Encouraging stories of breastfeeding twins please for mears sister - how did succeed?

[mears]

Some real life stories would be helpful I think. It is overawing having 2 wee babies who haven't quite clicked you without needing lots of help to latch on.

What was it like for you starting out and what are your top tips?

I am off to the hospital now to help so will check in later.

Both born yesterday morning - 6lb 13oz and 6lb 4oz

[belgo]

Congratulations to your sister and to you on becoming an auntie!

I have a friend who is currently bfing twins. They were born seven weeks early and both spent several weeks in SCUBU. One twin started bfing reasonable, but when my friend took the second (smaller) twin home, she had only bf her twice.

Now they are both 9 weeks old and she is bfing them both - but it's taken a huge amount of perseverence! I have a great deal of respect for her. The twins are both putting on plenty of weight.

My friend says that the bfing cushion she has has been a godsend - it's made of firm filling so both twins can lie on it and she can bf them both together - both in the rugby hold.

I have another friend who bf twins for a year - she also bf them at the same time, one in the rugby hold, the other twin parallel.

Good luck to your sister!

[MarsLady]

First tip: DO NOT LISTEN TO NEGATIVE HCPs!

In the first few days she should work on her latch with them individually!

Then she should tandem feed (to be sure that she puts the twin that is fussing on FIRST). If she tandem feeds she'll get more sleep.

TOP TIP! (that one of my twin clients gave to my latest twin antenatal group): Set short goals. Her plan was to breastfeed for 3 MONTHS! She found that thinking about it long term in the beginning caused her to stress. So... the first 3 weeks meant that she was half way to half way. Then she continued for another 3 weeks and was half way to her goal. Then another 3 weeks and she was almost there. At 3 months she felt wonderful and continues to exclusively breastfeed!

Make sure that her freezer is full of food. She won't have much energy for cooking etc in the first few weeks.

Keep large bottles of water at hand. Remember the thirst? Increases with twins!

She should BABYMOON. I know I say it all the time but to bf twins she really really does need to do it and to go back to bed as much as she can.

She should get a breastfeeding pillow. Either a nice cheap V shaped one or something like the Eazy 2 Nurse. I only ever recommend pillows to twin mums.

She should keep her visitors to a bare minimum in the very early days. It will take a while for her to get to grips with the sheer relentlessness of breastfeeding, but SHE WILL COME TO TERMS with it and it will work well.

You know all there is to know about breastfeeding. It doesn't change for twins. Same rules etc apply. Her and her DH MUST MUST MUST rest as much as they can in the beginning.

I've CATed you so if you need my number etc... it's your!

I exclusively bf mine for 18 months (stopped when I wanted to. Could have gone on for years).

[doodlemama]

Hi hoochiemama,

I am expecting twins in 2 weeks and planning to bf. wondered what you meant by breast compression?

[doodlemama]

Sounds good. Thanks for the link and info on d'y ever thread. WIll take a look at both.

The mere mention of cake has set me off now. Going to have to take a break from t'internet and raid my cupboards!

x

[mears]

Does the few posts on here mean that not many mums breastfed twins or just the timimg of the thread?

[breadandroses]

Hi,

I am breastfeeding 9 month old twins, here are my top tips

Like Mars says, BABYMOON

Think small, 6 weeks, then 3 months etc.

It will take up ALL her time for AT LEAST the first 6 weeks.

I never had a breastfeeding pillow, just used lots of pillows either side of me.

Individually at first, then both together in a few days.

For me tandem feeding worked as one twin was(is) a poor feeder and benefitted from not having to work so hard at the breast cos his sister was doing all the work.

I have to avoid D'you ever cos I can't keep up!

Good luck!

[mears]

thankyou to posters so far - any more?

[Flibbertyjibbet]

I don't know much about starting them out. My sister had twins after bfing her previous 4 children so I suppose she had got the knack of latch etc.

I went round once and she had the twins on the dining table while she fed both of them and had a book propped up on one of those cookery book stands!

At other times she would have them both rugby style feeding together on the sofa - with a few handily placed cushions she could then have her hands free to do things with the other children.

[MissingMyHeels]

preggersagain is bfeeding twins after overcoming lots of obstacles (they are now about 3 months old) - will post this link on our PN thread to see if she sees it.

[mears]

Thanks

[MarsLady]

Might be the timing.

Love the thought of the twins on the table with a book propped up.

BREADANDROSES Don't worry about keeping up. Just post and say hi! [stern look]

[dairymoo]

I'm currently BF 8 month old twins and I'd just echo all the advice already given re: v-pillows, feeding together if you can (was excellent for me in the early days as they ALWAYS were hungry at the same time), now I feed them separately more often than not as I love the one-on-one time with them and they get so distracted 'sharing' me!

Most important thing for me was to have my DH and mum on-side so that when times got tough (growth spurts, etc) I had encouragement from them, not the suggestion of giving a bottle.

And as MarsLady says, just don't listen to the HVs and everyone else (tbh) who seems to think that BF twins is completely impossible and/or insane. Personally, I think it's insane to faff around with bottles when you've got everything you need right in front of you!

Best of luck!

[mears]

new thread seeking help