Tandem formula feeding

[booboo42]

so my girls are 7 weeks and it takes me about 2 hours to feed both now OH is back at work. any tips/techiques to feed both together?

 

[lizziedripping]

Hi hun. I tried lots of different positions, but aT this age the best one for me was having the smaller twin across my lap on a cushion, and the larger alongside me on a cushion. His head would be facing out, and his feet pushed up against the back of the sofa. It took around 20mins to do a feed that way. By 12wks the boys were just too big for that, so I had to feed them individually.

It only took 15mins each tho hun, are you certain you have the correct teat? Maybe they need a faster flow - when feeds take so long, it usually indicates that they're ready to move onto a faster teat. I used Mam teat #2 for one twin, and #3 for my less efficient suckler x

 

[booboo42]

Thanks Lizzie.

i have given it a go once but my postion wasn't quite right and they were both unhappy but i really want another go.

i have just changed bottles and teats in the last week and we are getting a bit faster though the afternoon feed still seems to take forever, particulary for Daisy. Jemima is a bit faster though we are getting a lot of leakage from the new teats when drinking with both of them. i had to put dailsy on the newborn size though Jemima can manage the 1 month plus.

i suppose it could be because they were born 5 weeks early and are still learning. it just feels like one feed finishes then i get 5 minutes before the next one starts!

anyway thanks very much for replying - it can feel a bit lonely trying to work all this stuff out!

xx

 

[TwoBumps]

I did the same as Lizzie! My smaller twin was on my lap & my bigger twin (and better feeder) propped up next to me on cushions. Joshua (my smaller twin) always had a lot of leakage but my boys were prem too & as he got bigger & older that did stop! I also found I had to use much faster flow teats when the boys were little. Joshua was on a number 3 and Ben on a number 2. This obviously added to the leakage but they were just too small to cope with a slow flow teat & would get tired & give up long before finishing the feed!

Good luck when you try it again x x

 

[loz13]

I used to feed either with them flat on their back on the floor with me in the middle or in the bouncy chairs however my girls picked up feeding really quickly as they were full term.

The feeding should fall into a better routine in a couple of weeks and then it should get a bit easier for you

Good luck.

 

[lizziedripping]

anyway thanks very much for replying - it can feel a bit lonely trying to work all this stuff out!

xx

Awww hun, course you get lonely from time to time, there is nothing more isolating nor has such a steep learning curve than motherhood You sound like a brilliant Mum just trying to get things right - let me know when you've found the secret

As for the feeding, your girls' prematurity may well be influencing their speed (even though they were only slightly prem) and really you've got to think of them as 2wks old rather than 7 - that's what I did with my preemie daughter. It actually takes a huge pressure off you and them if you adjust for the prematurity chick - milestones, growth and feeding. A 2wk old really can't manage a faster teat, and that's effectively what your babies are.

The girls will soon get the hang of the sucking, swallowing and breathing motion and your lives will be instantly easier . The feeding must tire them because it takes so long, which in turn makes it harder for them to feed quickly and efficiently. Its a viscious cycle hun, but one which they'll soon outgrow.

 

[indifference]

Of you could get really lucky and have them being fed semi hands free!!!

Of course they do this ALLLLLLLLL the time, they barely need me to feed them.........oh no, wait, thats just a dream..........poo.

 

[loz13]

Of you could get really lucky and have them being fed semi hands free!!!

Of course they do this ALLLLLLLLL the time, they barely need me to feed them.........oh no, wait, thats just a dream..........poo.

Ours were quite good with the hands-free-propping method using towels one of our girls (the bigger one) picked up holding the bottle herself really quickly so there is light . . .

 

[xxxemsxxx]

I feed mine like Loz, with them either sitting in their bouncy chairs, or lying flat on the floor with me in the middle.

Its is hard trying to work it all out isnt it. Sounds like you are doing a great job though. My two feeds were getting longer and longer so I changed to teat size thinking this would help and they screamed so loud and wouldnt take any milk so back down we went. So don't feel alone we are all in the same boat trying to work out what works best for our little ones. We wil get there in the end.

I hope you find a position that works for you soon and the feeding gets quicker for you. xx

 

[PeaceLoveBaby]

I have 2 boppy pillows and prop their bottles with me sitting in the middle and keeping an eye on em. That's when they feed at the same time....which isn't very often. *sigh*

 

[booboo42]

I have 2 boppy pillows and prop their bottles with me sitting in the middle and keeping an eye on em. That's when they feed at the same time....which isn't very often. *sigh*

i was going to try this but the boppy pillows are a bit expensive if it doesn't work! i am just carrying on feeding one after the other but it is still taking ages sometimes. not sure how it would be possible to feed in 15 mins though given burping etc!

 

[Pandora11]

I'm not in this section but thought i'd comment.

Have you seen the hands free bottle holders? I've just googled it but can't find the one i'm thinking of. The other week on tv i saw people using this foam cushion thing with a hole for the bottle in the middle. The cushion rested on the baby's knees whilst it sat in a car seat.

 

[twinmom]

I used to feed either with them flat on their back on the floor with me in the middle or in the bouncy chairs however my girls picked up feeding really quickly as they were full term.

The feeding should fall into a better routine in a couple of weeks and then it should get a bit easier for you

Good luck.

This is exactly how I did it, or sitting on my couch with one lying on each side of me (heads beside my knees)...then when they were bigger I sat between the bouncy chairs.

 

[Tasha360]

I fed in the bouncy chairs or fed one in my arms one handed and put the other on a widgy pillow next to me on the floor ( they are in the baby event at asda at the mo) x