pumpers-need help

Mrs.Babbsy

How on earth do you keep up with twins while pumping? We have preemies and not suppose to put them to breast more than 3 times a day and now my supply is tanking. I need some tips/advice.

Help, I do not want to fail at this.

ncsubride

I pumped 20 minutes every 2 hours in the beginning.  Drink LOTS of water it really does help.  GL.

Rose.9.6.03

I EP'd for 3.5 months.  In the beginning, I pumped after every feeding.  And on weekends, when DH was home, I'd do pumping marathons (pump every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night) to boost my supply.  I used a hospital grade pump (I noticed a big difference between it and my Medela PIS).  I drank a bottle of water with every pumping session.  I also pumped a few minutes past dry to signal to my body that I needed to produce more milk.  Oh, and a hands-free pumping bra is a good investment because it lets you massage your breasts to get more milk out (and also lets you get other things done like attend to your newborn twins while you pump). 

I did eat a lot of oatmeal and took fenugreek.  I'm not sure how much those things helped, but I was afraid to give them up - I didn't want to lose my supply. 

kellymom.com has some good pumping info, too. 

 Congrats on your baby girls.  They are beautiful!

boshi799

My honest answer is that I was not able to. I felt my pumping was taking SO much time away from my babies that I stopped. I just could not get away to pump enough. I am not thrilled about it, but I do feel it was best for us. Good luck!

BelleBaby

I had to come to the realization that if I was going to keep them on all breastmilk that there were times they'd have to cry in the swing, bouncer, etc. while I pumped.  I had too many days where I was so focused on them that I didn't pump and then I'd get a clogged duct, which would hurt like you-know-what for days. 

Unfortunately, we had to start supplementing with formula when the boys hit about 8 weeks old.  I just couldn't keep up, no matter how often I pumped.  Now they're lucky to get 2 or 3 bottls of breastmilk every day and some of that is from my frozen stockpile.

Good luck.  I hope you can keep it going longer than I did.

Mrs.Babbsy

thank you ladies!