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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

***ANYONE STILL BF BABY NO1 WHEN BABY NO2 ARRIVES? IS THAT OK OR IS IT MAD?***

18 replies

Letsdoit · 16/02/2009 00:07

We just started TTC no.2 but am still BF no.1, who is now 20mo. twice a day, morning and evening. If I do get pregnant I might find myself BF two babies at the same time.

I worry that BF might affect our chances of conceiving, but I don't really want to stop it cause I just adore the way my DD's colds only last a day! I feel as if I would be denying her something good that fits into our lifestyle quite neatly - but maybe am being ridiculous and should never even consider potentially BF 2 babies at the same time!!

I am afraid I went for a run this evening and nearly cried while on the treadmill just thinking about stopping BF. Probably still quite hormonal, or u think I am getting paranoid?

Opinions? Advice? HELP!!

OP posts:
Twistle · 16/02/2009 00:21

There's 16months between my no.2 and no.3, so no.2 was about 7 months when I fell pregnant. So I was feeding her about 4-5 times a day until she was a year, then cut down to twice a day like you are doing. Somewhere between then and birth of no.3 I dropped down to once a day (mornings), and continued to feed both until no.3 was 3 months old. Not sure how I managed that now, as dd1 had started school and mornings were busy!

Anyway, clearly didn't affect conceiving. Feeding did get uncomfortable for those evening feeds, and she was messing about, which is why I stopped them. Also, in later months of pg I was clearly producing less volume - she would break off feeding to have a drink of water . Given your child is already 20mths, I think it would be likely that she would stop feeding when you are pregnant, but as this would come naturally it would probably feel ok?

I only rarely fed them at exactly the same time, and didn't like this, just felt odd. Was nice to still be feeding no.2 though, as with the small gap, she just seemed so little to not be my baby, iyswim. I've fed them all to about 20 months, which for me was just the right sort of time to stop. Different for everyone, and best not to worry too far ahead, as they change so quickly at these small ages.

Oh, other thing was that I had difficulties getting started with feeding no.1 and no.2, no problem with no.3, perhaps because I had no break between? Although no.3 definitely opened her mouth wider than the others had, which may have made the difference.

MrsGokWan · 16/02/2009 00:58

I was breastfeeding my DC2 4-5 times a day when I fell pregnant with DC3. DC2 was 13 months old at the time. When DC2 was 15 months old he self weaned from BFing. When I came home with DC3 after 2 weeks in hospital DC3 decided that he wanted to BF again and I was tandem feeding for about 3 months until DC2 decided he had had enough again.

Lindenlass · 16/02/2009 07:26

Yes, 'tis called Tandem Nursing. Google it and buy the book Adventures in Tandem Nursing. I've done it twice and know lots of other mums who've done it/are doing it too .

llareggub · 16/02/2009 07:51

I'm pregnant with no 2 and feeding (as I type!) DS1, who is 2.4. If anything the frequency of his feeding has increased as my pregnancy has progressed. There's a thread here somewhere for tandem feeders, loads of us around!

Babieseverywhere · 16/02/2009 08:01

Here is the Mumsnet thread for tandem nursers and nursing pregnant mums

I have 2 years between my children. My older child nursed throughout my second pregnancy and now I tandem nurse 6 month old DS and 2.6 year old DD.

As you have just started to TTC, I would just take it day by day and see what happens.

Letsdoit · 16/02/2009 10:33

Wow, it's got a name and everything - how clueless was I!

Excellent, it's great relief to know it can work. And thanks for the link to the tandem nursing thread and to the book, you are such stars!

As it happens, I am already 38 and had trouble conceiving DD, so it might be that I'll have to stop BF to assist conception, but sure as hell I'll try to keep it going.

If anyone had trouble conceiving baby no1 but managed to conceive no2 while BF, I would LOVE to read some success stories to build up my confidence!!

Thank you all!

OP posts:
Breizhette · 16/02/2009 10:49

Me! We tried for 4 years and nothing happened, so I ended up having treatment and an artificial insemination which worked first time.
I then mixed-fed DD1 about 60%BM(not enough milk as diagnosed by 2 lactation consultants). Didn't use contraception as I thought there was no need, well DS was conceived when DD was 9 month! It's quite common apparently!
I BF DD until she was 13 month, if I remember well.

llareggub · 16/02/2009 18:03

I had fertility treatment to conceive DS1 but got pregnant almost immediately with this one, no problems at all!

Lotster · 16/02/2009 19:08

Can I ask a question about this from those of you in the know because I've always wondered about it?

If your milk is exactly right for the age of baby you have, how does this work when you'e feeding two? Does the milk stay apropriate for the older child or change to suit the newborn when they arrive?

Letsdoit · 16/02/2009 19:19

Great, congratulations, Breizhette/Ilareggub!

I SOOO hope to join you soon in the 'mum of 2 rank'....

OP posts:
LeninGrad · 16/02/2009 19:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Babieseverywhere · 16/02/2009 20:33

Lotster, Milk returns to newborn milk and toddler does just fine with it.

StealthPolarBear · 16/02/2009 20:52

Letsdoit I am still BF DS loads, he is 22 months and feeds like some 6 month olds, lots of day feeds and sometimes a few night feeds. I started ttc in August (though didn't have a period until November) and got a BFP in January
I thought it would be a nightmare, and I'd have to stop bf altogether - will keep my fingers crossed that you don't have any problems either.

MrsGokWan · 16/02/2009 22:30

By Letsdoit on Mon 16-Feb-09 10:33:27
Wow, it's got a name and everything - how clueless was I!

Excellent, it's great relief to know it can work. And thanks for the link to the tandem nursing thread and to the book, you are such stars!

As it happens, I am already 38 and had trouble conceiving DD, so it might be that I'll have to stop BF to assist conception, but sure as hell I'll try to keep it going.

If anyone had trouble conceiving baby no1 but managed to conceive no2 while BF, I would LOVE to read some success stories to build up my confidence!!

Thank you all!

It took me nearly 6 years to fall pregnant with DC1 and I was 37. It was 2 and 1/2 years with DC2 and we had help. I was told that I would not be able to have anymore children after DC2 was born. I am 42 when DC3 was born

MrsGokWan · 16/02/2009 22:32

sorry that was meant to read 'I WAS 42 when DC3 was born'

Letsdoit · 16/02/2009 23:16

More Congratulations!! This time to StealthPolarBear and to MrsGokWan - I wanna be like youuuuu (singing....).

Haha, thanks for the stories and for the good wishes.

Also, one more point I just thought about. I have been exercising 6 days a week, and lost 20 kilos in the last 6 months (all of which was desperately necessary as I was borderline diabetic, fine now). But now that I'm TTC I wonder how much is too much excercise, as they also say that too much of it can interfere with conception.

I used to be a bit of a blob so don't know much about this from my first pregnancy. Might I be, say, stopping implantation, for example, if i do get pregnant?

Any thoughts? Knowing mumsnet, there's probably loads of you that have gone through this before too...

OP posts:
Olihan · 16/02/2009 23:25
StealthPolarBear · 17/02/2009 12:22

Thanks everyone!
Letsdoit, will be watching out for a BFP announcement (are you already a namechanger?)
Olihan, thanks for the congratulations Not sure if you are thinking of the right person - breastfeeding went straightforward ish last time, apart from having to leavehim for 24 hours at 17 weeks - is that what you mean? I fully expected to have to stop for good then but with a lot of MN support I didn't

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