How often do you nurse in first few months?

My twin boys are 5 weeks now and they nurse about 10 - 11 times a day. They're still doing no more than 2 hour intervals during the day with maybe one 3 hour stretch at night. In the evenings they are often wanting to nurse non-stop from about 5 pm to 9 pm or so (but that varies). We have been giving up to 2 oz of formula after some nursings when my boobs are just too sore to keep going and they are still hungry and upset after a long session. We are only giving about 2 to 5 ounces of formula combined in a day, though so it's just a bit.

My problem is that I have a 3 year old and my husband is concerned that I'm too exhausted to continue this pace. I rarely get more than 2 hours of sleep at a time at night and he is getting frustrated. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? When did your nursing schedule get easier?

 

I would say it got more bearable at about 8 weeks and we really hit our stride at 12 weeks by 16 weeks we were pros, but my twins were 1 month premature so maybe it would happen quicker for closer to full term babies. I know it is so hard, but if you think you can stick with it I would. We are at 5 months now and it could not be easier. It only takes 10 minutes total to tandem nurse them, and we only have one middle of the night feed in an 11-12 hour stretch and even that is a breeze out of bed and back in under 30 minutes (including diaper changes and babies back to sleep).

You have to do what is right for you and you absolutely know what your limits are, but if you can make it...it is definitely worth it.

I don't know if this helps, but in Karen Kerkhoff Gromada's book Mothering Multiples (which I highly recommend) she says you should try to be positive and set small goals for yourself.

I am going to breastfeed today.
I am going to breastfeed for one more week.
etc...

Hope this helps. You are doing a great job at a grueling schedule already.
:hug99:

 

8-10 weeks it gets easier --

they still nurse alot and there's always cluster feeding at night... you should be psyched all is going well so far. It really gets to be a "no brainer" at 4 months or so and becomes tons easier than bottles or formula, etc.

Good luck, keep posting here for moral support -- I hope your hubby can help you push on -- it's so awesome to bf 2

Teri D

 

We are at four months and things are so much easier these days! About 12 wks is when we saw things get easier. I have 3 older DDs and one of the twins had colic both had reflux and I was sleeping two 1and1/2 hour stretches a night!! So I hear ya sister... hang in there it is so worth it. Now I have very good babies that nurse every 3 hours and go up to 7 at night (rarely but hey its something) and I never have to make a bottle, clean a bottle, buy formula or pack food!!

 

I know exactly how you feel. My babies are 5 weeks and it seems like I am nursing them all the time one after the other. I feel that it is worse in the evenings too. They always seem to cluster feed more during that time. I haven't had more then 2 hours of sleep at a time either. Sometimes I get so tired that I end up falling asleep while feeding them during the night.

You are doing a wonderful job so far and I'm hoping the constant nursing sessions will end soon as well.

 

I think you're getting close to a turning point. I know 3 more weeks may seem like forever when you're already exhausted, but I think by 8 weeks things should slow down a little. One of mine was also sleeping throught the night by around 10 weeks, so you also have that to look forward to!

Are you tandem nursing any? That was my biggest time-saver. I tried to do one feeding a day solo, for the extra attention, but otherwise they were together.

I also started putting them on a schedule by around 6 weeks, and that helped. We fed, "played," then slept. Feeding was on every odd hour until supper, then like you're doing, they got a bonus feeding before bedtime. Bedtime was around 10:30. That is when your milk supply will be lowest, as you've noticed. We also had a couple of times when we gave them formula at bedtime. That's actually how we got them to consistently sleep through the night. I actually had to get up early and pump a few times, but that's another story...

I think if you (and DH) can hang in there a few more weeks, you'll see a lot of improvements. I know it must be really hard with your older child, but I think you'll be glad to not have all the bottles, etc. to deal with. Good luck!

 

we were in the exact same place at 5 weeks. They nursed almost every hour! I also have a 2 year old, and I agree the pace is exhausting---but I figured it couldn't last forever...and it doesn't. We're finally up to 3 hours between feedings, and 4-5 hour stretches at night. You will get through it.....tired, but grateful!

Reyna

 

Thanks for all the encouragement and tips. I am really hoping it gets better soon since I have to go back to work when they're 14 weeks old. By that time I'll only be able to nurse them in the mornings and evenings/nights so I'm hoping it gets a little easier before then.

I try hard to tandem nurse them almost all the time. Sometimes I nurse them individually, but it seems to work best and give me the most "free time" to nurse them together. It is also one of the few times when they are both totally content.

What I haven't figured out yet is how to do a tandem nursing in the middle of the night without someone else to help and without the babies crying. We usually end up changing them before the feed, then they usually poop during a feed so they need to be changed again and that wakes them up so they have to be soothed to sleep. So when I change one the other is crying and then I can only soothe one at a time effectively. This means I usually end up waking up DH even when I'm trying hard to give him a break (he's been doing all the feedings with me and we're BOTH exhausted).

Any tips on how to do a feed solo without crying and without it taking two hours?

 

When I was on my own at night, I nursed them separately.. but I didn't really start doing that until they were a few months old. You are at a hard time yet.. it might even get worse before better. A growth spurt might hit around 6 weeks. After you get over the 3 month growth spurt, it's smooth sailing. don't worry, hang in there. It'll get so much easier soon!

 

Have you tried nursing lying down? When they fall asleep you can just roll away quietly. That was a lifesaving skill with all my babies.

Also Lansinoh (or other nipple ointment) is a lifesaver while the girls are getting toughened up. They will still curl your toes for awhile when they first latch on - but it will get better.

"The Witching Hours" are pretty much exactly what you describe - around 5-9pm they just want to stick on to you and stay there. If you can accommodate them then by all means try, but will the one not nursing take a binky now and then? I would nurse one and let the other sit at my feet in the bouncy while I could bounce with my foot or put them in the swing. Sometimes it is nicer to nurse just one at a time. (Which I did the majority in the early weeks).

You will get better at it - so will they. Take it ONE DAY AT A TIME. Just tell yourself to get through that day, and before you know it the next day will be there. You can do it!!!