Was it just me, or was it the twins doing all the nursing when it came to breastfeeding? Perhaps it was a bit of both. After navigating the complexities of one adoption, enduring several miscarriages, undergoing fifteen rounds of fertility treatments, surviving a challenging high-risk twin pregnancy, coping with bedrest while caring for a toddler, and facing a near-fatal postpartum hemorrhage, I knew better than to anticipate a smooth breastfeeding experience. Honestly, it was a struggle, both in a literal and figurative sense.
I dove into every recommended book on breastfeeding twins, marking so many passages in my La Leche League multiples guide that my partner jokingly suggested I only underline the parts I didn’t want to remember. I thought I was prepared, but I quickly learned that I would need to improvise once the twins made their grand entrance. Who would prevail in this face-off between my real-life experiences and the advice from those books?
The Books vs. The Twin Mom
The books claim: Breastfeed right after birth or within 60 minutes after a C-section, allowing enough time for recovery.
Twin mom response: Good luck with that when you’re unconscious in the ICU.
Winner: No one.
The books assert: Frequent breastfeeding helps your body produce enough milk for multiples.
Twin mom response: Almost dying and needing blood transfusions definitely complicates milk production.
Winner: No one.
The books suggest: Initially feed each twin separately to master latching techniques. Tandem nursing can wait.
Twin mom response: Sure, tandem nursing can definitely wait.
Winner: Books.
The books advise: Avoid bottles and pacifiers during the hospital stay to ensure proper nursing.
Twin mom response: You don’t have much choice when you’re out cold in the ICU.
Winner: No one.
The books say: The double-football hold is ideal for tandem feeding.
Twin mom response: Uh, you need some serious boobage for that, and not everyone is so lucky. Why didn’t anyone mention that?!
Winner: No one. Especially not my boobs.
The books state: Your milk should come in within three to four days post-birth.
Twin mom response: Rebel alert! Mine didn’t arrive until day eleven, a record for my lactation consultant.
Winner: Twin Mom!
The books tell you: Skin-to-skin contact is essential for helping babies learn to nurse.
Twin mom response: That’s tough when you’re bruised and battered from life-saving procedures. I longed to hold my babies close, but I was just too messed up.
Winner: No one. Certainly not my babies.
The books recommend: Pumping and/or feeding every 2-3 hours in the first two weeks to help your body establish a milk supply.
Twin mom response: Sounds great! I’ll never sleep again anyway.
Winner: The books.
The books suggest: Rent a hospital-grade pump for twins to maximize milk extraction.
Twin mom response: Nobody warned me how much pumping sucks (literally and figuratively). I had no clue it would be so time-consuming or how my toddler would act up when I was stuck with those tubes.
Winner: My toddler.
The books say: Feeding fraternal twins can be trickier due to differing cues and patterns.
Twin mom response: Oh, how true! My fraternal twins were polar opposites, both in the womb and while breastfeeding. One was a champ; the other faced numerous challenges.
Winner: The books. Or maybe the proficient twin.
The books claim: Tandem breastfeeding is the best option for twins.
Twin mom response: Seriously, no one mentioned how much I would despise tandem nursing. Positioning two babies was almost impossible, especially alone. How do I get the second baby latched on when the first is already nursing?
Winner: No one.
The books suggest: Alternating bottle-feeding and breastfeeding is discouraged as it can reduce milk production.
Twin mom response: Too bad. I never produced enough milk despite my efforts. We finally settled into a system where I breastfed one twin while bottle-feeding the other, which also allowed me to leap off the couch to help my toddler.
Winner: Twin mom! And my toddler.
The books say: Aim to breastfeed for at least a year.
Twin mom response: I aimed for one day at a time, making it to just under seven months. I figured that counted as a year in my Twin World! By then, I was exhausted from sleepless nights and had to sleep-train the twins.
Winner: Twin Mom! I did what was best for my family!
The books claim: Any amount of breast milk benefits the babies.
Twin mom response: Absolutely! I never produced enough milk, even after consulting lactation experts and trying every remedy out there. I supplemented with formula from day one, happy to provide some immunities.
Winner: Everyone.
Conclusion
The takeaway from this journey is that while books offer great guidance, the experience of being a twin mom is truly unparalleled! For more insights on parenting and pregnancy, consider checking out this excellent resource on pregnancy. And for those looking into options, you can find more information about at-home insemination kits that can help on your journey. Be sure to read through our terms and conditions to stay informed.
Summary
Navigating the challenges of breastfeeding twins is a unique journey filled with unexpected hurdles and triumphs. While books provide useful advice, firsthand experience often reveals the reality of what twin moms face. From struggles with milk production to the complexities of tandem nursing, this journey is as much about adapting and improvising as it is about following the guidelines.