Nursing Two--It Works for Me!
Brenda C.
OK USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 16 No. 4, July-August 1999, pp. 121-22
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When my daughter, Ruby, was
just seven months old, I became pregnant. Since she was not yet on solid
foods, I did not consider weaning her. Instead, I began looking for
information about nursing while pregnant and seeking support for my
decision. Unfortunately, I found very little information and even less
support. When a neighbor who was still nursing her young baby became
pregnant, her obstetrician insisted that she wean her baby before her
second prenatal visit. Both my midwife and my obstetrician told me it
was perfectly safe to continue nursing through a pregnancy, but my decision
seemed to shock and dismay many other people.
As I neared the end of my
pregnancy, Ruby still showed no signs of readiness to wean, and I began
to search for information and support for tandem nursing of siblings.
There was a little more information available, but still very little
support, even among other breastfeeding mothers. I had to trust my instinct
to do what I felt was right for my family and rely on those few who
did support my decision, including my husband, Donald. I answered questions
from friends and neighbors, who asked if I planned to be nursing two
once the baby was born, with humor. My standard answer was, “I
guess I shall be nursing two, since I can't imagine giving the new baby
a bottle!" This answer did not even acknowledge their real question-
would I force Ruby to wean?
During my pregnancy, I noticed
times of decreased milk supply and tender nipples, but these obstacles
were not significant for us. Ruby began to eat solid foods, but still
nursed many times per day. Although I had milk throughout my pregnancy,
I noticed that my milk changed to colostrum toward the time of Levi's
birth. About 30 hours after his birth, I became engorged and endowed
with an abundant new milk supply. The first time Ruby nursed after my
milk increased, she finished on the first breast and I begged her to
nurse on the other side. She just made a silly milk-drunk grin and fell
over backward. Ruby subsequently gave up solid foods almost entirely.
Her skin feels smooth and creamy, she has been having breast milk stools,
she has gained more than two pounds (a kilo) in the last few weeks,
and she is the picture of health. I trust she'll eat more solid foods
and nurse less as the weeks go by. Levi never lost weight after birth
and gained more than two pounds in three weeks.
My babies most often nurse
separately. When they need to nurse at the same time, I find it works
best to position one of them in the football hold. However, I'm finding
a variety of positions to accommodate them both comfortably. Ruby often
gently strokes Levi's hair as they nurse.
I hope my story helps others
who are trying to decide about nursing during a pregnancy or tandem
nursing siblings.
Last updated Friday, November 3, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:29:22 UTC 2007.
