Hi,
Well I am now at 28 weeks and went to a multiple birth class and got more information about breastfeeding twins, and just wondering if those Mums who have already met their twins, how their experience has been with trying to breastfeed, did anyone get lactation consultants involved. Sorry for the multitude of questions, I have a 3 yr old and we had so much trouble with breastfeeding, that I am wondering how I am going to go with the arrival of my two little boys - in July! Thanks,

Hi kjwillow Congratulations on the twin pregnancy It's an amazing experience!! Come and join us twin mums to be and twin mums in the Twins Chat thread is you want - here's the link: viewtopic.php?f=81&t=23736

My twin girls are now 19 months old and I did try to BF once they came home. They were prem though and in hospital for 7 weeks during which time I expressed and bottle/tube fed them but once home I gave BF a go and found it didn't work for me unfortunately. Isabelle attached really well and fed well but Skylah was smaller and had trouble attaching at times so I was BF-ing Izzie and expressing and bottle feeding Skylah. I kept that up till they were 3 months old and then switched to formula.

I didn't have a lactation consultant as such but I did have midwives/maternal nurses come to my home to help me out but I just couldn't get the hang of it. I'm part of the MBA too and when I met some of the mums there I found that many of them BF'd successfully with twins though, so don't let my experience put you off.

All I can say is give it a go and if it doesn't work out, then try not to feel too bad about it.

I did breastfeed my twins, sort of.
I breastfed DS exclusively, but expressed full time for DD's feeds until she was 6mths old. She was smaller, had bad reflux & had trouble latching on & getting a full feed from me. So in the end I decided it would be easier to just express & give her EBM in her bottles. Some morning feeds I twin fed them though, as I had faster flow in that first morning feed & she seemed to cope better then, plus I had DS on the other breast doing all the work getting the let down started she really just sat on there for the ride
I did see a LC a few times, but I think it came down to giving DD more time at the breast, which I found difficult, especially as she seemed to need a top up after every feed, I felt like I was sitting down all day doing nothing but having a baby on my breast or getting top up bottles ready & washed & expressing etc. I know now that isn't exactly not normal to sit & feed for that long, but at the time I struggled, and it was 7 or 8 weeks before she really started to latch on properly to the breast & even then it was hit & miss which I found frustrating.

I did find it difficult, but it got easier. They were also my first babies, which I think makes it harder as the whole breastfeeding thing is new to me as well as them. At least you know more about breastfeeding & how challenging it can be. But know that generally it does get easier as the babies get older.

I think DS & DD showed me that it really is baby specific as to how difficult or easy breastfeeding can be. DS was an absolute breeze to feed, didn't have to think about it, shove him on & he drank & hopped off. DD would squirm, scream, not latch on properly, spend 40mins on & still come off screaming. It was difficult for me to know if she was hungry or in pain from reflux, which was part of the reason we bottle fed EBM as I knew after a feed she was in pain if screaming & generally not because she was hungry if that makes sense.

But finding out as much info now & support is great. If you check out the AMBA website there is a section in the forum of mums happy to have other multiple expecting mums come & visit, you could ask if anyone near you is breastfeeding & if you can come visit. Not only will it be great for support when your bubs come but may also give you some ideas on how to help it work for you, if that makes sense

Hi there,
I successfully breastfed my twins for 11.5 months.

I tandem fed and when one woke for a feed, i fed the other aswell.

If you want, PM me and i can tell you how I coped with feeding throughout the night and day and the tips and tricks I used to help facilitate breastfeeding when my husband (and great helper) went back to work.

Hi

I hav identical twin daughters who are now 2 yrs old. I went in with an open mind, happy to try everything. I struggled with BF from the very beginning with the bigger twin being so hungry and having huge problems latching on and the smaller twin being so tiny and little and not having the energy to latch on and constantly falling asleep. I went through a lot of stress and then switched them to the bottle after a couple of weeks. For me, it was the best decision i made. My girls thrived and i was a lot less stressed.

I would go in and give it a go and see wot happens. If you hav great support and even access to someone like a lactation consultant, thats your best bet with getting the BF sorted.

If it doesnt work, then at least you did the best that you can.

As you can see from above, heaps of twin mums hav BF successfully and thats fantastic as i admire you if it happens for you. x