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There are few things as beautiful as a mother breastfeeding her baby. But a mom nursing two kids at a time? That's a true feat. Juggling two wiggly bodies, getting both to latch on without kicking the other one in the face ... yet when it all works out, the peace and tranquility that descends on the threesome is too wonderful for words.
That's why we've decided to show photos of moms tandem nursing twins or sibling pairs, and hear the stories behind them through the words of the moms and the photographers who snapped these shots. All we can say is, hats off to your ladies for figuring this out -- and showing us how beautiful tandem breastfeeding can be.
Isn't the story behind #11 so bittersweet?
Image via Ivette Ivens Photography
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Image via Jennifer Mason Photography
"This mama looked forward to tandem nursing her two daughters, who are two years apart," says photographer Jennifer Mason. "She wanted these photos to commemorate this beautiful time in her life. To this day, they are still some of my favorite images ever."
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Image via Ashley Marston Birth Photography
"This mom was the first I ever photographed who was nursing both her toddlers," says photographer Ashley Marston. "What struck me the most was how strong the girls' bond was. They often looked at each other while nursing and were holding hands. How wonderful!"
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Image via Simply Joyful Moments Photography
"This image is one of my very favorites: big brother and baby brother, both snuggled up with their beautiful mother," says photographer Sarah Jankowski. "It's a great example that breastfeeding doesn't have to stop at a year."
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Image via Simply Joyful Moments
"This mom was just so full of joy and happiness with both of her adorable twins nursing and smiling at her," says photographer Sarah Jankowski. "A double blessing!"
More from The Stir: 7 Tips for Breastfeeding Twins
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Image via Sabrena Rexing Photography
"This is my second set of nurslings in my six year (five years straight!) breastfeeding journey," says this mom, photographed by Sabrena Rexing. "Nursing didn't always come naturally and tandem nursing isn't always fun. However, I feel like they are only little for a short time and tandem nursing is the easiest, most rewarding way to meet both of their needs."
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Image via Brynja Photography
"This was a mother in the military," says photographer Brynja Sigurdardottir, who grew up in Iceland and is now based in Spokane, Washington. "She was nursing her twins, and told me that this was the position they were all most comfortable nursing in. I wanted to photograph them feeling comfortable ... and they were. What a bond, sisters both nursing together -- just beautiful to me."
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Image via Kristie Robin
"I myself had every intention of breastfeeding past infancy, but unfortunately didn't have the support I needed to continue," says photographer Kristie Robin. "So I became very interested in why some mothers can/do and others don't." That's how she ended up taking this photo of a mom of two who breastfed for four years continuously. "It felt selfish to stop seeing how much good it was doing and how happy it made them," explains the mom about her decision. "I also could when others couldn't, so I didn't want to waste that gift."
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Image via Brynja Photography
"When this mom got pregnant she was still nursing a little one, and when the baby was born these siblings weren't so far apart in age -- so the mom thought it was only right to let them both nurse," says Sigurdardottir. "I wasn't able to tandem nurse myself, so that is why I admired her and was happy to capture that."
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Image via Jade Beall/A Beautiful Body Project
This photo was taken by Jade Beall as part of a motherhood shoot honoring women who nourish their babies by bottle or breast. Says the mom Teresa about her decision to tandem nurse: "I want to give my children security, nourishment and love. Breastfeeding gives them that."
More from The Stir: Breastfeeding: How Much Do You Know About What's Legal? (QUIZ)
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Image via Ivette Ivens Photography
Nursing two is hard enough, but three? That's why photographer Ivette Ivens calls this mama a "breastfeeding goddess times three."
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Image via Little Leapling Photography
"This brave mama had to stop nursing her 2-year-old daughter and her 3-month-old son due to struggles with pulmonary hypertention," says photographer Tammy Schmit. Nonetheless, she still believes in the benefits of breast milk, so much so that she has successfully collected donor breast milk for the past eight months. "This photo shoot was her farewell to breastfeeding; I think this was actually the very last day she nursed either of them," says Schmit.
More from The Stir: Mom Breastfeeds While Dad Eats Spaghetti on the Toilet -- What, You've Never Seen a Family Dine Before? (PHOTO)
