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Has anyone else done this?
our 3yo is showing no sign of weaning (she has 1 boob an evening, unless theres an emergency in the day) and we want to TTC when my cycle comes back (last time was 12 months PP, nothing yet this time).
How did you cope with the tiredness of pregnancy and then tandem feeding as well?
Did your cycles return quickly, with tandem feeding?
If you weaned the older child, how did you do it?
my cycle returned at 4 months after #1, and 6 months when tandem feeding #1 and #2, so a little longer but not much. #2 was not feeding overnight by that time.
I think my #1 has almost? weaned. She was only having one feed at night for quite awhile, then it was every 2nd night, then 3rd... Mostly, it was her just being tired and falling asleep with DH, or on the couch with me, while i was feeding DS. Sometimes she asked for a 'cuppa' instead (warm milk), although she rarely drank it. Some nights, i was just too tired after finally getting DS settled. She hasn't said that she is finished, but she hasn't asked for a feed in over a week, maybe 2.
Tandem feeding plus pregnancy would be a big stretch for me, but i know women who have managed it. To be honest, even breastfeeding through pregnancy again makes me feel abit scared. I think DD needed it, and i'm glad i was able to but i don't know if i want to go there again. How did you cope breastfeeding through pregnancy last time?
I know one or two who have done it but it seems taxing. I am unsure about feeding through pg again because it left me feeling very depleted last time.
I would get bloods done to check for deficiencies and target those with vitamins. I would also look for extra support to get more rest. You will need to get lots of calories too, so possibly look at seeing a naturopath/dietician.
I am all for long term breastfeeding and tandem feeding, but I think you need to make sure there's enough left for you, because your needs will be last on the list.
Eenie is tandem feeding her DD and DS and is pregnant with #3. I'll let her know about this thread.
PZ let me know about this thread will be back later when I have more time to reply.
DD is 2 1/2 and DS has just turned 1 and am feeding them both and am 16 weeks pregnant. At the beginning DD was feeding quite frequently but I had to reduce her feeds as it was getting way too much feeding the two of them. She is down to a morning and night feed now. I reduced her feeds by distraction, like how about a smoothie or drink of milk (rice milk as she can't have dairy) and sometimes she still complained but I just used lots of distraction. Occasionally she still asks for it more than her two feeds but I make a joke of it and say "hahaha miss you don't have boobie until after your bath silly" and things like that and she responds to it quite well. And this is a child who was still having 30+feeds a day. DS on the other hand is now feeding more frequently to make up for the drop in supply so feeds most the night as well, it can be quite exhausting but I Figure less exhausting then trying to settle him other ways.
As for my cycles with Just feeding DD they returned regularly at 6 weeks
With tandem feeding I was still bleeding at 16weeks due to retained products and after D&C cycle returned at 5mths. And weren't all that regular and were ups to 40-50 days apart. With this pregnancy I hadn't had a periods since mid January and probably didn't conceive till like CD 30. Haven't done the math though.
I did it :)
I tandem fed my DS and DD1 when pregnant with DD2. DS was only feeding once a day (sometimes skipping a day here and there). DD1 was (and still is) feeding at least 4-5 times a day, and most days it's more like 7-8 times.
I personally didn't find it overly taxing. I had to eat a little more and drink more, but it didn't effect anything else for me. The hardest part was that month or two in the middle of the pregnancy where my nipples were really sensitive and feeding was excruciating. I pushed through it though.
DS recently self weaned. His last feed was on his 4th birthday. DD2 was 13 months at the time, so I successfully triandem fed for over 13 months. I'm back to tandem feeding now and both the girls have a side each. I've found it easier to just let them have their own side rather than trying to remember who had what last, lol.
Thanks everyone.
I was exhausted, and had a bad stage of aversion with last pregnancy, but pushed through.
I dont know if I can cope. Its certainly off the plans if DS doesnt start sleeping more than an hour at a time!!