Reproduced with kind permission from Vesta Birth & Parenting website:
If your expecting twins or more you may be wondering about your feeding choices. When I say choice, I mean it very loosely. I know as well as most, that mums of multiples in some circumstances don’t actually have the opportunity for true choice. Saying that, many multiple mums do breastfeed successfully and it can save lots of money and reduce the time you’d spend sterilising and making up feeds. If you are wanting to breastfeed, don’t be put off by people telling you about all of the challenges that you might face. Below I will discuss the knowledge and experience that I have accumulated over the years. I hope it helps.
- Keep an open mind. I have spent time with lots of mums who weren’t aware that sometimes, particularly if your babies come early, your milk can take a few days to “come in”.
- Equally, some women and babies just need a bit of adjustment time. One of my university tutors once told me this fantastic analogy… “Breastfeeding can be like getting a new pair of shoes, at first it might not feel like it works, might be a bit uncomfortable and you might want to give up. But once you wear those shoes in for a few weeks, they fit like a glove and you can’t imagine being without them”.
- Some mums find it too much to go straight to tandem feeding. If it’s possible, get to grips with feeding one baby at a time first and then introduce tandem feeding when you are feeling more confident.
- Sometimes you may have one baby that can feed really well from the breast, in these instances you might find it useful to express with an electric pump at the same time for your other baby(ies). It IS possible for a baby to latch after tacking a bottle, it’s not impossible and don’t let anyone tell you that it is.
- It’s better not to have a specific breast for each baby. Do swap sides, there is a chance that you might end up a bit a bit lop sided if you don’t!
- Breastfeeding can be a magical experience, but it can also be really hard, especially if you are feeding more than one baby. Remember to take good care of yourself, eat, drink, rest whenever possible and if it’s getting on top of you there is NO SHAME in introducing a bottle of expressed or formula milk. The most important thing for your babies is a mother that feels able to care for them, not one who is physically and emotionally drained from feeding.
- Tandem feeding doesn’t work for everyone but if it does then a good V shaped pillow will be your best friend!
- Be prepared for days where you will do little else but feed. Lots of snacks, bottled drinks and a good box set would be in my breastfeeding hamper!
- The human body is amazing, we are capable of feeding as many babies as we need to (in theory). There are lots of different support networks for breastfeeding. Mums who access these have a much stronger chance of succeeding. La Leche League, children centres and health visitor clinics often run peer support groups, NCT breastfeeding councillors, TAMBA also have trained breast feeding supporters who have all breastfed twins or more themselves. This is all free, all accessible.
Remember, wet and dirty nappies are a good indicator of how much milk your babies are getting. Midwives and health visitors will be able to talk to you about how to check whether your babies are getting what they need.
So, read up, get informed and don’t make any expectations of yourself. Everyones bodies, boobs and babies are different. Listen to your body and your babies, bringing multiples into the world is magical, don’t sweat the small stuff.
If your expecting twins, triplets or more, why not have a look at the Vesta Birth and Parenting antenatal courses and sign up for our newsletter here. Our specialist multiple birth sessions run nationally. Email us atinfo@vestabirthandparenting.co.uk.