diff --git a/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py b/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
index 538a5453..7a0e114c 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/pipelines/election.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class Election:
 
 
 def get_changefeed():
-    return ChangeFeed(table='votes', operation='insert')
+    return ChangeFeed(table='votes', operation=ChangeFeed.INSERT)
 
 
 def create_pipeline():
diff --git a/bigchaindb/pipelines/utils.py b/bigchaindb/pipelines/utils.py
index fb018453..22a5f9bc 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/pipelines/utils.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/pipelines/utils.py
@@ -20,17 +20,19 @@ class ChangeFeed(Node):
     to output before the actual changefeed.
     """
 
-    INSERT = 'insert'
-    DELETE = 'delete'
-    UPDATE = 'update'
+    INSERT = 1
+    DELETE = 2
+    UPDATE = 4
 
     def __init__(self, table, operation, prefeed=None):
         """Create a new RethinkDB ChangeFeed.
 
         Args:
             table (str): name of the table to listen to for changes.
-            operation (str): can be ChangeFeed.INSERT, ChangeFeed.DELETE, or
-                ChangeFeed.UPDATE.
+            operation (int): can be ChangeFeed.INSERT, ChangeFeed.DELETE, or
+                ChangeFeed.UPDATE. Combining multiple operation is possible using
+                the bitwise ``|`` operator
+                (e.g. ``ChangeFeed.INSERT | ChangeFeed.UPDATE``)
             prefeed (iterable): whatever set of data you want to be published
                 first.
         """
@@ -51,10 +53,10 @@ class ChangeFeed(Node):
             is_delete = change['new_val'] is None
             is_update = not is_insert and not is_delete
 
-            if is_insert and self.operation == ChangeFeed.INSERT:
+            if is_insert and (self.operation & ChangeFeed.INSERT):
                 self.outqueue.put(change['new_val'])
-            elif is_delete and self.operation == ChangeFeed.DELETE:
+            elif is_delete and (self.operation & ChangeFeed.DELETE):
                 self.outqueue.put(change['old_val'])
-            elif is_update and self.operation == ChangeFeed.UPDATE:
+            elif is_update and (self.operation & ChangeFeed.UPDATE):
                 self.outqueue.put(change)
 
diff --git a/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py b/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py
index 2dc259ed..6af8a291 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/pipelines/vote.py
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ def initial():
 def get_changefeed():
     """Create and return the changefeed for the bigchain table."""
 
-    return ChangeFeed('bigchain', 'insert', prefeed=initial())
+    return ChangeFeed('bigchain', operation=ChangeFeed.INSERT, prefeed=initial())
 
 
 def create_pipeline():
diff --git a/tests/pipelines/test_utils.py b/tests/pipelines/test_utils.py
index 897d64bb..ebef38c4 100644
--- a/tests/pipelines/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/pipelines/test_utils.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 import rethinkdb
 
 from multipipes import Pipe
-from bigchaindb.pipelines import utils
+from bigchaindb.pipelines.utils import ChangeFeed
 
 
 MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA = [{
@@ -21,36 +21,50 @@ MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA = [{
 @patch.object(rethinkdb.ast.RqlQuery, 'run', return_value=MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA)
 def test_changefeed_insert(mock_run):
     outpipe = Pipe()
-    changefeed = utils.ChangeFeed('backlog', 'insert')
+    changefeed = ChangeFeed('backlog', ChangeFeed.INSERT)
     changefeed.outqueue = outpipe
     changefeed.run_forever()
     assert outpipe.get() == 'seems like we have an insert here'
+    assert outpipe.qsize() == 0
 
 
 @patch.object(rethinkdb.ast.RqlQuery, 'run', return_value=MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA)
 def test_changefeed_delete(mock_run):
     outpipe = Pipe()
-    changefeed = utils.ChangeFeed('backlog', 'delete')
+    changefeed = ChangeFeed('backlog', ChangeFeed.DELETE)
     changefeed.outqueue = outpipe
     changefeed.run_forever()
     assert outpipe.get() == 'seems like we have a delete here'
+    assert outpipe.qsize() == 0
 
 
 @patch.object(rethinkdb.ast.RqlQuery, 'run', return_value=MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA)
 def test_changefeed_update(mock_run):
     outpipe = Pipe()
-    changefeed = utils.ChangeFeed('backlog', 'update')
+    changefeed = ChangeFeed('backlog', ChangeFeed.UPDATE)
     changefeed.outqueue = outpipe
     changefeed.run_forever()
     assert outpipe.get() == {'new_val': 'seems like we have an update here',
                              'old_val': 'seems like we have an update here'}
+    assert outpipe.qsize() == 0
+
+
+@patch.object(rethinkdb.ast.RqlQuery, 'run', return_value=MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA)
+def test_changefeed_multiple_operations(mock_run):
+    outpipe = Pipe()
+    changefeed = ChangeFeed('backlog', ChangeFeed.INSERT | ChangeFeed.UPDATE)
+    changefeed.outqueue = outpipe
+    changefeed.run_forever()
+    assert outpipe.get() == 'seems like we have an insert here'
+    assert outpipe.get() == {'new_val': 'seems like we have an update here',
+                             'old_val': 'seems like we have an update here'}
+    assert outpipe.qsize() == 0
 
 
 @patch.object(rethinkdb.ast.RqlQuery, 'run', return_value=MOCK_CHANGEFEED_DATA)
 def test_changefeed_prefeed(mock_run):
     outpipe = Pipe()
-    changefeed = utils.ChangeFeed('backlog', 'insert', prefeed=[1, 2, 3])
+    changefeed = ChangeFeed('backlog', ChangeFeed.INSERT, prefeed=[1, 2, 3])
     changefeed.outqueue = outpipe
     changefeed.run_forever()
     assert outpipe.qsize() == 4
-