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Original poster

Anyone breastfed 3 kids?

81 replies

teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 19:52

I have a 2 year old, near 1 year old and pregnant again. I'm going to wean my son off the boob before this one arrives.

Just interested if anyones breastfed 3? I love breastfeeding. I know I'm going to be sad when I wean my son, but know it'll be the right thing to do.

Tia x

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JPC123 · 15/12/2024 19:54

I breastfed my son, had a break of about 2 years and then breastfed my twins.

I think most mothers who breastfeed without too many problems will also breastfeed their next babies so you’ll probably find lots of women in the situation you’ll be in 😊

Fiveofthem · 15/12/2024 19:58

Yes, I breastfed all 5 of my DC, including twins. It was so worthwhile. And pretty automatic as you know what you’re doing after the first one.

wigsonthegreenandhatsforthelifting · 15/12/2024 20:00

Yes but none of them overlapped!

Original poster
teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:01

JPC123 · 15/12/2024 19:54

I breastfed my son, had a break of about 2 years and then breastfed my twins.

I think most mothers who breastfeed without too many problems will also breastfeed their next babies so you’ll probably find lots of women in the situation you’ll be in 😊

You're amazing for breastfeeding twins 😊 I tandem fed once to say I'd done it. Wasn't easy x

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Original poster
teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:02

Fiveofthem · 15/12/2024 19:58

Yes, I breastfed all 5 of my DC, including twins. It was so worthwhile. And pretty automatic as you know what you’re doing after the first one.

I don't know whether to let my son naturally wean or wean him off myself. What did you do, if you don't mind me asking?

You are amazing for breastfeeding twins! X

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Original poster
teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:03

wigsonthegreenandhatsforthelifting · 15/12/2024 20:00

Yes but none of them overlapped!

I'm not sure whether to let my son naturally wean or just wean him straight off

OP posts:
wigsonthegreenandhatsforthelifting · 15/12/2024 20:06

teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:03

I'm not sure whether to let my son naturally wean or just wean him straight off

Show quote history

I could be wrong but I think sometimes babies self-wean when you're pregnant?

I weaned my first two at a year, first time to give myself the best chance of getting pregnant again and the second time because I needed medication that wasn't conducive to breastfeeding. 3rd time I was determined to keep going and they self-weaned a couple of months before turning 2.

Weedkillerworks · 15/12/2024 20:09

I breastfed my three and found the first two self-weaned when I was about 12 weeks pregnant with the next baby.

The third one, however... she was nearly four when she gradually tailed off.

kaela100 · 15/12/2024 20:12

I think, personally, a new baby is not the time to stop breastfeeding a 2 yo. You may inadvertedly cause behaviour issues.

Justbecause19 · 15/12/2024 20:12

I breastfed 3, my younger 2 were 17 months apart so I breastfed number 2 until he was 12months and I was around 20 weeks pregnant. He had been a nightmare with taking any other milk/bottle/cup but I think my supply dropped. I tried him on a cup of cows milk on his first birthday and he guzzled it down then never asked for the boob again!

Onlyvisiting · 15/12/2024 20:16

kaela100 · 15/12/2024 20:12

I think, personally, a new baby is not the time to stop breastfeeding a 2 yo. You may inadvertedly cause behaviour issues.

But the op is asking if anyone has tandem fed THREE children. Could you? Surely with the feeding needs of a newborn plus a 1 and 2 year old you'd never have time would you?

jackstini · 15/12/2024 20:16

Not done 3 but did 2 who were 2 years 9 months apart. Dd weaned when I was about 5m pregnant with ds but did do a couple of tandem feeds after he was born, then was done
It was a lovely time, not always easy but have very happy memories

Sprogonthetyne · 15/12/2024 20:18

When you say you plan to wean your son, is that the 2yo or the almost 1yo?

To3ornot · 15/12/2024 20:24

Mine self weaned when I was about 8-10 weeks pregnant so maybe that will happen?

BiffandChip2 · 15/12/2024 20:25

I breastfed the first two but couldn't deal with the thought of doing it with the 3rd! I didn't enjoy it though ever really - I did successfully feed the 3rd for a bit but was a happier person for bottle feeding! (Just giving you another scenario) xx

Original poster
teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:27

Sprogonthetyne · 15/12/2024 20:18

When you say you plan to wean your son, is that the 2yo or the almost 1yo?

Its the 2yo

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Original poster
teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:27

To3ornot · 15/12/2024 20:24

Mine self weaned when I was about 8-10 weeks pregnant so maybe that will happen?

I'm 18 weeks. I'm hoping they self wean

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Original poster
teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:28

Onlyvisiting · 15/12/2024 20:16

But the op is asking if anyone has tandem fed THREE children. Could you? Surely with the feeding needs of a newborn plus a 1 and 2 year old you'd never have time would you?

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I imagine it's very hard work and I do have to think of myself too

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NameChange1936 · 15/12/2024 20:30

Do you mean breastfed three simultaneously? I can't imagine many people have done that - hats off to anyone who has! I only have 2 DC, but I BFd the eldest throughout the second pregnancy and then tandem fed for about 10 months. It was quite hard work but I think it was the right thing for us.
If you mean breastfed three in succession I imagine lots of mums have. I'm one of four and my mum BF'd each of us until we were about 18 months, but none of us overlapped.
I have a friend with 7 DC who has EBFd all of them in succession! She's basically been breastfeeding for about 12 years with only a month or so break between some of the DC.

Stormyweatheroutthere · 15/12/2024 20:31

Bf 11 dc... Think I once worked out I have bf for 6 years!! And tbh they are an OK pair even after all that!!
Longest bf dc was a year. Stopped herself. Never over lapped... Though a year between dc it felt like non stop..

WeWillGetThereInTheEnd · 15/12/2024 20:31

I bf DS, then twins. After the first 6 weeks of sore nipples with DS, I found it so much more convenient than bottles. When feeding the twins, I used to give them a bottle at 6 pm, when I was getting tired and didn’t have much milk. I needed to get our dinner unimpeded!

Onlyvisiting · 15/12/2024 20:35

teatoast8 · 15/12/2024 20:28

I imagine it's very hard work and I do have to think of myself too

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I think it would be incredibly hard. I'm not a parent so zero BF advice (just wide eyed amazement at the idea of 3 😅) , but I would have thought it's better to wean the oldest sooner rather than later so its less likely to cause him to negatively associate it with the new baby?

AnnieAstronaut · 15/12/2024 20:35

I’m 18 weeks with a 2 year old currently. Boobs have been killing me when he feeds so I’m weaning him off, this is day three and he’s still asking for it morning and night, and it’s been tough to get him to sleep in the evenings without it but I’m hoping he’ll get used to it soon!
Good luck with whatever you decide

Mysa74 · 15/12/2024 20:36

My eldest self weaned when I was pregnant with my 2nd. Said the milk tasted funny... The 3rd I weaned myself at roughly 2¾ as I was all touched out. It was part of the bedtime routine at that point and I just distracted with stories or the bath/toothbrush and if they mentioned it I said "just for a minute, it's very late" or words to that effect and gradually they stopped asking and were happy with just hugs and stories before lights out.

user2848502016 · 15/12/2024 20:38

I think you need to think of yourself too, breastfeeding three simultaneously is going to be quite demanding on your body and you're going to potentially deplete your calcium stores which could impact you later down the line.
I love breastfeeding too but for me a third pregnancy would be the time to wean the eldest, doing it earlier in the pregnancy will be better for him too rather than him feeling pushed out if you do it later.
Also imagine you struggled with milk supply for the newborn and hadn't weaned the older one yet. Better to do it now.