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Breastfeeding three…
…is called ‘triandemfeeding’!
When I first knew that I was pregnant in 2018 I knew I wanted to breastfeed but didn’t really know an awful lot about it.
My understanding of breastfeeding was that some can do it with no problems and that many struggle. Being vegan I wanted to breastfeed desperately as there are no formulas available that are exclusively free from animal ingredients. Only a little bit further down in my pregnancy, at the NHS antenatal class, I realised just how unique breastmilk is with its valuable nutrients and on the whole, taking into consideration antibodies protecting your baby and the comfort children get from it. I was even more determined that breastfeeding just HAD to work for me! The pressure I put myself under before Cora was even born was unreal and it was very unhealthy, too!
Luckily, breastfeeding came naturally to me. I had odd episodes of engorgement and had mastitis once and Cora had a mild tongue tie but overall, nursing Cora went very very well. I expressed milk and had such a good milk production that I was able to donate breastmilk to the NHS Donor Milk Bank.
Pregnant and breastfeeding – what now…?
And then, five month into breastfeeding we found out that I was pregnant again!
Oh, the anxiety and worry about my breastmilk potentially drying up or changing during pregnancy drove me up the wall. Social media really didn’t help and just fed into that worry. I was very concerned whether I would be able to continue nursing Cora and provide her with all the nutrients she needed before she turned one.
Then in April I took the Mindful Breastfeeding course alongside my newly gained qualification to teach hypnobirthing. The knowledge and ability to support breastfeeding mothers really helped putting my own mind at ease. I wasn’t able to completely put all worry behind me but I was a lot more relaxed and happier to trust in my body’s abilities.
September came and went, Cora turned one and she was still nursing like a champion. Two months on Keeley was born and my milk supply increased like crazy. Cora found herself in milk heaven. I found myself to be a tandem feeding mother. I was hard – and great.
Both never stopped nursing; Cora’s 2nd birthday came marking yet another milestone. Keeley turned one and they both still fed loads.
And we found out we were expecting Baby No 3!
I expected during the pregnancy that Cora (and possibly Keeley) would eventually wean off with their feeds being reduced to only two feeds already and me being back at work doing 12 hour shifts – without expressing – but both Cora and Keeley proved me totally wrong. I continued to nurse them both throughout my third pregnancy. I hit the 1000 days of breastfeeding milestone with Cora.
Triandemfeeding
Then August came and our last baby – Remy – was born. Once again sending both Cora and Keeley to milk heaven when my milk supply exploded! I learned that having three nurslings has got a name – Triandemfeeding!
Now, six months onwards from Remy’s birth I have been nursing for almost 3.5 years without a break. I often feel dried out like a prune – I’m thirsty and hungry all the time! All three girls feed from me and have thrived on my milk through various bugs and Covid-19.
Cora and Keeley have their bedtime milk at night and morning milk when they wake up while Remy feeds on demand (With the exception of Cora or Keeley being poorly or upset). As I have returned to working at the clinic early I express milk 4-5 times per 12-hour shift, and when at home I express on one side while Remy nurses on the other. My high milk supply makes it possible for me to produce enough milk for when I’m at work and the excess breastmilk is being donated to the Donor Milk Bank.
Being able to nurse this long has been a blessing and a curse. I’m honest – I’m very proud and so thankful that I have been able to nurse for this long. Being a breastfeeding supporter, and from my own experience, of course I know of the struggles many mothers face and I am just grateful that my journey took me this far!
Do I plan to stop?
Well, no, I’m not “planning” anything. I have come this far by doing almost everything baby-led and on demand so I am not going to change that now. Whenever Cora, Keeley and Remy decide that they wish to stop nursing it will be the right time to do it. I dread it – the thought makes me very emotional. Hopefully my three little nurslings will continue for a while yet. It will be a big step for me and really an end of an era! I have learned so much throughout these years and I’m grateful that I can pass on my knowledge and experiences to other with the aim to offer help and support. Will I ever be ready to let my babies grow up? Nope, absolutely not!
