Tell me how you feed/fed your newborn twins

PinkHope

Whew. I am loving having my boys home, and they are doing GREAT and we're having a lot of fun.

But feeding them is stressing me out, especially during the day when I'm here alone. It takes SO LONG.

I am pumping and breastfeeding. Boys will take bottle or breast, but we haven't gotten the hang of tandem bf yet as they are still so little and one just got home from the NICU and is getting the hang of bf on his own.

My goal is for the boys to get breastmilk for 6 months, and I don't care if it comes from a bottle if necessary. I already have a pretty decent freezer stash from their NICU stay.

So tell me: how do you feed them without one freaking out while the other eats?! I have heard of some of you using boppys while bottle feeding...any other ideas? They need to be burped often so I feel like I need a free hand.

At the moment, pros of bottle feeding are: knowing how much they get, and it's often quicker because it's less work for them. Pumping sessions are pretty quick so I don't really mind doing it.

Pros of breastfeeding are not having to set up and clean up, and if they can get good at it I can cut way down on my pumping.

Should I try to exclusively do one or the other? Do every other feeding? Get more help here during the day?

This is rambling but I'd love to hear how you guys do it.

THANKS!

atc282

First, congrats to you that your LOs are able to do both BF and bottle. You're lucky!

My one DD had latching issues, and I wish I would have had more patience/confidence that we'd all get the hang of it, but I threw in the towel and just EP'd for them. I did comfort nurse the other DD whenever need be, but I pretty much stuck with EP'ing. 

DH worked insane hours when living in NYC so I did a lot of the feedings solo. I did do the boppy pillows stacked on the floor for one DD and the other, I'd sit indian style on the floor with a DD draped over my legs. I also did the bouncer chairs partially reclined and would just stop to burp as necessary. 

Bottom line, you gotta do what is best for you and your LOs and I know that it's hard to say for yourself right now as you're getting a feel for both. Looking back, I wish I would have tried to BF more as I soon loathed EP'ing but was glad I had a great supply and was able to give them milk far longer than I anticipated. 

GL and HTH. Oh, and I know my hospital's lactation person was good at walking me through how to try tandem feeding, answered a lot of my Qs, etc. so I'd contact if you have one. They've heard everything so don't be shy to ask anything!!

Stina4242

I tried many different ways of bottle feeding while I pumped, until I found out they can't have my breastmilk.  I would prop them on my legs and pillows in different ways, or used boppys.  I have found using our infant to rocker chairs work best.  They spit up much less at this angle and it is the easiest way to burp them.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

ProwdMommy

I can remember asking these same questions when my babies were still only a couple of weeks old.  Just remember that it takes about six week for full term babies to become efficient at BFing.  My little guys became very efficient right at the six week mark and are now only taking about 20 minutes each to nurse.  I would urge you to BF for a bit longer to see if they get the hang of it.  You can still pump and bottlefeed sometimes too when you feel like you just can't take it anymore.  I know that we supplemented alot those first few weeks.  GL!

schoolsoutbride

I generally find it easier to BF than to pump because at least one baby is happy while I'm BFing    I've been trying to nurse one with the other next to me in a boppy.  I give the non-nursing one a pacifier and hope for the best.  Usually they haven't been fussy at the same time, so it has been ok and I can feed them one after the other.  I'm starting to get ahold of tandeming by myself, so that helps too. 

schoolsoutbride

Oh, and ditto 6weeks. With DS I remember everything becoming WAY easier around then. It's keeping me going through the current growth spurt.

leviandlandensmom

ProwdMommy:

I can remember asking these same questions when my babies were still only a couple of weeks old.  Just remember that it takes about six week for full term babies to become efficient at BFing.  My little guys became very efficient right at the six week mark and are now only taking about 20 minutes each to nurse.  I would urge you to BF for a bit longer to see if they get the hang of it.  You can still pump and bottlefeed sometimes too when you feel like you just can't take it anymore.  I know that we supplemented alot those first few weeks.  GL!

That's really great advice and so true. They really don't get great at it until around a month and a half/ two months old. Stick with it and you won't regret it! FWIW, I feed them one at a time, tandem feeding just didn't work for us.

s270453

Thank you so much for posting this!!  I was getting on to post the exact same message!  Mine can breastfeed so amazingly (latch and sucking) but since they are pemies, they are SOO slow and take so many breaks!  They eat faster and more through the nipple...thats why Im leaning towards pumping it all.

nej2000

Having the same exact issues myself. So ready to EP because my boys (born at 32.6 - now 7 weeks old) are so much easier to feed with the bottle. But, I've been trying to not take the easy way out because I would like to breastfeed until I go to work when they are about 4 months old. Well, just the past few days, they have gotten better. I'm still going to to partial bottle-feeding breast milk and partial breastfeeding. We do about 8 feedings a day and I do 4 of each type of feeding. Our night feedings (10 pm, 1 am, and 4 am) are bottle feeds because I need DH's help. I have tandem breast-fed a few times, but doubt I'll do it consistently because I haven't figured out how to burp one when he's done first. If I don't burp almost immediately, they spit up - A LOT. Not sure if this is any help. Just wanted to let you know that you're not alone. Do what works best for you. As long as they are getting nutrition, don't beat yourself up too much about how their getting it.

Good Luck!