To ask your pumping regime? [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[SleepingStandingUp]

Babies steuggling to latch / getting so looks like pumoing. Milk finally come in so have started but my flow is low.

But I'm already beginning to think I've a mistake.

Babies feed hourly, take an hour. Settle them. Pump for 30 minutes. Sort bottles etc. That's basically 1h45. Then 15 getting ready before a feed.

Give me 1 I n 3 to sleep assuming babies are asleep, they're not great at night. Hard to sleep in day. So tgat's 3 hours sleep a day??

I'm a mum of twins and I pumped for them for 2 years. It is doable but hellish at the start.
Get a lactation consultant to come and see you if you can afford it. Google IBCLC they have a map, most have a social media presence these days.
Are you on Facebook the breastfeeding twins and triplets UK group is great. Loads of people start out in your position and manage to nurse ( I didn't). Also exclusively pumping mums UK and exclusively expressing mums UK (something like that anyway are decent UK pumping groups)
Do get it set up as a double pump and set it up hands free with a pumping bra if possible. You do need to pump min 8 times in 24hrs for 20 mins I guess, but even managing 10 mins here and there will boost your supply.

You will get better advice from others than I can give in pumping but I agree with PP see if you can get advice to get them on the breast eventually. Pumping is so tough. I have heard of many babies making it eventually to the breast after a trying start.

Twin A will try really hard and has a momentary latch, Twin C just stares at it 😂
Can't afford lactation specialist but will speak to midwife who is lovely and very approachable to see if there's someone she can recommend.

I'll hunt for that connector, think I need to work out how to pump and bottle feed simultaneously

@SleepingStandingUp I've no advice for you as I'm also struggling to find time to breastfeed / pump / sleep and I only have one baby! Yesterday I washed my hair for the 3rd time since baby was born 4 weeks ago. Just wanted to say I know how it feels to think you're failing at everything and letting everyone down. But in reality, from your posts, you're being so patient and kind to your babies. IME the latching starts getting better about 2-3 weeks in; I'd echo what PP have said about trying to get some IRL support from LLL or an IBCLC. It feels like a mammoth task but if it saves you from the endless feed-pump cycle it might be worth it?
I also find the reddit breastfeeding forum helpful (and sometimes darkly comical when I'm feeling really shit)
You're doing great - don't lose heart 💕

Exclusive pumper here, though not for twins. At the start I was doing every 1-2 hours to get supply up though with a bigger break during the night. Now 3 months down the track and I do 3-4 hourly during the day and 5-6 hourly during the overnight, so it does get better!
A couple of things that help me.

Double pump is essential, and if you can get a hands free pumping bra it's even better.

Don't need to wash pump parts, just keep them in a closed container in the fridge between uses and sterilize once a day.

I also keep a cooler bag and ice packs by the bed at night. Once I've pumped I put pour milk in to milk bag or sterile bottle and pop into cooler along with pump parts. Saves getting up to put in the fridge.

Keep a waterbottle by the bed at all times. I get so thirsty when expressing especially at night.

The more you can pump/feed the better to get supply up but not to the point that it's affecting your health. You sound like you're doing an amazing job!

My local breastfeeding support group is able to refer people to a lactation consultant (for free). Also peer supporters and breastfeeding counsellors at groups may be able to help.
Best of luck!

I expressed for just shy of 6 months and will get DC2 to 8 months on partial breastmilk using the freezer stash I built up. Definitely join the exclusive pumping mums UK group on Facebook, they were invaluable as a source of information and support. There are many people there pumping for multiples and pumping long term so it can be done!

You can make your own pumping bra. Primark sports bra enough to accommodate massive BF breasts. 2 cut out slots to slide in pump flanges and off you go.

@myduckiscooked my 42 HH is currnetly tight, is it likely a Primark one would fit? Altho no idea when get out the house 😂😂

Thanks fro all the ideas and support x

my 42 HH is currnetly tight, is it likely a Primark one would fit

Hmmmmm maybe not, the joy of feeding twins.

Oh gosh, you’re doing so well!

Re: attachment either buy another (sod cost) or put out call for help on a local mums group, someone may be able to lend you one.

Do you have children’s services in your area? Or maternity support workers? Ours send people to your house to help. Your HV or midwife should be able to signpost you.

Congratulations on your babies!

Our routine the first couple of weeks

Feed baby with sns / DH tries to sleep a bit
Pump while DH takes care of baby (she sleeps only if touching someone)
DH processes milk and sterilizes pump parts while I sleep with baby
We both sleep for a bit, at most 45 minutes.
DH gets up and preps sns for next feed.
At 3 hour mark I start feeding again.

It was a grueling couple of weeks, but it gets easier week by week. We were able to sterilize less frequently after a couple of weeks and stopped pumping and using the sns by 6.

You just have to get through this early period and it gets easier.

Rent a Medela Symphony double pump, or similar hospital grade pump. You should get a free trial period.

I pumped after every feed, every time, for ten minutes max. Then that milk in the fridge and mixed with formula for the next feed, just as bottle were being made up. I did that for 3 months. If someone else can bottle feed that milk while you pump it speeds it up. Don't sit on a pump for half an hour, youre not getting any rest.

II

@BrigidSt I wasn't sure about mixing it so have split one lot of BM feed, fed both and then topped up to how much they're meant to have with Formula so I'm feeding them each twice for every feed I have BM

I'm not doing well at all, I've only managed to pump twice today, just 80 ml and 100 ml

80 ml and 100 ml that's not anywhere as bad as you think it is. Pretty sure I aimed to get 100ml every time I pumped after my milk had come in.

Those are good amounts for so early. Do you have a handsfree pumping bra? Those are lifesavers. You can make one by cutting holes in an old sports bra.

That's a good amount given how young your babies are, it's been colostrum until now and Milk's only just come in. Supply will build from here. You're doing so well!

Google breastfeeding support in your town. What’s available varies. Local peer support groups are experts on what’s available. Some lactation consultants do free clinics, or offer reduced fees if you’re on a low income. My local one gets donations from customers so she can see one or two mums free per month who can’t afford it. Either way, one consultation is a few weeks worth of formula for twins - if you can find or borrow the money it would be worth it. I wish I had done it.

I am currently on diazepam (again) for the damage to my back caused by pumping so often for so long. It seemed like my only option at the time but looking back it wasn’t sensible. I missed so much bonding time and cuddles strapped to that bloody pump.

Also get an old sports bra and make slits horizontally across the middle - smallish. You can then slot them pump in and have your hands free.

I pumped, breastfed and formula fed my twins and it was HARD GOING. Be gentle to yourself. Bloody well done for everything so far.

I see the bra advice has already been given!

Medela nipple shields helped my twins latch. Hand expressed some milk into them first to help create a flow etc. Gradually weaned them off them.

If you can't find the connecter to make it a double, you need milk collection shells to fit in your bra on the side you're not pumping from.
www.amazon.co.uk/Medela-Breastmilk-Collection-Shells-Breast/dp/B000WHL2RQ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I didn’t manage to bf my twins. Like yours, they were good weights, but still sleepy and struggled to latch. We ended up back in hospital due to weight loss and jaundice, where I expressed and topped up with formula. Eventually I couldn’t hack it anymore and they were exclusively on formula by eight weeks. I don’t regret it now, although I found it upsetting at the time.

If I could do it again, I would basically take to my bed with them. I’d prioritise sorting out the latch and getting them to feed from the source, topping up with formula as necessary. I know it’s very difficult to manage that when you have an older child, but I think it’s always going to be more sustainable if you aren’t having to do all the extra work that comes along with pumping. Definitely ask for breastfeeding support from your midwife or health visitor if you can’t afford a private lactation consultant. In addition to the Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets group on Facebook, I’d also recommend the Breastfeeding Younger Babies group.

Whatever you do, make sure you’re getting some rest where you can, eat and stay hydrated. And congratulations on your babies!