No way I can nurse twins. *sigh*

[Tinker]

This is what I heard as a pregnant mom received package after package of bottles at a baby shower yesterday. Why will people use any excuse that's handy NOT to nurse? I can't imagine having gone through motherhood without nursing my babies. I don't have twins, so I don't know. But is it really that much more difficult to nurse twins? It has to be easier than fixing and washing all those bottles all the time, right?

[MamaBear1976]

Originally Posted by Tinker

This is what I heard as a pregnant mom received package after package of bottles at a baby shower yesterday. Why will people use any excuse that's handy NOT to nurse? I can't imagine having gone through motherhood without nursing my babies. I don't have twins, so I don't know. But is it really that much more difficult to nurse twins? It has to be easier than fixing and washing all those bottles all the time, right?

Hm. Well, maybe she's had previous nursing experience, and it was too much for her with a singleton (and she doesn't realize how much work is involved with bottle-feeding yet?)

Were you able to talk to her at all? Does anyone here have a good book recommendation for nursing twins? That sort of thing might help her out...

[veganf]

To not even TRY. Or not even nurse them part time with some supplementation. But to just go straight to 100% formula really really irks me. :

[MamaSS]

Mine were born 3 months early. I pumped for the 3 months they were in the NICU & the day they were both home I stopped pumping & exclusively nursed them from that point on. It was work, indeed, but I knew there was no way I was pumping, feeding, cleaning, pumping, feeding, cleaning all day long. And once the initial struggles were over with it was SO easy. SO much easier than pumping was.

Though, there was never a question in my mind whether they would be nursed or not.

[captain optimism]

All the moms I know with twins nursed them--let me see how many moms that is (mental counting) at least six. They nursed for different lengths of time--one only until 6 months, one until age 2, one until age 3, etc. Oddly enough, one of the moms who nursed longest did some supplementation at night during the first year, but it apparently didn't affect her supply. (Heartening!) Some also worked full time and pumped during part of the nursing years.

I don't think I know any moms of twins who did not nurse. It could be in part because it's common for older moms to have twins (sometimes by IVF) and also common for older moms to nurse.

It does seem a little tricky to nurse twins, but obviously it's possible.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by MamaBear1976

Hm. Well, maybe she's had previous nursing experience, and it was too much for her with a singleton (and she doesn't realize how much work is involved with bottle-feeding yet?)

Were you able to talk to her at all? Does anyone here have a good book recommendation for nursing twins? That sort of thing might help her out...

I'm trying be optimistic and think that's it. And no I didn't get to talk to her about it. I don't know her well at all and since I don't have twins it felt ridiculous to me to say "Sure you can nurse twins, no problem". Besides the fact that this was a church thing and most the people there think I'm some kind of nut anyway with the breastfeeding, delayed solids, co-sleeping, non-vax, cloth diapers.
But I will be keeping my eye out for a book about nursing twins if anyone has a rec.

[Maluhia]

My dear friend is EBF her twins even after having to pump for one (short frendulum) and nurse another - it can be done and saves her a ton of time over the bottle cleaning!

[MamaBear1976]

Originally Posted by Tinker

I'm trying be optimistic and think that's it. And no I didn't get to talk to her about it. I don't know her well at all and since I don't have twins it felt ridiculous to me to say "Sure you can nurse twins, no problem". Besides the fact that this was a church thing and most the people there think I'm some kind of nut anyway with the breastfeeding, delayed solids, co-sleeping, non-vax, cloth diapers.
But I will be keeping my eye out for a book about nursing twins if anyone has a rec.

You know what would probably be the best thing for convincing her? If you could find a mama who has nursed twins, and somehow get those two moms talking... There's nothing like meeting someone who's accomplished the "impossible" to convince you it's possible.

What do you think of that? Anyone here nurse twins willing to talk to a total stranger about it? (It's for a good cause!)

[LittlePeanut]

What about the "Julia Roberts nursed her twins" comment?

LP

[MamaBear1976]

Originally Posted by LittlePeanut

What about the "Julia Roberts nursed her twins" comment?

LP

Hm. It might be a good start, but Julia Roberts can buy support if she doesn't have it, kwim? I don't know the situation of the pregnant mom well enough to say, but I'm guessing if she's already made up her mind about it, telling her about Julia Roberts might just induce guilt and put her on the defensive, especially if she already knows...

Then again, maybe she doesn't know Julia Roberts nursed her twins... And maybe finding out might help to encourage her...

[transformed]

Originally Posted by Tinker

This is what I heard as a pregnant mom received package after package of bottles at a baby shower yesterday. Why will people use any excuse that's handy NOT to nurse? I can't imagine having gone through motherhood without nursing my babies. I don't have twins, so I don't know. But is it really that much more difficult to nurse twins? It has to be easier than fixing and washing all those bottles all the time, right?

I have no idea, BF certainly has its challenges, but if you have SUPPORT like LLL or lactation consultant, its doable!

I am WAY too lazy to bottle feed.

[Breastfeeding Insomniac]

I recently helped a bf mom who had triplets. I have helped many moms w/ twins. It is entirely possible.

If she ever expresses interest, here is some good info:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/bas...multiples.html

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026200.asp

http://breastfeedingtwins.tripod.com...ges/index.html

[Tinker]

Thanks for all the great info mamas. Keep it coming.

[MamaSS]

If I can add to the fact that my boys were preemies, I was alone with them pretty much 95% of the time for the first few months we were home from the NICU. They were on apnea monitors for 4 & 6 months too. I RARELY tandem nursed them and one had an extremely weak latch and I was constantly waking him up. Some days I felt like all I did was nurse them. I could have easily given up a zillion times, but I knew in the long run it would be easier AND especially since they were preemies I knew the breastmilk was important for their immune systems (and I'm sure their good health now is at least partially because of that). I was also lucky enough to have a year off work. Really, if I could get through it in my situation, anyone should be able to do it. I did, also, have a really amazing & wonderful LC, and I know she contributed to my success. Oh & my milk didn't come in until the 4th day after their birth but I had an abundant supply.

I nursed mine til they were 26 months. And I worked full time from the time they were a year.

[bobbirs]

she really might not know that nursing twins could be done! I didn't know that Julia Roberts nursed twins. I am not much of a star follower but hey if I didn't know maybe she doesn't either. Maybe at church go up to her and mention that you heard her comment on bfing twins and tell her it is possible if she wants it to be. tell her you could bring her a book next week if she wants it. and with the book put a book mark with LLL and Kellymom info.

[Doodadsmom]

Was she the one to bring up nursing? If so, why do you think that was? I don't know of course, but it sounds to me like she might have wanted to nurse, then found out she was having twins, and honestly doesn't know it's possible with twins. It might also not have occurred to her that it doesn't have to be 100% either way, that she could nurse, and if that didn't work out, she could supplement too.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by Doodadsmom

Was she the one to bring up nursing? If so, why do you think that was? I don't know of course, but it sounds to me like she might have wanted to nurse, then found out she was having twins, and honestly doesn't know it's possible with twins. It might also not have occurred to her that it doesn't have to be 100% either way, that she could nurse, and if that didn't work out, she could supplement too.

I'm not sure. I didn't hear the beginning of this conversation, my ears tuned in when she said she couldn't nurse twins. But you have a vary good point. I will make an effort to talk to her more about it.

[geishagirrrl]

For me nursing twins is just like nursing one baby, the only difference is that you are nursing twice as much...oh, and you can't tandem nurse laying down, unless your boobs are really droopy...

[turtlewomyn]

My cousin's wife nursed her twins for a year. She is also a working mom and she pumped. I don't know for sure, but I don't think she ever supplemented.

It is doable, it just depends on support and if the mom wants to do it (and assuming that she has no other medical factors that would prevent it).

[mama_at_home]

But is it really that much more difficult to nurse twins? It has to be easier than fixing and washing all those bottles all the time, right?

Physically, no. Emotionally and psychologically, yes. That has been my experience anyway. I've had great success nursing my twins-no bottles, no pumping, etc. just 100% breastfed. I was able to tandem nurse them from the beginning, always had an abundant milk supply, babies nursed well from the beginning and they are still nursing strong at 21 months. It is just overcoming the idea that twins can't be breastfed. I think the most important thing is knowing it can be done. I would send her to www.karengromada.com. That was the best resource I found for nursing twins. I spent hours and hours looking through all the pictures of mamas nursing their twins and triplets and I just KNEW I could do it, too. And of course if she is willing to come to MDC she will receive a ton of help in the Parenting Multiples forum. Anyway, I think that encouraging her with positive stories is the best way you can help her.

I guess you need to find out what she is really saying. Is she saying she doesn't WANT to nurse twins under any circumstances, or does she secretly want to do but doesn't want to go through the emotional trauma and stress of trying and failing? I knew a twin mama that frustrated me very much because she didn't even want to try to nurse them since her milk never came in with her first son. But guess what? When her twins were a few days old, she came around complaining about how engorged she was and asking for advice on how to dry up her milk supply. So the truth is she just didn't want to. Oh, and she had SO much trouble with formula. She had to try several different brands and the poor babies were constipated, crying, had bloody stools, gas. etc. Formula for twins is very expensive, and that is not even taking into consideration the fact that some babies can only tolerate the super expenisve stuff. Anyway, sorry to ramble.....