Breastfeeding Twins

[OJandMe]

Hi all,

I'm a 21 yr old mother of twins and had tremendous difficulty in breastfeeding them. I wanted to breast feed them exclusively for a year, but after a month I just couldn't keep up with the demand. Not only that, but because they were 5 weeks early, they didn't have any head control and once I had them attatched, if they came off, I had no way of getting him back on because I was holding the other one! I ended up expressing and feeding them bottled breastmilk, but they just kept eating and eating. They were eating every hour and I couldn't express enough for them both. I ended up putting them onto alternate feeds of formula and breastmilk and weaned them completely to formula at 2 months. I really wanted to breastfeed them, but have no idea how people can do it when you have to attatch them by yourself, and how do you reattach them if they come off?

I'm very interested in hearing other people's stories about how they fed their twins whether bottle fed or breastfed, and why/how you made the feeding options you did.

Did anyone else have as much difficulty as I did? If you breastfed your twins for a while.. I'd love to hear how you managed it!!

[AM]

I just had to pop in and say that I am totally in awe of women who cope with twins, even the thought of it makes my mind boggle!

Angie

[mummy_to_4]

It took me a while to get use to feeding the girls at the same time but more often then not only one needed feeding at a time when they were younger. Once they got a little bit older 3 to 4 months I found feeding them together not so hard as at that stage they were starting to be able to reattach by themselves. When feeding one at a time it felt like I was feeding 24/7 as i would finish feeding one and the other would need a feed and so on.
I managed to fully breastfeed the girls and not have to supplement with formula. I continued feeding them until taylor was 14 months old and Tahlee 19 months.
My best friend gave birth to a set of twins 6 weeks after I had the girls and found trying to breastfeed both very draining and ended up alternating between breast and formula - one twin would have breast the other formula then they switched at the next feed. She continued this until they were about 6 months old then found it a lot easier breastfeeding as they were able to attach and reattach is still feeding to this day - they were 2 in march.

[mummy_to_4]

Forgot to add did you contact the ABA for any help or advice as they are very helpful and full of wonderful advice.

[lily81]

My twins were 7 weeks premmie but I did not have many problems attaching them, it was keeping up to their appetite. All I can say is it does get better, they are nearly 5 months old now and sleeping through at night which is a godsend because they basically feed all day. I intend to keep breastfeeding as long as I can but do not let anyone make you feel as though you have failed if you do give them formula. I contacted a lactation consultant and she made me feel bad for wanting to give the boys formula if I needed a break.

[rachdent]

Hi girls

I just wanted to add that I too am in awe of anyone who has twins, whether they breastfeed or not. I sometimes think I struggle with one, never mind multiples. I am currently researching a book on breastfeeding and would love to hear from all of you about your experiences. Please see my info below if you think you may be able to help...

I’m currently (slowly) in the process of compiling a book about breast feeding from the ‘expert’s’ (i.e. mother’s) point of view. I want to include real mum’s experiences of feeding their babies, quotes about feeding, cultural and traditional insight, etc, so that pregnant women and new mothers can read stories of people in the same boat of them. I want to look at what women want in regards to breastfeeding and bottle feeding their babies and whether our current health system helps women achieve these goals or not.

I would greatly appreciate if you could write up an account of your own experiences – whether you breast fed or bottle fed. Please make these stories as personal as possible. Feel free to include emotion and humour, and please write as if you were having a chat with a friend. Remember that anything you write may be included in my book, which will hopefully one day be commercially available. Therefore, if you would prefer to remain anonymous say so and I will respect that by giving you a pseudonym.

Also could you please pass this email onto any other mums you know and ask them to send their accounts to Pink.Ink077@gmail.com Some of you don’t have children or are not mums – please pass on to those who are – I’m also hoping to hear what dads think about feeding, so get them to send write-ups too.

You can include info about:
1) Whether you wanted to breastfeed or bottle feed before you had your baby and your reasons for this desire.
2) Your initial experiences of feeding when in hospital. We’re the midwives helpful?
3) How feeding went when you returned home?
4) How long you fed for. Why? How did you feel about this decision?
5) What affect do you think your feeding choices had on the relationship between you and your child?
6) Whether you continued to breast feed after going back to work? How you managed this?
7) Tips for other mothers on feeding and parenting in general.

Please use the above points only as guides, I want to hear about YOU and that means your responses should come from the heart. I’m especially interested to her from mothers of twins or more, those who had c-sections, those with premature babies, those whose babies have/had allergies, those who have breastfed while pregnant with another baby and those who breastfed second time around. Also please send your stories of breastfeeding problems such as blocked ducts and mastitis.

Feel free to be as creative as you want. Some ideas for formats for information: letter to your child, drawings, poems, whatever!!!!
Thanks heaps for your help in my research. I promise to inform all of you should I manage to get a publisher for my book, but please remember I am only in the initial stages of writing and such news (if it ever comes) will be some time away.

Rachael Blair

[lily81]

I don't know if this will help you or not but I use a tri-pillow when feeding my twin boys. I sit on the lounge and hold them in the football position. Using this technique allows you to keep them stabilised if one comes off you can re-attach. Also you can lay one down on the pillow (on your lap) while you burp the other one.

When my boys were born they were initially tube fed because they were 7 weeks premmie so I had to express for the first four days. This was really hard because all I wanted to do was breastfeed them and have them close. The midwives at the hospital were very keen to get me breastfeeding as soon as possible. I had the boys by emergency c-section and the doctor put me on tablets to boost my breast milk. I only took 2 tablets and my milk came in virtually on its own. I have more than enough milk so I don't take the tablets.

It has been a struggle breastfeeding twins. Because I feed them at the same time I can't go back to bed and feed and I also find it difficult to go out however now I just express and give them bottles if I go out. But it is all worth it. I have two healthy baby boys whom I adore.