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Pumping is defeating me :(

YlvelillYlvelill member
in Breastfeeding
I really wish my twins would figure out breastfeeding :( having to pump and bottle feed is draining the life out of me. Anyone have any advise on how best to juggle it all while I continue to practice feeding them directly?
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Re: Pumping is defeating me :(

  • BootsOrHeartsBootsOrHearts member
    I remember those early days. Wake up, bottle feed baby, pump, and by the time you go back to sleep it's about time to start all over again. I can't even imagine it with twins. People always said you could bottle feed whilst pumping and I couldn't figure it out until he was about 3 months and could be propped up with the boppy. And supposedly you can nurse on one side while pumping the other but I never could figure that out either. So I don't know. 

    Have you thought about a SNS? That way at least your'e combining the attempting to nurse part with the actual feeding. Though I guess it takes time to set it up. 

    I also ended up not even trying to nurse at night because I was too tired, I'd just bottle feed and pump. But that may have been the beginning of the end in terms of getting him back to the breast. 

    At some point the tide will turn, hopefully, and babies will be getting most of what they need at the breast and then you can stop pumping or cut way back. Or in my case, the nursing never takes and you drop the nursing attempts and just pump which sucks (pun intended), but at least you save some time. Or you switch to formula which is NOT the end of the world, though I know it feels like it when you've tried so hard to BF. 

    Are you seeing a lactation consultant? Sometimes that can make a big difference. I hope things improve for you soon! 
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  • YlvelillYlvelill member
    Thank you :)

    I have seen a consultant, her advise is just hang in there, they will get it... I may need a new one...
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  • YlvelillYlvelill member
    That sounds interesting, will have to check them out, thank you!
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  • CNYBride05CNYBride05 member
    edited August 2014
    Oh sweetie! Its so hard, especially at the beginning. Just keep putting them to the breast at least once/day and recruit as much help as possible!!

    I'd echo the suggestion to get a hands-free bra and/or Freemies (which are not anything fancy or super expensive, but Thereseat tends to like to make people feel like assholes and put down their suggestions). However, pumping with 1 kid is entirely different than pumping with twins, esp if you are on your own most of the time, so know your limit and don't feel like a failure if you need to supplement with formula (it may not even be forever - I supplemented for about 8 weeks and then my body kicked into gear).

    In the early days (when i didnt have help), i would nurse each baby for about 10 min, then hook up my pump and put them in bouncers so i could give them each 1-2oz in a bottle while i pumped for 15ish min. I pumped, religiously, every 2 hrs for the first 6 weeks, then gradually went longer periods. By 8-9 weeks, we had eliminated all bottles and i was ebfing, still pumping 3-5x/day to remind my body to produce enough. I can't remember when i cut out the extra pumping, but now i only pump when I'm at work.

    Definitely seek a second LC opinion if you aren't pleased with yours, but I kind of agree with her - keep trying and they and you will get it!

    Stay healthy - hydrated, well nourished, as rested as possible with infant twins. It DOES get easier, I promise!!
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