[quagmire8]

Just wanted to update you guys since you all were so helpful in getting us exclusively breastfeeding (it has been exactly 1 week since Eliot and Elise's last bottle)!

Weights as follows:
Eliot: Birth-5#15oz, 15days old-6#4oz, 20 days old-6#12oz
Elise: Birth 6#5oz, 15days old-6#6oz, 20 days old-6#12oz

So it appears they are gaining enough! The pediatrician said "they arent growing off the charts, but they are doing what they need to." I am happy with it. He wants another weight check in two weeks. They are having urine and stool at every diaper change (every 2-3 hours at least).

Our only issue (which isnt really an issue for the babies--just mommy's sleep) is what I guess is cluster feeding (usually in the evenings, although it extended throughout the night last night). They want to nurse all the time. They nurse for 45 minutes, fall asleep, I put them in the crib, and within 30 minutes they want to nurse again. Is this normal? From what I have read, it seems so, but I would like to hear your experiences, if you dont mind! TIA!

[twinzplus3]

Ack...I just responded to this and then deleted myself!

Yes--totally normal. Are you open to co-sleeping or putting them together? Sometimes twins do better with human contact while sleeping...this was true for my twins (to the point where they wouldn't fall asleep in the car seats or stroller because they weren't together). But the reality is that you are just going to have to do what you have to do to get sleep. Either hire someone, or let your spouse give them a bottle while you go to bed early. It will get better but it takes most M.O.M.s a full two to three months at least to establish some sort of a routine. (At least M.O.M.s that didn't do NICU time--those babies come home on the hospital schedule.)

[quagmire8]

I knew I wanted to cobed them from the day I found out I was pregnant with twins! One of my favorite things to do at work is to set up twins to cobed as soon as they are medically stable enough. So many of my coworkers see this as burden and I have always loved to take on the job! The cosleep together (and they seem to enjoy it!).

Would giving them one bottle a day sabotage my supply? That is the only reason I have not been open to doing it--we have worked hard to get to this point and I would hate to have a set back. And if we do give a bottle once a day, (ex: nurse both of them, go to sleep and when they wake up Daddy gives a bottle while I sleep until they wake again), do I need to wake up to pump for that feeding or is nursing them when they get up again good enough to put the demand on my body? Or would Daddy give them a bottle while I pump, then they would sleep longer so that would be my stretch of sleep?

Gosh I hope my questions makes sense! Getting a full two hours of sleep in one stretch would be so amazing (when I get an hour it makes such a big difference), I just want to make sure I do it right!

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by quagmire8

Would giving them one bottle a day sabotage my supply? That is the only reason I have not been open to doing it--we have worked hard to get to this point and I would hate to have a set back.

This is all about balancing your needs with the babies' needs. Yes--giving them a bottle is going to have an affect on your supply. But so will extreme sleep deprivation. If you are able to get the sleep at some other point in they day. . .then great. But if you're not, at some point you're going to come to a crashing halt. It's much better if you do what you can to get that sleep before you crash!!! What I did when my babies were newborn was let Daddy do the 8pm feeding and I went to sleep. They slept until about 12am or 1am and although dad had to get up to help me with them...I pretty much stayed up for the rest of the night. 4 hours--as you I'm sure know--is better than nothing. We did this for four weeks--but everyone's twins and tolerance for sleep deprivation is different. In all seriousness, if the thought of supplementing makes you cringe--you have to get more help. Someone that you trust that can come in and take the babies away so you can just sleep.

When the babies are older you should be able to wean them off of that supplement entirely. And if not, then it's okay. You need to do what you need to do to get some sleep!

[LovingJesusinAZ]

Yeah, Allison!!!!! That is so awesome! I'm not a mom of twins but I can't tell you how much I admire you for being persistent and breastfeeding them exclusively!!! I have numerous friends who "can't handle" breastfeeding a singleton on demand so you're on my list of breastfeeding heroes (with Valorie being at the top! )

[mommy2067]

WOW mama...you are doing a great job!!! I can only imagine how much more effort/work bfing 2 babies is...Actually I don't even think I can imagine it!!! Kudos to you!! Hug those beautiful babies for me!!!

[quagmire8]

thanks guys! i have to say, i am very proud of providing this for my babies--but having the encouragement and advice from you guys makes all of the difference in the world!

[NavGabeShiJude]

Congrats! I am totally loving that you are doing this!
It gives me strength knowing that it is possible with hard work to bfeed twins exclusively.
I have breast fed my four children and since I am having twins it would kill me if I couldn't at least try to do so.
Just remember that if you are not healthy, there is no way you can take care of your children! If getting that extra sleep with help, then do it! a healthy mom is happier and better able to cope!
Congrats on the babies!

[quagmire8]

Well, at 4am Eliot was just crying and crying after being to breast most of the night. I had not gone to sleep yet and had only about 25 minutes (broken up into one 15 minute and one 10 minute sessions) where i didnt have a baby attached to me in some way (feeding, diaper changing, soothing, etc). Eliot was not showing signs of hunger, he just wanted to be awake and held while walking. I had to go get DH because I needed sleep, so I defrosted some breast milk for each of them to have a bottle. I was able to sleep until DH had to go to work! It gave me 3 hours and 15 minutes of straight sleep! I have not had that since we were in the hospital after the delivery! I pumped as soon as I woke up and got 5 ounces! The most I usually get when I pump is 20-40mls, so although I know that pumping is not a good indication of what the baby gets, I was still very very very happy to know I had that much milk at one time! It is a glorious morning!



NavGabeShiJude: Welcome to families! It has not been easy, but we are hanging in there! It is very very very possible to breastfeed twins!!! A very good book is "Mothering Multiples" by Karen Gromada. Very very informative and encouraging. When our babies were born, on day 4 we had to start supplementing because my milk had not yet come in and the babies were under phototherapy lights for jaundice. They needed more intake than what I could give them and that started us on the whole nurse, supplement, pump (clean pump parts and bottles), repeat. It was a terrible cycle to be in and one day I just said "I cant do this any more" and just breastfed. They nursed for 5 hours straight and the next day or so they were always at the breast. But, it was exactly what I needed to get my supply up! Breastfeeding only is so so so much easier! This place is wonderful for encouragement and support! Good luck with your twins--they are so much fun!

[NavGabeShiJude]

quagmire8:
Thanks for the info, I have had people repeatedly tell me that you can't breast feed multiples, but this gives me such hope! I haven't had any problems previously while feeding so I am praying it stays the same.... and since I am already sleep deprived and have been for nearly 5 years.... what is another year? lol!