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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Is this do-able?

10 replies

Penguindreams · 04/10/2010 09:04

I know this is stupidly early to be worrying about this sort of thing (I'm 18w with twins) but it has a knock on effect on returning to work and childcare, which I do need to sort out early!

If I can, I really want to breastfeed the twins when they arrive. I'll need to be back at work within a couple of months (self employed) and was - probably v naively - thinking I could feed them when I'm at home and express so that they can still have breast milk when I'm out.

Is it even vaguely likely they will both cooperate and take bottles of breast milk during the day Grin?

Are there any tips for mixing breast feeding and expressed milk successfully?

Many thanks!

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 04/10/2010 09:33

Lots of mums find this works - it's best to leave out the bottles until the babies are 4-6 weeks old at least, if you can.

What sort of work do you do? Will you be able to pump while working? (Possible if you're mostly on the phone/computer - not so possible if you're working face-to-face.)

Original poster
Penguindreams · 04/10/2010 10:32

I'm a barrister - suspect the Judge might be a little confused if I start pumping in court Grin!

Thanks!

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 04/10/2010 11:16

I don't know what courtrooms are like for private room provision. How much of your time is spent on research/prep? You can mix that with pumping, I think ...

castleonthehill · 04/10/2010 11:37

I would try not to worry to much about this if you can. It may depend on when they are born and how quickly you all get the hang of it.

  • Ask for lots of help getting them latch on and getting comfortable.

  • don't try and do to much look after yourself and eat properly

*Take as much help as you can but be clear with everyone that their your children so you are boss.

*When you have feeding sorted out and you are confident ( about six weeks) this is when a pattern as a merged and you can predict when they will feed try expressing and get someone else to give them a bottle. ( might be best to go out at this point as it is strange to watch someone else feed your baby)

  • You may find it works out that you end up mix feeding from day one anyway it depends on what support you get in hospital.

  • Get you child care sorted out early as they may also help with sorting out feeding and if you are having a nanny it will be good for you all to get to know each other.

NotQuiteCockney · 04/10/2010 14:24

If you're in London, I do know a doula who specialises in twins, and in breastfeeding.

Oh, and any BF support group (phone line, whatever) will be v eager to help you, as twin/triplet mums who want to BF are relatively rare, and oh, yeah, people who do those things are always eager to help anyway!

MarsLady · 15/10/2010 21:15

Yes. Completely do-able.

ClimberChick · 17/10/2010 00:11

If you have a private place to work, then you can pump hands free and carry on typing and working. (Not that I've ever done this)

As others have said, concentrate on the feeding them first and trust us there's plenty of time to worry about the going back to work bit after.

I went back to work early and worried about this needlessly early. Get to 6 weeks if you can, pumps can be hired at very short notice (would recommend double hospital ones, makes things 100x easier).

Also there's a chance you won't be able to express (play around with a cheap manual weeks 3-6) or they refuse breast after bottle (but can pump full time)

MumNWLondon · 17/10/2010 22:08

its dooable if you will def be able to express at lunchtime (allow at least 30 mins). otherwise you would probably be v engorged and would not be able to function. ideally to maintain supply you'd want to express at least 4 hourly during the day.

tips - offer them at least one bottle a week from 4 weeks.
hire hospital grade breast pump and start building up stock in freezer while you are at home with them.
buy good portable double pump for your lunchbreak at work.

its doable but would require a huge level of commitment - even though i am very pro bfing i suspect that under those circumstanced i would probably give formula when i was back at work.

Original poster
Penguindreams · 18/10/2010 09:34

Thanks all. I was looking at the Mothercare catalogue over the weekend - is there a real difference between the hospital-grade pump you can hire and the Medela double electric pump you can buy? I was assuming I'd need to get the latter, but happy to hire the hospital one if it's likely to make a difference.

OP posts:
ClimberChick · 19/10/2010 01:09

I never noticed too much difference in output between any pump I used, including manual (though consistency has been better on electric than manual, but that's let down related).

The hospital grade one is a lot quieter, I found it a easier (though admittedly never used a double electric) and also I think the peace of mind. That I had the 'best' one, and also one that was designed for heavy usage.

Work has one already, so I have an additional one at home. If I was having to cart it backwards and forwards, then the regular electric would prob be easier in that sense. The rental isn't heavy, but is bulky and I get the bus. Renting also gives you the option of trying for a month to see if it works out for you. Then you haven't spent a lot of money on something you don't use. I think in the UK they're about 30pounds a month.

As with everything, there is no right option, just the one that works best for you.

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