Another Feeding Twins Question

ashleywebber

So I am hoping to exclusively breastfeed, but realize that might not work (I've heard more "It didn't work" stories than that it did).  If it doesn't, I would love to exclusively pump so they get the milk from me.  Again, I realize that might not work either.  My last plan would be all formula.

So my question is, what should I have when they are born? 

A twin nursing pillow?  Another sort of nursing pillow?  Just see if it works first?

Pumping supplies/bottles?  If so, how much?

Formula?  If so, how much?

Thanks is advance.  I realize I am overthinking this, but any help is appreciated.

babybash

A twin nursing pillow?  Another sort of nursing pillow?  Just see if it works first?I use the EZ2nurse pillow, have the lactation consultant help you learn how to use it at the hospital. Pumping supplies/bottles?  If so, how much?Pump & store bags - I have a couple boxes of 50 ea.  Also I have 8 avent pump & store bottles Formula?  If so, how much?All I have is what the dr and hospital gave me and haven't used any of it 

dulcinea03

  A twin nursing pillow?  Another sort of nursing pillow?  Just see if it works first? I use the EZ2nurse pillow as well for tandem feeding which we got the hang of at around 4-5 weeks old. Before that I'd feed individually when we were working on BFing using a Boppy. Pumping supplies/bottles?  If so, how much? I rented a Symphony pump for the first 3 months, then started using my PISA as I was only pumping occasionally at home. I pump directly into the Gerber bottles we use for feedings when I'm at work when I'm at home. At work I pump into 5oz bottles than consolidate into 8oz bottles for storage at work. I freeze in Lansinoh bags. Formula?  If so, how much? I still have bottles of ready to feed formula sitting on my fridge that we were sent home from the hospital with.

E&RMommy

A lot of it depends on how early they are when born.  Mine were born at 36 weeks and didn't quite get latching on.  The key is to work with a lactation consultant from day one in the hospital.  Also get a Symphony or Lactina for your hospital room.  If you are not nursing, pump your colostrum or hand express colostrum every three hours.  I did that and my milk came in on post op day #2.

I did buy a my brest friend twin pillow before they were born, and it's kind of a waste.  I still try to nurse them but they get frustrated.  I am currently basically EPing and able to provide about 60-70% breastmilk and have to supplement the rest with formula.  Since I am going back to work it's good that they will readily eat both and that they easily take from the bottle.  I have a rented symphony for $45 / month, and it's worth it.

So have a plan and remember to be flexible.  A lactation consultant and either nursing or pumping from the first few hours is key.  Good luck!

scraw99

My babies are 11 weeks old now ( 7 weeks corrected age).  I initially was sent home with some premade formula and bought one can of powder formula, which I have used only 2/3 of.  I highly recommend renting a hospital grade pump to help establish your milk supply, I rented the Ameda Elite and double pump every 2-3 hours.  I have the Brest Friend twin nursing pillow and it is helpful for a double football hold position, but in the hospital I used just a regular boppy.  I was trying to be frugal and only initially purchased 4 bottles, but the chore of handwashing the bottles every 6 hours was overwhelming so I purchased 12 more.  I still had to handwash tons of bottles.  Definitely work with lactation consultant. 

 Good luck. 

jalaiaa

For me, it "worked" but it wasn't easy or painless and for sure didn't feel natural in the beginning. It was painful and hard and tiring. One thing I did was to go in it thinking that quitting wasn't an option. In the first couple of months it is SO hard and I wanted to quit so many times, but once the first couple of months are over, it gets much easier and is ultimately way easier than bottle feeding/pumping IMO.  

I use a EZ2Nurse and love it. Heard about the My Breast Friend Twin, but haven't tried it. 

I recommend getting a good pump. I have the PISA and it works well. One thing my LC recommended was to get premie nipples for any bottles we used. That way the milk comes out slow like it does from the boob and there is less chance of nipple preference. She also said to try to wait until 1 month before giving bottles so that they wouldn't have nipple confusion/preference.  

If you want BFing to work I would not have any formula in the house, including the free samples they give you at the hospital. Your supply is built based on how much your babies suck. So if you are supplementing, your body doesn't know your babies need more milk. When your babies are crying at midnight it would be so easy to just give a bottle of formula if you have it in the house. There are lots of times when you don't think your babies are satisfied, especially during growth spurts. It is also tempting to supplement then, too. But again that is your babies way of telling your body how much milk to produce. Obviously if your babies are having weight issues/jaundice issues etc, you may have to supplement, but really nurse, nurse, nurse, nurse. 

It is hard at first but really worth it. And in the end it gets so much easier. 

monkski

I bought the Ez2 nurse pillow before hand and was glad that I had it at the hospital.  If you don't use it, you can always resell it. However, it is useful for bottle feeding them as well. It's easy to set each one on and have them close to you to feed. My DH uses it for that when he gives them a bottle of BM.

Pumping supplies - I had some storage bags.

I rented the hospital pump. I think it was important for buildling my supply in the beginning. I plan to rent for one or two months and then when I go back to work, purchase a more portable one.

No need to buy formula, between what the pedi and hospital gave me and what the formula companies sent to me for free, I have a ton that I will never use!

It is definitely tough to breastfeed and some things are beyond your control, but my success was due to pure determination. Just stick with it. I'm EBF and was tandem feeding them at 5 days old and it is a total sanity saver. It makes everything so much more efficient. I had a lactation consultant at the hospital tell me there was no way anyone can tandem feed before two months. That ticked me right off, because I knew otherwise, but I think it gave me the determination I needed to make it work.

GL!