Breast feeding, increase milk?

[PostiveThinkingRainbow]

Hello Ladies,

I have three week old twins, born by c-section.

I really want to solely breast feed, but despite being three weeks in I still do not seem to be producing enough milk.
When I pump I get about 50m at a time, so I have to top with formula.

I would to hear how much milk other twin mums produce?

Any tips on increasing milk would be

Not a twin mum, but general advice on boosting supply is bed rest, enough to drink, babies at the breast constantly.

Pumping is not as efficient as a baby at getting milk out so the amount you're pumping out does not necessarily represent how much they are getting.

Lots of night feeds are very important. Feed on demand and your supply will kick in. Keep babies with you skin to skin as much as possible (difficult with twins I'd imagine). Lots of water for you too.

Oh and look at La Leche League. Theyve got some brilliant information on their website.

Just keep bringing babe to your breast and pumping. Plenty of healthy fats too. But generally a good diet is all you need.

Are they gaining weight well? Formula can reduce supply as your breast isn’t getting the demand it needs to increase supply. But obviously if they need it, they need it.

I have breastfed for 7 months now and never been able to bloody pump, it isn’t indicative of supply.

Have you got any breastfeeding support groups near you? They are really helpful if you can make it to one, definitely do. Your HV should be able to let you know of local ones.

The amount you pump is no reflection on how much milk you’re producing. The only way to know if you’re producing enough is your babies nappy output and healthy weight gain. Please don’t think you don’t have enough milk because you can’t pump much.

However, if the babies are not gaining weight and not appearing satisfied after a feed then the best way to increase supply is lots of skin on skin contact, lots of rest, lots of hydration/food and feed around the clock (especially early hours of the morning).

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to breastfeed twins so please don’t beat yourself up about having to give some formula. Any amount of breastmilk is a bonus. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

The national breastfeeding helpline is good if you've not already tried it

Fenugreek tablets from Holland & Barrett... Worked within 3 days.. Only disadvantage is I smelt a bit garlicky

Stop pumping.

The best way to increase supply is to breastfeed. It's a demand based system.

What makes you think you're not producing enough?

I couldn't express any milk until four months but exclusively breastfed successfully.

I would suggest plenty of rest, mothers milk cookies and lots of guiness (you know the barley alcohol drink). Sounds crazy but my mum and aunt used to use it a lot back in the day when they first had children and the milk supply seemed to slow down and before you know it they couldn’t stop producing milk.

I’m currently tandem breastfeeding a toddler and a newborn.

Firstly try to go to any breastfeeding support groups in your area

Secondly don’t introduce bottles or dummies or formula unless recommended by pediatrician at least the first 4 weeks. Because comfort feedinf does increase your milk supply

Drink lots of water but also porridge and fenugreek help. Make sure u eat plenty and regularly.

Finally as long as their weight is fine and they’re wetting enough nappies then you should be fine

The only way to increase milk supply is to keep removing milk from the breast

There is no evidence for any 'cookies', or for guiness and as many studies on fenugreek show a decrease in supply as increase

@PostiveThinkingRainbow why is it you think you aren't producing enough?

You need to wake your baby up every 2 hours to feed. Letting them sleep longer will affect supply. Look up the La Lech League - they have some good advice

The every two hours thing is on medical advice only- as in the babies are losing weight

Skin to skin contact, lots of water and other drinks for you, keep looking at and smelling your babies when feeding, put them to the breast as often as possible.

Some people say oats are good, some say brewer's yeast (I used to bake it into flapjacks), no idea if they really work.

How much you get out with a pump is v likely lower than a baby gets out, as others have said.

Bf is demand-supply. The more demand, the more the supply ramps up

The every two hours thing is based on the idea that breast milk is digested within two hours.

To have the appropriate supply for your baby/babies, they need 24 hour access to the breast. They will suckle for a short time every 20 minutes or so. The milk supply will soon adjust.