Tandem Feedings
Breastfeeding/chestfeeding is a beautiful and natural way to nourish and bond with your baby. While the experience of chestfeeding a single child is both fulfilling and challenging, some parents find themselves in the unique position of having twins, or little ones close in age. Some parents find that tandem feeding is a good fit for their family in these situations.
Tandem feeding is when a nursing parent is breastfeeding two or more babies, often twins, simultaneously. Some parents will feed both babies at the same time, or they may take turns and alternate feedings throughout the day. It is an incredible opportunity to nurture and strengthen the bond between the nursing parent and children. Not only does it provide the necessary nutrition for the little ones, but it also promotes emotional connection and sibling bonding. In this post, we will explore some of the benefits, challenges, and tips for successful tandem feedings.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendation is to nurse exclusively until your baby is at least 6 months old. After that, they recommend nursing to supplement the other nutrition being introduced to your child’s diet until they are at least 2 years old, or until they self-wean. Additionally, there are no hard rules against nursing while pregnant, if the pregnancy is uncomplicated and you are making sure to take good care of and nourish yourself. Always talk with your healthcare provider to determine the right course of action for you and your family.
There are many benefits to tandem feeding. Some of these include:
Increased Milk Supply
The human body is wholly amazing, and as the demand for milk increases when nursing multiple children, the body responds by producing enough milk for each child. The colostrum, which is the first form of milk produced after giving birth, is packed with nutrients and antibodies to help newborns keep and gain healthy weight. If you are tandem feeding differently aged babies, for the first few days after giving birth, feeding the newborn (or newborns!) first may be beneficial to their health, as it ensures that they get all of that critical nutrition.
Efficiency - Feeding twins or closely spaced siblings individually can be time-consuming. Tandem feeding saves time if both babies are fed simultaneously, allowing the feeding parent to have more time for important self-care or for attending to other responsibilities. It can also help with establishing a routine that aligns with the babies' feeding needs. When feeding both babies together, they tend to develop similar feeding patterns, making it easier for parents to plan their day around their feeding schedules.
Parent’s well-being - As an added bonus, more frequent feedings can help to reduce the risk of painful, clogged milk ducts and breast engorgement.
Better Bonding
Tandem feeding provides the nursing parent the opportunity to bond with each baby individually while still promoting a sense of togetherness, and fostering a connection between the siblings. It helps to create a nurturing environment where both babies feel secure and loved.
Nursing one child can have its difficulties, and tandem feedings may come with additional challenges:
Latching Difficulties - Ensuring a proper latch for both babies simultaneously can be tricky. It’s important to find a comfortable position that supports both babies and allows for easy latching. Experimenting with different breastfeeding positions, as well as finding proper support can help find what works best for you and your babies.
Positioning
Finding a comfortable and sustainable position for both babies and yourself can take some practice. Using breastfeeding pillows or cushions to support the babies' weight and align them can significantly assist in achieving a comfortable tandem feeding position without causing strain and pain for them or the nursing parent.
Breastfeeding Aversion - As a parent caring for a newborn, personal bubbles diminishes rapidly. Having not only one, but two children in frequent to near constant contact with you can lead to discomfort, dysphoria, irritability, or agitation. These negative feelings are unpredictable, can be difficult to navigate, may leave the parent feeling guilty, and may sometimes lead to the nursing parent wanting to stop nursing altogether. If you or a parent you know is struggling with this, please know that you are not alone and that you should reach out to your supports such as your OB/GYN or midwife, your child’s pediatrician, your doula, or trusted family and friends to voice and talk through these feelings.
Sleep Deprivation
Breastfeeding multiple children can be physically demanding, particularly during the night. Establishing a support system, including partners, family members, or a trusted caregiver (such as your doula!) who can assist with nighttime feedings or provide opportunities for rest and recovery is essential.
With all of that said, here are some tips, tricks, and advice we would like to share if tandem feeding is something that you and your family are considering:
Take care of yourself! - Make sure you are staying well hydrated (and we mean WELL hydrated!) and fueling yourself with plenty of healthy calories. If you are nursing twins, you will likely need to add an extra 1,000 calories to your daily diet, and drink double the amount you usually would. Get in the habit of feeding and hydrating yourself while nursing - have a water bottle nearby, bring some easy-to-grab snacks, and settle in!
Invest in a Nursing Pillow
There are even twin-specific nursing pillows available, which will make balancing both of your little ones at the same time significantly more stable and comfortable. You can find a number of different models with a simple search - ask around and see if friends with twins or kids close in age have anything you can try out before investing!
Let your newborn nurse first if feeding differently aged babies
This will ensure that they get that nutrient-dense colostrum to help them develop and grow, and it’s often easier to get your newborn down before tending to your older child. It’s a great way to practice sharing and patience with your older kids!
Pump as you need to. This will help with extra milk production, and will help you build a supply in case you aren’t able to feed both babies at the same time, or are feeling uncomfortable, sore, or just plain exhausted! It also allows someone else to help with feedings so you aren’t solely responsible!
Seek support. If you have a support system in place, don’t hesitate to ask them for help! They can help bottle feed one child as you breastfeed the other, or assist with feedings if you need to get some rest. There are also support groups out there for parents navigating the same territory as you, full of folks that would be glad for the chance to help validate your journey and share their own tips for success. (Ask your doula where to find one!)
Be patient with yourself! You may find that what worked well initially isn’t working anymore. Trust the process and adjust as you and your children need. Remember - fed is best, and if you need to supplement with formula or cut out nursing altogether for your own mental health and happiness, that’s perfectly okay. It’s also perfectly okay if nursing doesn’t work out for one child when it did for another - there’s no right or wrong way to do this thing called parenthood, as long as you’re trying your best!
Tandem feeding may work best for you and your family - and it may not be! Either way, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. We would be thrilled to hear from you and help you along in this journey however we can!
