Breastfeeding Twins

[twinsontheway2019]

I'm expecting twins & I really want to breastfeed them so just looking for people's experiences, tips or advice?

There's lots of info on the tamba web page if you haven't seen it yet? I didn't bf mine due to prem birth but I know someone who is still bfing hers at 2 so it can be done! Good luck

There's a great Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets group on Facebook.

People will be very keen to tell you it can't be done and you're mad to try. But people do absolutely BF and EBF twins. Whether you choose to formula, breast or combination feed is your call.

Sorry no first hand advice here, but I met a lady recently who was breastfeeding her twins who were around 7 months. She fed them together at home and individually if she was out and about. She made it look easy I have to say! No getting out of bed in the night to make bottles and your body is perfectly capable of making enough milk for both. Good luck!

I’m a twin and my mum breastfed us both for a year so it can be done - good luck!

I didn't manage it but I know other twin mums who did so it can be done - good luck!

I'm also expecting twins and want to breastfeed. I'm watching with interest!

I did it for 16 months, not always exclusively in the early weeks. I'll try to post later with some tips/advice, do you have any specific questions?

We're nearly 16 months in and still feeding my boys. They've never needed to have formula so it can definitely be done. Have a look at the Facebook group mentioned above as is great for advice and encouragement.

It can be done!! I have twins and they were 7 weeks early. I tried to BF them in neonatal unit and when we came home but they got so tired after a few mins and would fall asleep and then scream half an hour later for more. I just couldn't get into any routine with it so I expressed for the first 6 weeks and bottle fed them. In the end I stopped expressing and moved to formula. It meant I got sleep in hour chunks rather than literally having 25 mins at a time! Anyway, just trying to say don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work out. I was so desperate to BF and really beat myself up that it didn't work out. I didn't have a supportive HV either which made me feel worse. Do whatever works for you. But I hope it all works out for you. Xx

I’ve been breastfeeding mine for 15 months, they were also premature so absolutely is possible. Definitely join the breastfeeding twins and triplets uk Facebook page and also TAMBA do a great breastfeeding webinar which I found really useful.

Oh yes sorry I wasn't saying it wasn't possible it is. I am still in total awe of twin Mums who BF. I wish I had managed it.
Just saying don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work out. X

I'm combi feeding mine and it is working wonderfully for us. I ebf'd my older 2 but worried I'd be able to cope with the demands of 2 at the same time. Mine were also prem so bottle-fed in scbu but they happily switch between breast and bottle.

Except today when they both just want boob. My poor 3 yr old has had to sort his own food and drink out today

Congratulations! Twins are amazing (and exhausting!)

I breastfed my twins. They were delivered at 34 + 4 by planned section due to IUGR and were in SCBU for 2 weeks where they were fed with expressed colostrum and then milk through NG tubes.

It was really hard going in the early weeks. While they were in SCBU I came home overnight but borrowed a pump from the hospital and set an alarm to express in the middle of the night (I was told that there is a time window in the early hours when production is greatest - or something like that, it's a while back now!)

We weren't allowed home from hospital until the staff were happy that they were gaining weight being exclusively BF. I fed them separately on demand which meant that I was pretty much constantly feeding or changing babies in the early weeks. I also swapped them daily from one side to the other, but kept one breast per baby for the day if that makes sense.

At about 5 weeks I was completely exhausted and felt that I couldn't carry on, so DH would give each baby a top up of a couple of ounces of formula in the evening to give me a bit of a break and which meant I could keep going.

I'm a firm believer in fed is fed, regardless of whether it is breast or bottle. I enjoyed the one to one time with each baby though and as a bonus the baby weight fell off me (I went back to Weight watchers and got double the extra breastfeeding points because I was feeding twins which meant I pretty much got double the daily food points so could get plenty of chocolate in there!)

So - it can be done, but it was relentless in the early days and weeks.

Thanks everyone, so grateful for you sharing your experiences. I'm under no illusions it will be hard but hoping to bf & pump so husband/family can feed too. However if it doesn't work for whatever reason I have no issues with formula.

I wouldn’t think about pumping at first. BF twins is pretty relentless in the early days!

We got a special twin feeding pillow which made it easier to position them. I fed them together at home and separately when out because it’s pretty hard to feed 2 without exposing yourself and I didn’t feel comfortable personally.

The early days are the biggest challenge due to twins often being early and the problems this brings. Also the hospital may not expect you to be breastfeeding.

I have a pillow too & I keep mentioning it to my hospital team that I want to bf but they keep saying it's too early to predict how things will go.

It sounds like the hospital staff are just trying to manage your expectations. The twin feeding pillows are still useful for bottle feeding anyway.

The breastfeeding twins and triplets uk Facebook page is brilliant for support and the knowledge and experience there is excellent so definitely join that for advice.

Totally possible.
Mine are 6 mo, girl ebf as a bottle refuser and boy mix fed. I am lucky as I live close to work and am the boss so DD visits work or I swing home to feed her. Would obv be easier if she'd accept a bottle but she never liked it (started on day 2) and stuck her heels in aged about 6 weeks .
I find feeding two easier than one as I had oversupply with DS1 and had to pump, was constantly leaking etc.
A twin feeding pillow is a must especially in the early months. When out and about you just feed one at a time.

Also, twins are great (so far) so don't worry too much about all the "OMG you'll have your hands full" comments. You will... but you'll work it.

I have joined the fb page so thanks to all who recommended.

I'm ignoring those commenters re 'poor you' 'oh no' & 'how will you cope' because after a long struggle ttc I feel so blessed to be having twins, and so far a relatively smooth pregnancy considering its high risk.

Oh yes ignore the negative comments. Twins are wonderful, it’s so lovely seeing the bond they have with each other and at least there’s never a dull moment. I find the worst people for negative comments are other mums with just one baby, they are finding that hard so can’t get their head around how I’m managing two. I actually stopped going to a couple of baby groups as the constant comments and pitying looks started to get to me. I’ve now learnt to ignore.

My friend is EBF her twins (4 months) and they were 5 weeks early. It can be done. She struggled bf her firstborn so don’t believe it isn’t possible if you wanna give it a go