Hi All

I've got some questions about expressing for twins.

When did you express as if they get a breast each what's left? I BFed DS and DD1 so I've expressed before but I always had so much milk that in the mornings I would feed off only one side and then expressed the other. I always had lots of EBM in the freezer as I'd get around 120-150 most days.
I won't have a "spare" side this time so do I just pump after the feed?


I'm about to get a new double breast pump but am wondering how do the cup parts stay on your breasts?
I've previously used a single pump but I've always used on hand to support the breast and one to hold the pump. Do you use your bra for support?

Lastly, did you assign 1 side per baby or did you swap each feed? As I mentioned in the mornings I would get one massive side and the other was very big so who gets what? The bigger feeder on that side? Your tips and advice is very welcome.

I'm counting down as only 9 days to go until they arrive!!!

Thanks
Kate

The only time I ever expressed was when I was trying to boost my supply, so I can only tell you what I did then! You may not even need to express! Mine have never taken a bottle, so it was pointless for me.

I would express for 5 minutes after a feed. I would just hold the pump with 2 hands, I never quite got the hang of it. It was just easier to put them straight on the boob!

I would always alternate boobs per child per feed. Unless I had fed one all night, I would keep him on the same side, so that the baby who hadnt fe all night could have a good heap of milk.

Interstingly, I never had one who was a bigger feeder over the other. It really just depended on the day.

Now we are down to 1-2 feeds in the early hours of the morning, it just depends on which side I feel like laying on in bed when I bring them in! lol

Are you expressing any colostrum yet? I started hand expressing in the shower about 14 days out. I ended up with about 4 x 1.5mls to take into hospital. We were only seperated for about an hour so it wasnt needed straight away, but we gave it to them afterwards. Feel free to PM me if you would like more info.

Good luck.

I used a medela twin pump only when they could not feed due to being a bit prem and if I had lumps. As a rule I did not express after each feed.

I did not wear a bra whilst expressing. I used to put on the left cup first and then steady the cup with the under side of my left forearm whilst my left hand would simulatenously get on the right cup. It took a bit of practice but many a twin mum has done it.

My boys had their own "side". One always wanted more than the other so each breast just supplied what they specifically needed. I did do the swapping thing initially but ended up with lumps when twin 2 would not drain one breast. That is why I ended up with them having a breast to themselves. If you have one that wants more, put them on that side so you do not end up with lumps and sore breasts.

Good luck!

Oops, posted twice

Hi

I started expressing with the double pump in hospital after each feed (to get up my supply as boys initially had NG tubes as they would get tired feeding) and continued to express for about 2 1/2 months. I hired the pump from the hospital and it was great - really fast and like PP said you just get used to putting one side on and then the other. My boys were FF fed at night from about 3 weeks old and I continued to express at night until they were about 6 (?) weeks old to keep up my supply and then expressed during the day until they were about 10 (?) weeks old. It was a pain to express after feeds but it gave me lots and lots of EBM to then use at night.

I always swapped the boys over for feeds (they would get one breast each per feed) as they fed differently and I wanted to make sure my breasts were drained properly. I also wanted to make sure they were OK feeding on both sides in case I had trouble with one breast.

all the best

Redchick

It is a bit tricky to get yourself hooked up. I used to sit with the pump on my lap and a pillow under it so that I could attach one side, prop it with the pillow, and then attach the other. I would hold onto both after that so that neither of them came off. Not a handsfree activity at all.

I aimed to pump after every second feed, which is what the lactation consultant suggested. Not so rigerous as to completely exhaust me (well, any more than feeding 2 babies 3 hrly around the clock already had) but enough to be constantly stimulating my supply.

Use double pump, hold suction cup on the breast further away from the hand you're using to hold the cups, put other cup on other breast and hold on with your forearm.

Express immediately after every feed for as long as you want to stimulate supply (or as long as milk comes out and you want supply stimulated) - that way, supply will build enough before their next feed

Swap breasts between babies every feed, use a note pad so you keep track of which baby is on which breast (believe me, you'll forget in your sleep deprived state), even go to the trouble of 1st morning feed use different breast for child from the 1st feed the morning before (so if 1 child stimulates your supply better, it's being dispersed every day between breasts in the most crucial supply boosting breastfeed)

I expressed 6x every 24 hours for 4 months, kept supply up by doing the above through 7 weeks of prem twins in hospital and 1 coming home NG fed and 1 never learning to attach properly for breast feeds

All the very best

Nerissa