Hi, I have an 8 day old daughter, and a 11 month old daughter who are both breastfeeding. I just have a concern because my 11 month old will not nurse if I have nursed my newborn on that side first. She'll latch on and begin, but it seems like as soon as she gets anything in her mouth she pulls away and sometimes spits it out. I have to make sure I don't nurse my newborn on one side for at least a good hour before my older daughter will be happy. So, as a temporary solution I have been just nursing my younger daughter on the right, and my older daughter on the left. It's been working out just fine... but why would my older child react this way? I don't quite get it. Is it okay to keep them each to one side?
2007-12-01 12:48:10 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It's fine to assign a side to each child. Your body will adjust your milk supply to their needs, so if your 11-month old is nursing less, you'll have less milk on that side. It's possible that this could lead to having two different sized breasts, which is disturbing for some women, but isn't going to affect your children at all. It's great you've found a solution that works for all three of you!
The milk at the beginning of a feeding is lower in fat; as the amount of milk in your breast decreases, the amount of fat in the milk increases. This is why it's so important to let the baby decide when to end a nursing session, because you want your baby to get plenty of the high-fat "hind milk" to grow. It could be that your 11-month old doesn't like the taste of this higher fat milk.
Once you've nursed your baby, it's likely that you have less milk available, so your letdown could be slower and there will be less flow. Perhaps she doesn't like having to work as hard to get milk after her baby sister has already nursed.
2007-12-01 13:04:49 · answer #1 · answered by cherikonline 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hmm that's strange, I would suspect its because after the newborn nurses the flow isn't as fast which could be frustrating for the 11 month old.
I wouldn't keep them each on only one side just because they are going to drink different amounts and your breasts may end up different sizes. Admittedly that is just vanity though, there is no medical reason why you can't nurse one per side. After all women with only one breast can breastfeed just fine.
Maybe only switch sides every 4-6 hours and see if that helps? Also maybe try washing your nipple after the newborn nurses?
I'm nursing a 20 month old and a newborn and the problem I have is the older one still wants access to BOTH at all times. So sometimes he tries to shove the newborn out of the way.
I wonder though if an 11 month old is old enough to be jealous and decide not to share a boob? *lol* Honestly I think surviving the first 6 weeks is about all you can hope for! I thought things were getting easier and then WHAM nobody is happy anymore. One wants to sleep then the other cries, etc.
2007-12-01 21:13:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If that is what works for you guys, then do it. It may be that the flow is slowed after the newborn nurses on that side.
2007-12-01 21:07:43 · answer #3 · answered by Betsy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you've hit on a reasonable solution. Here are some articles from La Leche League on tandem nursing:
http://llli.org/NB/NBtandem.html
Good luck!
2007-12-01 20:57:31 · answer #4 · answered by daa 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
kellymom.com has good info on tandem nursing.
Links: Nursing During Pregnancy and Tandem Nursing
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/links-nursingpregnant.html
2007-12-01 20:51:37 · answer #5 · answered by sharkyincanada 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I wouldnt worry it sounds like you have come up with a solution.
2007-12-01 21:00:11 · answer #6 · answered by kindra1988 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋