Has annyone successfully tandem nursed without the EZ nurse pillow?

My twins are due any day, and I still haven't gotten the EZ2 nurse pillow that everyone seems to recommend. So... I was wondering if any of you nursing mamas have tandem nursed without the pillow. Will two regular pillows work? And do you think the ez nurse pillow is really worth the 50+ dollars?

 

I have always said that my ez2nurse pillow was the best purchase I made for my twins! It was difficult at the hosp. without this pillow.. trying to keep all the pillows under them without them sliding. Congrats on making it this far in your pregnancy! I hope your birth experience is great!

 

I did it at the hospital with a bajillion pillows (tiny babies, pancake-esque pillows) and then recently on vacation with just two normal pillows. You can do it, but the EZ2Nurse makes life a LOT easier.

 

I nursed my twins for 16 months without the EZ pillow. Either at the same time of one at a time.

 

I didn't order mine until my babies were home with me for a few days...and I spent soooooo much time nursing them seperately because I couldn't quite balance them on regular pillows (they were tiny - just under 5 lbs each) and give them enough support. As soon as I started using it, it became so easy to nurse tandem. It was firm enough to keep them where they needed to be. I nurse them seperately sometimes because I like the one-on-one, but most of the time we still use the EZ2N pillow. In the beginning when they have to eat every hour or so, it was a lifesaver to be able to feed them together. GL and congrats!!

 

In the beginning, you and they are learning how to nurse which makes tandem nursing more difficult. Although, I'm sure many do it successfully. I wasn't able to tandem feed for the first few weeks. I wasn't able to tandem without the pillow very easily. I had to on occasion, but used many pillows. It was just never as comfortable for me or them without the EZ2 nurse pillow. Once the babies and I got more control over their heads and latch, tandeming was easier.

 

Where are you located? My twins just turned 11 months. I am still nursing them, but not using the pillow anymore. I had to stop tandem nursing them 2 weeks ago as they kept pestering each other :lol:

Stacy

 

I only used my EZ pillow about 3 times. I didn't like that you had to sit bolt upright, in a chair wide enough to accommodate you and the pillow. Though I never really loved tandem nursing, when I did it, I preferred to sit in my overstuffed recliner with pillows propped under the babies. I don't think I even tried it in the hospital, though I can't remember.

 

I never owned one and my twins are nursing at 19 months. I'm sure it would have been easier with the pillow but it is certainly doable without. I wouldn't want twins to be my first experience nursing though.

Congratulations and enjoy the new babes!

 

Thanks for all the replies! I think what I am going to do is nurse them one on one until I get comfortable nursing, then if I am having trouble figuring out the whole tandem thing, I'll order the pillow. I wish there was a local store that sold twin stuff.

 

I don't have the pillow but don't always tandem nurse either. I could manage just fine with 2 regular pillow on either side of me. I'm not sure if I would have been able to do it if these were my first but I had just weaned my DS a few months before starting with my twins.

 

I tandem nurse my girls 90% of the time and we didn't get the fancy pillow, i use a regular boppy style pillow and use a blanket inbetween their nuggets to form a pillow of sorts. I also use an oversize recliner we got beofre the girls were born. It works just fine for us. It was interesting in the hospital but i brought the boppy and only had to stay a few days so it was fine. Good luck and congrats.

 

I only used my EZ pillow when tandem nursing maybe 1/3 of the time the first few months. It made it easier when I was sitting on the couch to nurse them together, but most of time, I nursed in a recliner and all I needed was a pillow. As they got older, I didn't use the EZ pillow at all. So, if you can borrow one, great, if not, don't sweat it. You'll figure it out just fine without it.

 

Yes, me, I didnt have the pillow. But I didnt tandem nurse until they were 9mo old. :blush:

 

The pillow was the best thing I bought and worth every penny. Before I got it I used a boppy, but it kept sliding out from under them. There was a lot of trial and error the first few weeks trying to find what works best for us. after 4 months we've got it down to nursing in bed sitting up, or laying down if they wake up one at a time, and sitting in a bean bag chair during the day. One thing I love about my EZ is when one is done and the other is still nursing and I pick the one up and play with him, or turn him around so he's sitting facing whatever movie I'm watching. Some times I'll sit both of them like that and it makes it a bit easier. Plus once I got the hang of it, it was hands free! I could set my computer up and play online, or eat a meal even. In fact, it seems I can only get things done while I'm nursing I'd recommend it, because you're having twins and from now on anything you can do to make your life easier is going to be worth it! GL!

 

DH was wary of buying it at first bc of the price, but I got mine off ebay for $14 and $10 shipping. I also saw a couple on Craig's list after I had already gotten mine for $20 to $30.

I couldn't use it at first as they were too little. I started tandem nursing with just pillows, but the EZ2Nurse pillow made it so much easier once they were self-latching. I especially remember the month that they seemed to nurse non-stop, I could saddle up to the computer and nurse hands-free while I passed the time on the computer or reading a book.

Now that mine are bigger, we usually do a double cradle position, but I still use my EZ2 nurse by putting it behind me and letting the sides support my arms while I cradle the babies.

My best piece of twin nursing advice: Buy it!!

 

I use my pillow even when I am just nursing one! I got it off ebay for much cheaper! There are deals out there.... I'd look if I were you. ^_^

 

My Ez pillow came in the mail yesterday. Best thing I could have done!

I LOVE IT! Wish I had bought it before I had the twins so I didn't have to wait 3 weeks for it to get here. SOOOO much easier with it! Great for if you have other kids cause know I have a free hand to help them out or look at books with them too.

Again, I LOVE IT!

 

I found my pillow at a Once Upon a Child resale shop. It was at least half the price of a new one and looks new. The cover comes off so you can wash it. I would follow the other advice and check out Craigslist and ebay, too. That is if you decide you want one. My twins aren't here yet. I was just very happy to find the pillow at a reduced price.

 

If $50 means the difference between successfully nursing and spending a tonne of money on a year's worth of formula if it doesn't work out...I say spend the $50. I had terrible trouble breastfeeding and eventually I gave up. Partially b/c my husband was reluctant to pay for a lactation consultant to come over. Looking back, I see that was CRAZY logic. Formula is soooooo expensive. I wish I'd stuck with it and if I could go back in time I'd buy/do anything to make it work!

 

I agree with your thoughts to wait before buying the pillow.

I bought the pillow, but found it didn't work for me. I'm quite large chested ( ) and found that the pillow brought the babies up too high for me. It didn't work and I ended up selling it at quite a huge loss. I have successfully used regular pillows to tandem nurse.

QUOTE(azucena @ Jan 22 2009, 11:34 AM) [snapback]1157693[/snapback]
Thanks for all the replies! I think what I am going to do is nurse them one on one until I get comfortable nursing, then if I am having trouble figuring out the whole tandem thing, I'll order the pillow. I wish there was a local store that sold twin stuff.

 

I have nursed mine without it and have no problems. Like anything else, it's a learned process. I'm sure the pillow makes things easier but it can certainly be done without.
I used two boppy's when they were really tiny (the first couple weeks) after that, it's been nothing.

 

not sure if you got the pillow or not, but I LOVE my pillow. someone else mentioned it, but I am handsfree while they are on the pillow. In the beginning I was on the computer etc, and now in between making sure they don't poke each other, I'm able to fold laundry!