Discouraged

Hello,
I delivered twin girls 10-12-08. I was very enthusiastic about breastfeeding my baby girls, but I soon realized that breastfeeding my twins was not as easy as I thought it was going to be. One of the girls still has no interest in latching on and the other twin will latch on but my nipples are so sore as she sucks. I am very discouraged. I currently have been pumping and giving my pumped breast milk to them in a bottle. I try to pump about every 2-3 hours during the days, but during the night I have been giving them formula because I do not have enough breast milk to give them. I pump about 4 0Z total each time I pump. Is that enough? These are my first babies, I am just trying to figure things out, Is it even possible to breastfeed twins without feeling like you are on house arrest?
Any suggestions will help.
Thank you,
Carla

 

Hang in there. It is very hard to bf. I know more ladies will be here soon to offer their advice. I on;y made it 10 days with my duo and it is one of my biggest regrets. Just remember, if you need to supplement it is ok.

 

Yep, breastfeeding twins in the first couple of months is a FULL time job - you're on call round the clock as they get their sleep-wake schedule worked out, as their tummies get bigger so they can eat more at once, and as they work hard to get your body to make more milk for them as they grow. Note that the only thing there that's different from formula-fed babies is the last one! Newborn twins are hard work no matter what they eat.

The payoff is HUGE though. Once your milk supply is established and they're sleeping better, nursing is much easier, way cheaper and healthier for you and the babies than formula. In the beginning, bottles feel so much easier because they're faster and you can know how much they're getting, but fast-forward six weeks or so and things really shift the other direction.

Four ounces each time you pump is pretty great. Babies need about 2.5 ounces per pound of body weight every 24 hours, so when they're tiny, they're really not eating much at a time. (That would come to about 2 ounces per feeding for a 7 lb baby eating about 8 times a day). And pumping is not a great indication of how much milk you're making - some of us are terrible pumpers, but our babies know how to get the milk out when they nurse.

How many weeks gestation were they? Did they do any time in the NICU? Are you trying to get them to latch on a couple of times a day at least?

 

The pp had some great information so I don't have too much to add. However, maybe you could contact a lactation con to help with the latch. Your babies are so young that they and you may just need a bit more time to work out the kinks. Also, I think with nursing or bottlefeeding you're pretty much under house arrest for the 1st year!!--It does get easier and in the long run if you can keep nursing it will pay off. Good luck and congrats!


Lisa

 

Seek help! Contact your local labor and delivery for help. A lactaion consultant. or even your local Laleche league. you can also contact your local Mom of Multiples group, they are know for being helpful. I was able to push through when my guys came home from the NICU and we did some supplementing in the beginning we are now at 10 months and going strong.

Please get help!! We are all here for you too, if there is any questions you have, please by all means ask. The previous post had some great suggestions.

Missy
:hug:

 

Ditto on what the other ladies have said.

I felt that way too. I was so disappointed in the situation for the first several weeks. Definitely try to see a lactation consultant if you can; they can really help with the latch.

And 4 ounces sounds really good!! I was only pumping 4 ounces when my guys were 3 months old.

 

HI! Welcome and congratulations on your babies!

BF twins is hard work, but once you get past the first 6 weeks or so, it just gets easier and easier. The biggest thing to remember is that BF is supply and demand, so if you give formula for a feeding, you still need to pump for that feeding to keep your supply up. You should try to pump for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours with a hospital grade pump. Make sure you apply lanolin before pumping and massage your breasts while pumping. Also make sure you are eating and drinking enough to maintain your supply!

I would call your hospital where you delivered and see if the LC is available to help you. Usually they are for a certain number of weeks after the birth and are happy to help you with latching issues. Latches can usually be corrected pretty easily once they see what is going on!

Were they preemies? That can have alot to do with how well they nurse. Mine were 34 weeks and didn't nurse well until they were almost 3 months old (we had other issues though). It is a learning process for you and them! If you want to nurse I would keep at it and ask for help!

For your nipple soreness I would go get some of those soothing gel patches (gerber makes them) from the drug store. They are great!

Please ask us anything and we'll do our best to help!

 

4 ounces is great! My little ones are almost 2 months old and I'm lucky if I get 4 ounces in a pumping session! You're doing great!

 

It hurts real bad for about the first week. If you can get past that it's smooth sailing in comparison! No one told me that in the breastfeeding classes, none of the nurses mentioned it or anything. But my mom brought it up and I'm so glad she did. If I hadn't known that I would have given up. But that first week I would sit there screaming it hurt so bad. Now I hardly feel it. GL!

 

Congratulations on your babies!!!
I hope you have been able to see a LC and things are going better for you!

Remember this board. It always helped me out and made me feel better, especially during the first few months.
In my opinion, the first few months are the toughest when it comes to bf twins. It helped to come here and know I was not alone with my questions or concerns.

Take care,
Erin

 

Hang in there! The other ladies have given you some real solid advice. I just wanted to offer added support.
You can do it! It takes work but you totally can do it!
I barely get 4 ozs now! You rock!