Breastfeeding twins

[brooke88(mum2b09)]

I have always had my heart set on breast feeding. But now that I am having twins I'm just not sure how I'm going to manage it!

Just wondering if any other Mums are going to try or if any Mums have done this sucessfully?

[Jakois]

I am not a Twinnies mum, but there is a lovely Hubber that recently had twins and is BF. I am sure she will come along to give you some tips:).

[kimmymonster]

Hi mum2b09

I am still breastfeeding my 18 month old b/g twins. Breastfeeding twins is very possible, it just has a few more challenges to learn than breastfeeding one baby.

My 2 best suggestions are to invest in a twin breastfeeding pillow, I have the EZ 2 nurse twins breastfeeding pillow and once I got the hand of using it , it made feeding so simple and hands free. Also getting in contact with the ABA and read and watch videos about how to breastfeed twins to give you different ideas on how it can be done.

I am happy to answer any questions you might have. Breastfeeding two babies is very rewarding (and free) Nothing can beat watching your babies feed looking into each other eyes, holding hands and stopping to have a babble together and with you.

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy wishing you a happy healthy journey.

Kimmy.

[girly]

My famly friend is stilll breastfeeding her 9month old twins. && my friend from aqua natal is breastfeeding her twin boys,
My friend from aqua natal, her boys are bout 2weeks old and she has trouble trying to juggle both at the same time... She finds it easier to breastfeed at seperate times when she gets the chance.
But both women are doing a great job...

I think you'll be just fine..

Goodluck with everything:)

[Sheer Bliss]

I am due in June with twins, and plan on b/f them fro as long as possible. There is a mummy on here who has 3 or 4 week old twins and she is b/f them ATM.

I am a member of the ABA, and once it gets closer I am going to see if there are any twins locally, so that I might be able to chat to the other mum for advice/tips etc. I have also been looking at the zoo and milkbar pillows.

I don't know if it seems less daunting to me, as I fed DD for 11months, and DS for 18months. I feel a little bit like I have done part of it already, and i just need to master the second part.

When are you due? There are a few of us due with twins around may/june, so we may be able to help each other, or if you are due before then, you might be the expert that we come to for help!

[MammaMia]

Hi

I have 3 week old twins and I am struggling with twin breast feeding.

The babies seem to get so upset and when I get one to attach, the other comes off, and vice versa. Then one usually just becomes so upset that they won't feed ... which makes me feel terrible. It is certainly challenging. I am trying to just feed them one at a time for the most part.

If anyone has successfully twin breastfed, I'd love to hear your advice / tips on how you achieved it.

[kimmymonster]

Hi MammaMia,

My best advice for sucessfully breastfeeding twins together in the beginning is to try and stay as relaxed as possible. Attach the twin who is best at it first and let them suck for a little bit them attch the next bub. I found that I would have to sometimes gently hold the back of their heads/necks to keep them in place. Stroke there heads or ears and talk or sing to them softly.

What sort of breastfeeding pillow are you using? Are you able to be hands free once they are lying on the pillow? I use the ez 2 nurse pillow and it great because you are hands free, you can feed one and place the other on your shoulder to burp them if needed, once you get the hang of it I could even read a book while feeding.

Is that the sort of advice you were after? If not please ask and I will try and to be of some help.

Kimmy.

[twinmummee]

I agree with Kimmy, it is definitely possible but try and learn as much as you can now and get a proper feeding pillow. I naively thought I would be ok and that feeding and holding 2 babies at once would be easy! I only managed to tandem feed 2 or 3 times with our girls the rest of the time I fed them separately.

Having said that they were fully breastfed for the first 4 weeks and then we switched to alternate feeds. They weren't settling after feeds and I was lucky if they lasted 2 hours before wanting another feed. By 10 weeks they were starting to drop feeds and their feeding wasn't lining up (they would both end up due for a breastfeed at the smae time and I felt guilty feeding one and not the other) so I made the decision to wean :eek: and they have been bottlefed ever since.

I found breastfeeding the girls an amazing experience and most of my friends with single babies are amazed I lasted that long with 2, but I always think of those of you on here who are still feeding your kids and know I could have lasted so much longer if I had have prepared a lot better...

All the best and remember no matter what happens being able to feed them for even a few weeks will be great and not to mention will save you so much money!!

[SuperGranny]

hi twinmummee, im glad to offer any help, I b/f my girls for nine months. I never bought any pillows, I tandem feed, both facing each other, sitting on my lap. I think I once fed them on their own time, but that was silly, because as soon as i finished with the first and put her down to sleep the sceond woke up. so that idea went out the window. I did demand feed, but it was when one wanted feeding they both got fed. I can give you a full story anytime you want. I will tell you it is is not easy, but it is doable. It took awhile to get established but it was worth every minute of it. Im here for any questions, Best wishes, Marie.

[Nettwins]

Hi, I breastfed my twins for 9 months . I didn't use a special feeding pillow though I used one of those u-shape pillows. I used to look forward to feeding times as that was my reading time it was great. I did on the occasion feed one at a time but it took so much more time to do that I wouldnt have much time before the first was hungry again, so I made a habbit of one wants to feed both get fed.

I would recommend getting in touch with your local multiple birth group (ring or email the multiple birth assoc. if you cant find your locals details) they may possibly have things for hire/sale ie feeding pillows, as well as some books and dvds with information.

Hope this was helpful and if you have anymore questions I'd be happy to answer anything.

You really have some fun times ahead of you enjoy it!
Annette

[MammaMia]

Thanks for the feedback. I do have a pillow for feeding, and I have the ezi2nurse one as well ... but haven't used that yet. Maybe I should pump it up and try it as an alternative.

I'm trying really hard to stick to my "I am calm" mantra through this early time with DD (T1) and DS (T2), but when they both want to be fed at the same time but become so upset, I do find it challenging to remember to breathe.

I had contemplated alternate feeds ie one gets breast, the other gets bottle so I was interested to hear that you had tried that, twinmummee. My only problem is that DD's attachment has become much sloppier with the introduction of the dummy and occasional bottle so I'm trying to avoid her with either of these.

I seem to spend most of my day feeding one baby then the other, and my breasts are certainly feeling it. I've tried waking them together, but DD either sleeps through regardless or becomes so hysterical that the feeding goes pear-shaped anyway.

I keep telling myself that they are only very new babies and that it can only get better from here. It might sound silly but I BF DS1 and DD1 for most of their first year, and I feel bad about the concept of not pulling it together to do the same for T1 and T2.

I'm hoping to take out of your responses that either it becomes easier to twin feed as we all get the hang of it OR that I can make an alternate decision with some peace.

I really appreciate your responses and encouragement!

[FiveInTheBed]

I BF DS2 & DD for nine months, used an ezy 2 nurse in the early days (helped with attatchment and burping!) fed together and seperatly (they are still individuals I figured and so still did demand feeding) Be patient and expect to be sitting feeding for a lot of the day - but it does pass (too quickly) cherish the moments together.:bee:
Keep up your fluid and food so you don't fade away!
If you can get them to feed at the same time at night I congratulate you (I tried, but maybe not hard enough).
I had a boob designated for each bub as they fed differently (most the time had lop sided boobs:laughing:...but at least I knew each one was getting the fore and hind milk that they needed)

Best of luck:hugs:

[Sheer Bliss]

I just wanted to add a thankyou for this thread!! I have been reading, keeping things in mind for when my bubbas come along. And I think I have decided to get the ez 2 nurse pillow. It's more expensive, but looks like it is better shaped than the milk bar or zoo pillow. I hadn't heard of it prior to reading this thread - thanks!

[FiveInTheBed]

...the ezy2nurse is good, because it is so easy to clean, and you can pump it up or deflate it to make you and your little ones comfy!! I used it as a support for when they were learning how to sit up too...it was great!!:thumbsup:

[shockinamillion]

Hiyas, Im due with my Twinnies in June with Charlis mum, this thread is great. I have just learn sooo much in the last 10 mins reading it.
Ill be adding ABA to my list of contacts thats for sure. and that ezy 2 nurse cushion. Thanks ladies.

[SuperGranny]

hello again, just something that came to mind while reading one of the other posts. I was not able to have one breast for one baby. My supply was not equal, either the flow was not equal or the volume of milk was not equal, whichever, I had to swap sides each day. I tandem fed, so whoever was on the right side went onto the left side, and vice-versa. I was told by ABA to have each baby on only one side so the supply would match the baby but in my case it didnt work. Just something to keep in mind when you are getting established. best wishes, Marie.
ps, I never burped them, I just put them back into the cot/ bassinette. If one was a bit unsettled I would then try to burp, but I never did it as a regular thing.

[brooke88(mum2b09)]

Thanks for all the replies. It's great to know other Mum's have been able to do this sucessfully. I'll definitely have to invest in some of those pillows...

[krystallxx]

congrats on the pregnancy, and good on you for wanting to breastfeed!!

i tried b/f in hospital with my twins and struggled too do it, but eventually i got there, so its possible, just takes alot of practice and i think it makes it easier if you have support from a lactation consultant or something around you.

unfortunately one of my babies wouldnt attach properlly so i had to go to bottles for him and i found it easier to put them both on bottles.

Good Luck :fingerscrossed:

[MammaMia]

After struggling the first few weeks, and almost deciding just to feed them singularly forever ... at 3 weeks the babies and I mastered twin feeding! Hooray!

So, my best advice: breathe! It can all come together when you least expect it.

And my second best advice: ignore anyone who tells you it is a breeze, or that it has to be done from the first few days, or anything else that implies you and your babies will master it just because it is 'natural'. It is a learned skill and despite being twins, the babies are individuals and will work it out in their own timw and pace.

Best of luck!

[Nomsie]

Hey there,

I'm a bit late on finding this thread, but I'll put in my 2 cents worth anyway for those of you pg and researching.

I alternate my boys each feed, as I have an oversupply, and sometimes one guy is more hungry than the other, which can cause one boob to become engorged and painful. Alternating helps alleviat the problem.

I use a milkbar pillow, it's stylish (not that this was influencing my decision) and comfy, and I have never had a prob with it.

On my lac consults advice, I always fed both boys 3 hourly. They have stuck like clockwork to that themselves, except one day when Beau was having a growth spurt. Linc is a lot bigger, but he still got put on when Beau wanted a feed- if he fed, he fed. If he didn't, he didn't. I did have to top him up once after he skipped a feed, but it was no big deal.

If you have never bf before, see a good lactation consultant. I was lucky- mine was an angel, and free! I have the option of day stays at her clinic (also free) but my boys learnt quick and I have never needed it.

Keep an electric pump on hand. Not only will it initially help you increase supply, but I found I have a few fast let down, and I need to express until the let down is over. Ebay is great for cheapies!

Relaxation is key I reckon! I joined the ABA and got their Breastfeeding twins booklet and breastfeeding Naturally book- both have been excellent! And in just under 6 weeks of the boys existence, I have called their help line twice.

And lastly, when I am exhausted and feel like just putting them on the bottle and being done with it all, I think about how much extra they are getting from bf, how lucky I am to be able to do it, and how guilty I would feel lol!

:goodvibes: twins are twice the work, but quadruple the love! :bee:

[2bunnies]

Hi there
I BF my twins for 16 months. I was lucky i didn't have any major problems. For me it was easier quicker and cheaper than bottle feeding. i did go through a few stages where I had to feed them separately but mostly( had a good twin feeding pillow like the other ladies ) fed them together.
Good luck.

[twinkleprincess]

Hi Ladies

Saw your thread and had to reply, I fed my twin girls til they were 13months old when one weened herself off and i had to go onto antibiotics so weened the other off at the same time.

My success came in the fact that firstly it was VERY VERY important to me to BF my babies, as they were 5 weeks premmie i wanted them to have the best start possible, I also set myself realistic goals which started at make it to 3 months, then 6 then 9 then 12,

Also i found it easier to feed them in the football hold with a boomerang pillow,

i wish you the best of luck

:babydust2:Twinkle