(sorta) inducing lactation for twins!

[TheGirls]

Alright, here's my excessively complicated situation. I'm nursing my 2yo, sometimes 4-5 times a day, sometimes only bedtime and morning. Often 1-2 times at night too. Bedtime is the one super-consistent nursing session we have, everything else varies. I've never had a significant supply issue.

My DP is pregnant with twins! DP will be nursing them, but going back to work (gone 9-10hrs/day, 5 days a week) at 12wks, so I'll be home with them all day. She will pump at work, and I plan to feed them some EBM, but it would also seem super convenient if I could nurse them too. DP, being a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of nursing/pumping for TWO while working full time, agrees wholeheartedly.

The twins should be arriving late Nov/early Dec, so yes, this is a bit ahead of time.

Soooo, how do I go about this? I can find info on relactating but not on trying to bring in a toddler+newborn-sized supply when you already have a toddler-sized one. Probably not much I can do at this point (other than don't wean the toddler), but what should I plan on? I want to be sure to not compromise DP's developing supply (she has never nursed) but I think it will be very important for everyone's sanity for me to bring in as much milk as humanly possible. Extra can always be donated, kwim?

I have an ok pump, but we'll probably get a good one for DP. I'm going to want to start pumping at some point, but DD won't take BM that's not directly from the breast, and my milk doesn't store well, so I don't want to start too early. Should I plan on using a SNS of some sort with DP's milk as a supplement? Would taking supplements (fenugreek? anything else?) seem appropriate? How about other medication? I suspect my doc would prescribe me something if I explained the situation to him.

I think I'm going to start with freezing some lactation cookies, lol. Because cookies are always a good idea.

Thanks in advance!

[Autumn Breeze]

you say your milk doesn't store well, do you have a chest freezer or one that doesn't get opened frequently? That might be the key for you, to keeping milk.

With nursing 4-5 times a day, or even just once or twice you're already off to a great start! If your little one is still nursing at all, it won't take long for your body to adjust to the demands of a newborn, I would imagine.

How exciting! Congratulations to the two of you!!

[featherstory]

I wouldn't worry much about trying to do anything right now, except weighing the possibilities and ideas with your partner. Like you said, you don't want to compromise her milk supply, so I would say you only need to induce enough milk for one, for the both of you. At first she could nurse exclusively or almost exclusively, and start pumping a bit before she goes back to work. While she is working, she should continue to pump every few hours she is away from the babies so you have something to nurse them with, in case they prefer her milk and to keep up her supply.

As of now, you don't know if your 2 year old will still be nursing or how often she will nurse after the babies are born, nor do you know how much they will nurse, if they will take to your breast or only take your milk expressed, or a ballfield of other possibilities. However, I would really not worry about it, if your 2 year old starts nursing less, I would just pump and try to keep up your milk supply, other than that, supply and demand should easily take care of your lactation needs for all three babies, and you shouldn't need to induce at all, just keep yours and your partners supplies regular and the nurslings should take care of the rest.

Good luck, it sounds like an exciting experience. You're very supportive of your partner!

[karika]

Congratulations! I would say since you are already lactating this will be a breeze. It sounds like you want dp to be the primary feeder with you as back up emergency feeding. Or, I think it would work great if you could nurse them from the source after she returns to work, having her pump 3-4 times during a shift to preserve her supply, then donating her milk, or using it a lot in baking... but then again, maybe it is best to give the twins mostly her milk.... your breasts will adjust to the new demands within a week IMO if you begin nursing a newborn. I think this is just great! I wish other people found it to be so normal to feed another woman's baby. I know I do.