Engorgement - will expressing when your milk comes in make it better or worse? (any twin mums with tips please also pass on any words of wisdom

[carriemumsnet]

My darling sister has just had much longed for twins (hurrah hurrah - sorry still a bit over-excited, but it was 8th IVF attempt). She's valiantly trying to breastfeed without much support in hospital - had a paediatrician insisting on formula within first 6 hours because blood sugar levels were low etc etc.

Anyway today, day 3, her milk has come in big time and her breasts are rock solid which is making feeding a bit tricky and life a bit painful. I'm ashamed to say I remember this but can't remember what if anything I did about it. She's just called to see if there are any helplines she can call... and I said yes, there's a rather good one called Mumsnet!

Anyway oh oracles, should she be expressing to soften breast up pre feed and then using EBM to top up (which is what I suggested) or will expressing make more milk and exacerbate the rock hard breasts problem. I keep saying it'll just settle down, but that's easy for me to say and not that easy to hear.

All wisdom welcome - particularly from anyone who has fed twins

Thanks all

[reallywoundup]

i expressed at the mega boob stage- filled the freezer and knew for sure that i would have enough milk iyswim. Maybe if she's sore warm flannels first, then hand express a little off, then feed babies then express off anything thats left for when she is knackered having some me time

Congrats autie Carrie!

[reallywoundup]

obv that was Auntie

[curlyredhead]

When I got engorged with dd1 I just hand expressed a little bit, enough to let her latch on.

I am still bf dds 2&3, twins who are now 16 months. I can definitely say that bf these two has been one of the best choices I made as a mum of twins. With two boobs and two babies you can calm them both in a way that very little else can manage.

I found an ez-2 nurse pillow really helped - the foam rather than the inflatable.

Good luck to your sister!

[BertieBotts]

I think best thing to do is express just enough to relieve the soreness and enable the babies to latch on if they are having trouble.

Give her all these helpline numbers as well as they are great for BF support and she will be able to get direct advice.

• National Breastfeeding Helpline
  0300 100 0212
  
• National Childbirth Trust
  0300 330 0771
  
• Breastfeeding Network
  0300 100 0210
  
• La Leche League
  0845 1202918
  
• Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 08444 122949
  
  Please pass on good luck and congratulations!