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Breastfeeding
nblondheim
member
Pumping vs Breastfeeding
nblondheim
member
Background:
Twins born at 30 weeks
EPing due to them being in the NICU
Continued to EP after they came home as they were on fortifier
Twins are now 9 weeks old and don't need the fortifier
Now that the fortifier is done, I've moved to trying to breastfeed every other feeding. Holy moly does it hurt!! Some sessions only the initial latch hurts, some sessions it constantly hurts when they suck, and some sessions hurt the whole time! I've ended up in tears a few times. I hate the pump but this pain isn't fun either!!
We are using a nipple shield. I do tandem feed them. I'm sure your suggestions will be to meet with a LC but I'm but sure how to do that! The hospital I delivered at isn't the closest one and it's 75 minutes away. I did meet with them while pumping in the NICU. Do I call the local hospital to try to meet with one?
As much as I hate pumping I'm considering continuing that due to the pain of breastfeeding.
Could their mouths still be to small? Did I miss a window and they've become used to bottles? Anyone else in a similar situation just continue to pump?
Twins born at 30 weeks
EPing due to them being in the NICU
Continued to EP after they came home as they were on fortifier
Twins are now 9 weeks old and don't need the fortifier
Now that the fortifier is done, I've moved to trying to breastfeed every other feeding. Holy moly does it hurt!! Some sessions only the initial latch hurts, some sessions it constantly hurts when they suck, and some sessions hurt the whole time! I've ended up in tears a few times. I hate the pump but this pain isn't fun either!!
We are using a nipple shield. I do tandem feed them. I'm sure your suggestions will be to meet with a LC but I'm but sure how to do that! The hospital I delivered at isn't the closest one and it's 75 minutes away. I did meet with them while pumping in the NICU. Do I call the local hospital to try to meet with one?
As much as I hate pumping I'm considering continuing that due to the pain of breastfeeding.
Could their mouths still be to small? Did I miss a window and they've become used to bottles? Anyone else in a similar situation just continue to pump?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Pumping vs Breastfeeding
casey78 Thank you very much! They sure are doing well which is wonderful!! I know the initial pain can be normal. I have used the website and have one choice in my area. I will look into that LC.
MosyMama I am glad to know you met with a local LC. I will look into that! In the NICU we only did it a very small amount of times and I definitely didn't have the pain there that I am having trying to do it now. Thank you!
theresat858 I will definitely looking into a local LC. I worked on just nursing one at a time yesterday and that was tolerable. But it took each baby 20-30 minutes so it ended up being an hour. I can feed both babies and pump in 20-30 minutes. So it is hard when it takes more time. It makes me want to just fall back to pumping! I am using the nipple shields for a few reason. B keeps his tongue to the rough of his mouth and therefore without it it's hard for him. He also won't latch and suck without it. K sucks my nipples flat without it and also will not latch and suck without it. I think it mimics a bottle nipple to them which they have gotten used to. Thanks for your help!
Check out my blog: http://blondheimtwins.blogspot.com/
My twin girls are 13 weeks. In the beginning I was so stressed trying to nurse them both I just started pumping. I was pumping plenty for them, DH could help feed them and I wasn't so stressed. I'm still mostly pumping (I pump 5x a day and get about 8-10oz each time). I latch them both a few times a week so I know that they still latch.
But yes, it hurts in the beginning. I hate establishing breastfeeding. I had the same issue with DD1 and we went on to nurse for 7 months. As the twins get bigger they don't need so much help latching anymore and I'm leaning toward pushing for more nursing and less pumping.
But I do agree, 20 minutes of pumping and feeding boh babies = more sleep for us. It's hard to step away from the pump.
::heads the the Mother's room to pump at work::
Breastfeeding is hard work and doing it for two is no joke. Keep up the good work and do what works for you.