Will I have enough milk to breastfeed two babies?
At some point every mum worries about milk supply but when you’re breastfeeding multiple babies, it’s easy to wonder how it’s possible to feed more than one human being (not including yourself). Rest assured, many mothers of twins, and even triplets, do exclusively breastfeed for the recommended six months.
When it comes to supply, remember the golden rule of breastfeeding: ‘the more milk you feed, the more milk you make’. Every time you breastfeed your babies, your body gets the message to produce more milk. If you are feeding two babies and ‘draining’ both breasts, your body will begin to produce enough milk to keep two growing babies happy.
Remember that your body has already spent nine months nourishing two developing babies – it is more than capable of doing so now.
When your babies are going through a growth spurt they’ll be feeding more often and you may worry that you won’t have enough milk to sustain them. But their insatiable hunger will only serve to help your body produce more milk.
If you want to be sure that your babies are getting enough milk, then check their nappies. After the first week, they should be feeding eight to 12 times a day and producing six to eight wet nappies each a day.
Is it exhausting breastfeeding two babies?
While breastfeeding in itself shouldn’t be exhausting, what can be tiring is that every feed takes longer and you’ll be doing it more frequently.
It’s also worth remembering that your twin babies might share many traits but it doesn’t follow that they’ll share a feeding pattern. You may find that when one is sleeping, the other wakes for a feed. If you want to maintain any sanity or energy, you’ll need a good routine and some support.
Try to see breastfeeding as an opportunity to sit down and enjoy the chance to bond with your babies, even if you have to snatch those moments when you can.
How do I breastfeed twins?
If you can, breastfeed your babies as soon as possible after giving birth. Lots of skin-to-skin contact will help get breastfeeding established.
As with breastfeeding a single baby, the most important thing is getting the latch right. Remember, your babies’ tummies should always face yours to prevent them from having to turn their heads to feed and they should take a good mouthful of breast rather than just suck the nipple. If breastfeeding ever hurts, get your latch checked by your health visitor or midwife.
You can then breastfeed twins either one at a time or at the same time with a baby on each breast. There are benefits to each approach.
Separate feeding
Allows you to give one-to-one attention to each baby, something mothers of twins often feel they have little time for.
You have both hands free to attach and position one baby. Once attached, you have a spare hand to rock the other baby, cuddle another child, have a drink, etc.
Some women feel more comfortable and less conspicuous feeding one baby rather than two, especially in public.
It avoids the problem of what to do when one baby finishes feeding before the other (you don’t have to sit there with one boob hanging out, drawing a crowd).
Allows you to find the best position for each baby – what works for one baby may not work for the other.