OMG Mothers with Twins Please Help

You have some great responses. I had a child years ago on a special formula and was a single mom. WIC is a great resource check to see if you qualify ( the social or family services should help at the hospital). I do not know what pediatrician you will be going to but the formula reps usually give them samples to give out ask for some just be honest with the office and I am sure that they will give you what they can. If you do not qualify for WIC contact Similac and find out what rep is in this area and contact them they may help you out. ( I did that). Also get on the company's mailing list for coupon's. Neosure 22 is the lowest calorie in that formula so you would not be able to mix it differently to make 22 cal. One more thing and I may get flack on this but with work you should be able to pump and bring your milk back in. Breast milk any amount is the best for premature babies. Breast milk is also cheaper than formula. You may need to add some neosure to the breast milk to give it more cal. but the nurses at the NICU will be able to help you with the recipe. If you qualify for WIC they will issue you a hospital grade pump ( let them know that you have premature twins you will get a better pump). At the NICU that you have the twins at should have a pumping room with hospital grade pumps and should have a lactation consultant that will be willing to help you. You can also ask on this form if anyone has a hospital grade pump that they are willing to sell you would just need the kit. I know in the hospital I work at we have the kits available and they should give you one that will work with the Medela pumps.Just a little background I pumped for a year for one of my children he was premature and had other issues so he never nursed so it was only pumping.I also worked during that time. I was not then but now I am a NICU RN. I also have taken some advanced classes in lactation but I am not a lactation consultant. If you would like to contact me feel free. And best of luck with everything. Sorry did not mean to sound preachy about breast milk but thought that you may not have realized that you can bring back your milk supply even now and that could be an option. Have a wonderful day.

1 mom found this helpful

Why don't you breast feed? - it's free.
If you haven't been, start pumping now - not too late I'm sure. You can feed two healthy babies if you eat well yourself. Think about all the benefits about that. Call the hospital before you go and ask for a lactation specialist to meet you before you leave to show you what to do. Start pumping now - cheaper to rent a breast pump (rent the big electrical one - they wok awesome). If you don't want them to suckle then pump and feed them by the bottle. Either way they will be the healthier for it and your pocket book will be saved! Ask the hospital staff where to find this pump and check the internet for a store in your area.
Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

Is it an option to breastfeed? I had a baby in March and the best decision I made was to breastfeed. It was a challenge at first but I had a lactation consultant come to the house and it was smooth sailing after that!

1 mom found this helpful

M.,
Please consider seeing if you can get help from WIC(Woman, Infant and Children). I am a foster mom and have had several infants on this. It is expensive. WIC is income based, but your income doesn't have to be too low to qualify. Congrautlations on your little blessings, and enjoy every minute. S.

My girls had to be on a high calorie formula also-they were 10wks premature. They were only on it for about a month or so after they came home and they would only drink about an ounce to an ounce in a half after I nursed them so we didn't have to buy very much of the high cal formula. So don't panic-they shouldn't be on it for very long unless they don't gain weight.

did you qualify for wic?if so make a appointment asap if not try buy it online from amazon,diapers.com,craiglist also suscribe to similac in similac.,com to receive a 5.00 check in the mail to buy it also compare prices at sams or cotsco i am on wic but when i run out i buy it from sams is like 10 oz bigger than the walmart because a can is gonna last you like maximum 2 days only.

good luck !!

Congrats on you twin girls. I have boy/girl twins that will be 7 years old next week. They were on a special formula when they came home from the hospital. My pediatrician was wonderful about getting cases from her representative. Every week that I would come into the office, she would have a case or 2 set back for me. I also signed up for coupons on the company website and signed up my friends and family. I also asked my friends and family to save me any coupons that were in the mail or newspaper. Another thing to help you get through the year is to ask everyone to give the girls diapers and formula for Christmas. That helped us get through the year.

You may have already looked into this but sometimes health insurance will cover "special" formulas due to dietary restrictions or medical necessity. My daughter is on an amino acid based formula I can only buy from Abbott Labs or special order from a pharmacy. But since its available without a prescription my insurance initially rejected it. If your Pediatrician or Gastronenterologist is willing to submit the required information to your insurance indicating failure to thrive, medical need etc. you might have a chance. Ours covered it after initially rejecting it which is huge since its about $40/can.

My pediatrician said I had to use Neosure for 9-12 months! I found that it was cheapest at Walmart , Albertsons and believe it or not CVS. At CVS if you sign up for their CVS card program you get coupons each time for money off your next visit (1-4 dollars) and special deals on things you buy most often. We didn't qualify for WIC, but definitely look into it. You'll need a special form from the pedi saying Neosure is required. Some WIC offices have longer waits for appts than others, so call around to a few offices. You may have to drive farther, but you'll get WIC benefits faster.

See if you qualify for your local WIC program.

WIC is one option another option is to get a prescription from your doctor and then getting the formula from home health. I'll ask my client's mom how she went about doing this for her daughter. Also, do they have any other health issues, there are ways that you could get nursing help and any other medical supplies taken care of. Good luck and congratulations on your babies.

I have twins too, (boy and girl) and my son has some challenges. He has to have an upped calorie formula too. Well, much to my surprise my insurance covered it! And the supplier sends it to my home! So check out your insurance. My son needed other feeding supplies also, but it was an agent at the supply company who told me I could order formula also.
Good Luck

Have you tried applying for wic? Also sometimes if a formula is "prescribed" insurance will help. Good luck

Does it come in a "store brand"? If it does, do not be afraid to try it, it is nutritionally the same....if you don't qualify for WIC, then sadly, this is a case of having to tighten up for a while. I have four year old twin boys so believe me, I understand how double diapers and double formula adds up quickly....I'm sure you wouldn't even think about this but just have to throw it out there...whatever you do, don't "water down" the formula to make it go further...babies have died from malnutrition because mothers have been forced to do it because they couldn't afford the formula...

Usually that formula is to help increase bady weight. Ultimately I would ask the Neo-natal nurse or Doctor who has been taking care of them if there are any alternativesl
With my daughter we were told a soecific way of making regular formula which basically was less water & more formula per bottle thus increasing the calories.
Another suggestion would be to go to your local WIC (Women, Infants, Children). They can help you with formula if you qualify & its definately worth the time to call & ask!!!!!
Congrats on your twins & best of luck!

Hi M.,

i am the mother of four month old twin boys and I am in the same boat you are! I wanted to let you know that I have found that the formula companies and the diaper companies will provide free formula a diapers for multiples. Usually witht he formula your pediatrician will need to sign off ona form and give it to the rep. The diaper companies websites outline what you need to do for a free one-time coupon. I am still waiting to find out what it is exactly. Our boys use Enfamil A. R. and they sent us two free cases!!!!!!! :)

Let me knwo if you have any questions!

R.'

WIC will pay for it with a prescription from the doctor.

To save money I bought formula in bulk online. There was a particular vendor that I used on ebay that was very good and always provided me sealed containers with current dates on them. I am guessing that she has a connection with a wholesaler and sells them at very reasonable prices. I also liked the idea of having a ton on hand so I never feared running out. Her ebay account is happybaby007. My son has not used formula for a while, but I am sure she is still a seller. It would be worth a try to check on ebay. Also make sure you get on the Similac mailing list you should be able to sign up on similac.com they will send you coupons and all kinds of samples. There are also swaps out there for moms using Enfamil will swap their Similac coupons for Enfamil coupons so sign up on several of the manufacturers websites.

Good luck!

Hi M.

i am the mom of Triplets...so I feel your pain. Rest assure they only are on the formula for a few weeks. I never bought it...as the NICU to talk to their rep about getting a supply, this is free of charge. You can also talk to your pediatricain they can get you the contact info. My NICU gave me I believe a case for come home with; talk to the UNIT CLERK in the NICU and ask for help, if she doesn't/can't talk to the directory of womens services. I believe I got 2 cases of formula for each of my girls. I hope that helps, if you ever need anything feel free to email...we have made it 19 months :)
R.
____@____.com

If you keep using this formula, be sure to sign up on the Similac website, they will send you coupons. Wal-mart is cheaper than Target, not sure about Cosco or Sams. I would shop around. Good luck with your twins and congratulations.

You may want to try online. I know we bought it from drugstore.com and diapers.com it was sometimes a little less expensive. Also, don't buy from Target unless they are having some deal as all of their baby food is marked up as compared to other stores.. I do know we bought it online sometimes cheaper. We would just a big shipment in to last us for a while. Good luck!!

http://deals-today.com/similac/index.html?kw=Similac+Neos...

First of all congratulations on your twins. Get ready for a fun and exhausting ride. Some stores will give you a discount if you have twins, (Babies R Us, etc.) Also, you can order online and save money, plus save a trip to the store. Check out the local twins clubs (Plano Area Moms of Multiples, PAMOM or North Dallas Mothers of Twins NDMOT). Many times the members of these clubs have coupons for formula.

Hope that helps.

Joyful mom of twins 19 months old and a 5 yr. old.

If you can get on the Similac mailing list they will send you cupons. My daughter was on regular Similac and Target has a generic of this. My pedi said it was the same as the regular Similac. We used this with no problems. It was almost half the price of the name brand. May God bless you as you bring home your babies.

Are you eligible for WIC? It was my singular salvation with my twins 18 yrs. ago.

I had triplets 6 years ago. I spoke with my pediatrician (who happens to be a high school friend) and she hooked me up with a supplier. There was a rep from the company who makes the formula who gave me several cases of powdered formula. It didn't last long--but it was sure helpful!

good luck!

www.thosecrazybeans.blogspot.com

Talk with thier pediatrician and ask if there are any options for coupons or discounts. I've had friends who have even got thier formulas for free on a regular basis from the pedi because they have so many samples.

You are just going to have to bite the bullet until they're no longer on the 22cal. After that, you can get the store brand formula at wal=mart or target for about half the name brand. I tried the stuff at costco and it was clumpy so I wouldn't recommend that brand. But I used Parents' Choice for months and it was fine.

CLip thos $5 coupons for the neosure and stuff; also you might look on craigslist and other mom websites because people often give away formula when they no longer need it.

Good luck!!!
e-mail me at ____@____.com if you want to chat about twin stuff/premie stuff.