The Logistics of Tandem Nursing.

(Source)

I've been tandem nursing for nearly 8 months now. Crazy, right? I've said before that as with breastfeeding John, tandem nursing was never something I set out to do however, we've found it works well for us. What I have found is that people are curious. It's not something that's often discussed or advocated so of course it's met with questioning. There's obviously some negativity \round it but that aside, people just want to know how it works. So today I bring you, the Logistics of Tandem Nursing...

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Is breastfeeding in pregnancy actually safe?
In short, yes. It is a subject that's lacking in actual scientific research but anecdotal evidence & scientific theory shows that breastfeeding throughout pregnancy will not cause early labour.*
It's an easy assumption to make given that nipple stimulation is one of the recommendations sometimes given to induce labour. This recommendation is based on the fact that oxytocin (the hormone present in labour) is released when breastfeeding. However - like all ways to bring on labour - nipple stimulation is unreliable & thought to be another one of the "it'll only work when baby is ready anyway" recommendations. So basically, unless your baby is about to be born, breastfeeding is likely to have little affect on causing it to happen.
Plus at risk of sounding clichéd, like all things breastfeeding related, the human race has been doing it for centuries & we've made it this far!
*If you have a history of miscarriage or any other health problems, it's always worth a chat with your midwife before committing to breastfeeding through pregnancy.

What happens to your breast milk during pregnancy?
Every woman is different. It's pretty much guaranteed that you'll experience a dip in supply at some point throughout pregnancy, thanks to those lovely hormones. Some women will find that their milk can even dry up but if you're keen to tandem breastfeed it is possible to increase milk supply with the usual natural ways (eating porridge, fenugreek, mothers milk tea...).
In later pregnancy your breast milk will turn to colostrum in preparation for the new arrival. Colostrum is a great immunity boost for your older child but beware of the nappies - colostrum has a laxative affect!

Will I produce enough milk for two?
Yes. Breast milk works on supply & demand. Basically, if there's two mouths wanting fed, your body will produce milk for two. If you do find your supply struggles to keep up though (particularly at times of growth spurts), you can always try some of the natural ways to up your supply for a wee boost.
It's also important to let the baby have first dibs on your milk. Unlike your older child who'll also be eating solids, the baby will solely rely on the nutrition of your milk so it's necessary to make sure they get what they need first & foremost.

Won't it cause jealously with my eldest?
No - quite the opposite in fact! Of course, all babies & children are different but the general belief (& my own experience) is that tandem breastfeeding actually reduces the likelihood of sibling jealousy. Instead of suddenly losing Mummy to this new little baby, they have a new buddy to share the best bit of Mummy with.

How do you physically breastfeed two at the same time?
Well, you don't. Obviously you can and probably will from time-to-time but that doesn't mean that every time you feed the baby that your oldest has to (or even wants) breastfeed at the same time. I can count on one hand the amount of times I've breastfed John & David simultaneously; partly because it's awkward and partly because John never asks to. At present, John only breastfeeds twice a day maximum - once a nap time & once at bedtime. The rest of the time, as he often reminds us ("Day-day's mocks!"), my boobs are for David.

Will my older child revert to constant nursing?
They can but it's not a guarantee. Sometimes, seeing a baby that needs to breastfeed 24/7 can make your older child want to as well. But this behaviour isn't as simple as just wanting to breastfeed as it often occurs in other aspects of your older child's life as well. Areas such a toilet training, sleep & behaviour can all being affected when welcoming a new baby. So your older child may well up their nursing sessions, or like John, they could stop sleeping through the night instead. Don't worry though, it's generally only temporary & will pass with a little time.

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