Breastfeeding Roll Call!

Hey! You know who you are... please check in! With your check in, please tell me:

1. Baby(ies) age.
2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else.
3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask.
4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping.

Thanks! I cannot wait to read your response.

-ps- After a few days and we have a lot of posts here, I am going to do a random number generator and the winning number will get a bottle of bath bubbles. I will assign each person ONE number.

 

Amazingly, Spencer is still nursing. It's not a lot or for long. I thought he'd be done by now, because of how sporadic it is. A few minutes in the mornings, and he skips days a lot. He's over 2 1/2... over 32 months, actually. So I don't have any goals. I'm happy with him to keep nursing for now, if he wants. But I also don't stress if it's not convenient. For instance, I stopped wearing nursing bras a few months ago. Mine all were worn out and I didn't buy more. So if it's after I'm showered and dressed for the day, I'll often redirect him to something else.

As for something that's helped me? Just being bullheaded enough to get through the rough patches. My DH wasn't super supportive at first. None of the women in his immediate family had breastfed. He wasn't against it, just not really for it either. And my MIL thought I was NUTS not to give my babies food at 6 weeks. I had mastitis 7 times between my first 5 kids. Sage and Spencer did not get nursing at first and both needed the help of a LC. Nursing twins is it's own challenge, of course. But Sabrina was so tiny and would latch fine, but didn't suck hardly at all at first. And even when she figured it out better, she just wasn't getting enough. So I had to supplement. I pumped for 4 months and finally decided that I'd had enough and a little formula wouldn't hurt her. From that point on she averaged about a bottle a day of it until she was 1. Through all those things, I stuck it out and I'm soooo happy that I did. I gave my babies the best possible start, I could heal toddler owies with a little milk, when I had other kids running around it forced me to sit and snuggle my babies just a little longer, and the list goes on. So that's my advice. If this is what you want to do, know there will be rough patches... and the first couple months is by far the hardest. But if you get past those, it's really quite wonderful!

 

Hi All,

So excited to be posting here now that my babies are born!

1. Babies age: 1week, 3 days today
2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else: That your baby's physiology can affect their capacity to latch and feed. Louis, my baby A was born posterior and needed suction which threw his head, neck and jaw ever so slightly out if wack. Our doula recommended cranio sacral (a form of massage) and it has helped hugely! If you're interested in further thoughts on the experience with and impact of cranio sacral, just PM me.
3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask: When will I be able to tandem BF without help? Right now, I really need another set of hands but can't do that forever. Would love an outline of how to get to independence.
4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping: short term goal is independent tandeming, as per above and long-term goal is BF for 1st 9 mos-yr (am Canadian and off for 1st yr).

Thanks,

Amy

 

1. Baby(ies) age.
My baby turned two today! (my twins are 7 and a half, I bf them for 15 months) the baby is still going strong, but I'm interested in getting him interested in weaning.

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else.
KNOW that it will get easier. The first few weeks are hard. I talked to a twin mom last weekend (who's twins are teenagers) she said she gave up breastfeeding at 5 weeks. And I was like yeah, the first six to eight weeks are hell, but after that it gets sooooo much easier. She was like where were you 15 years ago! Remember that while you are living it, those 8 weeks seem like an eternity, but it really such a short time, just a fraction of your life. And such an important time in their lives.
Can I say two?
Also breastfeeding doesn't have to be all or nothing. That's the main thing that kept me visiting this forum for so long when I wasn't actually breastfeeding. I supplemented by twins from day one, and that's what worked for us. You often hear about how supplementing is a slippery slope, but it doesn't have to be. I gave my twins three bottles a day on a set schedule and breastfeed on demand around that.
And with my singleton, when I went back to work when he was 7 monts old, he started reverse cycling, taking in most of his milk overnight while we coslept, then not feeding between 7am and 3pm (he did eat solids and some formula during that time--but he never really took to formula and wouldn't drink much even though it was offered.)
There is no right way to breastfeed.

3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask.
How can I get my son to leave my other breast alone while he's feeding? I always move his hand away and say no. And have also tried stopping the feed. But next time he's right back at it. This is the main reason I'm ready to wean him. I can't take it anymore!

4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping.
I reached my goal today! So I guess my next goal to to wean, but Drex sure loves his Chichi.

 

Congratulations on your babies!!

My husband stayed home with me for 3 weeks after the twins were born. I was petrified when he had to go back to work. I did find though, the more I tried to do something, the more I was successful. With feeding the twins, I had an EZ2Nurse pillow. I would put each baby on the couch, opposite ends, with their heads towards the back. I would then sit down between them and buckle the pillow around me. I would reach over and grab one, then lean and grab the other (positioning them on their respective side). Then I would latch my 'strong latcher' and then work with the other one. Voila! It takes practice, but you do get the hang of it!

 

I'm not very helpful in this department as I rarely tandem feed until they were old enough to sit on their own. But I did survive without tandem feeding. The few times I did I did it on the floor. That made it a lot easier to get everyone settled. I found feeding time the rare opportunity for a litte one on one with each baby. And yes, sometimes in the first six weeks all three of us were crying!

 

1. Baby(ies) age.
Almost 16 months! I am surprised I or they have gone this long. My first son weaned himself at 8 months.

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else.
Oh goodness, I would say feeding on demand, but feed them both when the other ate if that makes sense. At first I watched the clock and fed them exactly every three hours. I actually found that to be annoying so I just started to feed them on demand and would always just feed the other one too even if he/she didn't eat that much. They actually worked out the same eating schedule and nap schedule after doing this. I also quit tandem nursing at about 4 months. It seemed to take longer to strap the pillow on or get all situated to nurse them both. If I just nursed one baby at a time I could work on their latch and it was so much faster.

3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask.
Nothing really. At first it was a little odd for me to still be nursing as I never thought that that I would do extended nursing, but I love it and wouldn't change it.

4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping.
I am hoping to make it at least thru the winter and all the sicknesses before they show any signs of wanting to wean. They have yet to show any signs of wanting to at all and they still nurse 5-6 times a day! Sometimes I think I am ready for them to wean so I may look at starting the weaning process come May, but we will see.

 

Spencer was posterior and got stuck on my pelvic bone, so they used the vacuum to get him out, too. I took him to our chiropractor, who is well-trained in adjusting babies. It's not like he twists their head around, or anything... it's this little clicker thing that feels like a tiny tap with a finger tip (he did it on my arm to show me). I'm not having more children, but the massage sounds interesting. I always loved giving my babies massages.

Have you tried a nursing necklace? Adam used to do that and it made me crazy. I got a necklace with big, chunky beads that I'd wear when I was nursing... sometimes I just didn't take it off. I'd redirect him to play with that instead of my other breast.

 

1. Baby(ies) age. I nursed my girls for 2 years. My current nursling is 2.5 months old. I've already warned everyone that if he wants to nurse till kindergarten, I'm not gonna stop him.

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else. Trust your baby & your body! If you & babe are healthy & the latch is good, trust babe to find his/her own feeding rhythm & trust your body to follow suit.

3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask. Nothing at this point.

4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping. Long term goal is to let Emmett wean when he's ready. I'm really not kidding about that kindergarten thing! :laughing:

Amy - here's a great video on tandem nursing twins. Her twins are older (4 months I think) so not everything will be useful to you yet, but it gives a good overall layout for the logistics. Also, it really is true that necessity is the mother of invention! You'll find yourself amazed at the things you figure out & make up as you go along, simply because you have to with two babies. :hug:

I was also going to suggest a nursing necklace. Another thing you could try is giving him a lovey or blanket to hold in his other hand - I had a friend who's daughter had to be holding on to something, so she just made sure it was something that wasn't her nipple!

 

1. Baby(ies) age: Current is almost 4 months old. I nursed my twins for 15 months (DD) and 19 months (DS)


2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else: Set short term goals and reassess when you meet them. When you are in the most difficult days of sleep deprivation and newborn feeding patterns, 1 year can seem so far away. Tell yourself you are going to make it to 6 weeks or 3 months and then when you get there, decide to extend the goal. Also, never quit on your worst day.


3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask: What babywearing products out there are best for trying to nurse in public? (I never NIP or wore the twins but now it is easier to do both with the baby while running around after 2 toddlers)


4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping: I'd like to make it to 2 this time. The twins self weaned and I wanted to keep going!

 

1. Current nurser is 16 mos. The boys nursed for 15 mos or so.

2. Co-Sleeping saved our lives, not for everyone I know but a personal WONDER!

3. No questions

4. My goal would be to allow JoJo to self wean although I'm personally ready. I want to follow his lead, up to a point. But when he gets up in my lap, lays his head on my boob and says "Peese. peese" I get all gooey and oblige, lol!

 

1. Baby(ies) age: Twins are 11 months old tomorrow.

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else: Knowing that I'm not the first person to encounter "challenges" with nursing twins or breastfeeding in general... my motivation was always "if someone else could do it, then so can I!"

3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask: If the twins currently switch sides once a day, what happens if one of them weans before the other? I can see DD already going down that road, being less interested in the 1st morning feed and no longer needing to nurse to sleep. (I think DS might nurse forever!)

4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping: I'd like to day-wean them sometime after 12 months, just so I can stop pumping. Night- as long as they want/need and my supply keeps up.

 

1. Baby(ies) age.The twins are 14 months and still nursing like champs!
2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else. I have a EZ nurse pillow and started to tandem them from the beginning. I found I got a lot more sleep if I took care of both babies at one time instead of one at a time. My DH helped me latch them until they were able to and when I was alone with them I always latched the stronger one first then got the lazy nurser on.
3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask. How do you best deal with sibling rivalry over nursing? Sometimes I nurse one at a time and the other sometimes gets so jealous and upset. They have naturally decided on their "own sides" so I keep to that but they do not like to be left out.
4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping. I want them to wean on their own but if by 2 ish they have not I will start to wean them.

 

Mine did this. DD weaned at 15 months and DS went until 19. Once she weaned, I allowed him to have both sides if he wanted it. He got a big kick out of this, as he had never gotten 2 sides before.

I also stopped pumping at 12 months. They continued to nurse morning, before nap, and night for a while and then dropped the nap feeding when they went down to 1 nap.

 

1. Baby(ies) age: My daughter is almost 2 years old but I had to wean her a few months ago (because I'm pregnant with the twins!).

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else: It's already been stated but I think it's worth re-iterating. Breastfeeding is not an all or nothing proposition. Going into it with that in mind helped prevent me from getting stressed (and in turn stressing out my daughter).

3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask: None at the moment but I'm sure there will be plenty to come once the babies are born!

4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping: I'm hoping to breastfeed the twins until 2 years at least. I would have done so with my daughter but my doctor recommended against it when she found out I was carrying two.

 

1. Baby(ies) age- My sweet baby is Easton and he is 6 months old. I nursed my twins for 28 months

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else - I read a post that said You don't eat in the bathroom why should I feed my baby in the bathroom. I love this because it is so true. When my boys were little, I would head to a bathroom to feed them in public- never again! Oh and also! My big modesty thing with breastfeeding was more my fat belly than my breast - I wear a nursing tank top with a built in bra under my shirts and no one sees my flab LOL!! I dont even bother with a cover up! Oh and another thing - just because you don't get but a drop when you pump does not mean that your baby is not getting enough while nursing!

3. A question I have been wanting to ask but have not had a chance - with this baby I have had some milk come out of the little glands beside my nipple just on the left side - is that totally weird or has any one heard of that before?

4. My goal is to feed this kid as long as he wants me to! I am hoping for at least 2 years!

 

I have the same thing too - always from the same spot. If you learn anything about this, let me know please and I'll do the same.

Thanks,

Amy

 

I have this too. Mostly on the right breast. Never thought much of it. Usually means baby just gets milk on his face.

 

1. Baby(ies) age. Almost 7 months.

2. One thing that YOU have personally found helpful that may help someone else. - Same thing some others said. It does not have to be all or nothing. You are not a failure if you have to supplement. Also, don't quit when you are totally frustrated. Push and wait a few more days and it will get better.

3. A question that you've been wondering about but have not had a chance to ask. None I can think of.

4. What your goal (long term or short range) is for breastfeeding/pumping. One day at a time. My first goal was 6 months. I made that. Only one of my twins could ever latch, so the other gets bottles. My pumping supply is decreasing, so I don't know how long I will be able to keep that up. I BFed my older DS for 1 year. He was starting to wean on his own, and we just ended at his first birthday.

 

I will do the random drawing tomorrow (Sunday the 19th). Thanks for participating!

 

1. Dielle
2. AmyCPlus
3. Meximeli
4. KeriU
5. Miss_Bossy
6. crazytwinmomma
7. twinmom2dana
8. JuliaS
9. Momof6
10. Mom2VL&S
11. Heathermomof6
12. 3boysmoma

The random number from Custom Random Number Generator is 4 (four). So, KeriU is the winner!!

Thank you ladies for taking the time to participate!!!

 

Forgot to post the other, but I'm here reading along. Lena is 22 months old, and still nursing, like 5 times a day if she had it her way. But more like twice because I have it my way. I'd like to wean her around the age of two. Grandma and Grandpa would like to have her for a visit on her own, and I would like to oblige that, so that's my motivation.

I've found the support helpful, I also appreciated the suggestions about supplementing strategies (specifically the idea of not supplementing after a feeding, but rather waiting for the next feeding).