Help needed - how can can I increase my milk production for my 34 week twins?

[Lavitabellissima]

Some help advice wanted please

I had my identical twin girls on the 4th Nov a little early at 34+3 weeks and had an emergency C section. I was kept in hospital and hand expressed colostrum. As babies were early they had not much sucking reflex so were being given premature baby formula top ups to encourage feeding, once my milk came in i was using the hospital pump and feeding expressed milk in bottles. Before giving the bottle the babies would do 5 mins on the breast to keep them used to it. They would suck for a few times and fall asleep (they have been asleep pretty much for the last 8 days!) they are getting much better at sucking and definitely latch on properly.

When I got home I didn't have a manual pump, I ordered one for next day delivery and it didn't come till yesterday, so I was expressing what I could by hand (10/20ml) and topping up with formula but my breasts were engorged. When pump arrived yesterday afternoon I pumped and got 160ml! but since then whenever I've pumped I can only get 20ml, I can feel and see that my boobs have gone down

I really want to breast feed!!!!

How can I increase my milk supply?

I am pumping anyway and still putting babies at the breast before their feeds to try and stimulate the flow, and alternating give the 20ml I can get out to each twin, every other feed.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do, eat, drink or take to encourage this. My girls are getting stronger every day, more alert and sucking for longer and I feel confident to breast feed but feel like my body is letting me down.

Please help

goodness well done you! you are doing all the right things trust you body, honestly, it is very very clever. your boobs will make more, the more they feed.

can you get some real life support? bfing drop ins, national bfing helplines etc.

please don't worry that your boobs have gone down - there is always milk being made and in fact production is faster with a soft and 'empty' breast. your babies need lots of practice, like they are getting - make sure you are feeding them at least 8 - 12 times in a 24 hour period.

there is nothing you can eat or drink per se that will affect your milk although it is a good idea to look after yourself.

galactagogues are herbs that help milk production - nettle tea, fennel, fenugreek, and others - i'll go find a link, but the main thing is to make sure your DTs are feeding well and removing the milk that is being made as this will encourage your boobs to make more, and then you can express to stimulate more production. eventually, you will be able to stop expressing .

well done you, seriously, good effort!!

someone properly knowledgeable might be along soon...

here

and an old wives tale is oats - a nice bowl of porridge mmmmmm

Congratulations on the birth of your twins.

There will be more experienced members on here that will probably give you more informed advice

How often are they feeding?
I would recommend doing lots of skin to skin and putting them on the breast whenever they they are showing signs of wanting to feed. (Normally will be feeding every 2 hours or less during this period)
Do you hear many sucks and swallows?

Expressing quantities vary from woman to woman and is not a true indication of the milk you are producing.

If you are having to express for feeds then you need to be doing it at least every 3 hours around the clock to get your supply established
Have you looked on www.kellymom.com. Lots of adivce on BF

Also I think it is worth while going to a BF Cafe or seeing a lactation consultant for face to faace advice.

Call NCT or La Leche league breatfeeding helplines for advice too. Not sure of numbers to hand but if you google they will come up

National Breastfeeding Helpline 0844 20 909 20
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers helpline 08444 122 949
Breastfeeding Network Supporterline: 0844 412 4664
Breastfeeding Network Drugline: 0844 412 4665
La Leche League Telephone Helpline: 0845 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding line: 0300 330 0771

Hello are your babies still in hospital? My dd was early and and in hospital for a week, I think my advice is keep going and eat and drink lots!!! I had choc hobnobs by my bed so I could eat when dd woke me up for a night feed! My dd rarely fed for longer than 5 mins in one go without falling back to sleep, eventually this does increase to 10-15mins. The best advice someone gave me re bfing was that it is hardwk for newborns to bf and it is a skill that can take them up to 6 wks to really learn how to do effectively, I found this to be the case with my dd. Just keep doing it, it gets eaiser. Good luck x

Also 2nd finding a bfing support group, great place to meet other new mums and get some much needed tea and reassurance!!!

Thanks so much for replying, I'll keep going with it and hope it all gets better soon.

I've only been home 3 nights so far, but girls have put on weight, which is the main thing I just was worried the milk might disappear. Not sure I'm ready to venture out yet but will def read up on the websites. They are always asleep and I have to wake them to feed, but getting a little more alert evey day

They are do gorgeous though, can't believe how much I love being a mum

If they have put on weight thats fabulous! Your doing really well it took my dd ages to put on weight, she got there in the end though and is now a big healthy bouncy beautiful 4 yr old!!!

Sounds like you're doing fantastically - congratulations on your girls.

Can you hire a hospital grade pump? When I was expressing for my prem DD, I got so much more milk using the hospital pump.
And also please focuss on how much you've done already for your babies. Having been there, I know the hand expressing etc isn't much fun so well done. And Congrats on your DTs.

I think the weight gain is because we are topping up with the prem baby formula, but they were so small I can't let them lose any.

Thanks again

Have you been discharged by the midwives? Are you still getting help at home?

I'd recommend a double electric pump, you don't have to buy you could just hire one.