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Multiple births

feeding twins

12 replies

Franchini · 02/02/2014 10:55

can you let me know your breast feeding tips please? is it best to allocate one boob per twin?!
is it possible to breast feed at all? I do want to breast feed them but am half expecting to have to express and use formula too.
already have one dd, but ended up having to express for her as she was tounge tied (another story!)

OP posts:
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Franchini · 02/02/2014 10:55

they are due in 4weeks

OP posts:
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Twicethehugs · 02/02/2014 14:23

It's definitely possible - my girls have just turned one and are breastfed. We started off doing some mixed feeding at the start due to concerns re weight gain and my milk taking a little while to come in after CSection etc.

A few tips

  • don't expect to do much else for the first few weeks, all housework, cooking etc to be done by someone else if at all possible
  • tandem feeding saves time, not everyone likes it though. If you're tandem feeding get a decent bf cushion
  • I swapped breasts with mine most feeds for various reasons e.g. One breast seems to produce more milk, they spend a while laying like that and someone mentioned it's better re eyesight, also flexibility so I didn't have to worry about one being on the wrong side when I mixed them up in sleep deprived state.
  • I found expressing just one more thing to do and so just breastfed as seemed easier, some find it really helpful though.
  • again not for everyone but I've found co-sleeping is the only way I've carried on bf as I had two babies who wanted to feed very frequently.
  • breastfeeding doesn't work out for everyone and it's hard at times with twins so don't give yourself a hard time if it doesn't happen.


There's quite a bit of info out there e.g. TAMBA have a guide to breastfeeding twins which I think you can access online & they have breastfeeding counsellors you can talk to by phone.
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Linguaphile · 02/02/2014 15:55

Well, I only breastfed for the first 3 months, but I always used to rotate them on boobs because otherwise I would have ended up with crooked cutlets (one always took more than the other)! Two other thoughts:

  • a good tandem pump will probably be your friend, even if it's just for helping you to keep up production in growth spurts. If you're like me, you may end up having to increase your milk production after formula supplementation in the NICU, which pumps are good for. It's also nice to be able to pump for outings and/or a night feed or two (having DH do one night feed with bottles really helped me with sleep).


  • you may or may not like tandem feeding. A good pillow is helpful, but I'd try borrowing one first so you don't end up out of pocket if you decide you prefer doing one at a time.
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Twicethehugs · 02/02/2014 16:16

And food, how could I forget. You need to eat and drink lots - at least 1000 calories extra I was told. I didn't know it was possible to get bored of eating! If you have time/ energy, cook some meals for the freezer - actually this is probably a good plan whether breastfeeding or not.

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bunnymother · 02/02/2014 16:18

I breasted my twins for the first month and I did NOT stop eating. Cake, chocolate etc. constant eating. I didn't put weight on, though.

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FreeButtonBee · 02/02/2014 16:28

I have just finished BFing my twins, they are 1 this week. I never bothered expressing after the first 4 weeks (DTS was TT so I had to top him up with bottles (some formula too) until he got going)

Agree with do nothing else other than feed. Get a tandem pillow. Mine used to nap on it (with me underneath) for the first 4 months! I fed singly at night as it was more comfy but some people prefer to wake the other one and get it over with. I swapped them over every 24 hours for the first 2 months but once supply settled, I allocated them a boob each during the day and then at night fed from whichever side was fullest.

Oh yes, and eat! I was one 3 slices of cake a day until they were 9 months. And I am a stone lighter than pre preg.

I also found it really helped with my bonding too. It was our time and although it was a tie and frustrating, I think hormonally, it was useful. It was one of the few things that i managed to do 'properly' - not that FF is not proper but I hope you know what's mean.

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Margetts · 03/02/2014 11:34

I managed to BF until 16 months until they self weaned at about 16 months. I only managed this as I gave them a bottle of formula at about 6.00pm. I discovered very early on my milk supply was low at this point and if I didn't give them formula I would feed all evening. Giving them the formula allowed me to recharge my batteries, have a proper evening meal and a couple of hours off in the evening. It allowed my DH to help feed the babies and they always slept really well after this feed.
I never managed to tandem feed bit used to rotate my boobs each feed. In the night when one woke up I fed them and the woke the other to feed them, other wise I would lie in bed waiting for the other to wake. I got them into a routine where they both fed a roughly the same times which allowed me to go out and not worry that the babies would be hungry.
Good luck

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Teds77 · 03/02/2014 16:25

I fed my DS until 14 months and DD until 16 months and am sure she would have continued longer if I'd let her! The early weeks are exhausting so you do need support from partner/family and you need to accept you'll just be a feeding machine and stuck on the sofa for long periods.

DS had a bottle of expressed milk at bedtime from 3 months to make bedtime a bit quicker and then switched that to formula from 8 months as had done enough expressing.

I found setting a target of breastfeeding for 12 weeks helped me - I was determined to make it and by the time I did it was as easy to carry on as to stop.

Other than that, don't put too much pressure on yourself - what you feed them in the first few months is such a tiny bit of parenting and twin mums spend too much time feeling guilty about a gerzillion things as it is!

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Teds77 · 03/02/2014 16:29

On the expressing - I just did this once a day when they dropped their 11pm/midnight feed I just replaced it by pumping before I went to bed. DS then had that the following evening at 7pm.

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ClairesTravellingCircus · 05/02/2014 13:18

Hi mine were partially mixed fed because of problems I had with one breast, but it is certainly possible!

I second the food thing, I have never eaten so much in my entire life! (and still lsot weight) shame I put it on again though

There is a great book called Mothering Multiples about bfing multiples.

Best of luck

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lamprey42 · 09/02/2014 19:57

Definitely possible but everyone has their own way of making it work. Mine were born at 34weeks so i had to express until they could latch (nicu) staff were v good at helping). Did take a lot of time in the early days so draft in help - especially if you have an older dd. We didn't mix feed or do an expressed feed but lots of people do early evening. There were loads of times I thought about giving up in first 3 months but then it suddenly got easier and they still feed at 14 months. I had a side car crib in first months and now we co-sleep so not too sleep deprived. As said above the 'mothering multiples' book is good. The woman who wrote it also admins on the fb group 'naturally parenting twins' which is good for advice.

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beachesandbuckets · 09/02/2014 22:36

I did too despite similar concerns to you beforehand. Someone gave me a feeding cushion which has been invaluable, allowed me to feed them at the same time keeping my hands free to use remote control, use internet on phone, help my older dcs with things. If I had done them seperately I would never have had had time to do anything else, which is a reality for me with older dcs to look after, housework etc. I never consciously rotated boobs etc, whatever baby was the nearest etc. I have had mastitis a couple of times tho as positioning more difficult but still doing it now. Good luck x

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