breastfeeding dilemma - Page 2

[twinergy]

It gets much easier to tandem when they get a little older. Once they had head/neck control I started lying between two foam couch cushions with them over me. This still works for us.

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by twinergy

It gets much easier to tandem when they get a little older. Once they had head/neck control I started lying between two foam couch cushions with them over me. This still works for us.

Yeah. The best tandeming, actually, for us came when they could sit up, because then I'd just sit one on each knee, upright, like my thigh was a saddle, KWIM? That's harder to do if you're very short, or if your breasts are large, because boob-level is lower than their head level, but for taller mamas, or smaller-breasted mamas, it's a great tandem position that requires no special propping. Just your hand behind each baby's neck to offer some support.

[Intertwined]

Oh gosh, I have a horrible secret! When the twins were about that age exactly, I used to go stand in the formula aisle at the grocery store and sob. I am SURE that people thought I was nuts. I knew it wouldn't have REALLY been easier because I FF'd my oldest two children exclusively. But oh gosh was it tempting to be able to sleep all night and make my DH get up with them instead! Or a NIGHT NANNY! Whoo-boy was that tempting.

But I struggled through for many reasons, chiefly that my children are intolerant to milk proteins and I knew alllll about the bottles, and nipples, and pacifiers, and getting out without a bottle accidentally, or running out of formula in the middle of the night, and those stinky formula diapers, and the spit up that STUNK, and the open gut and all of that.

But I did just stand there and cry more than once. Wishing that I had a wet nurse with which to share the insane nights.

You'll get through it, I promise, and it will get easier. I had four kids in four years and then got pregnant with the twins. They are still nursing at 19 months and we survived with some tears and some hard times. But I wouldn't trade the ability to stick a boob in the mouth during a tantrum or scraped knee or tooth coming in for all the nights slept in the world.

[livingfree]

Originally Posted by twinergy

It gets much easier to tandem when they get a little older. Once they had head/neck control I started lying between two foam couch cushions with them over me. This still works for us.

can you explain that a little more? my guys have really good head/neck control!

[twinergy]

Originally Posted by livingfree

can you explain that a little more? my guys have really good head/neck control!

I lie down on my back and push a pillow up to either side of me. Thicker couch cushions work best now, but I was using pillows back then because the using cushions hadn't occured to me. I think when they were little like that they were on their tummies with their arms under them and their feet were pointing away from me. I don't remember what I did with my arms, but I do remember my shoulder joints got very sore. Maybe my arms were over my head. I also can't remember how I got the second one latched, they may have been rolling over and inching forward already. Now they lie next to me with my arms wrapped around them. Now I wish I had taken pictures. Just a side note, my boobs are probably medium sized. I don't think this would work with very small boobs, but maybe.

I just remembered another position that worked for awhile. I was on my side with one next to me on the bottom boob. I somehow managed to get the second one up on top of me and nursing on the top boob. There must have been some pillows stacked behind me to help balance the top baby.

Let me know if this is still confusing, I can try to find somebody help me take pictures to demonstrate.

[livingfree]

Originally Posted by twinergy

I lie down on my back and push a pillow up to either side of me. Thicker couch cushions work best now, but I was using pillows back then because the using cushions hadn't occured to me. I think when they were little like that they were on their tummies with their arms under them and their feet were pointing away from me. I don't remember what I did with my arms, but I do remember my shoulder joints got very sore. Maybe my arms were over my head. I also can't remember how I got the second one latched, they may have been rolling over and inching forward already. Now they lie next to me with my arms wrapped around them. Now I wish I had taken pictures. Just a side note, my boobs are probably medium sized. I don't think this would work with very small boobs, but maybe.

I just remembered another position that worked for awhile. I was on my side with one next to me on the bottom boob. I somehow managed to get the second one up on top of me and nursing on the top boob. There must have been some pillows stacked behind me to help balance the top baby.

Let me know if this is still confusing, I can try to find somebody help me take pictures to demonstrate.

yeah i think i'm still a little confused. sorry...i just can't quite picture it. figuring out how to nurse both of them at once, while lying down, would be very helpful for nighttime and let my poor dh sleep better! i just haven't been sure how to go about it. i can kinda lie on my side with one latched on the bottom and sorta get one latched on the top, but it's very uncomfortable for me and seems like it would be for the top baby too.

[twinergy]

Until I can get some help taking the pics, here is a link to give you some other ideas. The position i'm talking about looks a lot like 4 over and 3 down under double clutch. Actually this probably gives you a better idea than I could, my twins are 2 now and started turning onto their sides around 7 months. The babies there are still on their tummies. I'm going to start a new thread too, I know I have seen lots of pics on this.

[livingfree]

ok i'm gonna check out the other thread. but on the link, all the pics under double clutch are mamas sitting up. were you trying to describe a sitting up position or a lying down position? maybe i'm just really confused, lol!

and apparently i missed a bunch of responses when i was on here earlier. not really sure how...but anyways, thank you all for your encouragement. by talking with some other moms, i realized that i'm right at the point where my milk supply is switching from hormonal based to supply and demand AND the babies are going through a growth spurt. so i was feeling like i didn't have enough milk and babies were nursing all the time and getting frustrated.

today has been better though. it would still improve our nights if i could figure out how to nurse both of them at the same time while lying down. so i'm off to look at the other thread.

[twinergy]

I found some more pics with infants in the position I'm talking about. Use the same link as before then scroll down to the lying down section. Pictures number 5, 6, and 9 are what I am talking about. The thick foam cushions really help make it more comfortable on me, but it looks like they are stacking regular pillows in pic 9.

[jaxma]

pumping with twins

i've skimmed the other posts and just wanted to reply with a few things...

first, breastfeeding twins IS exhausting - esp. with a toddler roaming around who needs a lot of YOUR attention. there are so many days where every part of me feels like its covered in child.

you are still in the early stages where it feels (because you are) like you are doing nothing but nursing. i felt like a crazy maniac on those days...

like others have said, breastmilk is best. your babies bellies and brains will thank you for your dedication. also, if you need a break, give yourself one..and pump.

i pump so i can go to class - and have a double electric pump. if you want to have a little stash so you can have a break - pump 3 or so ounces in the early AM when your supply is the highest or right after they are done nursing, again, the earlier in the day the better because this is when your milk production is the highest...if in your family budget, get a double electric pump . i think medela's are fabulous and last forever.

[livingfree]

Originally Posted by jaxma

first, breastfeeding twins IS exhausting - esp. with a toddler roaming around who needs a lot of YOUR attention. there are so many days where every part of me feels like its covered in child.

yep, that's what i feel like. i feel terrible for being so impatient with my dd when she wants to climb all over me.

i have a friend who has a PIS that i can borrow. i might take her up on it!