but that isn't the case for everyone. Then it was hard for my first to let the baby go first once she was born. I don't think I'd do it again unless my first was an infant during my pregnancy. I recommend the book "Adventures in Tandem nursing". You might have to buy it from La Leche. Sorry I don't have a more positive experience to share!

one more thing, if you decide to wean your oldest don't do it too close to the birth (before or after) because he or she might need that comfort with the transition.

I breastfed my first for several months while expecting my second, but he weaned himself at some point when he lost interest in my milk. Our pediatrician (also a lactation consultant) said it's common for children to become disinterested in their mother's milk when mom becomes pregnant again. Often the taste of the milk changes and the nursing baby isn't getting as much from the milk since so much of the calories are now going to the baby growing on the inside. That was our experience, for what it's worth. I have read about that trend in several other places since. Good luck!

I did it without any issues (and as a bonus wasn't even sore from the first nursings when the baby arrived). However, my older child was older than yours (they are 3 yrs apart), so I think when she was nursing while I was pregnant, it was more comfort/bonding for her than for nutrition. I will say after the baby was born, it DEFINITELY helped w/ engorgement to have two nursing! Good luck.

I don't have any experience with this, but I wanted to wish you all the best! I think it's awesome that you're willing to try tandem nursing! I also noticed that there's a section on kellymom devoted to pregnancy and tandem nursing: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/index.html. Good luck!

I've never had this experience, however one thing you will have to keep a close eye on is your food intake. Since breastfeeding burns so many extra calories, you will have to make sure you are eating enough to provide for you, your nursing baby, and your growing baby. That's not to say you have to go gorge yourself or anything, but definatly talk to your doctor.

I'm so glad you're doing this. I'm going to be doing this with my 2 year old & a newborn. A great idea that my midwife had was to have the older one try to "teach" the younger one how to nurse. This may or may not apply to your 10 month old. But She also said it was perfectly fine to tandem nurse as long as you're properly hydrated, eating enough, & still taking prenatals the whole time. Take care!

I do, but I tandem nursed my twins, so it's a little different. It is very doable, you just have to find the right position that works for you. Chances are, though, that since your children will be far enough apart in age, there won't be many nursing session that occur at the same time. I weaned my twins at 15 months, and at that age they were only nursing once in the morning.

I would agree ... I have never had experience with that either but make sure that you eat enough to keep up your energy. Also I wanted to say .. Good for you! It's hard breast feeding a child after they start getting wiggly etc. and more so if you work it's hard to keep up the pumping etc. Keep it up for as long as you can.

Hello there -

My LO is 14 months old and we're hoping to have #2 before she's three and not planning on weaning any time soon, so if she cooperates we'll be tandem nursing. To get ready for that, I've just started reading a great book that someone else mentioned, called "Adventures In Tandem Nursing" by H. Flower. The Sac Library System has three copies. The local La Leche League chapter also has a copy that is available for people to borrow, and there are members and leaders who have (or are currently) tandem nursing that are excellent resources. There's a La Leche League meeting this Thursday (tomorrow) at 10 AM at the Methodist Church on the corner of 53rd and H Street in East Sacramento. If you're unable to make the meeting tomorrow, they meet at that location on the third Thursday of every month. The women there are wonderfully helpful, and while I haven't had anyone criticize me for my decision to continue breastfeeding indefinitely, I find it great to be around a group of people who celebrate and encourage extended breastfeeding and tandem nursing.

If your OB/GYN is less than supportive of your decision to continue nursing, consider finding a new one - while there are some situations in which weaning during pregnancy becomes necessary, they are relatively rare and in most situations (as long as you take care of yourself and listen to your body) there is no reason to wean. My sister tandem nursed her two (three years apart) with no problems at all.

Good luck to you and your two little ones!

I didn't tandem nurse but I did nurse my first son until I was 6 months pregnant so I thought I'd share my experience with that. First of all, my milk had completely dried up by about 4 months along. That didn't stop him from nursing because he still liked it for comfort, but it's a possibility you should be prepared for. My son was 2 when I got pregnant though, so I'm sure my supply was much lower to begin with. The other thing that surprised me was that I developed an aversion to nursing after the first trimester - and I am a person who LOVED nursing. The sore nipples and the fatigue just got to me, I guess, and maybe that was nature's way of getting me ready for number two.

I think it's wonderful that you're going to keep nursing your 10 month old, and I wish you the best of luck with your pregnancy and growing family! I'm due in 5 weeks and waiting to see if my son will try to nurse when his brother is born. Last night I tried on my nursing cover and he crawled underneath and pretended to nurse to see if the cover was "ok" for the new baby. This is going to be interesting!

Here is an excellent article worth reading. http://www.mamabearkusi.com/tandem-nursing-breastfeeding-...

keep Nursing
been there and nothing happened in fact it will help the two become more closer
God Bless and Congrats ;)
D.
Mom of 4