Breatfeeding twins - how long is it possible for?

[MrsMopple]

I have also posted this in Multiple Births

My twin boys are now 4 weeks old. They were delivered at 34 + 4 by elective c section due to concerns about their (and my) health. They spent 2 weeks in scbu, where they were tube fed overnight with ebm and where we established daytime bf with nasal tube top ups. I finally got them home at 2 weeks old and they are still exclusively bf at the moment, but it's bloody hard going, especially at night when I seem to have one good night followed by a night when they seem to be constantly feeding, one after the other - my worst night being when this went from 10pm to 4am. I do sometimes feed them at the same time, but it's difficult at night as I've moved into the spare room with them so that DH gets some sleep (he has a physically demanding job that involves operating heavy machinery and I'm not prepared to risk his life for my sleep!)

My HV weighed them yesterday and both have gained 7oz in the last 6 days, but the smaller of the two has dropped from the 2nd to the 0.4th centile and she said that if he goes lower than that, I'll have to supplement with formula. The thing is, I bought some formula after a bad run of nights, but in the end I couldn't bring myself to give it to them, yet, as there was so much work involved getting the bf established. I will be FF or at the very least supplementing with formula at some point, though, I just don't want it to be yet.

So I was wondering - is it possible to exclusively bf twins and stay sane? Or do I have to accept that perhaps another week or two will have to be it?

Never done it myself, but I met a lady who was EBF her six month old twins - and she seemed sane!!

Hope someone with something more useful comes along soon.

I breastfed my twins for a total of two years two months, exclusively for the first six months. It IS possible to do it and stay sane (but hard work!).

If they were born at 34 wks and are only 4 weeks old they are still 'supposed' to be inside so they will need frequent feeding- it will space out as they get older! You have done the hardest part with establishing feeding after a difficult start, it will only get easier from here.

The best way to increase your supply is to feed frquently (sure you know this). Feeding both at once will also get easier as they get bigger/ more head control.

Check out www.karengromada.com/karengromada/index.htm
for lots of stuff about breastfeeding twins.

Good luck- it DOES get easier.

I EBFd my twins to 25 weeks, and they are still going now (2.2 years). It is tough going at the start, but the alternative of bottles always seemed like even more work to me.

At night - I got up with them at first, while we were all getting the hang, but as quickly as poss worked out how to feed lying down - I'd have one lying on my tummy / chest, turn over slightly and have the other lying with their head on my arm.

Reread your post - if you can get tandem feeding that will be another help. Do you have an ez2 nurse pillow? I really found that helped me get them both fed at same time.

Good luck with it! Shout if you have more questions, I am racking my brains but it is somewhat of a blur to look back on!

A friend of mine BF twins for about two years, I think. And she made a really good point:

Yes, BFing twins is harder than BFing one baby. But everything to do with twins is harder work. And FF twins - seriously? Getting up in the night with two screaming babies, making up two bottles, having to feed them separately??!

a friend of mine is still breastfeeding her 2 yr old twins

and yes, it did drive her potty, but she is glad she did/does it!
there is no reason to supplement just with a drop from 2nd to 0.4th centile as far as I know.

just keep feeding on demand and you should be fine.
it IS bloody hard work, my friend did bugger all some days (and nights) except feed and it really took its toll

but as a pp says... imagine doing it all but having to make up bottles each time as well!
the other thing my friend said when she tried some expressed milk once is that it's much easier to breastfeed because you can arrange yourself on the sofa, with cushions to support the babies and still have at least one hand free
when you bottle feed you need about 4 hands! lol

I have a friend who BF twins for over six months. She also had to express to BF as one of them had a tougne tie which they refussed to snip as a baby. But she's just had to have it done now as a toddler.

Hey MrsMopple - you have my huge respect for BFing twins at all. I am always in awe of mummies of twins! Like others here I have no direct experience but recently met a mum who had BF her twins til 11 months. When I said how amazing I thought that was she said that in her view making up bottles for twins would have been much much harder work (once you get over the early days of establishing BFing). She tandem fed and reckoned that she'd saved loads of time doing it that way. It will get easier for sure! Of course, if you're still struggling in a while, no one will think anything of it if you do decide to switch - you will still be doing an amazing job and shouldn't feel guilty about switching to formula if you feel you need to.

But do ignore your HV regarding the centile drop thing meaning you must do formula. If you feel under pressure to do this at any point please come back on here and ask TikTok or someone like that for advice.

F me, fing well done for getting this far with your twin - all that feeding through the night. The logistics must be crazy! Brilliant! When I read your post I also thought - can you imagine having to do all those bottles for twins? Doing anything with twins!

I am also sure that 2 - 0.4 is not huge at all. I'm sure that 75th to 25th is regarded as normal so 2 - 0.4 must be fine. It must be like 99th - 95th or something and you wouldn't worry about that would you.

(I would like to at that is totally amateur thinking and should be qualified by a (well informed and trustworthy) professional.)

Yes the PP are right about the weight issue. Your HV is misinformed and should not be suggesting formula at this stage (her own professional guidelines should make this clear, but lots of HV don't necessary keep up to date with the latest recommendations).

If she is genuinely worried about your DS' weight (which seems to me unwarranted, since he is gaining) then she should be suggesting:

• immediate referral to GP or paediatrician
• further support from a qualified breastfeeding counsellor, who can help you identify and fix any problems.

The HV's immediate suggestion of formula top-ups suggests that she has had no training in BF, so getting help from a counsellor would seem like a good idea in any case !