Breastfeeding: tandem? Or separate?

Incrediblelife · January 2014

I started out thinking that for sure I would do everything in my power to tandem feed my twins, mainly to save time (more sleep for me, more time with my other two kids). However, the closer I get to delivery, I'm starting to almost lean towards individual (at least in the beginning). What have your experiences been? Any advice? Pros/cons of either?

24karat · January 2014

My advice would be to make your plans, but stay flexible just like you would with a birth plan. I originally planned to tandem EBF (I had no trouble EBF with my older daughter) but it hasn't exactly worked out how I'd hoped. I had a c/s, my milk came in late, and one of my boys had a ton of trouble with his latch and suckling reflex. Add in a bad infection and clogged ducts, and it was a hard journey to keep BF just one of them. We ended up supplementing with a little formula and have continued to do so. I was finally able to start tandem feeding when the boys were almost 3 months old. Lots of juggling (the twins deluxe My Brest Friend is a lifesaver), but worth it to get the feedings done at the same time.

At nearly 6 months they're now mobile and it's a harder to keep them on task so I usually prefer the solo nursing time. They also have not liked being in close proximity to each other so tandem feeding tends to get a little stressful for all three of us. I either nurse them back-to-back or nurse one while bottle feeding the other baby. It's just more relaxing for me to feed them individually now.

Tl;dr version: I liked it while I could do it, but for our situation it's working out better to solo feed.

bumpuser924057 · January 2014

It will depend on a lot of things. I couldn't tandem easily at first at all because I didn't have enough hands to hold both boobs and both heads in place, but by about five months I was able to comfortably tandem, and now I often do it if both are getting fussy at the same time, but I will still feed them individually if I get the opportunity. And if we're out and about, definitely one at a time - I have no problem nursing without a cover in public, but tandem nursing in public will get you some unwanted attention for sure

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rac717 · January 2014

The first month or so, I had zero luck with tandem feeding. It was like trying to herd cats to get them in the right position, esp when they had no head control. Once they got a little stronger, I started. It was a time saver for me and we did that for quite a while. Now, I prefer one at a time if possible but will still tandem feed if they're both fussy, etc.

Ylvelill · January 2014

Anyone find time to pump while BFing two kids? I was hoping to make my husband help with some feedings by pumping and using that in a bottle.

carrotcake06 · January 2014

I almost exclusively tandem but it didn't start that way. They're 34weekers and were in the NICU for 13 days. My milk took an eternity to come in and I had to supplement w formula for 10 days.

At first, they were so small and not good at BFing, I'd attempt to bf each of them separately once a day. I was EPing to bring my milk in and they got mostly bottles.

Once they were transferred to open air cribs, the NICU nurses would help me tandem them and I'd do that for all the feeds I was with them.

When we got home, we switched to tandem EBF. I'd pump once a day after their first morning feed (whenever that was) to build a stash for when I went back to work.

Even now when they get bottles, they are tandem fed. The only time I feed one at a time is if we are out and about (as pp said, it'd def get you some attention) or if I'm by myself for their 10pm dream feed.

Someone mentioned H helping out and MH has been a fantastic help getting up when the babies wake, changing them, bringing them to me, and then putting them back down when they are finished. I'd prefer not to wash bottles if I don't have to at this point.

steidla · January 2014

If you can make it happen, tandem is a huge time saver. You probably want to get the hang of nursing each of them before tandem will go well. I totally agree that the MBF Twins Deluxe pillow is a lifesaver.

JodiAriel · January 2014

I swore I was going to tandem and I hated it. It was hard to get them into a good position and stay latched. The only time I did it when they were little was when I went to my breastfeeding support group and even then I didn't like it. The sensations were too overwhelming for me.

Now all they want to do is tandem nurse and there is no reasoning with them. If i don't tandem them the other one just stands at my feet and screams bloody murder. Luckily now they only nurse for 5 mins or so so I can handle the tandem nursing.

jocie2581 · January 2014

I've experimented with both. For the first two months I tandem nursed. It was a huge time saver. At three months I now do one at a time. I have been enjoying laid back nursing. And that's very difficult to set up with two. As pp's be flexible.

twinmom1121 · January 2014

My boys are 6 weeks and I do both. Tandem is so much easier once they can stay latched on without much help, Unless you have someone there to help you hold one on while the other baby latches. But usually for me, I only tandem feed if they are both hungry at the same time or if I need to feed them before going somewhere because it is less time consuming! The twin breast friend nursing pillow is really helpful but I even just use a pillow on either side for support! I feed them individually during the night because usually only one will wake up and by the time I'm done feeding him, the other is ready to eat! I think it'll depend on the babies because they might not always be hungry at the same time to tandem feed. Good luck on whatever you decide to do!

lovebugkim · January 2014

I was never able to tandem. I had a hard enough time getting them to latch, plus had to use the nipple guard. My baby A was a good sucker, but B never was, so I would pump & he was bottle fed by DH with the pumped breast milk.

TobieRose · January 2014

I thought I'd be tandem feeding a lot, but one of my twins still doesn't have the best head control and I find I have to devote more attention to him than I can with just one hand. Also it is easier to interact with my toddler while nursing just one (sometimes including putting the baby down to chase said toddler, heh).

PurpleIris30 · January 2014

I tandem when they are both melting down at the same time or if we are having a particularly difficult cluster feeding evening. Although I'd planned to tandem more, I've found they eat longer and better individually. Plus, when I have the time, I like that individual time with each. It's sure nice to have the tandem option though.

BabyCarryingVessel · January 2014

sing4mysavior said:
What everyone else said.

Work on right away so you're familiar...but it is hard in th beginning for sure. But each kid eats for like 45 minutes so you'll always have someone on you if you don't tandem. By 4-5 months when they are down to 15 minute feeds, it gets so much easier to feed how/whenever you want.

Be flexible and try lots of things til you find what works for you. GL.

Yep, all of this! I loved the one on one nursing time when I could do it, but from a practical standpoint it just couldn't happen all the time. Some tandem tips... practice, practice, practice! Get your twin pillow, put your remote control, phone and lanolin cream in the pouch, grab your drink, lay babies on the couch, strap your pillow on, put babies to breast and settle in for a tandem session

. This makes me miss tandem feeding!

TexasTwinMom · January 2014

Tandem all the way for MANY reasons. Invest in the Brest friend pillow.

Tandem will:
Save you time
Help keep them on the same schedule
Encourage milk flow if you have one not so great feeder
Save time
Help keep them on the same schedule
Save time
Help keep them on the same schedule

Seldaar · January 2014

Our twins were born just over a week ago (Dec 27th) and DW tried tandem in the hospital and it worked the first time or two, but one baby was having latch issues and it was proving to be harder than originally though.

She now does one at a time, so she can focus on one baby at a time. They were having latch issues in the beginning, but it's getting better. We may go back to tandem once both babies can latch and eat without any fuss. Currently there's a bit of fuss to get everything going.

We've also had to supplement due to weight loss and low blood sugar. Much easier to nurse Baby A, then I will give Baby A a bottle and she'll nurse Baby B.

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Breastfeeding: tandem? Or separate?

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