How do I get my sleepy newborn twins to feed more?

[Janberryxx]

Hi, they're just 8 days old, born at 38 weeks +1, weights 5 lbs 11 and 7 lbs 7, but they lost a lot of weight by day 3; 11.5% in thecase of the bigger one. Now the pressure is on me to get them putting on weight but, you can take a horse to water......but how do you make it drink?!
I've followed all the MWs' advice, trying to wake them up, stripping them down to their nappies, prodding and poking them washing them down, changing their nappies, but even if they become more alert, how is that supposd to make them hungry? They don't seem to be particularly.
They're supposed to be feeding every 3 hours but I spend the whole of that time trying to wake them up. They may well latch on but then they just drift off to sleep most of the time!
They are now putting on weight, but very very slowly, and its exhausting work! PS. I'm breastfeeding them.
Any ideas/ thoughts/ feelings? Have you been here too?

Hi, congratulations. Great weights and well done for carrying them for so long.

Mine were really sleepy too and had poor latches (were jaundiced as a result). The midwives were insistent I should give them top up feeds of either EBM or formula (I did the former). I later found out the midwives can only discharge you into the care of the HV once the babies had gained all the weight they lost (maybe adds to the insistence to give top ups as I never had to do this with DD1).

You've got an older DC haven't you? So assume your latch is fine but might be worth getting it checked (if they're having to work hard for their feeds it might be wearing them out... I'm rather clutching at straws here though..)

Mine only had the energy to suck a few times before falling asleep. It's much easier for them to take a bottle/cup at this stage unfortunately.

Good luck and hope someone else posts something more useful

Sorry I can't help more - you have mentioned all the tricks I used (I sort of flicked mine too which sounds worse than it was). The only other thing I can think of is skin to skin contact and bathing with them. It might be worth posting in the feeding section to get more advice. Well done btw - you must be tired. Hope it works out.

Were they c section? My c section twin was much sleepier than the other one. I just went at their speed, babies wont starve themselves.

Just hang in there. it will get better all of a sudden Do make sure the latch is as good as it possibly can be so that when they do feed it takes as little effort as possible! Skin to skin is really great as it keeps them a little bit more alert. Definitely strip right down to just nappy and make sure it's not too hot. Then keep tickling them to keep them going

Another great thing to try is breast compression which is basically to express into their mouths whilst they are latched on. Do this if they stop sucking, it'll get them going again.