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[lovey_dorlaque]

Just a brief intro since I'm new to this community....I'm Lovonne, a sahm, 28 yrs old,military spouse who is still nursing on demand 12 month old, and just found I'm preggers this week with baby # 2. So, unless #1 self-weans will be tandem nursing.
?? How will that affect colostrum?? knowledge or experience very welcome

Comments

[andshedied]

It won't necessarily affect colostrum.
As your pregnancy progresses, you may notice a dip in your supply or may dry up altogether. At the point in your pregnancy when you would produce colostrum [different times for everyone] you will most likely produce colostrum and that's what you're nursing toddler will get until the baby is born and your milk comes in.
My daughter nursed even though I had no milk or colostrum. She did lower her nursing times to only a couple of times a day. Once my colostrum came in, she upped her nursings and now nurses several times a day. I'm still producing only colostrum, have been for about 10 weeks now.
I have heard that some kiddos do not like the taste of colostrum and will wean. I've also heard that some will wean as soon as the milk dries. But it seems a great deal continue to nurse even though the milk is gone.
I have no advice for tandem nursing, my baby isn't due until the beginning of October.

[lovey_dorlaque]

Thank you so much. My baby is due in Apr so I start the info gathering process again

[ghettorockstarr]

so will you just nurse both once they new baby is here? won't the older child take the new babies milk? i have no experience in double bf'ing. sorry if my questions are lame.

[andshedied]

lol. This is actually a common question when it comes to tandem nursing.
Yes, I can nurse both at the same time [it'll take practice though] or I can have them take turns. My toddler eats food, so eventually she wont' be nursing as much as the baby. [I imagine at first, she'll want to nurse when the baby nurses, just because she's used to being an only child, etc.]
No, she will not take the baby's milk, because my body will adjust and produce enough milk for both of them. Women have successfully nursed twins and even triplets with little or no supplementing.

[lovey_dorlaque]

That is good to know. My only other curiousity is who will the milk adjust for. As we know, another benefit of breastfeeding is that the levels of fat and nutrients tailor constantly to the nursling and his/her needs. So will the milk be custom fit for the new baby or the toddler? I would assume the new baby since colostrum restarts, but since the whole process is just amazing I could only guess.