Advice on breastfeeding twins

Jilltanner

I am 29 weeks pregnant with twins.  Any advice on breastfeeding them?  Should I pump in the hospital to help my supply?  I am having a CS, should I feed them ASAP after they are born?  Should I feed them together from the beginning?  What type of bottles did you use and when did you introduce the bottle?  TIA!

CMW

As soon as my babies were born one was wisked to the NICU, but the other stayed with me and was put to the breast within an hour of delivery.  She latched right on, she was a natural. 

It took a few days for my milk supply to fully come in.  I started pumping the day after delivery for my baby in the NICU and was not able to get enough for him at first but for the last week I've been able to breastfeed one and pump for the other (we are mixing breast milk with Neosure to help him gain weight).

 GOOD LUCK!  I really think it does come easier for some babies than others, but it is definitely possible to nurse twins!

lutzcowgirlie

It is definitely doable, and good that you're trying to be prepared. I would suggest looking for a copy of Mothering Mutliples. It has lots of suggestions for positions, establishing supply, etc.

 

You asked about several things. Pumping: Many of the ladies on here pump and can give lots of advice on that. I didn't go that way - mine drink from the tap, as it were. I do have a pump, for emergency use. If you plan on pumping (going back to work/like seeing what they are getting/can't establish latch/etc.) I think everyone would suggest renting a hospital grade pump. You can sort of wait and see on how that works out. If the babies are early, you may have to pump vs. nursing directly.

 

I had a c-section. It was a while after that I finally fed them - I had some complications from blood loss. I do think that in the beginning it is important to feed frequently and sooner is better, but it won't be the only factor that dictates success - so don't stress too much. Just tell the docs and nurses that you plan on nursing - they should do what they can to help get you the babies ASAP.

 

I started tandem feeds in the hospital. I had a two year old at home and I knew that I was going to need for the babies to eat together when it was possible, so I jumped right in. Of course, I nursed my first for 16 months, so I had a certain level of confidence about what I was doing. You don't have to do it right away, but I do suggest trying it out to see if it works for you.

 

I used the Playtex drop-ins bottles when needed. They had some bottles in the hospital - I needed sleep after my delivery drama, so they had one feeding in the nursery each night. Every other feeding was from the breast, so I didn't worry about introducing the bottle so early.

 

HTH. It is a lot to think about. Is there a class available in your area? My nursing class was cheesy, but I really did learn quite a bit from it.

megkreig

My babies were born in November at 32 weeks, 6 days so i got right to pumping using the Symphony in the hospital.  The lactation consultants were pleasantly surprised at my supply but said that they believed that my body just knew that i had twins and that i was doing everything right by pumping every 2-3 hours.  Since they were preemies and in the NICU i didn't get to try breastfeeding often with them but as soon as they came home at 3 weeks we started working on it.  It has definitely been challenging but i have been told that some of that could be because they were preemies.  I am a first time mommy and haven't yet gotten the hang of tandom nursing.  As far as bottles go, ours had them with pumped BM in the hospital to learn how to feed but then we switched them to the playtex drop ins once they came home so that DH could give them one bottle of pumped milk a day.  Oh and i am still pumping a few times a day and freezing a lot of milk.  It just makes me feel better that i won't lose my wonderful supply but for now it means i'm making enough milk to feed triplets or possibly quads. HTH!

Jilltanner

Thank you all for your advice.  It definatly helps guide us in the right direction.