When Gavin Met Gareth

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If I had any fear about how Gavin would react towards Gareth after he was born, I should have cast them aside. The night that Gavin met Gareth was one of the most perfect nights ever. Gavin was so excited to see Gareth that he told Ah Kong to “drive quickly, but remember to drive safely”. When he arrived at the hospital, we heard him coming down the corridor long before he appeared in my room.

Gavin was so excited to see Gareth and not just because Gareth had “bought” him a present. In fact, Gavin had completely forgotten about the surprise that Gareth had for him. He kept declaring to everyone how “cute” his brother was and had nothing but hugs and kisses for baby Gareth. He even sang “Happy Birthday” to his brother.

I don’t think I have ever felt more proud of Gavin. During one of the toughest periods of life that a toddler must endure, he has come through magnificently.

When I asked Gavin if he could share his “nen nen” (breast milk) with Gareth, he was most accommodating about it. We ran into a slight hitch when Gavin enquired why Gareth was not sharing “nen nen” with him, although Gavin didn’t make too big a fuss about it.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, there are no issues with quantity of milk when tandem nursing except at the start with colostrum. Since colostrum is produced in limited quantity, it is important to make sure baby gets first dibs to help boost his immune system and line his gastrointestinal tract in readiness for proper food. Nevertheless, I have told Gavin he is welcome to have as much breast milk as he wants as soon as I get home.

We have had to stay on at the hospital since Gareth has developed jaundice (not unexpected due to his size, the need for a vacuum extraction and the use of pitocin during labour). In some ways, that is probably a blessing in disguise as it means Gareth will receive unrestricted supply of colostrum while Gavin’s time at the breast is limited.

The only other issue we have encountered is that Gavin’s enthusiasm for Gareth puts him at risk of unintentionally hurting Gareth. We have to constantly remind him that Gareth is little and requires “gentle” handling. I try to avoid telling Gavin that he cannot touch Gareth. I know Gavin’s intentions are all good. He is just unaware of his strength and the damage he can do to a newborn. With time, I am confident that he will remember on his own to keep his actions in check without my needing to prompt him.

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Other posts that might interest you:

• Babies: Introducing the Lovey
• Hello Baby Gareth!
• Tandem Breastfeeding – the Practical Experience
• Milestones: Reading
• Gareth: Sneak Peeks

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