Prematurity is common
Twins are often born prematurely, and there are specific tips for breastfeeding 34-38 week gestation babies.Breastfeeding one premature baby is a challenge, as they often lack the stamina to remove milk well.
With twins, you also must produce twice as much milk, which can also be a challenge for many mothers.
Tandem Nursing
To breastfeed both babies at the same time is the ultimate goal.However, in the beginning, you will likely nurse one baby at a time.
- It usually takes both of your hands to position one baby and help them latch well.
- Then, you'll need to do breast compressions to keep them awake and swallowing.
- Click here to watch the latching videos.
- Click here to watch the video for an ideal breastfeeding session.
- First latch the twin that is more challenging to get latched, so you can use both hands.
- Use plenty of pillows to secure his positioning, and then maneuver the second twin onto the breast.
- Click here to watch a video about triple feeding.
- Click here to learn more about managing a low milk supply.
Triple feeding twins
Triple feeding is intended to assess your milk supply and assess your baby’s ability to remove milk,PLUS increase your supply and promote weight gain and thus more energy to nurse.
Both babies are fed every 3 hours or so, but they take turns at the breast.
- You nurse one baby while your helper feeds the other baby a bottle of previously pumped breastmilk, donor milk or formula. Click here
to view a video of paced bottle feeding.
- Try to empty the 1st breast and then offer the 2nd breast until no more swallowing sounds are heard with breast compressions.
- At first, it's best to limit nursing sessions to 20-30 minutes total.
- Small babies often lack the stamina to spend more time at the breast and then follow this with a supplemental bottle feeding. They may get tired before they get full. Your baby needs rest in order to grow, and you need time to complete more steps of this process - and then rest!
- As you finish up nursing your twin, your helper is likely finished bottle feeding the other twin, and lays him down for sleep.
- Your helper takes your twin and offers more milk from a bottle, even if he's sleepy. Top him off until he refuses any more.
- This will likely be donor milk or formula. Develop a system such that each baby gets similar amounts of your breastmilk, versus donor milk or formula.
- Pump both breasts to empty while your helper tops of the twin you just finished nursing.
Try to have each baby spend equal time on each breast, as one baby may nurse better than the other.
Get regular weight checks.
- With breastfeeding, the amount of milk removed from the breast isn't measured. Thus, weighing the babies is the only way to know for sure they're getting enough.
- Click here to learn how a baby behaves when they're not getting enough.
Redefine Success
If tandem feeding, or breastfeeding in general, doesn't work out as planned, realize that "breastfeeding" does not have to be all or nothing. A long term feeding plan can be set-up that includes as much breastmilk and as much nursing as possible and feasible. Click here to read how to manage long term.Hang in there!
There are only 24 hours in a day.Pace yourselves, and accept help from others.
Kay Anderson MD, IBCLC
5/23