[kabailz13]

I am still feeding my almost 25mth old twins.

My advice is simply to wait and see how you go. If you need a pump, the hospital will have one that you can use and you'll be able to hire one for going home as well.

I fed my twins exclusively until they began solids at 8mths. I did express occasionally but simply used my manual avent pump that I had used for my two elder kids. I have always had a good supply so I decided not to invest in an electric pump and I'm glad I didn't.


ETA: didn't help that even when I did express, the twins refused bottles anyway!

ETA 2: mine were born at 38+2 weighing 2960g and 3535g with good sucking

This post has been edited by kabailz13: 09/02/2013, 02:20 PM

[Becs]

My 2 were born at 38 weeks. The midwives had me on a double pump pretty quickly during our week long stay in hospital to encourage supply.

I fed the girls till 9 months (twin 1) and 12 months (twin 2). I did use a pump for the 1st few months. I just used an avent hand pump to increase my supply. I never had to comp feed with formula etc.

I kept EBM in the freezer BUT my two would NOT take bottles for a VERY long time. So for me the pump was more for supply than storing milk.

I had imagined that I would be able to express then hand off one baby for a bottle but this just didn't eventuate. The girls didn't take a bottle till around 9 months and then when twin 1 did take the bottle she weaned herself within the week and wouldn't take breast after that.

I tandem fed till around 4 to 5 months until the girls were a little big and mobile for me to handle together. In the early days they used to take forever to feed. Very sleepy feeders. By 6 months they were done in 10 minutes. I just alternated boobs and babies each feed as one fed more.

So long ago now!

Good luck with your twins.

[dragonchild]

I fed my twins until they were about 3 1/2 years old; we started out in hospital needing top-ups to keep their blood sugar levels stable but it was always direct feeding choice one, then EBM as choice two and then offering formula. They had their last formula on day 8 I think, and their last EBM about day 12. I did keep pumping but a few weeks later when I tried some EBM in a bottle they refused it so I shrugged and kept breastfeeding - I was just too busy/lazy to bother with anything else since the BF was working. They would have happily stayed attached semi-permanently and I did draw the line at that but I did let them comfort suck quite a bit to help my supply stay good. For reference, they are about to turn 4; they are my first and thus far only children. If I hadn't insisted, I'm sure one at least would still be nursing. She still tells me most days how much she loved it.

[token]

A pump was the best thing to build supply and keep it going, I found. I BFed DS1 until 11 months, and DS2 only recently weaned at about 22 months. I used a Medela Symphony which I rented from the hospital (Miracle Babeis foundation) for about three months, then I bought a Medela Swing. The Swing wasn't anywhere near as good as the Symphony, but it did the job adequately.

[regandrog]

I was in a similar situation to you in that I had BF my first singleton DD, without ever pumping or storing any breast milk. I used to feed her everywhere, shopping centres, cafes etc.

In hospital the paediatritian recommended comp feeding with formula for energy (sugar) each feed as they were 36 wkers.

I didn't like having to BF and then Bottle every feed, so after they got to 40 wks equivalent, I went to BF demand fed only, but despite constant feeding I never really got my supply up enough to have contented babies. They would be grouchy all afternoon and evening despite constant BF.

I replaced one feed a day with formula. WHich worked well for all of us. I usually did the formula feed around lunch, they slept well for the afternoon and it also made it easier for me to go out during the day and take bottles rather than have to set up somewhere for twin BF. It also allowed me to go out without them occasionally.

ETA - and big sister DD could help feed them too, which she loved.

WHen they got older, started solids etc the formula feed went to evening before bed.

After we were through the newborn phase, it was much better and easier to BF in the middle of the night, I could do it without getting fully awake and it was usually only one baby at a time at that stage as I didn't wake them both, just fed whoever cried.

This post has been edited by regandrog: 20/02/2013, 07:57 AM

[tranquilla]

A double pump made the difference between building supply and formula feeds here. Earlyish babies can be sleepy (and twins are often physically smaller ... Which in our case affected latch etc). Joining the ABA is worthwhile as they can drop off a rental pump at short notice.. A couple of bottles for ebm won't go astray either. The slowest flow teats will help ensure they don't expect a faster flow than your breasts provide too.

[cHoCoLaTe*MuNcHk...]

Hi all :-)

Just an update...the girls were born prem at 34 wks. They spent 17 days in NICU. They had quite a bit of tube feeding though towards the end I pretty much camped in NICU to get as mush breastfeeding as possible so we could go home.

The girls are 4 weeks old so not even full term yet. I'm breastfeeding 24/7 and early on I was topping up with ebm...habit from hospital. I ended up borrowing a friend's double electric pump and was also given a manual pump. Now I think I need ti start expressing slowly to build a bank of ebm for when im out or just to make life easy occasionally :-)

[Mariamsmum]

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your twin girls!
You are doing a wonderful job in establishing breastfeeding. My boys were born at 36 weeks exactly, spent 10 days in SCN and we went home breastfeeding. I also did a lot of expressing and would have to top up my little one with a bottle of EBM or formula if I could not express enough.
Feel free to ask any questions or join in on the newborn chat thread