One twin w/medical issue unable to nurse?

princessbridey

My twin boys are 3 weeks old and exclusively drinking breast milk. One nurses without any difficulty but the other has a complete cleft palate and cannot nurse. We have been to see an Operation Smile specialist and he can have a surgery at 6 months or so whenever he reaches 16 lbs) to correct it. He is using a special bottle we have to squeeze when we feed and it has a specialized nipple so that he can create suction despite the cleft. The were induced at 38 1/2 weeks, weighed 6 lbs 6 oz and 6 lbs 4 oz and are otherwise perfectly healthy and gaining  oz per day as our pediatrician says they should be. 

 I have several questions:

1. Anyone with a baby who has a cleft have success nursing before the surgery? What about after it is done and he is older? IU nursed my 1st born until he was 18 months old so don't plan to wean early.  

 2. How did you keep your milk supply up? I am currently nursing the other twin 6-7 times a day on one side and then pumping both sides for 9 minutes every other feeding. I am storing about 5-6 oz per pumping and the twins are eating about 3 oz each feeding.

3. DH goes back to work this week. How have you been able to feed twins when only one can nurse and the other needs a special bottle? It seems impossible to do at the same time since I need to squeeze the bottle to feed him, not just hold it up.

 I know this is a fairly specialized bunch of questions but am posting on several boards in the hopes that someone else will have experience with this! Thanks! 

emsumm

My best advice is to keep doing what you're doing.  I can't speak to a lot of the issues, but as far as keeping your supply up, you're doing exactly what you should be...keep it up!  As far as one of yours being able to nurse later on, I've heard of it happening for sure, so I would not give up on that...if he doesn't, though, you can definitely pump for one and nurse the other.  I still pump and nurse, mostly to keep up my supply. 

I would use a bouncer and swing to keep whoever is not being fed occupied...they should get used to taking turns pretty quickly, it really depends on the individual babies.  I have one that's more patient so I just nurse her second.  Good luck, and you are doing awesomely well!!

bellasmom27

I am no help but you might want to contact MADforever on here, one of her babies have a cleft palate. She may be able to help answer your questions.