Breastfeeding twins: Share your story!

Charity - posted on 07/17/2012

I have a Medela in style pump I use at work. It works well but a baby is much more effecient. Whenever I have to pump for 12 hour at work I get less than they actually would get if they nursed directly.

Celeste - posted on 07/17/2012

Babies are much more efficient for milk supply than a pump. But, they're good to have in case your babies aren't able to nurse. Your best bet is Medela or Ameda.

Amanda - posted on 07/17/2012

Hi I am new to the site. I am pregnant for the first time with twins! I am 35 weeks 1 day.I was wondering what type of pump did you buy to help stimulate a good milk flow? We were thinking of renting the hospital grade one at first to get it going but they are so expensive we wont be able to keep it for long. Any tips would be great, thanks!

Sarah - posted on 07/11/2012

Hi:) I have a set of twins ( Imogen and Emily) they a 15 months. They are both still breast fed . In addition to our family we have Isabelle who s 3 hears old.

I love feeding the girls!!!

Celeste - posted on 07/08/2012

I nursed my twins and we had such a roller coaster! But, we got through it and they nursed into toddlerhood.



My twin boys were born at 34w2d via c/s. They took them back to the nursery and they had some minor complications so I was not able to see them right away. I nursed my daughter, so I knew in order to get my supply, I need to pump, since my boys weren't able to nurse. I think about a day after the c/s, I got a pump and started pumping. I pumped every 2 to 3 hours, including through the night.



I was given the OK to try to nurse them. We had some issues, they had trouble latching. Finally got them to latch and was told I had to supplement because they were losing too much weight (I knew it's normal for full term babies to lose weight but wasn't sure about preemies).



Unfortunately, one of my boys developed nipple preference and refused to nurse after taking the bottle. In addition, the pediatrician was terrible and obviously had a personal issue with breastfeeding. I told her that I'd really like to nurse them and she said "Well, my daughter was on formula and she's at the top of her class! I see sick breastfed babies all the time!". In addition, she told me that none of her twin moms nursed. When I told her that Ronin wouldn't nurse, she said he'd probably never nurse. I was starting to feel defeated.



They were in the hospital for a week, and I was able to room in with them. I continued to pump and tried to nurse them. Finally got home and continued to work with them. Ryker was nursing solely by this point. Ronin, however, was still preferring the bottle. I looked on kellymom and asked help from Karen Gromada (author of Mothering Multiples) and worked with Ronin, as well as pumping and nursing Ryker every day. Finally, about 2 months, Ronin latched and we never looked back. After that point, since I was a SAHM, they never took bottles again.



Even though we had gotten the nursing on track, we still went through some issues. Ronin had a weak suck, and wasn't removing milk as efficiently (he wasn't getting enough diapers). OT came out and worked with him and finally got him to efficiently nurse. I suffered through blisters that were SO painful.



I am just so grateful that I had the support of my breastfeeding support group to help me get through the patches