Advice needed from twin mums re bf two babies (expressing for one)

[Isabeller]

My adult DD and I were amazed to find we were expecting at the same time. Unfortunately at day 5 her baby had lost a lot of weight and she discovered she had breast hypoplasia. I began expressing to donate milk, initially as an emergency measure so I am currently, in effect, attempting to breastfeed twins.

I initially expressed for DS who was premature, he is now 7 weeks corrected and feeding well. DGS was a healthy term baby and is now 4 weeks. DGS gets some milk directly from his mum who is working hard to maximise her milk supply and is supplemented with expressed milk. Both are around 3.5kg.

Any advice would be very much appreciated. I am not feeling very fit and healthy, partly the knock-on results of a difficult pregnancy and birth. I'm expressing as often as possible and I am getting pretty tired.

I know someone will have had a similar or bigger challenge. Please help!

No experience of feeding twins. Just make sure you're eating and drinking well to help your supply.

Really I just wanted to comment to say what a lovely kind thing you're doing.

It's not quite the same thing, but I have been expressing for donation, although I imagine not to the extent that you are.

I express mainly first thing when I seem to have the most ready supply, and before the day gets busy. I mainly do it during DS's first morning nap. Expressing is hard work, and you will need to make sure that you're well hydrated and nourished to keep yourself feeling well. Are you taking any supplements? I find vitamin B to be a big help to fighting feeling so knackered.

You're doing a wonderful thing, and I hope you're managing to get some good rest whenever you can. I think that it will get easier as you recover more from the birth, but until then - keep your jobs to a minimum and look after yourself.

I ebf my twins until 10 months. I mostly tandem fed ; can you express while you feed on the other side? I think the hormones might mean you get more milk that way.
I would switch your DS from one side to the other each feed to keep your supply up. Drink and eat loads. I found cake to be essential ;)

I had some problems with supply at the start and was advised to feed on demand I.e. Loads, eat and drink lots, rest as much as possible. I also took fenugreek capsules (from health food shop) and a short course of some medicine to help my milk come in. If you have anyone who offers to cook, clean etc take them up on it as it's pretty much full time to feed two babies! I agree about swapping your son between sides and expressing from both sides too - I definitely had one breast that produced more milk. Just to echo what others have said, it's such a lovely thing you're doing. I hope all goes well for you all.

I am bf 4 (2 are ebf on demand) and I agree with posters above. If you express as if you're tandem feeding and if you're still bf after 15 minutes try switching sides it may help your supply.

I take placenta pills which I believe are the reason I am not flat on my face with exhaustion and why my supply is great. Like someone said, you could consult your HV and GP to see if you can some herbal pills to see if they help or even herbal tea - you can find some for bf.

Ultimately, eat well, rest as much as you can and stay hydrated. I find it handy to keep a bottle of water with me wherever I go even if it's just the other room incase I need to bf.

Good luck, I think it's wonderful what you're doing.

Supply and demand woks on frequency of removing milk rather than volume of milk removed, so for both of you, feeding or expressing often is what will build supply. You are doing an amazing thing, and you can do it. Good luck!

Re herbal supplements, I always found that Jamie's Curry increased my supply, which I put down to the fenugreek. Curry probably worth a try?

Sorry my reply didn't work

thank you all very very much for the advice. I got some extra vitamins and had a chat with a very helpful pharmacist who said eat even more fruit.

The encouragement and all the tips are a big help, I will certainly try increasing my curry intake.

bf 4

and try to feed at the same time as your body will expect it. I was expressing to donate and am now tandem feeding and certainly the mornings would be a good time for me and often lunchtime ish too.