Russ’s antenatal diagnosis It had been a difficult six weeks. My father-in-law was in intensive care. There hadn’t been space to feel excited about being pregnant and we were emotionally drained. I thought we'd had the all clear at our 20 week scan when the sonographer told us we were having a … [Read more...] about Russell’s Breastfeeding Journey
Tandem Nursing
The birth of my second child
E struggled to cope with the change to the family dynamic when her second baby arrived… I have two lovely, scrumptious daughters, A who is nearly four years old and B who is just over a year old. The first year of B's life has been the most difficult year of my life so far. I had no idea that … [Read more...] about The birth of my second child
Tandem Nursing
If you are breastfeeding during pregnancy, you may be wondering what happens after your new baby is born. Nursing a new baby while an older one is still nursing is generally referred to as tandem nursing. This could be after a pregnancy and the arrival of a new baby or having adopted a new nursling … [Read more...] about Tandem Nursing
Something Cosmological: A Father’s Reflections
About three months after the arrival of our second son, I looked at my wife tandem feeding our two boys and had somewhat of a revelation. That moment profoundly changed the way I look at breastfeeding and, more generally, the world. Let me rewind a bit... Breastfeeding was always the goal when we … [Read more...] about Something Cosmological: A Father’s Reflections
Living the unexpected tandem style
If my pre-child self could see me now, she would be surprised. I was keen to breastfeed, but thought 6 months would be about right and after that my baby would eat solids and I could drink wine. As I soon learnt, babies have opinions, and mine decided very early on that breastfeeding was her number … [Read more...] about Living the unexpected tandem style
When You Don’t Enjoy Breastfeeding
After the work of getting things going, you may feel that breastfeeding should become easy and enjoyable. People talk about the amazing bond that comes with breastfeeding, or that wonderful oxytocin rush. There seems to be an increase in both classical art and stock photographs (no doubt very … [Read more...] about When You Don’t Enjoy Breastfeeding
Pregnant and Breastfeeding
If you’re expecting a baby and are continuing to breastfeed your older child, many questions may be going through your mind. Mothers can breastfeed while pregnant; some go on to nurse both their new baby and their older child after the birth. This is known as ‘tandem nursing’. Breastfeeding … [Read more...] about Pregnant and Breastfeeding
Mothering through special care
Rebecca’s second son was born early, and spent several weeks in Special Care. Here she writes of that difficult early time, and of learning to balance her fragile newborn’s needs with those of her older child. Throughout my first pregnancy I felt like some sort of earth goddess woman – strong and … [Read more...] about Mothering through special care
Thinking of Weaning?
Weaning is the process whereby a child learns to take nourishment other than his mother’s milk. It starts when the child is introduced to foods and drinks in addition to breastmilk, and ends when he finally stops nursing. Introducing a baby to the exciting world of food alongside breastfeeding is … [Read more...] about Thinking of Weaning?