Breastfeeding Is Never Enough!

Newborns should be nursing about every 2 hours from the start of one feed to the start of the next, s if they nurse for 25-45 minutes, then you have about 1.25-1.5 hours until the next feed. They are establishing your milk supply, that is one of the biological reasons for frequent nursing, also, since their digestive systems are immature, they need small amounts frequently. Their feedings sound normal.

Your body is adjusting to the twins and you may be overproducing, not that they are under-eating. You do not need to supplement with formula. Many women do not get much out with the pump because most women's bodies respond better to the baby than the pump. The highest point of milk production is during nursing so your breasts do not need to "fill up" before you feed and do not need to be "empty" after you feed. You are lucky that your body is responding to the pump, because you can pump and maybe have someone else feed them so you can get some rest. However, if you are overproducing, pumping will only keep that production rate too high, so if you think you may be overproducing, don't pump until your breasts are empty, just pump enough for the next feed or to relieve engorgement.

Also, co-sleeping can help. If you aren't comfortable having your babies in bed with you, there are products like the Arm's Reach Co-sleeper that attach to your bed or you can just put them in a crib, pack-n-play or bassinet in your room so that you can nurse with as little disruption as possible. With two this is probably a lot more difficult, but you may be able to nurse on your baby and put one on each side. I'm sure the nursing multiples websites that Kelly Mom links to have different strategies.

http://breastfeedingtwins.tripod.com/MainPages/frameb.html

Link to other breastfeeding of multiple sites:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/bf-links-multiple...

I suggest you do the following:

1. Talk to a Lactation Consultant. They usually have scales where you can go in and weigh your babies frequently to make sure they are gaining weight. This will reassure you and the LC should be able to give you strategies to help you cope or correct any problems.

2. Stop supplementing with formula. You have plenty of pumped milk, so just use pumped milk. Drinking from a bottle is easier so sometimes babies get lazy and don't want to nurse from the breast if you give bottles to soon. The recommended age is 4-6 weeks to start the bottle or pacifier (even with pumped milk, but since you have twins it may be too much and you may need the break that the bottle provides, just try to use breastmilk instead of formula). the good news about the extra work babies do to drink from the breast is that it works their jaws and helps prevent fluid buildup in the ears and therefore, ear infections.

3. Turn your ear towards their mouths and try to listen for swallowing sounds. It can be hard to hear a newborn's swallow, but try, because if you do hear it, it will be reassuring for you. If you don't hear it, don't worry, it is hard to hear with really young ones.

4. Get an Arm's Reach Co-sleeper or move the babies cribs or pack n play into your room. You will get more sleep and feel less crazy.

5. Get online and check out the sites and connect with other moms of multiples who have nursed successfully to find out their strategies and experiences.

Exclusively nursing multiples or nursing/feeding without formula is possible and the other moms of multiples and the LC can help. You may decide later at some point, things become too much and you want to supplement with formula, but biologically, it most likely isn't necessary for you to supplement with formula.

Also, keep in mind, the first few weeks are hard, the first few months are easier but still hard, but once everything gets regulated and worked out, things are so much easier. After the 3 month mark things get very easy because most of your problems have worked out, your supply has regulated to your babies' needs and they aren't nursing quite as often. So hang in there and try to get some professional help. If you don't have an LC in your area try to find a local La Leche League chapter. You can do it!

Here are some other links for a breastfeeding boost:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026200.asp
http://www.drjacknewman.com/
http://www.breastfeeding123.com
http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com
http://www.llli.org//

Good luck!

HI W.,
Congrats on the twins! Babies are so wonderful. Even though my children aren't babies anymore I still feel that I can offer you advice. First I must tell you that my children are not twins, they are 3 years apart. Now, my son took to the breat feeding very well, in fact I can go as far as saying that I never had a problem at all. Then 3 yrs later our daughter was born. Our daughter acted much like your twins are now. I think the best advice that I can give you is to do what I did with my daughter. Yes, we supplemented her with formula (but not very much of it). Mostly because she was so young still the breat milk that I pumped out I would feed to her at a later time. Have you tried that?
If you have, & they are still not taking much of the b-milk, then I would say they are trying to ween themselves off of it. As some children do. Even at that young of an age it's been known to happen. Babies are smarter then some people give them credit for. I would say go with the flow (so to speak no pun intended) & see what happens.
I hope my advice has helped you in some way.
N.

You can do it!!!! Don't give up!!!!
You are giving your babies the best food on the planet- Mommy's Milk!!!
Any supplement you give your babies will just undermine your efforts to breastfeed. Its all about supply and demand. Your body will slow down its milk production if you dont use it!!
Everything Karen said is right on target!!

Go online to LaLecheLeague online and get and email/ph to a leader. You can call and get advice over the phone. They can even possibly visit you. There is also a military support group for breastfeeding moms that can help too, but it depends on where you live for that one.
The earlier a baby arrives, there can be more difficulties in the beginning, but YOU CAN DO IT!! It is worth it.

I have breastfed 2 children, nursed through my 2nd pregnancy, nursed tamdem and have continued to nurse my 2yo. I have some contacts in Ktown if you are in the area- send me a note.

Let me preface this with I am a lactation counselor all my adivice is stricty evidence/scientific based unless I say otherwise

babies thi sage will do that normally It doens't mean that they aren't getting enough it's natures way of establishing a good milk supply. The more often they nurse the better supply you will have in a nutshell

Frequent feedings = More milk
Long tim ebetween feedings = less milk
scheduling feedings in a baby under 3 mo= less milk

The more often they nurse the better for you in the long run and what you are describing is not uncommon in the first 6-8 weeks. They will slow down I promise. If you'd like more detailed information e-mail me at either ____@____.com or ____@____.com

I can give you the nitty gritty details of hormone production if you want.

your supply just takes awhile to catch up, keep nursing, mama! Try not to supplement, because the nursing that they do after your milk is gone each session is what signals your body to make more milk, and the more you supplement, the less your body will feel it necessary to produce. Babies like sucking, and will often do it anytime there is a breast or nipple or paci available, whether they're hungry or not. I know my one son seemed like he nursed constantly, I cannot imagine it with two, but I am SOOOOO glad you're giving BF a try with your twins!

W.,

I loved Karen's advice to you! I had to read the responses so I wouldn't just reinerate the same. But, she has such great advice! I hope you saw the websites or spoke to a Lactation Consultant. They are fabulous as well...weighing the babies, letting you know exactly how much they're taking in, and whether they need more! Please don't supplement! They just 'root' because that's what they know...and if you put them to the breast before those two hours are up, they don't want or need more feeding! I bet you have exactly the amount they need...don't overfeed, and especially with supplement formula. Unless your purpose is to ween them early! Then they will get "spoiled" and take the easy way with the bottle and prefer not to "work" with the breast. They are smart; no onw wants to work harder than they need to...Good luck and congratulations! M. Angeles