top up/combination bf/bottle

[ladybirdm]

Hey, I'm a newbie to this board. I'm 34 weeks pregnant with dcda twins "waves"

I hope you guys don't mind but i'd like to pick your brains.

I'm currently putting my bag together (i know its a bit late) and I think i need to put some bottles in just in case.

What bottles/teats have worked for you to top up or combination feed. Are the more expensive bottle/teats better or does it just depend on the baby?

Ive just been diagnosed with Gestational diabetes and ive read they will need feeding within 30mins of being born. i have every intention of bf but want to cover all bases...

If you want to breastfeed then you'll be advised not to introduce any bottles and just exclusivly bf...etc etc. BUT if you choose to combination feed i'd recommend the breastflow bottles. The teat on them is specially designed so that it works in a similar way as a nipple and the baby has to use the same action to get the milk. They look weird actually! You can get them for about £3 a bottle in TK MAXX i think.
usually you don't need bottles in holspital as the formula they give you comes with a teat on it. And you wouldnt be able to keep your bottles sterile either come to think of it...

Oh and hello lady! :)

Cool, thank you :) I've noticed you sort of have to invest in the whole bottle and teat thing as they don't fit with each others. Thanks for the reply. Ive got bf class booked and I've been given a DVD with bf twins on it, so I'll concentrate on that. Thanks again xx

there are several of us who have bf twins here, so lots of experience if you want to ask advice. might be worth posting this in the bottle/breast feeding section too, to get more experience of mixed feeding.

but if your babies need feeding more than just your colostrum, the hospital should provide milk and either bottles or syringes to feed it, so you may be better working out what you would use if needed, and where to get it, then sending your dp to get it when you go home, if you need them. you may not, and it's a lot of money for something you may not end up using.

incidentally, I found the EZ2nurse foam cushion indispensable in the early weeks, allowing me to position and feed both babies at the same time.

congratulations :)

You may want to consider (it may be suggested) to not use bottles initially (I mean in the very early hours and days) - syringe or cup feeding instead. I mix fed and my boys switched easily between the 2 (after 4 weeks tube-fed), but I'd imagine it would be best to try to get breastfeeding established first if that was possible.

You are having twins, you have GD, in the end whatever gives you 2 healthy babies to take home is the best option, but I'd at least ask about other options (it would possibly need a neonatal nurse to help).

Best of luck - my boys are 2 on 6th May which must be about your due date. A good time to be having babies!

Thank you for your masseages, they have reassured me. i think i was getting a bit wound up about it.

As you say Rattling healthly babies is all you want xxx