Question about tandem feeding

[Heaven]

I hope no one takes offense to this or anything, I have NOTHING against tandem feeding at all!! Just been pondering...

So I was thinking about how when you get pregnant while still BF your milk supply drops. Is it the body's way of trying to wean?? Like you should only feed one baby at once?? Obviously lots of ppl do it successfully and lots of babies don't wean but I was just wondering if it was our body's way of trying to get the baby to wean iykwim??

Kinda like how we're not fertile when BF, the body's natural way of spacing out children.

[Oorki Galoorki]

the hormone that produces milk i believe is the same one that getts the placenta growing and functioning, the drop of bm is because the hormone has a "more important" use then making milk(cos bubs in belly is more important to the body then one out) so its not to discourage feeding its concentrating on something else..

dont quote me on that but im sure that is how it works...

[Pretty Butterfly]

I have never had a drop in milk supply from being pregnant again, and I always fall pregnant while fully breastfeeding... but I am a strange one!!!

[onthefly]

Here's my theory
Usually (and there are plenty of exceptions to this scenario I know) women fully breastfeeding are not fertile in the first six months or so. Then after cycles resume they may concieve, but by that time their babies are on solids and need less milk anyway.

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

It's an interesting question. My take on it is that the mother's body is protecting the new baby. But for the older baby, (and in fact any baby) breastfeeding is not just about the milk. Breastfeeding is food, nurture, comfort, bonding and more - so many older babies will still get what they need out of breastfeeding, even though they are not getting as much food as they were.

[Heaven]

Thanks guys! That makes sense.

[StrawberryMumma]

Hey Heaven

Yes interesting question! I was thinking along the same lines as what Barb said..the milk is just one aspect so I don't really think the the body is saying wean your child!

Tandem feeding can be a funny thing, and I do think that sometimes it can be a little hard to get your head around!

[Jennifer13]

Usually too, while supply may wane (although clearly not for all women!), it obviously comes back full force once the new baby is born. Both the toddler and the baby take full advantage of this (I've heard of toddlers who refuse all food 'cause they're back in milk-y heaven!). So if we were left as nature intended, it would probably just be a short period of less milk, a short period of colostrum only (which still has significant benefits for toddlers as well as babies) and then everyone's back to 'normal'. Out of the years a child is designed to bf, this is just a short period of change.

[Shanti]

I too have been thinking about this lately alot also.... you hear alot of people saying their baby weaned as they were pregnant etc... yet others seem to carry on BF the older baby whilst pregnant and even when the newborn comes along.....

I never thought about tandem feeding much before having a baby but now it seems like a great idea... something I'm more open to now....

[Heaven]

I'm the same Shanti, I thought tandem feeding was definitely not for me but now I can't imagine stopping BFing DD just because I get pregnant. Although that's not likely anytime soon anyway coz BFing is still keeping AF away.