Breastfeeding

[modsaluk]

I have just had twins and am breastfeeding them they are only three days old and my milk has not yet come in they seem to be constantly feeding so very tired at the moment, i have only had three hours sleep the first night and forty five minutes last night. I also have a DS who is 2 1/2 and get up about 6 am, how on earth and i going to carry on breastfeeding when my husband goes back to work after his parternity leave ???

I think i am going to have to put them on formula then or does anyone have any ideas ?

you poor thing
there are people on here who have bf twins
bumping for them

BUMP

No honey... you don't need to move over. The first couple of weeks are the most intense. It is totally possible to fully bf your pair even with the busyness of a toddler etc.

Now... do you have any help at the moment? What you need is a freezer full of food and helping hands.

Come and join us on the multiples thread where we can give you lots of tips. In fact I'll send them this way.

I'll CAT you!

i thought it was you but didn't want to put pressure on by naming names

No pressure babe. I've helped a fair few on the main multi thread to bf. It helps having been there.

Here's the multi thread again

Honey... you don't accept CAT (contact a mumsnetter) so you can email me if you like:

lovelymarslady at aol dot com

The first few days with even one are very tiring, but it will get better.

As Mars says it is totally possible. I b/f my twins for only 6 weeks as I just didn't have the support. I have regretted it ever since. These are such precious bonding days (and short lived)and what really lets you feel like you are doing something great.

My mum pressured me onto bottles and said I should be spending more time with my DD1. That she could be doing most of the feeds leaving me free to keep life normal with my DD1. I felt so guilty that I did it.

If you can have someone to cook an evening meal or big pot of soup for every night that would be great. If someone could collect and return laundry, also great. It gets me so mad that friends and family come round and enjoy the babies when what they should be doing is supporting you to enjoy your babies.

I tended to b/f my DTs separately as I found together very tricky. Then with my free arm, I would read to my DD1 or just sit with her while she drew or watched telly. It doesn't matter if your other child has to do without trips to the park etc or a bit, it will change again.

Sorry if I'm ranting .

The thread Mars linked is our daily one. We will take good care of you, please do join us.

I regret giving up feeding my dts (a year next week ) I only managed 3 weeks then dh went back to work and I couldn't cope with ds1 and breastfeeding on my own.

Get lots of help and stock up the freezer, I also regret not contacting marslady who I am sure would have dragged coaxed me through as she has done many others.

Stick with us and join us on the other thread - between them those mulitple mums can answer anything on twins and more and have saved my sanity many times

Are they one already ooogs? Time surely flies!

next saturday mars, 29 March

Modsaluk, I don't have any other children apart from my DTs, but I'll throw in my 2 cents worth anyway!

Like everyone has said already, the first weeks are the toughest. Going on to formula won't necessarily make life easier...

What worked for me was support (from the gorgeous Mars ) and setting myself short term goals. I told myself I could re-evaluate the decision to breast feed after three weeks, then three weeks after that etc and before you know it, they are 12 weeks old and it truly is easier by then.

So pick a time frame - even if it is only three days - and get through that, congratulate yourself, then re-evaluate...if you can make it through your time fram once, you can do it again! and again and again!

Well that's enough rambling - hope it was of some use!

Keep at it. It's amazing what you get used to!!

Modsaluk, I have dts 13 months and ds1 3years1months. I'm stil bfeeding the dts. It was hard to start with, but you will get there. Sleep, eat and drink (i'm amazed how much I needed to drink when feeding). find someone who can help you out with ds1, does he go to nursery? if so put him in for extra days. Find someone to help you out at home. Get as much sleep as you can.
Keep visitors away unless they are coming to help!

We've discussed this many times before and most of us agree that bottle feeding is more hassle and more time consuming than breastfeeding. BFing or not twins and a toddler isn't easy but I really don't think bfeeding makes it any more difficult.

I agree with 2 things that twolittlepigs said - set yourself small goals and get support from Mars !

Hope you manage a bit longer but it is hard. I did four weeks but like you I was so exhausted from no sleep and looking after a four year old too. I found it hard so the midwife suggested a bottle sometimes to top them up. After a long hard thought it was one or the other so I put them onto the bottle. They beneffitted from me initially but we can't do everything. I felt guilty and disappointed but that soon passed as my partner and I shared feeding in the night so he did the late evening and I went to bed by nine, then I got up for the twoish feed and so on. We both got better sleep as when I BF he felt he had to be up too and of course you hve to be! How nice just to get a bit of sleep and how easier to get through the day as I didn't get to catch up on sleep then. Good luck with it and don't feel pressured you need to stay sane!!!! And if that means getting some sleep and using a bottle sometimes or all the time just do it!

Hi,

WELL DONE AND KEEP GOING :}

CO SLEEP

TRY TO TANDEM FEED

AP MULTIPLES YAHOO GROUP HAVE LOADS OF GOOD IDEAS

sorry for caps.

Am breastfeeding 8 months dts, have other children so know what yr going through.

What helped me was to set little goals ie " I will breastfeed for 6 weeks" and gradually extend this.

school run back later

one feed at a time!