Getting nervous now... Advice on bf (twins) second time round after successfully ebf no 1... Tiktok and any others who've bf second time around?

[legallyblond]

So.... I ebf DD (total bottle refuser so I never pumped or anything). It was fab! It seemed to take a little while for the colostrum to get going (the midwives hand expressed for me and DD had it in a syringe) but then I started dabbing her with a cold, damp cotton wool ball to wake her up / get her sucking and she was away (for two years...!). I stopped just after her second birthday, about 10 months ago.

I am really starting to worry about the second time round. I'm pregnant with (v unexpected!) twins, so it's v different. DD was born naturally at 42 weeks. These will come via c section at 37 weeks (in one weeks time!!!). Also, with DD, my boobs grew huge during pregnancy and I leaked a lot from about 30 weeks... This time, my boobs gave hardly grown (up one size only, to the size I was when I was at the end of bf, just doing one feed a day) and no leaking AT ALL, even if I massage to hand express.....

They are arriving in a week and I am suddenly v v worried.... I had no plans to express or mixed feed etc, just breast feed, as I did with DD. I consider it must be perfectly possible with twins as I have no concerns about supply / demand (had heaps of milk with DD)... But no leaking, and no big boobs....

Does any one have any advice? Twins aside, is this normal second time round....? And how about 37 weekers after a c section... Will that make it much harder..? Until now I've just though "I've done it once, my body / boobs will know what to do", but now I'm not so sure....

I don't think any two experiences will ever be the same. Throwing in the fact that you're having twins means it has to be different! I really struggled to feed my first daughter whereas my second is a breeze (she's 14 weeks) will ignore the fact that I'm a bit worried about weight gain for the purpose of this thread!

Good luck and take each day as it comes! Someone better will come along in a minute!

I'm bfing my twins after my older 2 and it has been really different. In a bit of a rush so quick post but feel free to pm me with any questions.

1. Boobs were huge & leaky 1st preg, not so much for subsequent.
2. feeding 2 at once very different, definitely need feeding cushions in the early days. Feeding simultaneously ace if you can crack it. Feels weirdly impersonal at first and not at all discreet. Babies are facing each other rather than looking up at you. Once they get older this is lovely as they interact with each other but in the early days can feel a bit like a sow with a litter... Sorry! Mine are frat twins so different feeding needs. I did them together when I could but still had some nice snuggly one on one feeds. Feeding them simultaneously seemed to help them bond and become aware of each other really early, the better feeder also helped the weaker with getting a good letdown and I had more time for my older ones.

Now at 6.5 mnths bfing is a lifesaver. It's quick, I don't have to bring feeding kit with me when I go out and I can have my hands free to do crafty stuff or read books with DD while feeding.

Am glad I persevered through hospital ffing, TT misdiagnosis and all the other early dramas as these are my last babies and bfing is a joy now.
HTH

Leaking during pg is no indicator of later milk supply

If you fed successfully first time round and had a good su

Leaking during pg is no indicator of later milk supply

If you fed successfully first time round and had a good supply then that bodes well

The biggest carriers are likely to be the after effects of you all of the CS. Do you have a birth plan with plans re skin to skin
Will you have someone in recovery with you who can help you

Have you made contact with the lactation advisors at the hospital

They should be able to visit you on the ward for eg

While in hospital what help will you get
Can someone be with you as much as possible

What about at night

Once home
You have a feeding pillow?
Comfy chair?
What support is available there

Can you bsby moon for a month -6w

Co sleep

Hi, my twins were born just before 38 weeks - induced then had CSection under general anaesthetic - not surprisingly it took a while for my milk to come in. We were in hospital for 5 days which was good for support (1st time mum) but as they were only 5 lb ish, I had to agree to give top-up bottles to ensure they gained weight. I phased these out when home and gaining well (had drugs to stimulate milk supply & took fenugreek which can help).

Tandem feeding can be a time saver, a good feeding cushion can help, I really like my EZ2nurse which I got 2nd hand but I think it depends a bit on your height, the sofa etc. There's lots of advice on breastfeeding twins e.g. From TAMBA and La leche league and TAMBA have some breastfeeding counsellors can speak to by phone for advice which I found helpful in the first weeks. I'm sure it's different than one baby e.g. The time involved and more exposure! You also need to eat loads to keep up with them.

I hope all goes well for you and you manage to breastfeeding them as you want to.