How to Make Breastfeeding Twins a Success

You're expecting twins. Congratulations! This article will arm you with basic information that will help you to start and stick with breastfeeding your multiples. In addition to following the steps, remember that determination is an important requirement when breastfeeding any baby, especially twins.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A roomy chair, such as a large glider chair, pillows or other propping devices, burp cloth

1. Begin by establishing your milk supply. If your babies are full-term, the best way to do this is simply to breastfeed your twins whenever they are hungry. Despite any worries you may have, you will be able to produce enough milk for both babies. If your twins are premature and have to spend any time in the hospital NICU, or are having difficulty with latching on, you will need to pump your breasts. For twins, use a hospital grade, double breastpump (such as the Medela Symphony) every three hours for 20-30 minutes, and aim for 48 ounces of breast milk per day.

2. When nursing the babies, choose a location that you will use as your breastfeeding station. Make sure your choice has plenty of room to accommodate you, two infants and pillows or cushions to prop them in an optimal nursing position.

3. Consult a book, such as "Mothering Multiples", by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada, for tips on the different positions for breastfeeding twins. Preemie twins who have spent a significant amount of time in the NICU or very young twins may not have much muscle tone. This adds to the challenge of positioning both babies. If possible, have Dad or another assistant on-hand to help, until you and the babies are more experienced at starting each nursing session.

4. Attempt to breastfeed both twins at the same time. This may require waking one baby when the other is ready to nurse so that you are not feeding constantly, throughout the day and night. This is especially important in the early months, when babies nurse several times a day!

5. Keep water and snacks at your breastfeeding station, so that you can remember to stay hydrated and energized throughout the day.

6. Experiment with arranging pillows and babies until you find the arrangement that is optimal for comfort and successful nursing for both you and your multiples. One common way to simultaneously breastfeed twins is to position one baby along your side, on a pillow (the clutch hold), and the other in your arm, across your lap (the cradle hold).

7. Attempt to get one baby at a time to latch onto the breast. When the first baby has effectively latched on, assist the second baby with latching onto the other breast (again, enlisting a helper, if necessary).

8. Relax and look at your babies, to encourage milk let-down. Expect each session to last from 10-40 minutes.

9. Every few minutes, remove one baby from the breast by inserting your finger between your nipple and baby's lower lip, to break the latch seal. Burp this baby, while continuing to nurse the other baby. Offer this baby the breast again, and burp the other baby.

10. During the next feeding session, be sure to switch babies to the opposite breast, so that milk production levels stay consistent between the breasts.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to consume extra calories and extra calcium while breastfeeding. Refer to a book such as "Mothering Multiples", by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada for specific requirements. Continuing to take prenatal vitamins is also recommended.
• Adequate rest is essential for maintaining milk production. Try to get sleep by napping whenever possible during the day (such as when the babies nap) and get help in whatever ways possible with household chores, older children, cooking, etc.
• If either or both babies are having difficulty latching on, consult your hospital lactation consultant or your local La Leche League representative for assistance. Many lactation consultants offer home visits for a moderate fee.
• Put safety first when breastfeeding your twins. Make certain pillows or propping devices are not near babies' mouths and noses when feeding, and that babies cannot get lodged or smothered in pillows or chair cushions. Enlist help whenever possible when lifting and carrying multiple babies from your breastfeeding station.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 6/11/2009 Very interesting article. Well written. Thanks for sharing. 5*

[johnnyutah]

on 5/21/2009 friends just had twins..frw to them..thanks for sharing How to Make Breastfeeding Twins a Success 5*

[billips]

on 5/18/2009 Good article - you certainly sound as though you have the whole process well organized - B.

[Dino1353]

on 4/4/2009 Good advice on Breastfeeding Twins. 5*

[MSmith]

on 4/2/2009 Great job, on writing as well as practicing. 5*