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triple feeding my twins (long)

dtwmcodtwmco
in Breastfeeding

Here's my background:

The lactation consultant at my hospital said to do triple feeding with my preemies.  (The girls were born at 35 weeks, but they had no big issues other than one being under 4 lbs.  They both came home with me when I was discharged.)

My tiny girl actually gained weight while in the hospital, the "larger" one lost some, as you know is usually expected. 

With the triple feedings, I was basically letting the girls decide what they wanted to do.  BF for as long as they wanted, give formula/formula mixed with BM for as long as they wanted, and then I'd pump afterwards.  The girls had a great number of wet and seedy dirty diapers each day and seemed content.

When the pediatrician saw that the girls were being really slow to gain back their weight, she told me no more than 15 minutes at the breast, as not to tire out the girls prior to giving them a "measurable" amount of nutrition.  This measurable amount is basically a grand total of what she wants them to have per feeding, and they end up taking this entire measurable amount in formula/formula and BM in addition to their 15 minutes at the breast.

Dirty diapers are WAY down for each girl (and the seediness is pretty much gone), but they do still have plenty of wet diapers.  I feel awful that the girls seem to try to poop all throughout the day but can't.  They have at most one per day, and they seem to have tummy aches and more throwing up/spit up with the formula. :(

As of the girls' last pediatrician appointment, they gained a bunch of weight, so the ped wants me to continue what I've been doing.  (and the pediatrician suggested prune juice to help the girls with the straining???)  I'm worried that once I'm allowed to cut out the bottle of formula/formula and BM in hopefully a couple weeks that I won't be able to keep up with the amount that the girls are used to getting in formula.  My pumped supply varies anywhere from 20 - 50 mL at a time, so it's nothing huge and the girls do get mostly formula in their bottles.  I hear that the amount you pump has nothing to do with your supply.  This does seem true for me, but I don't know how to be sure.

I guess that I'm just looking for some encouragement...Is it going to be possible to cut out the bottle after providing it for 5 weeks?  

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Re: triple feeding my twins (long)

  • carolyngallaghercarolyngallagher

    no real advice, but just wanted to say i hope all works out for you...one thing i could suggest is to try nursing for longer periods to help build up your supply and keep pumping...your body will adjust to the need..it may just take some time.....are you using the slowest flow nipple on the bottles?...and i'm sorry about the pooping issue...i can't imagine how tough it is to have them going through that

    hope things start looking better for ya soon :)

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  • mominatrixmominatrix member

    IMHO, the LC was giving you better advice than the pedi... I think that on demand feedings are better for the babes and better for building your supply.

    the other thing is the prune juice... that seems like a very weird suggestion with such young babes.

     

    Have you talked to someone from LLL? They'd be really good at providing you encouragement, and some really good specific breastfeeding advice. They can send someone out to visit you  - maybe even a mom of twins - who can give you good advice... and it's free.

    Call them!

    1-877-4-LALECHE

    The Girl is 5. The Boy is 2. The Dog is 1.

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    I am the 99%.
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  • makclairmakclair member

    I too think that the LC gave you better advice than the pediatrician. Unfortunately peds are not very well trained in bf (and I say that as one- I only feel like i'm good at giving advice b/c I 1. rotated a lot with LC and 2. have BF my own son for almost 5 months now).

    They are probably having the bm issues due to more formula than bm. Can you try to get them on the breast as much as possible?

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  • dtwmcodtwmco

    I was just talking to DH about this, and he said, "You know, you don't have to do exactly what the pediatrician told you."  I just would feel weird doing my own thing and then go in to see that the girls have lost weight or slowed down significantly in their gains...

    Overall, I do think my girls are great at BF.  The little one is sometimes hard to get started, but once she gets going, she absolutely loves it.  I do often have to unlatch both girls when the 15 min are up.  In between the 3 hour feedings, I do allow them at the breast if they "ask."  BUT, especially as preemies, they sleep most of the time in between.

     Thanks for your support.

    (Interesting though - both girls have had 3 extremely poopy diapers already today.)

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  • murphyecmurphyec
    I am with the others who suggest listening to the LC over the ped.  Limiting the amount of time at the breast will not help with your supply.  Good luck! 
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  • julyjenniferjulyjennifer member

    No personal experience here with premie twins but just wanted to lend my support.  I second the PP's suggestion to call your local LLL leader.  They would be a really good source of support and info at this point for you!!

    https://www.llli.org/WebUS.html

     

    Keep up the good work.  Follow your mommy instincts.  Your DH is right.

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