Tandem Nursing – Breastfeeding Built For Two

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You just found out that you’re pregnant? Congratulations! Maybe you’re overjoyed. Maybe this happened a bit sooner than you were expecting. Either way, you are wondering if you need to wean your happily nursing child.

The answer is you don’t necessarily have to wean your currently nursing child. While weaning may turn out to be the best decision as your pregnancy progresses, you don’t have to assume that at the beginning. Many mothers have nursed through an entire pregnancy and then gone on to nurse both children after the baby’s birth. You can join that rare breed of tandem nursing mamas if you and your child want to simply keep nursing. Moms who have tandem nursed have found that the older baby experiences less sibling rivalry and feels less displaced by the birth of the new baby. There are other benefits too – for instance, tandem nursing moms enjoy a very plentiful milk supply yet don’t experience engorgement. Personally, I found that nursing while I was pregnant and very sick with nausea helped me get some much needed rest with a toddler who was otherwise keeping me on my feet! Here’s what’s in store for you if you decide to breastfeed through a pregnancy.
The first part of tandem nursing is nursing through an entire pregnancy. It is possible to temporarily wean during pregnancy and have the older child resume nursing after the baby’s birth. The child may want to, or she may not. In either case, you will be nursing through a significant part of your pregnancy.

The pregnancy hormones cause nipples to be more sensitive to touch in general, and nursing may be less comfortable for you. At times it can be painful. Every woman’s body is different so you will have to decide what you can tolerate. In many cases, the discomfort comes and goes at different times of the day or stage of the pregnancy. If it starts to hurt, you should try to figure out if it hurts all the time or if there’s a pattern you can detect. If the pattern is totally random, at least you’ll know it isn’t always uncomfortable. If it’s too much discomfort, that may be a good reason to wean.

Another change pregnancy brings is in the taste of the milk. Often called weaning milk, the milk a mother produces during pregnancy is often more salty and the nursing child will notice this change in milk quality. Many children will wean on their own because they don’t like the taste of the pregnancy milk. Some children will enjoy nursing so much they’ll put up with the saltiness. This was the case with my own breastfeeding toddlers – they hardly seemed to mind the change, it was a small price to pay in exchange for the continued closeness with Mom.

The quantity of your milk will also change. You will produce less and less as your pregnancy progresses and may dry up entirely. Some children will wean because there isn’t any more milk. Others will continue to comfort nurse even though they aren’t getting any milk. It can cause discomfort or pain when a child is nursing and there is no milk. That may be another reason to wean. Regardless of whether you produce no milk or a little milk, your older child will need to get most of his nutrition from solid foods. He’ll most likely increase his intake, but you can gently encourage him. Once the baby’s born and the milk comes in, there will be plenty more milk for both of them if the older child is still interested.

While it is possible to continue to nurse through a pregnancy, it’s going to be an extra drain on your system in addition to growing the new baby. You will need to consume enough nutrient dense foods to make sure you have enough reserves for yourself, your children, and the many activities you no doubt will be doing throughout your pregnancy. Make sure you are eating well and often.

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Ten Myths About Childbirth

Here’s the skinny on childbirth. You will hear all kinds of stories about childbirth. What’s true and what is simply a myth. We have listed ten of the most common myths about childbirth.

1. My water will break if I am truly in labor.
Amniotic fluid surrounds your baby during pregnancy. If you are in your last weeks of pregnancy you may be expecting a gush of water prior to the onset of labor. For most women their water does not break before labor begins and often does not break until you are in active labor if it breaks on it’s own at all. In fact, quite often your doctor or midwife will break the bag of waters at some point during labor.

2. You will know when you are in labor.
Early labor can last hours and even days. Braxton Hicks contractions can feel very real and be difficult to tell apart from true labor contractions. While most women will know once they have reached the active phase of labor, early labor can be more subtle. It is not uncommon for women to be dilated four or even five centimeters and not be aware of the fact that they are in labor .False labor contractions are irregular and usually do not increase in intensity, frequency, or duration. Moms who have given birth before may actually have a more difficult time distinguishing true labor contractions from false labor. The only way to be sure whether you are indeed in labor is to have a vaginal exam to check for cervical dilation.

3. Labor induction always works.
Labor induction does not always work. Your doctor will perform a vaginal exam to check for cervical dilation and effacement and position of your cervix. Labor induction works best when the cervix has already begun to soften and dilate. You may go in for your 39 or 40 week appointment hoping for an induction only to be told that your cervix is not favorable to be induced. It is also possible to have a failed induction. If baby is not in distress you may be sent home to try labor induction again in another day or two.

4. Contractions feel like menstrual cramps.
You may have heard that contractions feel like menstrual cramps. While for some women early labor contractions may feel like menstrual cramps, this is not a very realistic description of labor contractions. Natural childbirth is definitely doable and many women have an unmedicated birth. However, we feel describing contractions as menstrual cramps is a disservice to first time moms. There are more honest and accurate descriptions of labor contractions that will better prepare you for childbirth. Contractions do resemble menstrual cramps in their location and general achiness, but they also have a powerful tightening more closely resembling a charlie horse. Generally speaking contractions in the active phase of labor will be tightening, painful, and increase in intensity until you reach the peak of the contraction and then the pain will begin to subside.

5. Unmedicated childbirth is always best.
Because labor is not one long sustained contraction but rather a series of contractions increasing in intensity, natural childbirth is quite possible. Natural childbirth, utilizing relaxation exercises, breathing, and resting between contractions, offers one option for pain management. Natural childbirth offers women the ability to be in complete control of their birth and there is a very empowered feeling after having a successful unmedicated birth. Benefits of an unmedicated birth include faster recovery time and shorter labor for mom, more alert and active baby (and mom too), and of course it’s cheaper. However, there are occasions, where an unmedicated birth would not be best and certainly many reasons why women would prefer a medicated birth over an unmedicated one. Conditions such as an abrupted placenta, a baby in a breach position, or signs of fetal distress are all very good reasons to need a caesarian section. An unmedicated birth is ideal, but a happy, healthy birth can be attained regardless of your childbirth choice.

6. If you are really in labor you will not be sent home.
Women may assume if they are truly in labor that they will be admitted to the hospital. You can be in labor and still be sent home. If you are in the early phases of labor, you may be sent home until your contractions increase in frequency or your cervix is more dilated. Many hospitals will not admit you until you are at least four centimeters dilated. Do not get discouraged if the labor and delivery nurse tells you that you have to go home. You may indeed be in labor!

7. Once a caesarian birth always a caesarian birth.
This may or may not be true depending on the type of caesarian section you had along with the reasons for having a caesarian birth to begin with. VBACs or vaginal birth after caesarian are becoming increasingly more common. You will need to discuss with your doctor whether a VBAC will be possible for you.

8. Each labor gets easier.
This may or may not be true for you. Generally speaking, second labors are shorter in duration, but that is not always the case. Shorter does not always mean easier. Baby could be bigger than your first or positioned differently. Also, if you have a very rapids labor, you may find you do not have as many choices for pain medication or you may simply choose different pain options. There are any number of factors that could affect your birth.

9. You will feel an urge to push.
Feeling the urge to push is instinctive and natural right? If baby is ready to come you will certainly feel an urge to push! Well, believe it or not this is not always true. Many women do feel an urge to push, but not always. Sometimes pushing is painful and women will avoid pushing at all costs. Other times medications such as an epidural will interfere with the sensation of needing to push. Your doctor or midwife will help you to understand what is happening during labor and help you determine when you are ready to push.

10. Epidurals lead to caesarian sections.
This belief is still held by some, but recent studies have shown that epidurals do not cause an increase in caesarian sections.

Article by:
Teresa Redmond is a wife and mother to 6 children. She is the co-owner of JustMommies.com. Stop by to find great articles including signs of labor.

More Creative Ways to tell Your Husband that You are Pregnant

Thinking up creative ways to tell your husband that you are pregnant is always fun. There are endless unique ideas of how to tell him that you are expecting and they make the occasion so much more memorable. Take the time to tell your husband that you are pregnant in one of these creative ways and you’ll have a great story to tell your child when they grow up.

Paint Job
Make a quick run to the hardware store to pick up blue and pink paint swatches. Tape them to the wall in your future nursery and when your husband gets home bring him into the room and ask him which color would look better in this room.

Shop-a-holic
Does your husband know you for always coming home with new shopping bags? This time come home with a new maternity outfit, try it on and say, “How do you think this looks on me? Of course it doesn’t fit quite yet, but in another nine months it will!”

Baby Blog
Are you two habitual bloggers? Starting a new blog to chronicle your pregnancy can be a great way to keep long distance friends and family up to date. Make your first post a picture of your positive pregnancy test then make sure to send the link to your husband first to let him know of your new adventure!

Grocery List
Call your husband at work and ask if he wouldn’t mind stopping at the store on his way home. Tell him you need some; saltines, ginger ale, decaf coffee, pickles and ice cream, non alcoholic beer, prenatal vitamins etc… If he still doesn’t get it add to the list some Parenting magazines, diapers, and baby food.

Vacation Time
Get out the calendar and tell your husband that you were hoping he could take a few weeks off in about nine months. Tell him you have a luxurious stay at your local hospital booked, complete with sleepless nights and regular bouts of spit up on your shoulders scheduled.

Rearview Mirror
If your husband is the first to leave for work sneak into his car and hang a pair of baby booties off the rear view mirror.

Pink and Blue Dessert
Ask your local baker to frost a few sugar cookies with pink and blue icing (if you don’t have time to do it yourself) and bring them on a plate to your husband after dinner. Let him choose if he thinks you are pregnant with a boy or girl.

Prayer time
If you and your husband say a nightly prayer together make sure to slip in a, “Bless our growing baby” and wait for the happy exclamations from your husband.

Kiss the Baby
Before your husband gives you his good night kiss tell him to ‘make sure to kiss the baby goodnight too’ and point to your belly.

However you may tell your husband about your pregnancy, it is sure to be a memorable moment for the both of you. Enjoy the nine months ahead!

About the Author: Kendra Spencer is the editor of Shopping For Two, a website devoted to bringing new and expecting moms the best advice and cutest baby products available. Check out her line of pregnancy announcing t-shirts .

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