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I now have boys home - how do i start breastfeeding exclusively?

10 replies

ellac · 23/11/2008 09:29

Hi. My twin boys are now home after being born at 31 weeks, and after spending 7 weeks in scbu.after they were born, their sucking reflex wasn't up to much, so i expressed milk. didn't produce enough so they were topped up with formula.would now like to try and exclusively breastfeed, but am worried that the boys will not be getting enough milk.i am still expressing. any tips or help would be greatly appreciated. thanks xx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
NotQuiteCockney · 23/11/2008 09:33

Are they only drinking expressed milk? Or do they ever take it directly? It's a lot less work feeding them directly. Have you seen any BFCs, to help you get them latched on?

kathryn2804 · 23/11/2008 20:02

I have a friend, who with my help (breastfeeding counsellor) we managed to drop all the top-ups over a few weeks.

Firstly it will be much easier if you are tandem feeding. You don't mention whether you are or not, but I would highly recommend it! Get a good cushion, the EZ-2-Nurse inflatable is good. Latch the more difficult feeder on first, then the better feeder. make sure they are wrapped right around your body and quite far back so they start nose-to-nipple otherwise you'll get sore.

I would start with one of the morning feeds as Mums tend to have LOADS of milk in the morning. Basically the breast works on a supply and demand basis, the more often a baby is latched onto it, the more milk it will produce. Breastfeed them both, don't top them up, just put them back on the breast 5-10 mins later and you will get another let down of milk. If they still don't settle, put them on again, etc etc! Eventually they will have had enough. Continue with other top-ups as before (unless you're feeling brave, you could try more than one feed!). Do this for 2 or 3 days to let your milk supply catch up and you should find that they settle much easier, then drop another top-up. Keep going until you have dropped all the bottles. I would leave the evening ones until last as babies are always grumpy in the evening. You should find that as your milk supply increases, night-time bottles should be quite easy to drop.

I would refrain from expressing until after you have dropped at least the morning bottles completely as this is the best time express. You don't actually need to express though as you can give it directly to the babies... soooo much easier!

Good luck.

Do you have any breastfeeding drop-in groups, or breastfeeding counsellors in your area? Or any other twin Mums who have breastfed? Be worth making some contacts and go along to a postnatal or breastfeeding group.

ilovemydog · 23/11/2008 20:08

Wow - congratulations!

Have no experience of twins, but perhaps post this in breastfeeding as there are people who know about breastfeeding twins.

Total respect to you....

ilovemydog · 23/11/2008 20:10

Sorry - didn't mean to diss kathryn2804, who is a b/fing councellor, and whose advice is brilliant.

All I meant is that posting this in B/fing may be an idea...

twinmam · 23/11/2008 20:19

I would definitely recommend you get some help - BF counsellor at local hospital? Even see a lactation consultant? Was desperate to BF my DTs (born at 34 weeks, tube fed in SCBU then onto breast and bottle)but ended up giving up after 8 weeks. One DD latched well so I was feeding her and then expressing for DD1 who wouldn't latch and then topping up with formula every other feed as I wasn't producing enough milk. It was a complete nightmare and I was an exhausted mess! I agree with k2804g that the sooner you end up feeding them both, the better. in fact, all of her advice sounded great and I wish I'd had someone like that to advise me! I found our drop in clinic a bit hard with both babies as it always seemed really busy and I always ended up with two screaming hungry babies or one latched and one hungry baby! One to one help would have been ideal. You sound like you're doing a great job and I bet with just a bit of help you'll be tandem feeding in no time and can put the evil breast pump away Best of luck to you and well done!!

twinmam · 23/11/2008 20:21

PS Meant to say congratulations on bringing your boys home Enjoy them!

AbricotsSecs · 23/11/2008 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

swanriver · 25/11/2008 13:11

I fed them individually so start with. But it was very timeconsuming. I think its really important to have someone in the room to help pass you babies, make you comfortable, if you are feeding together. Especially at night. And you need a really good cushion which brings them up high enough. I found expressing like Hoochie to be a distraction, and that actual feeding was much better at getting my supply going. The other thing I wish I had done was feed the babies very very frequently at the beginning and not get bogged down with visitors, and organising household. But the most important thing is having someone around to support you in the feeding process, bring you cups of tea, change babies. That makes a big difference. I remember getting very bogged down with top-ups and replacement bottles and then one baby got a chest infection at six weeks (not very bad one). Suddenly I felt full of confidence that I just had to feed my sick baby as much breastmilk as possible and feeding him really boosted my supply.

kathryn2804 · 26/11/2008 15:42

Hey Ella, how's it going now?

alibaabaa · 01/12/2008 21:13

Good on you - very proud of you and they are my favourite little nephews!! I hope you are doing really well with it - I know you think I am like a stuck record, and I am sorry - but always think how happy Marth looks when she see's the pods!!!! Love you more
Stick with it kiddo

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