How long were you able to BF your multiples?

KatieGummow · May 2014

My OB was shocked at my PP visit that I was EBF (well, EP) the twins without having to supplement yet. It made me think about how difficult this will be as they grow. My goal was a month, now we have surpassed that, it is three months, then six, then 9... Etc.

How long were you able to go? TIA!

jeephappygirl · May 2014

I'm EPing also and we just hit 6 mo. I don't really have a plan. Just going to keep doing it as long as it works for us. I'm nervous about once they get mobile as it's hard with 3 yr old DD. Not sure how I will occupy 3 moving around. I'm at 6 ppd sometimes 5. The ped was a bit surprised that I'm still at it. I have a good supply and can feeze 8-10 oz most days. Family is more surprised and question when I will switch to formula. If I can get down to 3 pumps a day, I think I could really go long term and past 1 yr. I would love to make it through next winter.

ckred27 · May 2014

I lasted a month, then started supplementing, but now that I am back to work its FF, bummer. On the upside, DH gets to share the feeding load at night though

ceechie · May 2014

I'm bfing with the occasional formula bottle (like one bottle at night each) from dh and food. The girls are a year next month and I'm hoping to wean then. But if I wanted, I'd could keep going w/o supply issues. But I'm ready to move on.

somewhereincali · May 2014

2.5 years (they would have been happy to keep going but I was done at that point so we did gentle weaning).

I think its kind of sad that an OB would say that. Maybe its because its EPing which I think can be challenging in terms of supply, but I wish medical folks would be more supportive of it being possible.

TheDairyQueenx3 · May 2014

We are at the 6 month mark now and the first 5 months they got 1-3 oz before bed to get their vitamins in because they won't take my milk from a bottle. Now they are EBF and will go until they self-ween.

SV917 · May 2014

We're still going at almost 7 months. Six months was my first goal. Now I'd like to make it a year. When my daughter was in the NICU, they mixed in some high cal formula in an attempt to raise her glucose levels before they found the reason for her low blood sugar numbers, but we've never had to supplement at home. I EP for my daughter, so I probably won't go longer than a year. I think my son prefers bottles, so I doubt there will be any issue with weaning him.

zazu13 · May 2014

Good job Katie! I had to supplement from the beginning. I pumped 6 weeks but could never get them consistently latching and their needs quickly exceeded my supply. I wish I could have done more, especially when spending near $400 on formula.

JodiAriel · May 2014

We are still BFing at 18 mos and EBF up until solids were introduced at 6mos old. They only drink BM and water at this point.

carrotcake06 · May 2014

Save the first 10days when my supply was catching up to their demand in the NICU, they haven't had any formula.

They are 10.5mo and we'll get to a year, intro cows milk cut down to AM/PM nursing until they self-wean.

I went back to work at 3.5mo and have been pumping for them (at work - we nurse at home). I built up a huge stash by 6mo (about 500oz) and have been slowly depleting it since then to cover pumping at work deficits. I always have enough nursing them on the weekends. I have about 175oz left which will get me to their first bday at which point I will burn my pump! Haha.

My pedi made an offhand comment at their 9mo assuming they were getting formula and when I said no, she seemed surprised.

JTA2426 · May 2014

Almost 11 months and EBF. Never supplemented and have a freezer full of milk. Also have donated over 1100 ounces to MMBNT. Congrats on bfing yours, keep it up!

whitehousem · May 2014

It's really nice to read how different everyone's experience has been. We are on about day 11 of attempting to BF. I was never successful with DD and EPd for her for four months and built a two month stock pile. I have had similar problems this time but am trying to stick with it and today seems better. We are doing a combo of BFing, bottle feeding breast milk, and formula feeding. We do formula at night and they sleep longer, which is awesome. We had to supplement early on and they are much happier since they are getting enough food now. We are working really hard to get a good latch, but I'm dealing with mastitis (had it twice with DD) and scabbed nipples. Props to everyone regardless of what feeding method works for them. It's tough to navigate between BFing/pumping/formula, especially with two or more!

kdarden15 · May 2014

mummyofsix said:

12 mos for twins. Only 9 mos for the triplets, which I was disappointed with. The last 6 months with the triplets I did occasionally (always in the evenings) have to give the third baby a bottle. But they were EBF for the first 3 mos.

Amazing!!! We are 7 weeks in! When I was in the icu, they had formula. When I got out, I finger fed a good friends donor milk. We phased that out as I healed over about 10 days. We are ebf now, though still dependent on nipple shields. and I am thrilled. I haven't set any goals really. I am so happy that I have gotten to this place after the massive blood loss I sustained. I also love hearing people's stories!

MuggleMomma23 · May 2014

I love reading this thread. Good job mommas! I EBF DD for over a year and was so proud of that accomplishment. Now that we're having twins, I had no idea if that would be possible again, but I'm hopeful!

jennyshawn0808 · May 2014

Mine will be 1 in two weeks & we're still BF. I nurse when at home & pump at work. They were EBF until 6 months when we introduced solids. Great job & good luck!!

so72409 · May 2014

We had nursing issues, so I ended up EP for 10 months; we supplemented about 10oz of formula a day to help me build my stock pile until I was producing more than they were eating (close to 70oz a day!!!). Stopped pumping once I had enough to get us to our first birthday. Set small goals for yourself and know it's okay if you have to make adjustments!

Stephanie2167 · May 2014

I just quit EP last week (the girls are 5 months). I would have gone longer but Harper has a dairy allergy and is now on Alimentum and I was getting a bit stressed out constantly being attached to the pump an dtrying to entertain 3 kids. I'm proud to have made it that far. I have about 500oz in the freezer that Nicole is still getting though.

PurpleIris30 · May 2014

Even with 32 weekers that had to learn to suck and eat, we are at almost 7 months with no formula supplementation except for the first day or two in the NICU until my milk came in (and I don't think supplementing is bad). It's a lot of time and work to keep my supply up, but it was important to me especially since I have a milk protein allergy and was worried the girls would inherit that and have issues with most formulas.

rqb25 · May 2014

Awesome thread! This is a huge worry of mine and it's great to see how many people have made it work for them!

MrsCali_Bride · May 2014

I breastfed my twins for 17 months, though they were supplemented with one bottle each night through at least the first year. I didn't respond well to the pump and I had my husband use the bottle to top them off after their bedtime nursing session.

bumpuser924057 · May 2014

Mine will be 11 months old on Monday and they are both still nursing with one 4oz bottle of formula before bed every night. They likely don't even need that, but the bedtime routine is working reasonably well so I don't want to rock the boat.

twinmom1121 · May 2014

We are at 6 months now and haven't had to supplement yet! I kept worrying that they weren't getting enough because they only eat for 5-10 mins but my pediatrician said if they are growing and are happy then they are getting enough! Hoping to go 6 more months!!

Ylvelill · May 2014

Thank you guys for sharing, you give a ftm hope.

HattieDornbush · May 2014

We are at 13 months ebf and still going strong! You can do it!

KatieGummow · May 2014

Yay! Thank you ladies for sharing! So happy it is doable! I appreciate your experiences.

courtney4425 · May 2014

This thread is giving me so much hope!! Every person who I tell I want to BF looks at me like I have 3 heads... I'm glad to know it can be done!

xoexpat · May 2014

Mine had their 20 month nursiversary yesterday! They were EBF until 6 months, then baby-lead weaning with solids and they still BF about 3-4 times a day. I'm so happy to read stories from all the other MoMs in this thread too! Yay.

shira49 · May 2014

If you already breastfed one baby so long, you should totally expect to breastfeed your twins as long as you want. You can also get a twin breastfeeding pillow to make it that much easier.

https://www.twinnursingpillow.org/index.html

twinlove314 · May 2014

I started out EPing until my twins were about 3 weeks old (until I was brave enough to tandem nurse). I've been EBFing since the day I took the plunge into tandem nursing. My boys are on the same schedule, and have had nothing but breast milk since the day we brought them home from the hospital at 5 days old. It's tough sometimes, but soooo worth it. I cherish the time that I get to spend with them while nursing. I get a lot of surprised looks when people find out that I'm not using formula, and even more surprised looks when people find out that I nurse them at the same time

Want a personalized experience?

How long were you able to BF your multiples?

Re: How long were you able to BF your multiples?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards