Assisted Conception and LTTTC - Due in 2013/2014

[Em260]

That's what my lactation consultant told me about clusterfeeding too, Blue. Breastmilk is digested really fast so they need to eat more often and it's also apparently to get your milk supply to come in fully in the beginning. Later it's supposed to rev up your milk supply when the babies have a growth spurt. And then it also happens when they start sleeping longer stretches, they sort of tank up beforehand. My DD does it now in the evenings which I read is the most common time of day for them to do it.

Kellymom.com is a great resource for breastfeeding info. and general parenting info too. I found this section on cluster feeding and fussy babies really helpful:

https://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussy-evening/

https://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussybaby/

 

[~Brandy~]

Breastfeeding twins is so stressful! I will try not to write a book but I am wondering if anyone else is having issues? I am working with a lactation specialist and following what she recommends.

We started out trying to only BF and that wasnt working the babies were losing weight. Second try was breastfeeding and then supplementing with finger feeding and BF. Babies were still losing weight because they werent getting enough on the breast but putting out the sucking effort and burning too many calories. Third step.. We moved to BF each baby for 10 minutes and then supplementing formula via a bottle. This is the method we were using till yesterday. I have no idea though how much breast milk they were getting during those 10 minutes though... but it kept them from getting nipple confusion. They switch very easily between BF and bottle which is great!

Today at the lactation specialist she had me switch to a SNS system... where you put 2.5 oz of formula in the tube and then attach the tube to your nipple and breast feed till they are done. I am hoping this method helps us get a little closer to being exclusively breast fed or atleast get the babies more breast milk...

During the lactation appt today the babies each got 1 oz of breast milk using this method and 2 oz of formula based on the weighing she did. I would like to get that ratio closer to 2oz breast milk and 1 oz formula.

Anyone have any experience with the current method I am using? Will my milk increase enough to reach my goal? Do you think this is the right direction?

 

[Blue12]

Brandy I'm not really sure how to do this twin thing either. Day 2 my girls had lost a lot of weight and we began offering 1oz of formula in a bottle after each breast feeding session which lasts about 10mins. I have no idea how much breast milk tey get from me. I have pumped an hour after a feed and get 1.5oz from each side so I'm assuming that the girls get more than that after a 3 hour stretch and because they are more efficient at getting milk out than a pump. With this system so far the girls are gaining well.

I want to eliminate te formula though. I tried taking the herbal supplements fenugreek and blessed thistle but ended up with a terrible horrible headache so I stopped taking it.

I was told the two ways to end up exclusively breat feeding is to take supplements/domperidone or pump 1 hour after each feed. Both of those are huge commitments.

 

[~Brandy~]

Brandy I'm not really sure how to do this twin thing either. Day 2 my girls had lost a lot of weight and we began offering 1oz of formula in a bottle after each breast feeding session which lasts about 10mins. I have no idea how much breast milk tey get from me. I have pumped an hour after a feed and get 1.5oz from each side so I'm assuming that the girls get more than that after a 3 hour stretch and because they are more efficient at getting milk out than a pump. With this system so far the girls are gaining well.

I want to eliminate te formula though. I tried taking the herbal supplements fenugreek and blessed thistle but ended up with a terrible horrible headache so I stopped taking it.

I was told the two ways to end up exclusively breat feeding is to take supplements/domperidone or pump 1 hour after each feed. Both of those are huge commitments.

Thanks blue. I take fenugreek although not very well I forget doses and such with this crazy. I currently pump after each feeding but most of the time I only get an ounce or so. I time will tell

 

[Em260]

Brandy - are you using a hospital grade pump? I had to pump a lot in the beginning because my DD wouldn't stay awake for her feeds so I would pump and give her bottles. I started out using a regular kind you can buy at Babies r us and then my lactation consultant had me switch to renting a hospital grade pump. It made a huge difference for me in the amount of milk I pumped. My LC said the personal style pumps are intended for women who need to pump a few times per week. If you're pumping more than that you need a workhorse which is hospital grade.

 

[Mells54]

Since I'm not able to BF I can't really comment but one of the nurses told me that you can try and wrap your breasts with cabbage leaves to increase vs milk production. I guess it is popular to do this in the Hispanic community and it is known to work. Good luck ladies!!!

 

[MoBaby]

Em does insurance pay rental fee? My little man still falls asleep w/ every feeding like from the start. I pump but only get 1-2 oz off each side. Usually 2.5 total. I had to pump last night b/c he didn't seem to be satisfied so keep wanting boob constantly. I broke down and pumped 2oz total. Pumped this am and 2 oz again. I want him at the boob to increase the supply but he takes 45 mins or longer and is fussy at night

 

[Sweetness_87]

Hey girls I always nursed then would pump afterward til I was empty that helped a lot with my milk supply also tandem feeding was what really increased my milk because my hormones realiZed there was more then one baby and to go in overtime. That increased my milk to 6 oz out of left and 4 oz out of right without fully emptying. Also I would pump for Gavin towards the end because he was burning too many calories and taking forever so I would bottle feed him and I would know exactly how much I was giving him. And I took the fenugreek and also heard good things with the cabbage. Pumping and bf in General is stressful let a lone twins. It just got to being too much. I'm proud I made it to 4 months (they get 3 rounds of formula then 1 breast)

 

[Sweetness_87]

Mo- try to take some fenugreek and see if your OB will write a script for reglan

 

[Em260]

Mo - some insurance companies will cover it. Mine doesn't unfortunately but the LC said I can try writing a letter explaining the reason for needing hospital grade and they might approve it. You can have your OB write a prescription for it and send them a copy. I just haven't gotten around to writing the letter yet.

Sorry you're dealing with a sleepy eater too It was soo frustrating for me and I would spend hours trying to breastfeed my DD. She would fall asleep within a minute of being put on the breast. Sleep for a short time then wake up and want to eat again. This cycle repeated for hours and hours .

I had to start pumping because she wasn't emptying my breasts at all and that's why I ended up with a clogged duct and mastitis . Plus sometimes I just couldn't take the marathon breastfeeding sessions and giving her a bottle of pumped milk saved my sanity.

It will get easier when your little guy gets older and starts staying awake for feedings. It's like a lightbulb went off for my DD and she realized she should be eating and not sleeping. But it was so hard for me in the beginning. Just do what you can and if you need to pump and give him a bottle so you can have some rest, then do it. The pumping will increase your supply, like Sweetness mentioned.

Sweetness - way to go making it to 4 months! Breastfeeding and pumping is so challenging, sooo much harder than I expected. I keep setting small goals for myself, hoping I can make it that far. In the beginning it was "I just have to make it to the weekend" and now I'm hoping to make it to 4 months or longer.

 

[Em260]

Forgot I wanted to add a link to a video. I'm not sure where I found this, maybe someone on here posted it. Anyway, it's very helpful if you're breastfeeding or pumping to use compressions to help empty your breasts.

https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

 

[MoBaby]

Anyone who bfs twins is a rock star. Period.

Oh baby gained 11 oz in 8 days bfing so guess I'm doing what I'm supposed to. I'm gonna try the fenugreek soon. I'm not into rx meds much so reglan as a last resort.

 

[Blue12]

Mobaby that's an amazing weight gain!!!! You are doing awesome!!!!

At two weeks my girls only gained 8oz. Lol.

 

[MoBaby]

I think that's amazing for twins!!!

 

[Blue12]

You are right Em. The lactation consultant told me to do compressions during feedings and it has helped so much.

 

[Em260]

Mo - that's great!!

 

[wellsk]

Congrats Mobaby, Blue and Brandy! Sorry if I've missed anyone... I only skimmed through!

I've been super MIA from BnB... but I had my daughter Iris Harriet Phyllis on the 1st March, weighing 7lb 7oz. Been super crazy, and just in awe of her. I love being a mummy!

I think it's normal for breastfed babies to take a while to gain weight, I was in hospital for a few days with 3rd degree tear with complications. On the final day I was fit to go home, she'd lost 10.4% of her birth weight and had to stay in and be topped up with formula. She still has the odd formula now, but at two weeks she'd regained 11oz

Oh, and a quick snap for good measure!

https://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad6/wells-k/Irislookinglikeadoll_zpsb5297f94.jpg

 

[Mells54]

Wells! she is beautiful! Congarts!

 

[Blue12]

Beautiful wellsk. Love seeing pictures.

 

[MoBaby]

beautiful!!