Bittersweet day ... but also a note of encouragement

[vachi73]

I read this forum a lot but I don't think I've posted here before.

Today is a bittersweet day for me. One of my 14mo twins declined to nurse this morning, so I am assuming he is done. Ironically, this is one year past my due date, so I guess I made it to a year, no matter how I count it. Other twin is still nursing in the mornings, but I expect he'll be done in a week or two, since my supply is basically gone (big drop in the last month or so).

So, I'm bittersweet... these two are definitely our last babies, and I have really loved nursing all of our boys.

But, on the upside, I hope this is a note of encouragement to other moms who have preemies and/or twins, and even more so to anyone who struggles with getting a baby started breastfeeding. I had an emergency C-section at 32.5 weeks, and the babies spent 24 days in the NICU. I had to pump around the clock for two months before both of them nursed effectively. It took several visits to/from the LC to get both of them going, but they eventually did it. And I loved it! They never had any formula, and we still have some frozen stash in the freezer.

I hope this is encouraging to someone else out there, especially if it's tough in the early days and you're not sure you can do it. Set small goals and keep at it ... it may work out when you least expect it!

Cheers!

[maddymama]

nak, & typing one handed.

congrats on making it this far!

Also know that dropping a feeding here  or there doesn't necessarily mean immediate weaning... it's part of a normal progression.  you los might want to nurse less but still continue nursing for many months to come....

~maddy mama

[patronus]

WOW. YOU ROCK!!! i can't imagine how challenging that must have been. i think any mama who nurses twins deserves a medal of honor. you had a tough road!

your story is really inspirational, thanks for sharing and congrats!!!!

[vachi73]

Awww, thanks ladies! I am really happy to have made it this far, too. I know that many, many women try to make a year with singletons and struggle with that, so I am humble and thankful that we made it!

Same twin basically refused this morning, too...I think that he does not like the milk volume/consistency (unfortunately, I started cycling at about 9 monts post-partum, and my cycle started yesterday, so I think it tastes "off" to him). I guess I could try to pump to keep some supply, but my gut instinct is that 14 months is probably the natural breaking point, at least for this twin. His bro will be allowed to linger as long as he likes ;)

And Patronus, I also donated a ton of milk this time via milkshare. It made me so happy that a third baby was growing so well, too!

[PatioGardener]