I'm really struggling to bf

[TripLetItSnowAndTwins]

My twins are 6 days old and I'm really struggling to bf... my milk has been slow to come in because they aren't latching well and I've got very sore nipples and when they do take from me, they have a few sucks and stop.

I'm trying to express now, which is better as it's painfree and is giving my nipples chance to heal, and I now have enough to feed them, but it means that i have to first bottle feed and then express milk to them and then express for the next feed.

When feeding, my mil or dh has one baby and i have the other, but feeding is taking at least an hour. Then they have a tendency to arch their backs and spit up.

It's made worse by the fact that everyone expects me to be an expert at this whenever I say anything 'But you've already had triplets twins shouldn't be hard for you!'

I had similar problems last time, and ended up giving up attempts at 14 weeks.

Should I let them sleep and let them tell me when they are hungry and then feed them both?? Or just wake them every 3 hrs like i have been doing and did last time?

Alexander was born 5lbs 14 and is now 5lbs 13 and Elena-Rose is still her birth weight at 6lbs.

I'm going to see the lactation consultant next week, but I know that she will just tell me what I already know!

First off, big respect to you and many many congratulations. Lovely names too.
Just bumping this really in the hope that a more knowledgeable soul will come along.
I think that at the moment the best thing to do is lots and lots of skin to skin, and basically don't go too crazy with the expressing, because even if you are expressing to compensate for a bottle feed, the expressing will not maintain supply in the same way as a baby feeding would. Also, while feeding is mostly instinctive to a baby, it is also a learned skill that they need to practice.
In terms of letting them sleep, is prob best not to let more than 3 hours go between feeds.

Oh and they were fantastic sizes for twins. My singleton dd was only 6 and a half pounds!

Wow! you are a trooper! Sounds like you did an amazing job to BF triplet to 14 weeks - most people give up well before then with just 1 baby...

Are you already a member of a multiples club or somesuch? doubtless they have twin feeding experts/members but in meantime, the two women I know who have BF twins have used one of those feeding cushions that fixes round your back and then fed them at the sametime, one on each breast. I am no exprt but I believe you can do this indefinitely as your supply should adjust to feed each adequately from one breast...

I would call one of the BF helplines to get advice on the latch before next week as it's a long time to wait for advice when your nipples are sore. I'm sure Tiktok and others will be about soon to give more specialist advice but I just want to encourage you and congratulate you on doing so well...

Oh my bloody god you have babies everywhere! How on earth are you expected to wait till NEXT WEEK for help!?

I always thought it didn't matter too much if in the first week they didn't feed too much because they didn't need to and they were probably sleepy after the birth (esp if you had drugs etc) but I may be wrong entirely. Can you call your midwife and ask for some more immediate advice?

Many congratulations by the way. It's lovely to hear of someone trying so hard to nurse multiples and even more so for a mum of triplets and twins to be doing so.

Hopefully someone who knows more about the newborn stage will come along soon.....

The only technique that reduced breastfeeding pain for me was the rugby hold. The problem was I could never remember how to reposition. It's a bit of an awkward one.

Wow - Congratulations! And well done for BFing triplets to 14weeks (we need a proud of a fellow MNetter emoticon!)

I have only had one so my experience may not fit your situation but... I do believe that BF babies do better if they are demand fed. It does not mean you can't have any order to your day just not such a strict routine iyswim. That said if you have 3 already and twins to feed demand feeding may not fit into the family too well. If you have enough support to do it you may find that a few weeks of demand feeding will help get them feeding well, then work on introducing a bit of routine later?

Definately call the Midwife for immediate support and contact the BFing Helplines. If you don't have numbers let us know and I (or someone faster at it than me) will post them here for you.

Don't worry too much about the odd bit of EBM DD had a bottle from about 10 days once or twice a week and she had no nipple confusion etc, not sure how it works feeding just EBM but I know others on here will have more advice.

Congrats again

Hang on babe. Will read through.

t&t email me.. lovelymarslady at aol dot com

Lots and lots and LOTS of skin to skin.

Don't worry about tandem feeding just yet. Let's sort them one at a time. They will need waking at least every 3 hours but preferably 2. I know... I know... been there got the shirt!

The weights are good.

How are the nappies?

When they finish feeding be sure that they are held upright for 10-15mins. Use your MIL etc to do this.

Have you tried feeding lying down? That's another good way of getting the breast fully in.

Remind me... were they c-birth or vaginal?

Rugby position also very good. Especially when you are ready to feed them in tandem.

Also... feeding them vertically (biological nursing).

Anyhoo... email me babe. You know you can do it. You've already started. You got the trips to 14 weeks let's go for gold and get the DTs going for at least 6 months.

Wow - I agree, respect to you

Feeding is bound to take an hour....this is normal and actually not very long for two babies.

Attachment to your breast is worth working on, not just to deal with the soreness but to give them lots of practice latching on - lactation consultant help next week is far, far away, and in the UK you'd see a midwife every day.

Babies who are small (I know, they're big for twins, but they're still small) normally need feeding little and often and 3 hours is the maximum amount of gap.....ideally they would feed more often than that and encouraged to do so with lots of skin to skin (harder with twins - they'll have to take turns sometimes).

Good luck

Hey there - I'm no bf expert but my ds was very sleepy when born (similar birth weight to your two) and didn't wake up demanding to be fed. He got jaundice as a result and I was told off for not waking him to feed. He would latch on, take a few sucks and fall asleep.

The bf counsellor told me to wake him every 2 hours until he started waking up by himself (I know this sounds contrary to bf advice to feed on demand but it's only until he did start waking up by himself and we're now feeding on demand quite happily). She also advised that I express small amounts to supplement his feeds, which I gave to him through a syringe after he'd been on the breast. This was both to make sure he got enough milk and to make sure my breasts were stimulated enough. The syringe was used to ensure no nipple confusion and is handy as you can feed them even if they are asleep.

Feeding took up to and hour and a half during the early days - it drove me mad!

I was warned not to over express - was feeding him just 10-20ml on top of the breast feeds and ditched this as soon as he started latching on for more than 20 minutes at a time.

Was also told tricks to keep ds awake during feeds: strip to vest (so a bit cold), tickle feet and ears, blow on face, change nappy if he fell asleep, etc.

It was all a right royal pain in the bum but it paid off and within a week or so he was feeding beautifully.

I'm not saying you should do any of this, btw, but thought I'd share my experience. Personally, I'd get help before next week - I'm sure they would bump your appointment if they knew you were having problems.

Good luck, and well done for bf twins - huge respect to you!! xx