Still bf first baby when 2nd one arrives - do you get colostrum?

[Mibby]

Basically as the title says....

Does anyone know if I would get colostrum coming through if I were still BF my first baby when the second one was born? Or do you 'just' get milk? Sorry if its a stupid question

Yes, you do! I had shockingly poor advice from the midwives who'd never met anyone who'd tandem-fed before. There's quite few people on here who have done it and quite a bit of advice on kellymom.

I have a lovely memory of my toddler son and baby feeding at the same time. My toddler reached out and held his brother's hand and it was such a sweet moment. I'm sure it helped them bond and my toddler often referred to teaching his brother how to feed.

You'll get colostrum, your body knows it's having a baby.

You may find your older child goes off your milk as the taste will change, he may even wean completely. He may not. Just go with the flow.

Good luck

Thanks :(

Just a theoretical question at the min, DD1 is only 6 weeks!
Took some serious effort to establish bf this time, and lots of help from MN.
We're thinking of a second so I asked my midwife about feeding them and she looked at me like i was mad and said she had no idea, she'd never heard of it!

MN to the rescue, as always :)

Sorry, should obviously be

'Thanks :)'

You're welcome

I'm sorry your midwife wasn't supportive but don't worry, she obviously just doesn't know enough about tandem breastfeeding. Unfortunately the breastfeeding part of midwifery training can be sorrowfully short and inadequate.

You can feed as many children as you want to(or have the time to!) but your body will always prioritise the youngest, and therefore most vulnerable, in terms of the content of the milk.

My MW told me to keep one nork for the newborn and the other for the toddler, and that each nork would make different milk. I think I honestly rolled my eyes when she said it!

That said, my toddler did say crossly one day that my newborn was on "his side" and that it was his turn.

llareggub and at your MW - The human body is clever but not that clever.

if you do do it make sure you always feed the baby first so they get the colostrum - it never occured to me, them MNers told me afterwards and I kicked myself :(

Interesting. I had always wondered about the colostrum if still feeding.

That's funny llareggub my h/v once suggested drinking cream to improve the fat content. I asked her if I jumped up and down, would that make it a milkshake

at this thread.

My MIL insisted that no one can bf while pregnant.

She also told me that some women simply can not bf, because they are not fat enough and need to use a bottle, but ofcourse I would not have that problem.

I did mention that her viewpoint is a myth and that when you hear of women bfing during a famine that I find that amazing and powerful.

She said, look I am talking about white western women not africans, we're different.

I did not even try enlighten her are she was so sure of her herself.

She got very annoyed when my baby just wanted me and would say "Oh no, he wants to feed again..." and would roll her eyes at my little guzzler.

Anyhow sorry for the thread hijack.

I'm feeding my toddler colostrum atm - I'm 36 weeks pg.

my milk disappeared at around 16weeks, but DD still wanted to 'feed' then my colostrum came in a couple of months ago. DD hasn't been put off at all, it did make her poos a bit loose for a few days - colostrum is a mild laxative, but she always has been and still is totally boob obsessed...