this is really really really really really hard... (new developments!!) - Page 2

[Astromom]

oh mama you are doing such a wonderful job. I don't know what will happen with your older dd if you let her try, but my dd also asked. I let her try and she did for one second and nothing happened so she laughed and hasn't asked to try again. She's older than your dd but she hasn't been weaned all that long.

[Mavournin]

My first two are 26 months apart and Dd brought up the "I want to nurse again" stuff after Ds was born. In any case - I let her. All she really did was climb up in my lap, kiss my nipple and then giggle. But to her, it was "nursing". She really couldn't remember how, but this seemed to be what she needed for that extra comfort. She did that a few times a day for a few weeks and then it was over.

[Llyra]

Well I let her try it, and she latched on great, sucked a few times, and then I guess the milk let down and she got a mouthful, and she yanked her head back (OUCH) and looked freaked out, and then let it run down her chin. I don't think she expected actual milk to come out; I think maybe she thought it would be like a pacifier. Anyway, she told me "yucky" and now she is just constantly asking me to let her watch the milk "go squirt." So I squeeze, squirt a little, and she's satisfied.

Thanks for all the encouragement, though. Everybody IRL thinks I'm absolutely insane for even trying to exclusively BF twins, and it's nice to talk to somebody who isn't trying to convince me to give up. Thanks.

[Wild Flowers]

Llyra that is hilarious!
I am glad it worked out. I am going tto guess that squirting some milk every once in awhile is easier than nursing 3

[Savmay]

Originally Posted by momof4peppers

YOU CAN DO IT!!! We found the first 6 weeks to be the worst/hardest. Then we were able to move them to a "schedule" (not a strict Ezzo-type, more of a here's what you seem to have been doing, let me guide you to formalizing it) and it helped TREMENDOUSLY. We were able to know when we'd get that 45 minutes of sleep, which for us, meant the difference between killing each other or the babes, and being blissful new parents. Maybe you want (since you're losing your help so soon) to think about tracking their trends and "scheduling" them a little earlier? To make it easier on yourself? Like if your toddler still naps, EVERYONE naps at the same time (including you!). Sign on the door "new family sleeping", turn on the answering machine, don't get tempted by the computer, all those things that your told but you feel you can never do. :smile

I know "schedules" aren't AP, but I can't imagine life with three without at least a predictible "routine". Hang in there - you can do it!

i want to support the wisdom in this post. When I was working as a postpartum doula with twin moms, we did do some very gentle scheduling to help babies get together on their timing so that they mostly slept and ate at the same times (as each other) so mama got some little breaks for sanity between. There is a way to do this and still be very responsive to their needs. Could you contact a local pp doula who knows twins? often, they are willing to work for fee-scale if you really need help but can't afford. also, contact your local multiples group and see if a mentor mama who has bf twins (and has similar values) could come help you out. I wish I was there, I would come over! You CAN practice AP parenting with your babies and still take care of yourself mama. The first few weeks are the most challenging as they are building your supply. sounds like you are doing a fabulous job!!!!!