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breastfeeding twins- question/advice needed

saracksarack member
edited March 2014 in Multiples

Please forgive me if this thread has already been created, I tried a search and couldn't find anything.

If you have twins, how long were you able to breastfeed?

I have almost 6mo old twins and I bf. I am starting to feel like it isn't enough for them, even though we've introduced some food. I'm having a really hard time with the possibility that I may not be able to keep up with the demand of milk. I just need some advice on how long you were able to do it, any tips or tricks. They are still growing and getting heavier. THey have recently stopped sttn- they used to sleep from 630pm-345am and then from about 4-7am, now they wake up ravenous at 11pm and then 2, and 5am. I know that they could be going through a growth spurt or teething or something, but I can't seem to keep up.. or at least I'm just barely keeping up- the freezer supply is dwindling.

I appreciate any positive response. Being a mom is hard, and breast feeding is too. I just want to be the best mom I can and am just having a super hard/emotional time with this all.

BabyFruit Ticker BabyFetus Ticker we're having twins!
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Re: breastfeeding twins- question/advice needed

  • lusciousernurselusciousernurse member
    edited March 2014
    Posted under old sn. See post below.
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  • lusciousernurselusciousernurse member
    edited March 2014
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  • lusciousernurselusciousernurse member
    edited March 2014

    I give up lol. I am mobile and logged in under an old sn so I have no idea what my ticker shows if I even have one. Oh well.
    I am still bf my twins at 17 months. I had to supplement feedings and after about 5 months I was only supplementing the before bed session (pumping at that time but not enough to give only bm). But after 12 months I stopped pumping and we nurse before bed and 3x during the day. At 6 months they may be going through a growth spurt or a sleep regression and the motn wakings should end. Just because they are waking up during the night doesn't mean they are hungry. They may nurse for comfort though. I know it's exhausting. I remember when mine starting waking up at during the night after previously sttn. It's frustrating but I just went with it and eventually it passed. Are you doing anything to help supply like eating oatmeal, drinking tons of water? I took mothers milk supplements. I guess I don't have much advice to offer but just keep trucking on. With them starting solids they may be more satisfied during the day so their night sleep will improve.
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  • carrotcake06carrotcake06 member
    BFing twins is hard. Really hard. Were at 8months.

    Around 6mo is when the distractions start. Mine stopped sleeping well and they are just curious about every little thing during the day - which means that they nurse more at night. I try to nurse during the day in a quiet room w little distraction.

    I work, so I pump and they get bottles during the week. I started taking more milk plus in addition to all the little stuff - water, protein, oatmeal, dark beer - and it's made a difference in my output. I tend to cluster them in the evening when my supply is lowest.

    Have you gotten AF yet? That can temporarily affect supply. I've heard to take cal/mag/zinc to help level things out.

    Are the twins the first babies you've nursed? The nursing relationship changes as babies get older - the distractions, teething, growth spurting, it all can affect how "into" nursing babies can be. If they're gaining appropriately, I wouldn't jump to a supply issue.

    BFing is physically exhausting, no doubt. I nursed my oldest for 20mo and nursing the twins has been much more draining. Hang in there.
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  • JodiArielJodiAriel member
    I am still nursing my almost 16 mo olds.  They have never had a drop of formula.  At about 8 mos I had a supply drop and I started taking domperidone and it rebounded.  The more you nurse, the more milk you make.  If you start supplementing you are going to make less milk.

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  • ckred27ckred27 member
    edited March 2014
    With my 2 singletons I started ( w ped advise) rice cereal at 4 months and level 1 baby foods at 6 months, along w bm

     POS+April 2009-M/c May 2009, POS+July 2009-M/c Aug 2009, POS+ Novemeber 2009 -Baby Boy Charlie DOB 07/06/2010, POS+July 2011-M/c and D&C Aug 2011, POS+Dec 2011 -Baby Boy Ethan DOB 07/27/2012, POS+Aug 2013-TWIN BOYS! Jack and Miles born March 23rd 2014!!

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  • xoexpatxoexpat member
    I still nurse my 17 month olds. They've never had formula and haven't had a bottle since they were 8 months old. They've never STTN! That is the hardest part of it all.

    For me there are always cycles where it's easy and then more challenging. Hopefully you're just going through a tough bit. For me, around 8-11 months was really hard. 

    I agree with @jodiariel, you just need to keep nursing to keep up with the demand. It might *feel* like you're not making enough, but that could just be growth spurts, teeth or any other factor that's making them a little needier. If you've made it this far, I'd think that supply won't be an issue as long as you keep offering the breast.

    (Although, I understand that getting your period can mess with your supply, although since I have a Mirena I only got my first one a couple weeks ago! )

    And, can I just say how awesome it is to see other 'full-term' breastfeeders! Rock on!

    Best of luck to you. 
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