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july0105
My three little miracles
Member since 4/06 2628 total posts
Name:
Alison
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Breastfeeding Twins
I cannot even believe I am about to ask these questions, because I had such a bad experience with DS#1 that I swore I could not even think about BFing twins... but here goes:
Is is feasible (especially with a 3 year old at home... my DH will be home with us from the time I have the twins until September)?
If so, how does it work? Do you nurse at the same time?
I exclusively pumping a feasible option?
TIA! 
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Posted 3/11/11 3:14 PM  |
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allIwant
Love my crazy life!
Member since 1/10 9170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
I am currently doing it but by no means an expert! 
This is what has worked for me so far.
My babies were in the NICU so starting from the day after they were born I pumped every 3 hours around the clock. Once they were able to eat by mouth in the NiCU I would try to BF for a short period of time then feed them a pumped bottle.
Once they came home I gradually increased the amount of time they nursed and decreased the amount in the bottle. I pumped after almost every session. It is very time consuming but I think it is what helped keep up my supply and it also allowed me to have bottles for others to help out.
I nurse them together on the my breast friend pillow for twins...I wouldn't be able to do it without this pillow. Once they are latched its not so bad, but sometimes they unlatch when I go to burp the other.
In the beginning they would nurse for 30-40 minutes every 3 hours and then I would pump for 15 minutes. So with changing diapers it is about an hour and half process. Now they are a little quicker and nurse for 20-25 minutes and then I pump for 15 minutes or so.
I don't have a 3 year old though but if your DH is around to help it is totally doable.
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| Posted 3/11/11 3:42 PM |
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gmnst15
LIF Adolescent
Member since 5/05 593 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
It is definitely possible. My DS was 22 months when my twins were born and I have been EBF them. My DH was home with us for the first 7 weeks and that helped tremendously! I BF them separately for the first 2-3 weeks until them became better at latching and more efficient eaters. Then I started to nurse them together using the EZ to nurse twins pillow. It was the only way it was possible to nurse them at the same time.
While my DH was home it really was never an issue, if my DS wanted/needed anything he'd take care of him and Id feed the twins. Now that Im home alone with all of them there are times when I am nursing the twins and my DS who is now 2 wants attention but usually I'll have him sit next to me with a book and I'll read to him or sometimes he'll even lay next to us and find a spot to rest his head on the pillow as well. Before I feed them I also try to get my DS involved in something so he'll be "busy" for the 20-30 minutes I need to feed them. I'll give him his crayons and a coloring book, take out his blocks so he can build or even throw on an episode of Blues Clues (his favorite) because it gives me just the right amount of time.
My twins are 9 and a half weeks old and we are still going strong. Don't get me wrong there are moments where my DS will have a fit that I cant hold him because Im nursing and at those times I'll only feed one at a time so he can be closer to me but tt is definitely possible to do even with a toddler at home.
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| Posted 3/12/11 9:12 AM |
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july0105
My three little miracles
Member since 4/06 2628 total posts
Name:
Alison
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
Thank you so much ladies for sharing your experiences. I'm still on the fence, but reading your stories makes me realize that it is doable -- especially because DH will be home with us for awhile. I also need to see what's happens with the twins' tongues. DS was tongue-tied and I opted not to have it clipped. I wonder if the twins will have the same issue.
Thanks, again!
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| Posted 3/12/11 11:18 AM |
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allIwant
Love my crazy life!
Member since 1/10 9170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
my DD is tongue tied too.. I am on the fence about having it snipped...don't know what to do. She had trouble latching so we used the nipple shield which worked great. Now she can do it without it just hurts me. I think I may take her for an ent for a second opinion, I don't want her to have trouble with her speech but I also don't want to snip it if we don't have to.
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| Posted 3/12/11 4:02 PM |
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july0105
My three little miracles
Member since 4/06 2628 total posts
Name:
Alison
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
Posted by allIwant
my DD is tongue tied too.. I am on the fence about having it snipped...don't know what to do. She had trouble latching so we used the nipple shield which worked great. Now she can do it without it just hurts me. I think I may take her for an ent for a second opinion, I don't want her to have trouble with her speech but I also don't want to snip it if we don't have to.
I was so torn with DS#1 also. I took him to the ENT when he was three weeks old and decided not to clip it. The doc told me a few things to watch out for when his speech was developing and said with some children it stretches on its own and is not a problem later on. I think that's what happened with DS. His speech is fine. It was a tough decision for us, though. I know speech later on can be an issue.
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| Posted 3/12/11 4:45 PM |
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allIwant
Love my crazy life!
Member since 1/10 9170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
Posted by july0105
Posted by allIwant
my DD is tongue tied too.. I am on the fence about having it snipped...don't know what to do. She had trouble latching so we used the nipple shield which worked great. Now she can do it without it just hurts me. I think I may take her for an ent for a second opinion, I don't want her to have trouble with her speech but I also don't want to snip it if we don't have to.
I was so torn with DS#1 also. I took him to the ENT when he was three weeks old and decided not to clip it. The doc told me a few things to watch out for when his speech was developing and said with some children it stretches on its own and is not a problem later on. I think that's what happened with DS. His speech is fine. It was a tough decision for us, though. I know speech later on can be an issue.
Thanks! I think I will take her to the ENT to see how "bad" they think it is and decide from there.
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| Posted 3/12/11 7:03 PM |
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july0105
My three little miracles
Member since 4/06 2628 total posts
Name:
Alison
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
Posted by allIwant
Posted by july0105
Posted by allIwant
my DD is tongue tied too.. I am on the fence about having it snipped...don't know what to do. She had trouble latching so we used the nipple shield which worked great. Now she can do it without it just hurts me. I think I may take her for an ent for a second opinion, I don't want her to have trouble with her speech but I also don't want to snip it if we don't have to.
I was so torn with DS#1 also. I took him to the ENT when he was three weeks old and decided not to clip it. The doc told me a few things to watch out for when his speech was developing and said with some children it stretches on its own and is not a problem later on. I think that's what happened with DS. His speech is fine. It was a tough decision for us, though. I know speech later on can be an issue.
Thanks! I think I will take her to the ENT to see how "bad" they think it is and decide from there.
Let me know if you want an ENT recommendation. We loved DS's ENT. He was wonderful when he was three weeks old and then we had to go back for re-occurring ear infections. Eventually, he put tubes in DS's ears. We were totally thrilled with him and his office.
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| Posted 3/12/11 7:43 PM |
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sunflowerjesss
Mommy to 3!
Member since 10/05 20369 total posts
Name:
Jesss, duh.
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
I EBFd DS for 15 months and have set a short term goal of 12 weeks for the twins. Long term goal 1 year.
I was browsing the web and came across this site:
BFing twins and found it very helpful. Just thought I'd share!
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| Posted 3/12/11 8:28 PM |
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allIwant
Love my crazy life!
Member since 1/10 9170 total posts
Name:
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Re: Breastfeeding Twins
Posted by july0105
Posted by allIwant
Posted by july0105
Posted by allIwant
my DD is tongue tied too.. I am on the fence about having it snipped...don't know what to do. She had trouble latching so we used the nipple shield which worked great. Now she can do it without it just hurts me. I think I may take her for an ent for a second opinion, I don't want her to have trouble with her speech but I also don't want to snip it if we don't have to.
I was so torn with DS#1 also. I took him to the ENT when he was three weeks old and decided not to clip it. The doc told me a few things to watch out for when his speech was developing and said with some children it stretches on its own and is not a problem later on. I think that's what happened with DS. His speech is fine. It was a tough decision for us, though. I know speech later on can be an issue.
Thanks! I think I will take her to the ENT to see how "bad" they think it is and decide from there.
Let me know if you want an ENT recommendation. We loved DS's ENT. He was wonderful when he was three weeks old and then we had to go back for re-occurring ear infections. Eventually, he put tubes in DS's ears. We were totally thrilled with him and his office.
I would def like the name and number of your ENT. thanks!
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| Posted 3/12/11 9:40 PM |
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