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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

urgent help re breastfeeding please

54 replies

ZuzuandZara · 02/03/2010 23:45

Hi, quick history. I have 4 week old twins, born 6 weeks early and spent 3 weeks in SCBU. Have had them home now for 10 days. born at 3 and 4 lbs now 4 and 5 lbs. Exclusively breast feeding and going really well, they wake every 3 - 4 hours to feed then sleep in between. Larger baby has recently (last couple of days) not been latching on very well, really fussing around, swinging head from side to side until eventually latching on. sometimes takes 15 or more mins to get her to latch, always succeed eventually. This evening has been particularly bad, until she has become slightly hysterical, screaming and shaking head, trying to suck but obviously nipple not comfy in her mouth because she just wont suck! Have eventually expressed 50ml and put in bottle (something we were planning to try at some point) and she took straight away and wolfed it down. then managed to get her to latch on for about 5 mins. 2 questions - any tips on the latching on problem and how much to feed her in a bottle? She last fed at about 8pm on the breast but not a full feed and then the 50ml in bottle and 5 mins on breast about 20 mins ago. MAny thanks and sorry for bad typing am v tired and trying not to be stressed!z

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shantishanti · 05/03/2010 17:27

My DD did the head shaking and refusing to latch thing when she was tiny. For her it seemed to be just a phase and she stopped doing it after a couple of weeks. Hope this helps!

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 05/03/2010 18:00

Thanks Shanti, that really helps. Think it's improved already but very reassuring to know it's just a phase and won't last. Thanks.

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MarsLady · 05/03/2010 18:18

Well done Z&Z. Good to see that things are improving. Once you've sorted their latches then you can work on the tandem feeding.

Kitkatqueen · 05/03/2010 20:13

Hi Zuzu, Don't know if this helps much but I'm tandem feeding ds1 and 2, (not twins) I thought it would be really difficult and I just thought the lack of hands would be a massive problem, but actually in some ways it was easier than feeding one in a cradle hold. I put a cushion on each leg ( whilst i'm sitting on the sofa) and once they are latched on i'm actually hands free (hence the amount of time I spend on here )

With a bit of creativity with extra cushions to hold them in place I can even lift my little one to wind him by myself whilst still feeding the other. I've been feeding them together this way since ds2 was 3 days old, admittedly he was bigger that your twins, but its definatly worth a try.

MarsLady · 05/03/2010 22:17

How you doing tonight?

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 06/03/2010 13:22

Aaagghh! Latching well now, thank goodness. Both babies last night with tummy ache, bringing legs/knees up, painful crying etc. Am hoping it's maybe something I've eaten and not the onset of dreaded colic

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BosomsByTheSea · 06/03/2010 22:17

Hi Z and Z,
SOunds like you are doing a brilliant job. I have exclusively bf my DTs since they left NICU at 4 days old - they are now 24 weeks.

Don't know if you already have one but the EZ to nurse twins pillow was a godsend for me - really helped in the early days and I have used it for nearly every feed up till now - they are growing out of it.

Also, DT 2 who was 5lbs 6 at birth really struggled with latching - shouting, head shaking, latching onto his own hand etc - but it improved as he grew - in part I think it was the difference in size between baby's mouth and my nipple that caused him trouble. Things will improve with time.

Do keep a really close eye out for any soreness that might be thrush as it can quickly become agonising and that is no fun when neither side ever gets a break!

You'll get lots of really good advice and support on here!

MarsLady · 06/03/2010 22:34

And how's this evening?

Let me know when my asking stops being encouraging and becomes nagging... I'll try to stop but ... well... ask my ladies. They'll tell you I'm always asking. lol

Kitkatqueen · 06/03/2010 23:45

lol at marslady! everybody needs their own personal cheersquad too!

Zuzu, you're doing great!!!!!!

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 07/03/2010 12:59

Bosoms (ace name!) that describes both the girls on and off but now that I know it's not like that every feed, just occasionally, I'm coping a bit better. They were 3 and 4 pounds at birth and now 4 and 5 pounds so I think the size thing is an issue like you say. Had a good night last night, a bit of tummy ache from one but not too bad at all.

Have got an ez pillow,not really tried using it yet, just seemed like I needed to focus on one baby at a time but now things have settled a little I will have another go. Thanks for your support.

Mars, it's great to know people are so supportive and I appreciate you thinking of me. Who are you and 'your' ladies then?

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Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 07/03/2010 13:01

Thanks kitkat, I do need to remind myself I am doing well. I am exclusively breast feeding 6 week prem, 4 and 5 pound, 5 week old (today) twins. Go me!

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MarsLady · 07/03/2010 20:44

Well done z&z. It's a wonderful achievement and you are right to be proud of yourself.

I'm a birth and postnatal doula specialising in twins, but I do lots of singletons as well. So my ladies are my clients (and random strangers I meet at garden parties, on buses etc)

BosomsByTheSea · 07/03/2010 21:25

(and people who call in a panic from hospital?)

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 07/03/2010 21:53

Crikey Mars, can I give you my address?
barges Bosoms out the way

Can I retract my previous post? Have had terrible evening. Neither baby feeding properly, either head shaking, not opening mouth, not sucking etc. Feel like crap. Have just given them a bottle of EBM. Now they wont go down. DH going back to work tomorrow. Poo.

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MarsLady · 07/03/2010 21:56

Z&Z some days are like that. But when it all goes pearshaped... don't panic. Just keep doing what you've been doing and they'll come back round. It's not easy but it is worth it.

Did you check for thrush at all? (Too lazy to scroll down).

Of course you (and you Bosoms) can be my ladies. lol

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 07/03/2010 22:03

Thanks mars, am trying desperately to stay positive but it's challenging to say the least.
Doc checked for thrush and I look every time they yawn! Seems ok.

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BosomsByTheSea · 08/03/2010 09:17

Z and Z do you want to chat? If you CAT me I can give you my number. It took us ages to crack the feeding - and we still had blips when it felt like we'd 'got it'. More than happy to talk about how it went for us if that would help.

Kitkatqueen · 08/03/2010 13:47

Hi z and z, I'm guessing that your dp went back to work yesterday, its a shock isn't it?

Its ok, you will be fine, we're all still here too. You really are doing great, just don't try to do anything that isn't absolutly necessary for a few weeks, and make yourself a packed lunch the night before Don't be hard on yourself, you are doing a tough job!

Hope you are doing ok.....

MarsLady · 08/03/2010 23:27

How's it going?

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 09/03/2010 10:05

You lot are great! Sorry is taking me ages to reply, I'm sure you understand. Mum or friends babysitting me at the moment when DH at work so am keeping things together, sort of. Argument with my mum yesterday ie day 1 didn't help

You'd think, wouldn't you, that if you stuck a great big milky boob in a hungry babies mouth that you would have some sort of agreement between the two of you. Apparently not.

Bosoms, would love to chat, if I can find a spare second. Ahem, what is CAT? and how do I do it?

Thanks everyone, you're keeping me sane

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Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 09/03/2010 14:18

Ha! Went to weigh in clinic this morning and both girls put on 8oz. 8oz! They're sucking me dry! Woo hoo!

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MarsLady · 09/03/2010 22:27

Well done! Great gain. Shows you're doing well huh?

NotQuiteCockney · 10/03/2010 08:24

Well done you!

There are lots of BF drop ins around if you want in person help - and BF folk will be extra-eager to help you, as we know breastfeeding twins is harder work.

(I met someone this week who was working to BF triplets!)

BosomsByTheSea · 10/03/2010 13:23

WOW!! 8oz is BRILL!!!

To CAT me, click 'contact poster' at thetop rt of the post. You can then send me an e mail!

Well done well done well done!!!!!!

Original poster

ZuzuandZara · 10/03/2010 19:52

Thanks Cockney and Mars. I will go to the breastfeeding drop ins, it's just a matter of trying to get out the house on time at the mo, also we have a new car that I can fit the double buggy in, but I haven't got insurance yet [long boring story why I haven't got insurance yet!] so I'm only walking places for a couple of days. BF triplets - triple wow!

Bosoms, I can't CAT you, haven't paid my fiver for the year but have changed my preferences so you can CAT me?

The feedings going pretty well for the time being. Both latching quite quickly (probably jinxed myself now!) Want to start introducing a bottle regularly as well so DH can feed. Am thinking that when they are have their 'problematic' feeds this might be a good time to give a bottle which they both take quite happily! Any thoughts?

Anyone want to pop round my place and get the little *&^%$ to go to sleep for me? I want my dinner

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