New twin mommy

Hi everyone!!

I never really had a chance to post in the expecting forum while pregnant, so I just wanted to re-introduce myself

My name is Jocelyn, and I just gave birth to two beautiful little girls on cinco de mayo at 36 weeks. They are super healthy and are doing great!

I have a question I was hoping you experienced mommies can help me with...
One of our girls is much larger than the other. Shelby weighed 7 lbs 12 ozs at birth and Morgan 5 lbs 8 ozs. Shelby is now 7 lbs 5 ozs and Morgan is 5 lbs 5 ozs. Morgan is so petite compared to her sister. We're noticing that of course Shelby is eating more than her sister. At first they were on a good 3 hour feeding routine. Now it seems there are times they are super hungry again after 1 1/2 - 2 hours. Is this something normal to expect? Will it just vary from day to day? Not that I expect them to be on a schedule this young, but it just worries me that it seems sometimes they just aren't getting enough.

Those of you that have been in this situation, do you feed them on demand as soon as they are hungry again or do you push it as far as you can for consistent intervals? Right now we are feeding them on demand.

Thanks for any advice .. I'm a new mommy, so this is all new to me!!

 

Perfectly normal. One of my twins was a little over a pound larger than his brother when they came home from the hospital. The big guy always eats more than the little guy and they are 3 months old now. I fed on demand and there were times when we fed every 1 1/2 - 2 hours as well.. I remember feeding them and you could hear the formula going into an empty stomach Keep up the good work. You are doing great by following your instincts.

 

Hello and congratulations on the healthy baby girls! Are you bottle feeding or breast feeding? I fed on demand, at first it felt like I was feeding all the time. We timed feedings from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next and sometimes it took an hour or so to feed. They did sometimes eat really frequently especially in the evenings, pretty much constantly (cluster feeding). The growth spurts are really tough but usually only last about a week. Mine had them at about 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months. You are doing really good with ttheir weights (better than me) coming back up. It is really tough at first, I hope you have some help and don't expect anything from yourself except taking care of your babies.

 

Hi,

Congratulations on the new babies!!

In the beginning we were told to feed them every two to three hours round the clock. By the third hour we would feed them even if they weren't being fussy and yes at times they were hungry again after two hours. They're growing babies so they'll go through their growth spurts often.

Take care!

 

welcome and congrats

i fed on demand for the first 4 months. they usually went to every 2 hours then to 3 hours. as long as they are gaining weight there fine. dont compare just know they are 2 different people even though they are twins they wont be the same weight. also when they say took 2 ounces i would make a 3 ounce bottle if they didnt finish it fine but if they did then i made a 3 1/2 oz. when they sarted to finish that i made a 4 oz. bottle must be the italian in me but i figure if they have more then if they wanted it and it was time for them to take more then it would be there.

 

My Twin B.. (Morgan.. ) was 1.5 lbs less that her brother at birth. and now she is 7 lbs less. maybe they just have different body types. Oh and Morgan always ate less. At that age i fed about every 1.5-2 hours. I would feed on demand until about 4 months. GL I love the names!!!

 

Hi there!

Yup, totally normal ~
my 2 girls were over 1.5lbs apart when they were born (6lbs & 4lbs10oz) & Sydney (the bigger one) ate WAY more for the first 1-2 months - then little Chloe, not to be outdone by her bigger sister, started eating more & more! Now Chloe eats more than her sister (she is still smaller, but has grown way faster due to her small size at birth).
I fed pretty much every 2.5 hours or so for that first month (formula fed babies) ~ or if the seemed to want it sooner than I gave it to them when they wanted it
Good luck, sounds like you are doing GREAT!

 

Hi Jocelyn! Congratulations on your girls!

I do think it's normal for them to eat more regularly on some days then others. They may be going through a growth spurt or just be hungry. I did feed on demand when they showed signs of being hungry. My dd was the "snacker". She'd eat every hour and a half to two hours. As she got older {about 2 months or so} I would keep on pushing it a few minutes at a time until she got used to eating every three hours and more at each feeding. Good luck Momma! We look forward to getting to know you!

 

Hi. I too was induced at 36 weeks and my Morgan weighed 5lbs 5 oz. but she's the bigger one. (Megan was 4 lbs) I was told to feed Megan even if I had to wake her every 1 1/2 hrs (2 hrs at night) If Morgan was awake she wanted to eat too. After two to three weeks I could go closer to 3 hrs but if they wanted to eat I would feed them. One week Morgan gained 22 oz.- More than a lb in a week. We almost fell over. She's always been a good eater. Some days they eat a lot other days they aren't so interested.

 

i totally agree with PPs answers. i always feed my girls when they are hungry and when they are going through growth spurts, they eat a lot more!! good luck with your little girls!!

 

First of all congrats! My girls are just 3 months and we still do a feed on demand schedule, BUT it is for the most part every 3 1/2-5 hours. If they start to go only 3 - 3 1/2 hours then I increase the amt. I put in their bottles. I also increase if they continuously suck the bottle dry. I personally didn't want to have to feed every 1-3 hours. Good luck!

 

Wow .. thank you so much for all the replies!! I truly appreciate it. I feel much better now after reading your replies. I didn't even think about growth spurts and such. I worry about Morgan (our little one) taking in less and sometimes it even seems like too much and she throws up. We strive for 2 ozs for Morgan and 3 for Shelby right now. Shelby seems to take it no problem, whereas Morgan you have to be a little more slow with and she may throw some up.

Currently, I am primarily formula feeding, but I am trying to pump as much as I can (which doesn't seem to be much as I can't find the time!!) so they do get some breast milk in the day.


I remember being pg and so many people were telling me not to demand feed, that it was the best way to get them on a schedule, but I don't have the heart not to!! I just want to feed them when they are hungry (especially Morgan).

 

Just wanted to welcome another set of cinco de mayo twins!
-Beth

 

Hi! My twins were about the same difference as yours. Maya was 4 lbs 8 oz and Sofia was 6 lbs 1 oz. Sofia ate more at the beginning and they were on a 3 hour schedule. Some days they will eat more frequently - especially during a growth spurt. Sometimes I've fed them every 2 hours. Maya now eats between 3 and 4 oz and Sofia eats 4 oz.

Maya also has some reflux and can't eat too much too fast. I use playtex nipples-they are the slowest flow and seem to help. We also keep her upright after feeding.

 

Just wanted to say CONGRATS and what lovely girls names!

 

My little ones were 7 lbs 1 oz and 7 lbs 2 oz, but never ate the same amount until they were about 3 1/2 months old. My little man ate 4 oz ever 2-3 hours and my little woman ate 3 and then he went up to 6 oz and she went to 4 oz. So one was eating 1/3 more than the other for a few months.
Sometimes though they would be hungry an hour later.

Now they both eat 6 oz...and it is pretty consistent.

Your little ones are doing good don't trip. In due time they will level out, they are just growing so very fast!
Mine doubled their birth weight before they were 3 months

 

You got some great answers and I just wanted to say congrats and welcome to the First Year.