Question for those who are tandem feeding (or have done so).

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Am trying to reach a decision about whether I'd like to wean dd (2 next week) before dc2 arrives (not due til October, but want plenty of time to make decision and act on it if necessary), and want to make sure that I'm in full possession of a list of pros and cons of each.

One that I really don't know the answer to, is what my supply would be like (or would be likely to be like) in the early days if I continue feeding dd. Would it somehow help me to avoid the massively full breasts and leaking that I experienced in the early weeks last time, or is that inevitable?

congrats CSWS
ok my experience:
I didn't experience any downsides to tandem feeding
my breasts were fuller but nowhere near as painful and engorged.
any engorgement could be easily relieved by (look away now squeamish people )allowing the toddler to feed
I certainly didn't leak as much
supply settled down pretty well
no concerns about supply/amount
no sore nipples
I found feeding them both was very good for relieving any potential sibling rivalry.
what else are you worried about?

I am tandem feeding ds1, 2.8yo, and ds2, 4mo.

After a terrible time establishing bf with ds1, establishing with ds2 was a piece of absolute p*ss, and I'm sure already feeding ds1 made a huge contribution to that. I did leak, but not excessively so. I agree with all HC's points.

Ok, so that goes on my 'reasons to continue' list.

My concern really is not much different to what it would be if I wasn't pregnant I guess! Dd is totally breast obsessed, and would feed all day long if I let her, bobbing on and off and being quite rough playing with the one that she's not feeding from.

If she was feeding a couple of times a day (as she used to) then I'd be quite happy to carry on (unless she chose to self-wean), but if she wants to feed constantly with a new baby here too, then I foresee problems!

Hi congrats

I tandem fed for about 6 weeks or so (ds was 20m when dd was born).

Definitely agree that it helps with adjusting toddler to new baby and as I was engorged a few times it was really beneficial to have ds feed first thus avoiding poor newborn trying to latch on to my ginormous breastages.

Had been reducing feeds with ds while pg so his feeding came to an end quite naturally (with some sadness on my part) over a few weeks. Still going strong with dd at 22m. hth.

But I've always wondered, if your milk adjusts to suit babies needs, how does it know which baby/child you are feeding? Does dc2 get colostrum?

Yes yorky - dc2 gets some colostrum .

Thanks ladies - all comments and experiences much appreciated.

yes what happens is this:
breasts start producing colostrum during pregnancy
then both babies get newborn milk

csws - your dd sounds like mine! She is a little breast pest at the mo and seems to be much keener to cont than her bro at the same age.

I do not plan to get pg again but could envisage similar concerns to yours. I found ds was less keen on the taste of the milk at the later stages of pg when the colustrum kicked in, this may happen with you and your dd.

CSWS - but this is probably just a phase - and who knows what her needs will be in October?
I know you might want to plan, it's natural, but I think it might be go with the flow time

Yes that's true harpsi. 8 months is a long time, and a lot can change .

ds1 really upped his feeds in late pg with ds2, and after the birth asked for milk lots and lots, sometimes 2 or 3 times over the course of 2 hours. He restarted the bedtime and morning feeds he had stopped of his own accord. It is, tbh, bloody tiring, but still so worth it. I also couldn't imagine distressing him b weaning him. I have been able to establish some bf gound rules with him (not pulling up my top, asking nicely etc.).