Tandem breastfeeding is the situation that occurs when a woman who is breastfeeding her child becomes pregnant and does not stop breastfeeding.
Tandem breastfeeding is the situation that occurs when a woman who is breastfeeding her child becomes pregnant and does not stop breastfeeding. When the new baby is born, she breastfeeds her two children jointly or individually.
It is a practice that is becoming more frequent, especially when the intergenic period is short and the mother does not want to stop breastfeeding her previous child yet.
But is tandem breastfeeding recommended? ” This is a personal decision that the mother must make, and it will depend on her desire to continue breastfeeding. A new pregnancy does not imply that breastfeeding should be suspended and, as a general rule, it does not interfere with the pregnancy as long as it is a low-risk pregnancy, otherwise, you should consult with the obstetrician”, explains Dr. Esther Ballesteros Benito, assistant doctor of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital.
Tandem breastfeeding is the situation that occurs when a woman who is breastfeeding her child becomes pregnant and does not stop breastfeeding
On many occasions, milk production decreases as the new pregnancy progresses, especially during the third trimester, which is why some infants stop breastfeeding at this point, due to the decrease in production, but there are those who continue, and these mothers manage to breastfeed both the eldest child and the newborn.
BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING IN TANDEM
Because there is a double demand for milk, its production is usually higher. ”The erroneous belief that there will not be enough milk to breastfeed the two children is very common, and this is not the case, since production depends on demand. That is why mothers who have multiple pregnancies can subsequently breastfeed all their children,” says Dr. Esther Ballesteros Benito.
In addition, the milk rise after childbirth is earlier than in tandem breastfeeding, ensuring that the newborn loses less weight and recovers it sooner.
The start of breastfeeding of the newborn can be easier, since the milk production is greater from the beginning, thus facilitating latching and feeding.
“Lactation crises and the risk of breast engorgement and secondary mastitis also decrease, since the older brother also breastfeeds and will be able to empty the breast in case the newborn does not empty it completely,” adds the expert.
GUIDELINES FOR PROPER BREASTFEEDING IN TANDEM
The most important thing when starting tandem breastfeeding is that it be a sole and exclusive decision of the family, mainly of the woman, although it is always advisable to inform the midwife and obstetrician (there is no contraindication in the case of pregnancy). low risk).
In this sense, ”the first thing to do before starting tandem breastfeeding is to get the right information, since there are many erroneous beliefs in this regard, such as that there will not be enough milk to feed both children or that the eldest child can ”steal” the newborn’s food,” details the assistant doctor.
There is also a common misconception that breastfeeding during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm labor due to the production of oxytocin triggered by suckling. ”In low-risk pregnancies this is not the case, since the uterus increases its oxytocin receptors and their sensitivity as the pregnancy progresses, being maximum during childbirth. In addition, the production of oxytocin is momentary during the moment of suction, giving way when the intake ends, it does not last over time,” according to the doctor.
Another issue that sometimes anguishes mothers is how to organize the feedings between their two children. As the specialist says, ”there is no mathematical formula, but there are numerous options. For example: first, the newborn can breastfeed from one or both breasts, and then the older brother, or each child is assigned one breast. It can also be the eldest who performs the feeding first, always ensuring that the newborn is adequately taken later”, concludes Esther Ballesteros Benito.