Multiples

**BF and Pre-BF check in**

I would like to open this thread up to the new moms with inside babies as well who may have questions or concerns! 

1. How old are your LOs:

2. Short term/ Long term goals: 

3. Accomplishments / Struggles: 

4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: 

5. Who is/ will be your support system:

6. Any questions this week?: 

GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? 


Resource links (feel free to post them in your comments so we can add them as we go along) 



Together 6 wonderful years.
TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~

Re: **BF and Pre-BF check in**

  • 1. How old are your LOs: Almost 4 months old!!

    2. Short term/ Long term goals: 6 months then hopefully 1 year or more

    3. Accomplishments / Struggles: They finally are getting efficient so not nursing for an hour at a time we have cut feeding times down to about 20 minutes. C hit a growth spurt so he has been going through a nursing marathon and its pretty exhausting. Also my boys have quadrupled their lowest weights from when they were in the NICU 2 pounds to now 9.7 pounds and 3 pounds to 11.5 pounds!! 

    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: EBF with one 2 oz supplement bottle at night if needed

    5. Who is/ will be your support system: DH mostly. No one in my family ever BF so they don't totally agree with my decision.

    6. Any questions this week?: When did the nursing marathons come to an end for you all with older babies? 

    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? Last night I ate an entire thing of Ben & Jerry's while watching teen mom that I DVR-ed while my husband was at the gym working out. I have done that more times than I care to admit. However it was sssoooo good and I have no regrets! 


    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
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  • 1. How old are your LOs: 10 weeks, 37 weeks gestational

    2. Short term/ Long term goals: Short term - have them able to take a full feed without a bottle top up; long term - breastfeed as long as they want, I would go as long as about 2 years.

    3. Accomplishments / Struggles: My milk supply has been keeping up with all three so far and stocking my freezer, pretty happy about that. Struggling with not being after to breastfeed more than once or twice a day as they are all still in the NICU.

    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: Combination of BF and bottling. They all get my milk but it is beefed up with a bit of formula concentrate.

    5. Who is/ will be your support system: My DH and our immediate families on both sides are very supportive.

    6. Any questions this week?: If you started with a nipple shield, when could you stop using it?

    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? Milkshakes from DQ.

    @AshB62 - with DS1, I would pull him off, say no, wait a few minutes and start again. I tried not to react too strongly and make it a game for him.
    Me: 33 DH: 36 Unexplained IF
    First pregnancy - DS 01-Apr-09;
    3rd cycle Clomid/IUI after 2 years TTC
    TTC #2 since ~June 2010
    IUI #1 & 2 - Clomid/IUI - BFN
    IUI #3 &4 - Gonal-F/Ovidrel and IUI -- BFN
    IUI #5 - Gonal-F/Ovidrel and IUI -- BFP!!
    EDD: March 22, 2013
    It's triplets!!


  • @TheDairyQueenx3 I'm sad to hear your fam isn't super supportive. That's why I think it's amazing to have this forum. You rock!
    1.How old are your LOs:
    My girls are pushing 9 months (wha?!)
    2. Short term/ Long term goals:
    Make it through the day :)
    I really think I want to make it to a year, however, teething scares me!
    3. Accomplishments / struggles:
    I didn't think I'd be able to fb the girls. The first month was super hard we had latch issues and thrush and mastitis. I almost have up so many times. My struggles now are that my girls are taking on "full meals". They want to look around and play and lose focus super easy. Then 1/2 hour later are starving.
    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?:
    Dh gives a bottle when he's home and during one of the night feedings. Takes pressure off me all the time. Plus, I like that the girls will take a bottle.
    5. Who is/ will be your support system:
    Dh is my rock.
    6. Any questions this week?:
    I just need to trouble shoot the attention issue while feeding. I don't know if anyone can answer that for me. I'm not able to go nurse in a quiet room, I have two big kids and can't leave everyone alone. And I don't tandem feed, so the other twin is around also.
    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure?
    Chardonnay and chocolate and coffee. All the stuff I should be avoiding while nursing!


  • edited March 2014
    LOL my name is different! That happened to someone on TTGP.
    @ceechie have you tried a nursing necklace? They helped a lot while I nursed DS 1. That kid was so easily distracted. Also my iPod helped cover noises of the rest of the household making it a little easier.

    @rcnavywife I used a shield with twin B as well as my son. For us it made milk transfer really hard however I do know for babies that are proficient with them there is a high chance they can become dependent. With that said if you are able to start weening off the earlier the better! Most children don't need them once they are around 3 months adjusted. Kellymom.com I linked it at the top will have a lot of good info on that. HTH!

    @ashb62 as soon as they start getting teeth try not to let them get reactions out of you while feeding. So for example if they are starting to chomp a little now just say no and then ignore them. That way they know if they do bite, mommy won't like it and hopefully that will stop the problem before it has a chance to start. Did that make sense? I am the worst at explaining things!

    eTA: I love sister wives! There's a new series about a different family now starting soon too. That's a situation that I will just never understand


    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
  • Bumping from mobile, so this will be all squished together- sorry. The babies will be here sometime within the next 2.5 weeks. We have everything (pumps, bottles, storage bad, 4nipple creams, all kinds of pads, nipple soothing gel pads, boppies and a MBF twin pillow). I am determined! I've taken the classes, read the books and I'm part of both an online support group and in person support group. DH is also totally pro BFing and supportive. All that being said, I know it's going to be wildly hard and I have all kinds of fears about failing at BFing.

    imageimageimage
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  • SV917SV917 member
    1. How old are your LOs:

    4 months

    2. Short term/ Long term

    6 months is only 1 1/2 months away and I have enough of a freezer stash that I'm confident we'll make it that long. I would love to make it a year.

    3. Accomplishments / Struggles:

    Accomplishments- E has almost caught up to her brother. She had severe IUGR and was 3 lbs, 3 oz at birth (they were born at 38 weeks). She is now almost 12 pounds.

    Struggles: Breastfeeding H has always been a struggle. He had a bad latch, he's the slowest eater in the world (finally his average sessions are dropping from an hour + to 30 minutes). But now he is having a hard time gaining weight. He has barely gained more than a pound in the last 6 weeks. Now that E eats so much & I am supplementing for H, I am having a hard time pumping enough.

    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?

    I EP for E. H breastfeeds, gets bottles from the Nanny and now he gets a couple supplements due to his weight.

    5. Who is/ will be your support system:

    I go to a breastfeeding support group at the local hospital. I've met with the lactation consultants a couple times to work on a plan for Henry.

    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? 

    Chocolate chip cookies. Sometimes I make lactation cookies to pass them off as being the reason I need to eat the whole batch in two days.

    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • Pre-bf checking in...

    Almost 20w today, really hoping I will be able to bf. I don't have anything yet, just ordered a book and will be taking a class soon.

    Picked out a bottle to try out as well as a pump. I am hoping I will be able to pump some so my husband can help with feeding on occasion or we can go out :)

    My guilty pleasure is playing video games!
  • Hi Ladies,
    Our little ones are still on the inside, but I look forward to nursing and giving it my best shot!  I am an RN with training in breastfeeding, but I still know that nursing twins will be a challenge!  I am not against formula supplements because I know that I need to be sane to be a good mother! 
    My biggest fear is that DH figures that I "know everything already" because of my work, but I know that this is still a first for me.
    Good luck to all those breastfeeders out there!
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Mama to Three Girls: 
    Twins born March 2014 at 26 weeks due to preterm labor
    and our 37weeker born May 9th, 2016!






  • @quinncat This is the book my class recommended. It's really good so far and they do have a section on BFing multiples. https://www.amazon.com/Nursing-Mothers-Companion-6th/dp/1558327207.

    imageimageimage
    Lilypie First Birthday tickers
  • 1. How old are your LOs: 20 weeks along with inside babies
    2. Short term/ Long term goals: get 2 babies who can latch properly
    3. Accomplishments / Struggles: had lots of struggles with DD and I'm nervous but excited to try again this time around. DD is currently 3 and has been prescribed to take an appetite stimulant twice a day. I'm not sure how much our issues with nursing were supply vs. Her ability to nurse, etc. With her, my endless cycle, recommended by my LC was latch and try to nurse for a half hour, supplement, and pump with every feed. At about 7 months I started to wean off the pumping when it became apparent DD was much more interested in having my attention to play with her than she was in my milk. Best decision ever for us since it was always so difficult. I've promised myself that if it doesn't work out similarly again this time, I'll stop torturing us all sooner.
    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: whatever we can make work. I'd like to EBF, but if that doesn't work out after the first few weeks, supplementing is a definate go.
    5. Who is/ will be your support system: DH and possibly a MoM from our church
    6. Any questions this week?:
    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? Normally it would be licking the beater when making cakes or cookies or brownies... but that's on hold for a while now!

  • SV917SV917 member
    dmurrie said:


    ...
    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? Normally it would be licking the beater when making cakes or cookies or brownies... but that's on hold for a while now!

    Vegan baking! Seriously, the biggest perk of being a vegan is licking the beaters.

    I like your attitude. That's the attitude I had before the twins were born. Now I'm completely obsessed and miserable when it comes to milk production and wish I still had that easy going attitude I had last year.
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  • 1. How old are your LOs: 24.5 weeks with inside babies.
    2. Short term/ Long term goals: breastfeed at least 75% of the time from the beginning/continue to BF for a year at least.  
    3. Accomplishments / Struggles: I EBF'd DD and DS for six months (and then continued to BF and do regular food until 13-14 months) and it was totally different each time.  DD had awful latch issues, jaundice, and weight gain issues.  I had to pump and bottle feed her for the first two-ish weeks while trying to get her to learn to latch, and it was a good six weeks before she was nursing and gaining regularly.  DS was easy as pie to breastfeed.  I am afraid with the challenge and "newness" of tandem nursing twins, I am going to have some of the same issues I had with DD, but I am afraid with two toddlers needing my attention too, I am not going to have the time and ability to nurse twins back to back.
    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: I would like to BF most of the time and maybe do 1-2 evening/night feedings with formula (a lot of my twin mama friends recommended this) because I hate pumping SO much, but I am afraid with the latch issues DD had, any bottle feeding will mess us up.
    5. Who is/ will be your support system: DH, some local/church twin mama friends, my mom (and her awesome LC friend, hopefully).
    6. Any questions this week?:
    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? Diet coke.  I just love the taste of it, but know it is SO bad for me.
    DD- Born 03/09/2010
    DS- Born 01/21/2012
                                              Lilypie First Birthday tickers
                                                  

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  • 1. About 3.5 months
    2. Short term, improve their latches so I don't feel like my nipples are gonna be ripped off. Long term, breastfeed till one year
    3.accomplishments: weaning them off of the nipple sheilds struggles: nipple pain
    4. EBF
    5. My husband, my mom (over the phone, we live far from family) and the ladies on thebump
    6. Not this week
    GTKY: so much chocolate. Can't se to control myself lately

      imageimage





  • 1. How old are your LOs: 13 weeks (14 weeks on Wednesday)

    2. Short term/ Long term goals: Make it through the day / 6 months

    3. Accomplishments / Struggles: I'm EPing and hoping to get the girls back to the breast more (I still occasionally nurse them so they both still latch). I'm afraid that more nursing means less milk when I pump.

    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: EPing with the occasional latching.

    5. Who is/ will be your support system: DH. Although this weekend he said he loves that I pump/nurse but he misses my boobs. ;-)

    6. Any questions this week?: I posted a seperate post about this but, advice on getting the girls on the breast more (will tandem get easier the bigger they get? I hate the damn twin nursing pillow).

    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? Sitting on my ass with a cup of coffee watching trash TV. Oh, and I ate a whole bag of Cadbury Mini Eggs this weekend. :-/


  • 1. How old are your LOs:
    3 1/2 weeks

    2. Short term/ Long term goals: 
    8 weeks/1 year

    3. Accomplishments / Struggles: 
    A: Surviving nursing with lots of cluster feeding
    S: Trying to pump to slowly build a freezer stash. I feel like I don't get a lot of opportunities to pump without taking away from them at this point with all of the cluster feeding.

    4. EBF, EPing, Supplementing?: 
    EBF

    5. Who is/ will be your support system:
    DH is very supportive, as is the MoM group in my town.

    6. Any questions this week?: 
    Any tips on finding time to pump? I'm realistically just trying to get an extra ounce or so to slowly build a stash.

    GTKY: Whats your guilty pleasure? 
    Going to a coffee shop by myself with a good book, coffee, and a nice chocolate dessert.
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  • I just saw this - I never participated before the girls were born because I didn't think I would be able to bf/ebf and I didn't have strong opinions about it. Thought I would share my story:

    My girls are 2 months and 2 weeks this Saturday. 

    I was able to EBF (and bottle feed expressed milk) for the first 2 months and I am so proud of myself!! I started weaning this month because I am going back to work on April 14 and I wanted it to be gradual. Feeding my babies formula breaks my heart but I had to make a choice finally. I had a lot of ugly cries about stopping breast feeding, and it seems like its now coming to an end (I am still bfeeding their night feedings, which are dwindling). 

    In the beginning, I had some ugly cries when certain problems arose where I thought we would have to stop breastfeeding with some latch issues and a nipple shield helped us tremendously and we (my amazing daughter and I) worked hard and eventually didn't need the nipple shield (took about 5 - 10 days). 

    Anyway, now I am sitting here ugly crying because I was able to build up this amazing supply for my girls and worked so hard to get them latching well, and now I am purposefully weaning - seems like a joke. I wish I could take more time off work to give them this amazing nutrition. 

    I went to a weekly breastfeeding class at my hospital, it was very helpful and I highly recommend going if you have that resource!! Sorry to butt in to this thread but its nice to commiserate with others in the same boat!! I look up to all of you wonderful and amazing women who are able to go longer than 3 months bfeeding your little ones!!! 

    I had a lot of support from my husband and my mom, who are now being very supportive of our weaning. When I am down about it, my mom reminds me that I did a great job. 
    ********************************************************************************************
    Married my best friend, June 8, 2008

    5/17/13 BFP!!! 6/6/13 - OMG its TWINS!

    Josie and Lexie were born on January 4, 2014 at 37w2d
    Josie was 5lbs2oz, Lexie was 4lbs15oz 
    Both had a 9 APGAR score with no NICU time
    Planned unscheduled C-Section due to both being breech
    We all went home on Jan 6th, 2 days after surgery

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  • Pre-BF. I am worried about it. Worried there might be external to add extra formula or just stop. Everyone was very supportive when I had difficulty with my DD, but already b/c of twins I'm getting people suggesting not to do it. DH (and my mom) are thankfully incredibly supportive and will be helpful.

    DD and I took 7 months using a nipple shield for that long to treat and get over our joint thrush and latching issues. She was a small baby (only 12 lbs at 6 months old) which I think was part of it, which makes me happy that these boys are measuring bigger than she ever did at this many weeks. I'm hopeful now though, that after BF one my body knows what to expect and is ready.

    I went to a BF support group for almost 6 months after she was born and it was so so helpful so I'll be going to that. Renting a hospital grade pump while I'm on leave, and having an LC come in when we get home from the hospital (as well as when I'm in the hospital). I'm really hoping to get tandem feeding down so I can hopefully cut down some of the time spent BF, but my daughter was a long nurser (like 20-40 minutes) so I'm kind of prepared to have long sessions.

    My biggest fear is keeping my 2.5 year old occupied while I'm nursing and I'm home alone with her that doesn't just involve the tv or ipad.
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  • @legaleagles‌ I was worried about my toddler too but it was not as bad as anticipated. We play games (soooo much uno moo lol) or share a snack like gold fish together or I read him a book as I nurse and sometimes he will just snuggle up with us and fall to sleep. I also found nursing my twins was a billion times easier than my oldest. Hopefully it will be for you too!



    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
  • @ntdane‌ just pump after every feed or if they have a time where they space feeds a little longer that's when I would pump. I felt like if a baby wasn't attached then a pump was but I was able to put away a few hundred ounces for emergencies. You may feel empty the first week or so but it will up production and then you can store some and not take away from their needs. Then slowly drop pump sessions when you have enough so you don't end up with an oversupply :)



    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
  • @legaleagles‌ I was worried about my toddler too but it was not as bad as anticipated. We play games (soooo much uno moo lol) or share a snack like gold fish together or I read him a book as I nurse and sometimes he will just snuggle up with us and fall to sleep. I also found nursing my twins was a billion times easier than my oldest. Hopefully it will be for you too!
    Good tips, thank you! Was it you that mentioned once you had a little basket of stuff that was just for when you were nursing? I'm thinking that might be a good idea for her. Special stickers/books/snacks, etc.

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  • @legaleagles‌ yup! We just call it our nursing basket and it just has toys and snacks he only gets while I nurse. When he doesn't want to play games or hear a book I pull it out for him. Tandem feeding took a lot of practice so DH or my mom while she was staying with us would entertain him until I got the hang of things.


    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
  • @amylou333 I nurse them individually while we are out. I have yet to have both guys hungry at the same time. Ones usually asleep so I feed the hungry one first then when the other wakes I feed that one. Tandem feeding I think would be impossible in public haha! Or if we are in a situation where both need to be fed I will nurse one and DH will give a pumped bottle to the other.


    Together 6 wonderful years.
    TTC #1 18 months 1 loss DX unexplained IF-- BFP July 2009-- ITS A BOY
    TTC #2 3 years and 3 losses DX PCOS -- BFP April 2013-- TWIN BOYS!
    ~DS1-Feb 2010~ 
    ~DS2&3- Nov 2013  {7 weeks early}~ TTC #4~
  • SV917SV917 member
    Ok, so I do have a question after all. I don't know what to do with my daughter while my son breastfeeds. She use to just sit and sleep in a boppy next to me but now she will have none of that. I talk to her, sing to her, play with a toy, but she screams bloody murder. I try putting her in the swing across the room and she cries until she passes out and then I feel guilty for doing CIO. H is getting faster but he still takes his sweet time. I feel so bad for E but I have to feed H. Suggestions?
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  • SV917 said:

    Ok, so I do have a question after all. I don't know what to do with my daughter while my son breastfeeds. She use to just sit and sleep in a boppy next to me but now she will have none of that. I talk to her, sing to her, play with a toy, but she screams bloody murder. I try putting her in the swing across the room and she cries until she passes out and then I feel guilty for doing CIO. H is getting faster but he still takes his sweet time. I feel so bad for E but I have to feed H. Suggestions?

    I struggle with this daily since I don't like tandem feeding. You are never going to have enough hands when they both need you at the same time. It's hard. When big enough, I hand out Mumm cookies and puffs. That helps a lot.
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