Breastfeeding Your Twins

What a Multi-Tasker!  Congratulations on your consideration to breastfeed twins!  Here are some recommendations you might find helpful:  PREGNANCY WITH TWINS         1.  If bed rest is indicated, you may feel depressed and helpless                     * Ask for help from  family and friends.                     * Try to stay busy be reading up on childbirth, infant care and                           breastfeeding topics                            * Go online or rent CD's on these topics                     * Request a childbirth educator to come to your home and                                     give private lessons in these areas or secure permission from                             your doctor to attend classes         2.  Good nutrition is crucial                     * Instead of 3 big meals a day, eat many small nutritious meals,                         frequently                      * Eliminate "empty calorie" foods, such as chips and soda                     * A weight gain double of that of a single pregnancy is not ususal          3.  Line up extra help for when the babies are born                     * Find help from those who are supportive of your choices         4.  Learn about expressing your milk                     * Talk to a breastfeeding  specialist about quality breastpumps                     * For the first few days after birth, it is normal not to produce                            large quantities of milk.  After 3-4 days you will usually see a                         dramatic increase                      * Expressing milk is a learned art. The more you practice, the                            more milk you will be able to express         5.  Attend a breastfeeding class to learn the basics and set up a               support network ADVANTAGES OF BREASTFEEDING TWINS         1.  Breastfeeding contracts the mother's uterus, speeding up childbirth              recovery         2.  Ensures the mother will spend lots of time every day holding the              babies, which promotes feelings of closeness and bonding         3.  Saves 8-10 hours a week                     *  No formula to buy or prepare                     *  Can feed the babies simultaneously         4.  Hormones released during breastfeeding relax the mother         5.  Human milk, the perfect food, also provides the babies with              immunities to illness           6.  Mother's milk is immediate, no waiting while babies cry and                 formula is warmed         7.  Substantial financial savings.....$1,500 during the babies first year BREASTFEEDING BASICS FOR TWINS         1. Breastfeed early and often after birth.  The more you feed, the more             milk you will produce                     * If separated from the babies, pump your milk as often as you                         would nurse (8-12 times in 24 hours)                     * When in the hospital, if the babies in the nursery for any of their                        stay, ask for them to be brought to you for ALL feedings         2. Avoid bottles and pacifiers in the early weeks                     *May cause nipple preferences and interfere with mother's                                  milk supply         3. Babies can feed simultaneously or separately                     * In the beginning, separately may be easier                     * Simultaneous nursing becomes easier as the babies become                       older and more practiced at latching on                      *Simultaneous nursing can also increase your milk production         4.  Use a nursing pillow,designed for twins, to support the babies at              breast height         5.  If nursing together, get  first baby latched on properly and then              go on  to the next one         6.  Try many different holds to see what works best for you                                   Parallel Position            Double Football           Position                      Chris Cross              Position         7.  Good latch on technique is important to avoid sore nipples         8.  Ordinarily, the mother may offer the fullest (heaviest) breast to                    the baby wanting to be fed         9.  Both babies need to get different breasts so their eyes are                  stimulated optimally         10. In the early days, mothers can count the wet diapers and bowel               movements to make sure the babies are getting enough.  Counts                   will vary depending on age         11. Growth spurts may mean an increase in nursing for several days                     * Spurts occur at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months         12.  For some, regular formula supplements can contribute to lowering                  the mother's milk supply                     * During the first month there may be nipple preference for the                       baby and nipple soreness for the mother                     * Mothers are more susceptible to breast infections                     * Water supplements are not needed                     * Solids given at night, when the baby is older have not been                       proven to eliminate night waking         13.  For nipple confused babies:                     * Mother may simultaneously nurse both babies, so the baby with                            the most effective suck will stimulate letdown, encouraging the                         sibling to suck and swallow correctly NIGHT FEEDINGS         1.  Try nursing the baby in a side laying position         2.  If sitting up, get comfortable first, then use pillows for support         3.  Wake the other baby for nursing, after the first is finished, so              mother gets a longer stretch of uninterrupted sleep         4.  Twins may sleep better if put in one crib, touching each other         5.  To make the night feeding easier, families can consider using              co-sleeper, so mother has an easy access to the babies