Advice breastfeeding twins

Lauren201312 · October 2013

I am 30 weeks with mo/di twins and looking forward to their arrival! I plan on doing everything I can do exclusively breastfeed for as long as I can. I realize a lot of it in the beginning will depend on when they are actually born, but what advice/tips do you have from experience. Advice on how to prepare before they come (what to read, what to learn, etc) and advice on how to make it happen when they finally get here! Looking to hear from mom's who's babies spent time in the NICU as well as those who went home right away. Thanks!

mamatotwins0812 · October 2013

My plan was to EBF as well if I was able to. When my boys came early all "plans" went out the window and I did what I could. They were in the nicu for 10 and 14 days and for me, I just couldn't get it together enough to nurse (latching issues, no supply in the beginning etc), so I pumped. It was extremely tiresome, tedious and time consuming, but it was great for a lot of reasons also. My best advice is to have a plan, but to not be too disappointed if it doesn't happen exactly as hoped. There are so many variables that make nursing (multiples) extremely difficult. Just do your best and don't beat yourself over stuff that doesn't go perfectly. Whatever the outcome, your lo's will be perfect

. Good luck!

wille2b · October 2013

mamatotwins0812 said:

My plan was to EBF as well if I was able to. When my boys came early all "plans" went out the window and I did what I could. They were in the nicu for 10 and 14 days and for me, I just couldn't get it together enough to nurse (latching issues, no supply in the beginning etc), so I pumped. It was extremely tiresome, tedious and time consuming, but it was great for a lot of reasons also. My best advice is to have a plan, but to not be too disappointed if it doesn't happen exactly as hoped. There are so many variables that make nursing (multiples) extremely difficult. Just do your best and don't beat yourself over stuff that doesn't go perfectly. Whatever the outcome, your lo's will be perfect . Good luck!

This exaclty

CNYBride05 · October 2013

What PP said and also, breast feeding is really hard!! If it works, it's wonderful, but I know a lot of mommas who spent too long trying and being miserable, so on the one hand, I'd day give it a decent try but also don't beat yourself up of it doesn't work.

Good luck and enjoy!!

Lil Kate · October 2013

Just do your best and don't put too much pressure on yourself. My goal was to EBF but as I know with my singletons they may have other plans. DS 1 was EBF and refused bottles. DS2 nursed for 3 months and then refused and was on bottles of pumped BM and formula. When the twins were born ( born at 38 weeks and were both over 7 lbs)they were starving since they were so big. Between exhaustion from a c section and having 2 older kids I did a combo of breastfeeding and formula. Now baby a only nurses and refuses bottles which is a nightmare since I can't leave her. BAby b is finicky and will nurse in the am and in the middle of the night so I try and pump 3 or 4 bottles for her for during the day. Long story short the babies will lead the way and all you can do is try your best. Get the help of a lactation consultant early and tandem feed from the beginning. Get the twin Brest friend pillow. I still use it to nurse one while I bottle feed the other. Good luck! There are always bumps in the road but it is possible.

RachH517 · October 2013

I agree with the PP as well. My girls are 10 days old and tandem feeding as I write this. I lost a lot of blood during my c-section and my nurses were afraid I wouldn't have the supply to feed twins. They were awesome and for me tandem latched while I was in recovery and still pretty out of it. After that latching was harder- they wouldn't want to stay on. My hospital had lactation consultants who were amazing. They suggested using donor milk to entice the girls to stay on because their sucking would increase supply. We ended up dropping donor milk on my nipples and in their mouths with a syringe while tandem feeding.

They were still not gaining weight so while in the hospital we did a combo of Breastfeeding, supplementing with donor milk and I started pumping.

Now at 10 days I am home and feed and pump and am producing enough for them. They are also very willing to take both bottle and breast since we started so early.

I also love the Brest friend twin pillow. It works great for me.

My advice would be to be open as others suggested, work with a lactation consultant and get a good nursing pillow. Good luck!

Nikkdam · October 2013

Definitely use a lactation consultant offered at most hospitals or contact your local la leche league even if u think they are doing great. A pillow support is useful and lanolin cream for the first week. Keep breasts exposed a lot to avoid sore nipples. And feed them often to build up supply. Make sure someone is feeding you often and drinking plenty of water!! Make a mental note now that most of your time will be spent feeding and people need to help with everything else. Enjoy it!!

carrotcake06 · October 2013

My boys are 34weekers and had a 13 day NICU stay. My milk is excruciatingly slow to come in, which I knew from my first but it didn't make it any easier when I had the NICU calling me and asking for anything I had pumped (I got NOTHING for 3 days and didnt get measureablr volume for 5).

We supplemented for the first 10 days while my milk fully came in. I tried to nurse each of them at least once a day, not as a feeding, but just to get them used to it. One clearly had a better developed suck/breathe reflex than the other and it actually was fascinating to watch him get the hang of it over the course of a few days.

I eventually tandemed them in the NICU and had BFing sessions count toward their feeds. We got home and have been EBF ever since w no more supply issues.

Good luck!

SkyBee · October 2013

My boys are 6 months and we are still breastfeeding, although not exclusively anymore. I had plenty of milk for the first few months, but now we supplement with formula because I just can't keep up my milk supply to satisfy the two little guys. It is definately doable, and it is worth the hard work. The first 6 weeks was HORRIBLE, but I am glad I stuck with it.

agooseman · October 2013

My twins were born at 38 weeks, were 7 lbs 13 oz and 7 lbs 8 oz, and required no NICU time. They latched on right away and we didn't really have any problems with breastfeeding. My older two children were only 2 and 3 when the twins were born, so the logistics of nursing the twins while taking care of the older two were, at times, challenging, but we made it work. The twins are now 18 months and still nursing...

I agree with PP to use the help of an LC if needed! They are such a great resource. I've nursed all four of my kids and I feel like once you get past the first month or two, it gets much much easier! Good luck!

megs2011 · October 2013

My twins were born at 34.5 weeks and stayed in the SCN for 4 weeks to gain weight. They were on a combo of pumped milk with fortifier and formula for quite a while (Z came home on 1/2 pumped milk 1/2 formula). I pumped and bottle fed my milk basically for the first almost 4 months of their lives. I was afraid that they wouldn't want to nurse after being bottle fed for so long. They are now 1 year olds and still nursing like champs. Your babies will lead the way. Remember, its not all or nothing.. supplementing isn't the end of the world.

Talk to a LC and learn how to build your supply. I built my supply up. I had an oversupply too. My milk came in within 4 days. It is tough, you will get frustrated and you will be exhausted in the beginning but you will get through it. It does get easier. Good luck.

missypg · October 2013

My boys came at 35.6, and while I was able to bring home T right away, H had to stay in the Nicu for a week. T has always been a great nurser, and I was able to pump and give H a breast milk/formula combo (he needed high calorie formula) for a while. I kept introducing my boob to H and he finally picked up the nursing thing at 2 months. They're one this week and are still nursing 1x day. The one thing that saved me was APNO (all purpose nipple ointment) prescribed by my OB. It soothes a ton!

vegetablegardens · October 2013

I had several people recommend La Leche League's book Mothering Multiples for info about breastfeeding twins. I've heard it's a must-read. It wasn't at my local library, but I ordered it from Amazon for under $3. I just got it and haven't read it yet, but it looks EXTREMELY comprehensive. There are whole chapters dedicated to breastfeeding in the NICU, difficulties in mom, difficulties in the babes, making up for a poor start, coordinating feedings, etc.

Hope this helps!

xoexpat · October 2013

Agree with Mothering Multiples book, it was very helpful and I imagine that it would be even more so if you did have babies in the NICU since it had lots of information about that.

My twins were born at 37/1 and we all went home together 4 days later (I had some complications due to clotting, but they were fine).

I wanted to BF right away but I remember that I had trouble moving my arms from the spinal block. It did get better (and worse) in the coming days, but I have been able to BF them successfully and they are now a year old. Here is a link to a bunch of advice on my blog: https://projectprocrastinot.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/mom-qa-breastfeeding-twins-intro.html

but at the same time, you can only prepare so much ahead of time! PM me if you have any questions!

Jess63085 · October 2013

My twins were born at 35wks,4days. I had planned on EBFing, but since they were so early, I had an extremely hard time getting them latched and they weren't getting enough. My daughter ended up losing too much weight so we had to supplement with formula. I also pumped to try to get my supply to come in. We continued this way for the first two weeks we were at home (we came home right away), and it was exhausting. It helps to have someone there to help, and the twin Brest Friend pillow is awesome! I had the lactation consultant come in every day in the hospital, and went to one once we came home. I ended up giving up on BFing after the first two weeks, it was too hard for them and me. Now I pump and give them breast milk in a bottle and then formula. I cannot get my body to produce enough for them, so they get about 25% breast milk, 75% formula. So it definitely didn't go as planned for me. But I've talked to other moms who were able to EBF. So my advice is to talk to the lactation consultants, get a nursing pillow, and have someone at home to help if possible. Good luck, and your babies will do great no matter how they're fed!

LittleLady77 · October 2013

This thread gives me hope. Thanks ladies.

Lauren201312 · October 2013

Thank you everyone! Great advice. I have the book Mothering Multiples and I really like it so far. 6 more weeks!

Mamavogel · October 2013

My girls are 6 weeks old now. I am EBF, for now. I wish mine could tandem feed, but they just struggle so bad that I fee one at a time, around the clock. I also have a two year old, so it's actually easier during the day, I can get up if absolutely necessary, like to stop him from doing something or escaping the house, while I am occupied with just one. I hope they will get strong enough with a good enough latch to tandem feed at some point, but for now I feel like I am just a stay a home milk cow, which is great considering we farm and ranch, ha ha! Do what works for you, it is so not easy, but worth it. There are times I have thought about switching to formula and giving up but on one income, five people and we don't qualify for assistance, they get what's free, no matter how tough or inconvenient it may be at times! Good luck mama!

JTA2426 · October 2013

My boys were 34 weekers and spent 10 days in the NICU. I pumped 8 times a day for 15 minutes each time and nursed them each twice a day while they were in the NICU. When they came home I nursed one each feeding (every 3 hours) while someone gave the other a bottle. We eased into tandem nursing and at 16 weeks now the boys are great at breastfeeding. I have oversupply and they have never had formula. I had (and still have) an excellent LC who is probably the reason it has gone so well and just know... Breastfeeding is hard. But it's so worth it. Try not to worry!

frank3jr · October 2013

The biggest thing for me was making sure I ate a ton. Remember you are eating for 3 still. I haven't gained a pound while breast feeding even though I eat all the time and lots. I carry snacks and a water bottle with me everywhere I go. Once I followed the advice from other twin moms to eat a lot, it really increased my supply and ever since then I've gotten a really good supply.

SWA80 · October 2013

I'm only 6 weeks in but my boys spent 15 and 22 days in the NICU. The only thing I want to add is that if your babies do go to NICU, start pumping right away. I met with LC before delivery who recommended I start pumping within a couple of hours of my c-section. I pumped 15 mins every 2 to 3 hours at first and credit this with helping my milk supply come in strong. The hospital will likely give you a pump to use until the babies come home.

Lauren201312 · October 2013

Great advice everyone! Thank you so much! I can't wait for the girls to get here and get everything started!

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