Breastfeed my twins? Why not? Two breasts, two babies, it can work! And for us, it absolutely did.
Few of our mothers’ generation breastfed single infants, much less, multiples. We are part of a new generation, well-aware of the many benefits of breastfeeding. Undeniably, nursing is the healthiest option for your babies, for you, and most definitely, for your wallet. I will tell you here and now, although it is “nature’s way,” it is a challenge.
If you decide to breastfeed your twosome, the undertaking will require both your physical and emotional determination. Have family and friends criticized you as stubborn and obstinate? Here’s when those traits will work in your favor.
Let your hospital, Ob/Gyn and nursing staff all know if you intend to nurse your twins. I daresay most nursing staffs will assume you are planning to formula feed twins, so be vocal. Ideally, they will try to get those babies on your breasts in the first hour or so after they are born. If you don’t tell them, don’t be irritated if bottles are given to your babies in the maternity ward. Getting the babies to breast early after birth is supposed to ease them into the practice when they are at their most receptive.
Let me dispel one of the most common apprehensions about nursing twins: No way can one woman produce enough milk to sustain two infants. In most instances, that is incorrect.
The human breast creates milk on demand. Twice the demand equals twice as much milk. Likewise, as the babies grow (through growth spurts and all) and their demand increases incrementally, your breasts should adjust and increase accordingly. If your babies aren’t creating enough demand, or if your babies cannot be directly breastfed right away because of prematurity, a breast pump can simulate demand quite efficiently. The milk you pump can be fed to your babies via whatever method is feasible.
Each baby can stay on his/her own breast for the feed, and have the other breast the following session. Do keep track of which baby is on which breast at which feed session and try to make sure they flip flop with each nursing. I have heard some women have allocated a specific breast for each baby. If both babies seemingly consume equal volume per feeding, no problem should arise with the concept of assigned teats. But, since your breasts create supply for demand, it would follow that if you have one ardent feeder, and one grazer; at certain times of the day, you would teeter and, as we say in the south, “look right funny,” with the unbalanced breast weight.
As a family, we decided to tandem feed our twosome at each feed, and feed on a fairly strict schedule for the first year. Simultaneity saved us time. Regular routine provided predictable opportunities for much-needed rest, as well as the accomplishment of necessary twin and non-twin related household maintenance. For us, priorities of primacy.
Some twin breastfeeding mommies have fed individually and on-demand. Others have pumped breast milk and fed through bottles due to prematurity or other feeding hurdles.
Try to find a helpmate to who has accomplished twin breastfeeding in the manner you are trying, even if it is only online. Throughout the nursing period, questions will inevitably arise. Reassurance from someone who has been through the same course is priceless. Select that support individual carefully; making sure their perspective on nursing is congruent or compatible with your own. From the moment of discovering my twin pregnancy, I was fully-committed to breastfeeding as the healthiest way to nourish my babies. Subsequently, I needed a helpmate/consultant who didn’t view nursing as a religious experience, but rather someone who could offer genuine encouragement and experienced advice.
There are individuals (in and out of organizations) who strongly feel breastfeeding is an imperative instead of an option, and are quick to vocalize their condemnation of any feeding choice other than 100% breast milk from the breast only, for as long as possible. If you believe similarly and respond positively to that type of coaching support; by all means, maximize the ardent mammary missionaries! Do what you can to make it work. For me, as committed as I was to “making it work,” the last thing I wanted was guilt and pressure. Reassurance and support was what I wanted and found through an independent lactation consultant. Find the support that works for you, and make no apologies.