Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

The moment I say I plan to try to BF, I get looks as if I were on fire. I GET that it will be time consuming and a hard adjustment but isn't motherhood in general??? I am not saying I intend to BF for a year, and its going to be all roses, I want to give it a shot.

For those that do BF, can you share with me a schedule you have? Is there such a thing as a schedule, ha? Do you really have a child at the boob all day and night? So you suggest one at a time, or tandem? Do you supplement with formula? When did they start STTN?

Any tips/advice will be GREATLY apprecaited. I guess I am looking for some hope and support

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

No you arent crazy and of you can do it good for you.... I only pumped for 1 month then I stoppped bc I was to dam tired to do it any longer and my goal was 1 month of breast milk for the kids.....

My guys didnt STTN until they were 4months old and i was so happy when that happened.

You just have to do what works for you and your babies....

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

Don't listen to people!!! You are not crazy! People used to tell me the same thing!

I am breastfeeding (and pumping) for my twins and it is working out well. I am not gonna lie it is work but it really isn't bad at all. I have my days here and there when I am ready to throw in the towel but the next day is always better and I am ready to keep going!

Right now what is working for me is to bf one baby and feeding the other pumped milk. I alternate this all day. In the beginning I always nursed them together but as they get bigger it is getting a little harder so usually once I day I will nurse them together. The hardest part IMO is pumping after I feed them, which I need to do so I have milk for the next bottle. When I need to run out right after I feed them I nurse them together so I don't have to pump. I supplement one feeding with formula bottles and save that milk in case I need to go out somewhere.

I went into with an attitude if it works great but if it doesn't that is ok...so I didn't pressure myself. My first goal was for 3 months, my second goal was make it till the summer and my current goal is to make it till september when I go back to work.

Good luck!!

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

I plan on trying to BF with triplets. Umm... Who looks crazy now?!

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

I did for about 3 months, you can do it! Pumping also worked really well for me.

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

I don't think you're crazy.

My plan is to TRY my best ... but I know it will be harder than with a singleton, and I'm willing to accept that maybe it won't work out.

I know that any amount of time that I am successful is a good thing, but DH & I were FF and we're just fine.

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

I BF my twins for 15 months. When I was pregnant, I got that 'are you crazy' look also.
I never really had them on a schedule, but when they were little, if one woke up to eat, I'd wake the other one too so they were on the same schedule. I didn't want to be waking up to feed one and then go back to sleep to wake up 20 min later.
At first, I fed them separately until we all got the hang of it, then I started tandem nursing to save time. When they were about 6 months old or so, they were really fast and efficient so I went back to nursing them separately.
In the beginning, yes, you pretty much always have a baby on your boob. But it does get better.
I did supplement them with formula - they got one bottle at night so that DH could help out. I would have done pumped BM but I was not a very good pumper.

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

i pumped for 12 1/2 months constantly for my twins. i never wanted to bf directly, well i should say i wanted to do both. bc i knew i wanted my dh to help with night feedings. but sinbce the babies were in nicu i ended up mainly ust pumping. i bfed for a few weeks, then pumped exclusively for the rest. my best friend had twins and she only bfed for 14 months. she loved every minute of it. used the best friend pillow and popped them on there together. its a lot of work, but its sooo worth it

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

4 weeks in and the only formula the girls had was in the hospital so I could catch a break at night (and to help prevent Jaundice).

I have an almost 3 year old DS who I EBFd nearly 15 months so I had an idea of what I was getting myself into.

So far, we are going strong. My nipples (since yesterday) have been on fire, but thanks to Lanolin they are improving.

My girls are great sleepers at night. Typically sleep 4 hours, nurse (tandem), sleep 3 hours, nurse (tandem) and then will sleep 1-2 hours, nurse (tandem). By then its around 8 am and they nurse separately for the whole day until bed again (7pm).

The only annoying thing about tandem nursing is transferring them after they have fallen asleep at the breast. I always have to put one next to me while I put the other in the FP rocker, then go back for #2 and by then she has usually woken up.

I tried pumping for the first time Friday and if I got 4 drops between 2 breasts it was a lot. I was never a great pumper with DS and I am sure it was because I never committed to pumping. I'd like to be a little better about it this time.
Anyway, you never know unless you try! And if it doesn't work out, at least you gave it your best effort!

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

My twins will be 4 months tomorrow and they have been EBF since birth. It is possible! Honestly there have been plenty of days that I felt some someone was always on my boob but I learned how to feed them both at once (when the were eating more efficiently at around 3 weeks) and that alone saves so much time. When they have growth spurts and seem to be eating more often I'll sometimes use milk from my freezer stash to give my body a break. I just have to remind myself some days they may be hungrier then others not unlike myself. And the next day is usually better.
I feed them in the morning around 6 before I leave for work. I pump twice during the day at work and then go back to feeding them when I get home. Ususally when it comes time to put them to sleep my DH will give one pumped milk while I BF the other. Right now they are eating every 3 hours during the day.

My DD started sleeping through the night at 5 weeks. Before that when my DS woke at night I'd feed him then wake my DD to feed her so they were on the same schedule. After a few nights I noticed she was harder to wake and would only eat a few minutes and fall right back asleep so I stopped waking her and she slept 8 hours. My DS on the other hand is still waking every 3 hours at night to eat.

I BF my DS whos 2 for 18 months and my goal with the twins is 1 year but to be honest Im taking it day by day.

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

I also wanted to BF and started that way but ended up exclusively pumping. My babies were preemies and had jaundice and I just felt better knowing exactly what they were getting. I pumped for 20 minutes every 3 hrs for the first 6 weeks. Then I was able to cut it down to about 4-5 times a day. Its totally doable! get yourself a my breast friend pillow and try to learn to feed them together. Find an LC(many of the pediatricians have them) and contact your local La Leche league

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

I need to bookmark this! I am also planning on bf. DD was 3 weeks early and just wanted to sleep instead of nurse so I ended up pumping, supplementing with formula and trying to nurse until she was 8 weeks and just started nursing. I went till 6 months (3 months I was commuting to work in the city and pumping 3 times at work). My goal was 6 months and I just barely made it. I know it might not work out for me, but I would really like to try. I also have no problem supplementing if and when its necessary.

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

Thank you ! You ladies are the best! You just gave me (and I am sure many other women who are being told they are crazy too!) so much inspiration !

Re: Am I crazy for wanting to BF twins?

Posted by allIwant

Posted by sunflowerjesss

Posted by DRMom
get yourself a my breast friend pillow and try to learn to feed them together. Find an LC(many of the pediatricians have them) and contact your local La Leche league

Totally agree with the my breast friend pillow!

Melissa was generous enough to give me hers and it is the only way I will tandem nurse now.

I agree the breast friend pillow is great! Its like a little bed for them No way I could nurse them together without it.

When are you due? I may be ready to pass mine on by then?