Anyone breastfeed two?

I went into this pregnancy considering trying to BF this child.

I tried with DD, failed and gave up since I didnt know any better, was fustrated, it was hard and didnt get any help.

So, after finding out TWINS, Im like OK, that went out the door NOW!

Then again, Im thinking, maybe it can be done.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

CJ mommy and sweettooth both breast fed their twins that I know of

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I tried for 3 weeks but despite have two LC's in the hospital (one reg and one NICU) it didn't work out.

In hindsight a few things sabotaged my supply:

-I had one home and one in the NICU, no one told me to keep pumping as if my second was home with my the first week... I know, DUH!!! you would think I would have thought of it but I was just a bit tired.

-I had serious supply issues, tried the teas etc. but I think it was a hormonal issue related to my IF.

-I didn't have my mother here I did have my MIL who was very, very helpful but it just isn't the same. The baby care takes up so much time that if you are successfully going to do it, you really need everyone to do everything else for the first few weeks... cooking, cleaning... you just sit and feed and pump to establish supply. Had my mother been alive I would have felt more comfortable asking/or her volunteering to take care of the other stuff.

So it was formula for us at 3 weeks. I did pump for 4 months... maybe one bottle each a day

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I breastfed & then supplemented with formula at every feeding for 8 weeks. It was definitely rough but it can be done. Halisa is a champ, don't know if she still comes on here though.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I nursed exclusively until their first birthday. It was actually easy

It takes patience, and lots of time but after the first few weeks it was so EASY. I went out and took NOTHING with me but diapers. They ate faster than other babies drank their bottles. I pumped for the first couple weeks because they didn't latch on but after 3 weeks they were both on the boob. They also refused the bottle, and I never supplemented so it CAN be done!

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I tried putting them to the boob and it was hard getting them to latch. I don't think I gave it enough of a try and I regret that. I have been pumping since they were born and recently started to supplment with formula for one feeding a day.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Iwas all for it, got a ton of good advice from mom"s on here. Unfortunatly I knew once they were born I couldnt do it b/c of my 2 yr old. It was just too demanding on me.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I breastfed for the first six months, but I did supplement with bottles too.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I did not EBF, they got one bottle of formula at night from the very beginning, but were BF for every other feeding.
They turned one this week, and I am still BFing them in the morning.
It was very hard at first. DS was not good at latching, and I'll admit there were a lot of tears in the first few weeks. I felt like all I did was feed babies. It would take them an hour each to nurse, and then when they were done, it was pretty much time to start all over again.
But then I started pumping too so DH could help sometimes. And then after a few weeks, DS "got it." And when that happened, I was able to nurse them at the same time, which saved a lot of time, and I started to feel like breast feeding wasn't taking up my whole life.
I am so happy I hung in there, and I do know I would have never been able to do it without DH's support and encouragement. I told him BEFORE they were born I would need him to be encouraging, and if i told him I wanted to give up, he would need to remind me why i wanted to do it. And I did tell him I wanted to give up those first couple of weeks. And he reminded me why I wanted to do it.
After a few months it got so easy. It takes them five minutes to eat, and thats it. No cleaning bottles, mixing formula, etc.

I would also definiitely recommend getting the E-Z to nurse pillow, I never would have been able to BF them together without it.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

I supplemented. One would get the bottle and one would get the breast at every feeding. I did it for 8wks only.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

i was thinking about this too. i BF DS for about 4 months even though I hated it. I am dreading having to do it again, especially with 2, but i havent ruled out the possibility yet. i would love to, at least for the first 8 weeks or so...i just know that it will be challenging - especially with a 3 year old

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Posted by Twins98

Posted by Smileyd17

Posted by Twins98

I supplemented. One would get the bottle and one would get the breast at every feeding. I did it for 8wks only.

did you switch?

So one would get BF, the other bottle?
Next feeding, the other would ge BF and the other bottle?

Yes, I switched off!

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Posted by Twins98

Yes, I switched off!

Message edited 1/7/2010 3:36:52 PM.

Re: Anyone breastfeed two?

Posted by Smileyd17

Posted by Twins98

Yes, I switched off!

I like that idea! A LOT!


ETA: I also like this idea since it will give my DH the option to feed one while I nurse the other since you know, its all about TEAM WORK!