I just want to come in & wish you guys luck with this. You are both awesome & I have no doubt you'll make it work one way or the other!
I think its more the iron levels drop after 6 months or something? Thats why the milk banks prefer it in the first 6 months?
I would imagine that one of the reasons that breastmilk changes from when you're feeding a new baby to a toddler is the number and frequency of feeds, also the amount of milk in each feed. So in a toddler, if you're only bfing a couple of times a day, your body is packing all of the antibodies and nutrients into only those bfs, and potentially the volume is a lot less than it was when you bf a baby. But if you built your supply up (by suckling a baby more often) it would quickly adapt to the new requirements. No, you won't have colostrum, and you won't have the hormone boost from giving birth, so you'll have to build your supply up in anticipation. But remember, a new baby doesn't have very much in terms of volume.
I think the reason breast milk banks don't accept mothers' milk from those who are bfing toddlers is logistical?, since they will accept milk from someone who has already been donating once their baby is a bit older. But the issue could be the concentration of antibodies, since that is increased when your toddler feeds less often.
I would think that your close proximity to the bub would cause your body to produce hormones and be in tune with the new bub so you would produce the milk needed... just like when a group of women are regularly in each others company and their cycles end up being the same (hope that made sense)
I have also read (on an ABA website I think) that in some countries where there is a lot of farming work that they pair up women who have babies about the same age and one woman will work one day while the will feed both babies and the next day they swap.
So I definitely agree it is doable, sorry I can only give you anadotal evidence...
We had an ABA mum come to Mothers Group who had tandem fed her 2 year old and newborn, and she said the toddler put on a lot more weight because she was making so much more milk and the milk was being made primarily for the newborn to meet their needs as no longer "essential" to the 2 year old. That sounds like your milk would definitely be ok for a newborn and maybe Jazz if still feeding would get an extra boost!
I am intrigued to follow this. I have always wondered if it is possible. I have read of one BB member on here who has done this successfully with an adopted child.
I'm not the adopted relactating mum but i did relactate my DS2 when he was around 6wks. You know you can do it but i would think it would be alot easier for you if you were still feeding Jas and maybe when it is getting close to time start expressing too just so you have a smoother transition. I think it was Jennifer who said it is probably just the volume and quanity that would be different and i think that sounded spot on to me anyway!
Registered User
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks