Feeding schedule-premature twins

AandStilltrying

So I'm freaking out over how to fee 2 babies once S. Goes back to work Feb. 16th. Hospital told us basically feed them an hr. Off each other so that we have time to hold each for 45 min. Before laying them down because of reflux. Doing this and feeding them every 3 hrs means a 1 hr. Sleep window for me. Also said they are too small to go into bouncy seat or swing so I am super worried about how to logistically make this work.

Any/all advice welcomed!

zazu13

I fed mine back to back (or at the same time when I had help). I only got one hour of sleep at a time doing this because they were such slow eaters and spit up a lot. I wouldn't purposely wait to feed them or you will never have a second to yourself. Also, I did prop bottles when they got a bit bigger and put them in a boppy so I could feed both at once when they were big enough. Good luck

PeaceofKia

We're on a 3 hour feeding schedule, I feed them one right after the other, holding each baby at least 10 minutes just because I want to. They sleep in rock and plays so reflux isn't really an issue. I manage to get it about 4 hours during the night and have time for 2 naps during the day but I'm too much of a busy body to take them most of the time. 

carrotcake06

That seems unsustainable. I'd try and wear one while feeding the other If you can't feed at the same time.

I work, so they were tandem bottle fed during the day in bouncers. Sit in between them and hold a bottle in each hand. We've also tandem fed in car seats, which may be an option when they're tiny.

PinkinProvence

I disagree with that plan.  

We always fed them together every 3 hours.  If I was alone, one was in the boppy and the other in the crook of my leg.  Then I took turns burping until I put them back in the RnP for the next nap. Afterwards, I pumped.  And then started all over again for the next feeding, which was usually about 90 minutes away.  

Mine were also preemies and around 4 pounds when we were using the RnP and boppies.

minirella

Mine were on a 3 hour schedule from the NICU with 30 minutes between feeding. We sort of kept that. It got harder once they came home and now we feed on demand or will wake to feed if it is longer than 4 hours. We use a rock n play, boppy lounger and nap nanny when it is just one of us. Mine were discharged at 35w / 4lb 10 oz.

My husband and I take turns sleeping. I sleep from 9pm - 2am and he sleep from 2am - 8am. He is back at work, I'm at home unless I pick up a shift.

Odebdo

Ours were on a 3 hour NICU feeding schedule we were told to maintain until they got past their due date....we fed them at the same time, or one right after the other if it was a solo feed.  My daughter had reflux and if we could sense it was bothering her more, she would stay in a rock n play.  But most feedings they went right back into bed.  Not saying we did not have to change some bedding and clothes a few times that plan ended up in a huge spit up.  But most nights we were able to get an hour and a half to 2 hours of sleep in between feedings.  I would feed, pump, and go back to bed.

ksgsmu

Mine were 36 weekers and now a week old with no NICU but we feed every 3 hours. My husband is off on paternity this week so we feed them are the same time but when he goes back to work i think we will take shifts

BabyKsMommy

I did what pinkinprovence did. Prop one in a boppy and the other in the crook of my leg. At night you really need to feed at the same time.

I tried feeding them separately by myself and I couldn't function. I wasn't getting enough sleep.

I also pumped while I bottle fed so everything was getting done at the same time. I also have my babies in rock n plays so there's an incline so the reflux shouldn't be an issue.

Ylvelill

We did every 3 hours after coming home from nicu. I fed them at the same time when alone by bottle and only breastfed when I had help. I would pump after and then sleep for an hour. It sucks until they start sleeping more at night.

SereJane

I usually feed simultaneously by sitting between two boppies. Or if one is still sleeping I just feed the awake one and then put them down and pick up their sister to feed.
I will say feedings are SO much easier with someone else there! If you have anyone who could come help out a few hours at a time getting a break during at least one feeding is great. My sister or mom come over often during the day and when it's feeding time they take a baby and I take a baby-so easy and it goes quickly. Once DH is home we share feedings til bed time and then sleep in shifts.

rachelkongsore@hotmail.com

I bottle fed the first four weeks after nicu to get their weight up before switching to EBF. I would feed simultaneously every 2-3 hours, holding one and putting the other in a boppy with the bottle propped. Feeding separately would be sooooo hard since your break is so short!!

rlk2

Get a twin z pillow- I have two and we live them....worth the money. My dh and I use that at night because we take shifts sleeping. I use blankets to prop a bottle when burping one of the girls because the other one screams if the bottle is not in their mouth! We sit in front of the pillow (I put my legs on either side of the pillow and dh sits cross legged) we have also fed them simultaneously in their bouncers and sat in the middle.