Breastfeeding/bottle feeding twins?

[drterrapin]

I'm due in August with my mo/di boys, and I have a few concerns. I have had two singletons previously (now 6y/o & 9y/o) that I exclusively breastfed; it was the easiest for me, and they never took to any bottles or pacifiers I gave them anyway. Now with the twins I would love to do the same, I'm currently 20 weeks and due to X Y and Z reasons I'll be delivering them hopefully if all goes well at 36 weeks. I know they'll more than likely spend some time in the NICU, I'm wondering if I'll be allowed to nurse or leave my milk for them to be fed, has anyone here dealt with nursing NICU babies? I'm also wondering when it comes to baby bottles, does anyone have any recommendations, my babies never took to ANY nipple other than my own. Anyone with twins that was able to exclusively breastfeed? I would love to read about your experience. Thank you!

 

[dallaskay]

@drterrapin My modi boys (7 months) were delivered at 36 weeks. They did not need the NICU or special nursery. However, they were small and struggled with latching and feeding effectively, especially B (my smaller twin) and would get too lethargic at the breast to feed enough and stimulate production. I spent the first 3 months feeding through a combination of breast (with nipple shields til about 9 weeks), pumping and topping up with formula. By 3 months I was producing enough and they were latching well enough to EBF. However it was a marathon that I could not have done without the support of my husband and my parents who we stayed with for the first 3 months. Even though I was able to produce enough, I decided that at least one feed a day needed to be bottle and that my husband was in charge. I needed a break. They’re now at two bottles a day and I’m slowly weaning to go back to work. It is possible but keep an open mind to formula supplementation and read up on triple feeding and ensure you have your pump figured out and you have the right flange size etc. My babies have had a mix of breast and bottle from the start. We used Philips Avent Classic. I had no supply issues with my first singleton.

 

[drterrapin]

@dallaskay I stay home so it was just the easiest option for me (weaning was always a task!) but I only ever BF singletons, and wonder now how it would be with two. We've had complications since the beginning of this pregnancy, and one is significantly smaller enough than the other to be a concern (we're being closely monitored for TTTS and the smaller one has a single umbilical artery), so we were told more likely than not one if not both would end up having some NICU time. Of course I hope they're all wrong and I get to have my boys from the start, but hope vs reality we'll see. I also never had any supply issues with my singletons, in fact I've been leaking colostrum since the start of this pregnancy, which is a first for me lol. I have never pumped, but I did order one through insurance, it comes with multiple sized flanges and I plan on taking it with me to the hospital.

Thank you for your advice!

 

[dallaskay]

@drterrapin Just want to add that if you don’t click with the first IBCLC you see, don’t have any hesitation of seeing another (and another if needed). And make sure they know about twins or at least premature babies. I met with one in the hospital who was awful and shamed me for trying nipple shields after B went velociraptor on my nipple. I then met with two others through my public health unit - one was ok and the other was experienced with twins and fantastic. I cried in relief when she met with me the first time. Mary Jean will always hold a special place in my heart, she saved bf for me with the guidance she provided.

 

[drterrapin]

@dallaskay I still remember my night nurse with my second born she was an angel! I hope I get to see her again, my sister got her as a nurse after having her first baby 2 years ago, and she was still the same amazing person I had met years prior. I have definitely been shy about my nurses, and care team in the past, but I want to be more assertive this time around. The twins have me on another level these days, I'm much more vocal with them than I was with my first two, I suppose it has to do with all of our complications. They don't have a house so I have to speak for them

 

[mattbraunlin]

@drterrapin My boys were born at 36+4, one had a brief w
2 day nicu stay, and we ebfed until they were 26 months.

The logistics of attempting to nurse early on were too hard so I ended up pumping at first. My husband would go down to the NICU with my pumped milk and do feeds every 3 hours and I would feed our other baby via bottle.

After 2 weeks of EPing, I saw an IBCLC and we worked on getting them to exclusively nurse. It took 2 weeks of triple feeding which was absolutely terrible but we got there when they were 4 weeks old. It was a lot of work and I was very grateful for the guidance and support of my IBCLC.

We used Philips avent bottles with the slow flow nipples.

 

[drterrapin]

@mattbraunlin I plan on taking the pump I ordered to the hospital with me, I've never pumped so this will be very new to me, I EBF my first two singletons from the moment they were born, but due to our many complications, I was told more likely than not, one if not both will end up in the NICU. Obviously I hope this isn't the case, but I know the reality of our situation so I want to be prepared for it all. Thank you for your insight!

 

[mattbraunlin]

@drterrapin The hospital should have the medela symphony available for you to use, which is a hospital grade pump and has (in my experience) much better suction then a home pump which was important for me early on when establishing supply.

I would bring a hands free pumping bra. I would also measure your nipples now and determine your flange size so if you need a smaller or larger size then standard (which most women do) you will have it available.

 

[drterrapin]

@mattbraunlin I had no idea the hospital carried pumps I'll have to ask about that, I also didn't think about a pumping bra (definitely a newbie) I'll be looking into that now, I'm sure that'll make life a little easier

 

[kings4ril]

@drterrapin My mo/di boys were ebf until 16 months. I would occasionally pump so my husband could get up with them or I could nap. We went through so many bottles but the only one my twins would use were MAM. Their nipples are one of a kind and most like mom.

 

[susan417]

@drterrapin I exclusively breastfeed both until 4 weeks. Twin B was underweight so ended up pumping and fortifying with formula for 10 months. Once he got back up to weight I’m now just breastfeeding both.

Both babies take bottles when I’m away which is nice to have the flexibility. Honestly it all depends on babies and what they need at the time.

It was hard early on when feeding specialists told us it was unlikely for twin B to breastfeed (had severe tongue tie) but he does it just fine now that he is bigger and stronger.

 

[heavenandearth]

@drterrapin My modi boys were in the NICU for 4 and 6 weeks despite being born at 35+5. Our hospital was highly supportive of breastfeeding and nursing, even had a great NICU-dedicated IBCLC. Nevertheless, separation and NICU life (tubes and cords and no privacy and godawful chairs) makes nursing hard, compounded by small sleepy babies. I’m just now, at nearly 4 mos pp, transitioning from EP to some feeds directly at the breast. It’s been a long but worthwhile struggle!!! Holy cow, it’s exhausting mentally and physically, and I questioned my sanity many times. But we do three tandem feeds a day. My husband usually handles the bottle feeds with my pumped milk. It’s nice to have that break. And is good to ensure they’re proficient at both bottle and breast.

The NICU may make the bottle decision for you. Ours only used Dr. Brown’s. We switched from the narrow and plastic to wide mouth and glass but kept with Dr Browns. They will likely hook you up with some slow flow (preemie or ultra preemie) nipples if you are in the NICU. The nipples are specific to narrow neck vs wide neck.

 

[drterrapin]

@heavenandearth My hospital sent me an IBCLC after both my singletons were born, I didn't even ask, and although I didn't need it I appreciated it. I hope nothing has changed in the last 6 years, and we get the same treatment. I have a feeling I will definitely need the help this go around. I have Philips avent and Dr Brown's bottles that I got as samples, I'll buy appropriately sized nipples for both to try out. I also have lansinoh, and someone else recommended mam, I don't want to invest in a bunch of bottles, but I want to be as successful as possible in nursing and pumping.

 

[1answer2]

@drterrapin No advice, just here to say we must have very similar due dates! I’m 20 weeks as well with di/di and also hoping to breastfeed as I did with our toddler !

 

[drterrapin]

@1answer2 My due date is August 29, but I'm scheduled for 36 weeks. One of my sisters is due in June, the other has the same due date as me lol the only one of us who was actively TTC is the one with my same due date, myself and my other sister were just pleasantly surprised lol

I never had any supply issues, and I've been leaking colostrum since the beginning of this pregnancy so I'm hoping at least on that front we'll, be good and I won't need to supplement with formula. Nothing wrong with it, I would just prefer not to have that extra expense and worry over my head. I'm also hoping to tandem feed and have them on the same schedule, we'll see how well that goes. I've only ever had one baby at a time so this I'm sure will be a challenge.

Good luck on the rest of your pregnancy! I hope all goes well

 

[1answer2]

@drterrapin We have the exact same due date ! I haven’t had anything scheduled yet but hoping for 36/37 weeks as well.

I have the same feelings towards formula- it worries me with the shortages experienced in the last little while I don’t want the stress of trying to get enough for two babies. Breastfeeding went well with my toddler but the idea of two at a time is daunting ! My best friend had twin boys in January, she has been able to keep up with breastfeeding so far and tandem feeds when it works out but also feeds them separately when they’re not cooperating perfectly.

Sounds like it will be an exciting busy summer for your family !

 

[audir8]

@drterrapin Podee bottles were the best for me. They allowed me to feed all three babies at the same time with no propping. www.podee.com. Not the owner or anything, just a mom that loved these!

 

[skyrover]

@drterrapin My modi boys were born at 34+1 and spent 22 days in the NICU.

While in the NICU, I pumped and they were fed by ng tube and then later, by bottle. I also worked on latching them while we were there, but it was mostly non-nutritive latching. I needed donor milk for them just for the first couple days until my milk came in because I didn’t produce much colostrum.

Once they were home, we bottle fed for a couple weeks and then gradually I switched them to breastfeeding directly, starting with the night feeds. By around 6 weeks old, they were completely switched over. They’re now 13 months and still breastfeeding.

My advice is to get in touch with an ibclc right away when they’re born, even if you have to pump at first. And try tandem, but don’t get too hung up on it. I ended up feeding my boys one by one most of the time and that definitely made the positioning and latching easier, especially when they were little.

I also breastfed two singletons prior to this.

 

[littlelisama]

@drterrapin My twins were fed every which way but I also had success nursing them. Nicu will absolutely take expressed milk and if your twins are able to nurse they will definitely let you promote that.

Mine were too fragile and weak to nurse (and small) and had to be tube fed but once they were able they took to nursing great. Until then I pumped a lot and I pumped a decent amount after that but once nursing was established I reduced pumping. My twins turned out to be very adaptable and could go back and forth between bottle and breast with ease (my singletons both also were anti bottle) all of my kids were anti pacifier but the NiCU tried it to help them strengthen their suckle reflex. They weren't super into it but nursed well and bottle fed well.

At home we mostly nursed but did supplemental formula (high calorie preemie formula) in the beginning after every feed for a month or two. Then when I went back to work at 6 months PP we used expressed milk and then formula while I was at work but I nursed at home and overnights. I felt like we had a lot of options and all were good and we could be very flexible!

 

[drterrapin]

@littlelisama Oh that's amazing! I hope my boys are just as adaptable, I stay home, I homeschool (which I'll stop for this upcoming school year due to the twins, but they'll remain at home doing virtual classes) so I will have a lot of time with them to try and establish breastfeeding.