Twins, Triplets & More Support Group

Triplets & More","This community connects people seeking information and experiences about multiple births. Different names for multiple birth are used, depending on the actual multiple. Common multiples are two and three, known as twins and triplets respectively. Share your thoughts and find whatever support you need."

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/ Twins, Triplets & More Support Group

Feel like giving up

deleted_user
deleted_user
Ok, sorry to ask so much advice. I tried nursing one twin (Aaron) and he ate, but hurt my boob and only prefers one side. The other twin (David) will fall asleep after 2 minutes, so I have to bottle feed him. So I pumped afterwards to make sure each boob was emptied and one boob got engorged and the other was retarded. The engorged boob hurts very badly, like there are clogged ducts, I can't wear a bra (even wireless!). This is so frustrating, I didn't let Aaron nurse again, I am waiting for my boob to heal. So, I am just wondering, how are you suppose to nurse and pump at the same time without blowing one boob way out of proportion. I didn't pump the one boob that he nursed on as long as the other either, so its not like I gave it double suction time!?? Now I have one boob larger than the other all the time, ever since my attempt. I think the problem is that he is use to the bottle and doesn't latch correctly, but I don't know how to make him eat right, I keep re-latching him but then he gets tired and frustrated. Anyway. I don't know if I should just keep pumping or try again some other way, or try to stop pumping all together and make them only have the option of the breast (that sounds like a nightmare!), they were born a month early but now they are approaching the time when their due date was, so perhaps its time to wean them of the bottle? I don't know, anyone out there have any suggestions on HOW to make this transition without going insane!. Thanks.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had a VERY hard time breast feeding in the begining...my nipples bled, the twins lost weight, my milk did not come in properly for almost 6 weeks. What I did on a daily basis was breast fed for as long as I could stand it, pumped (used a healing medication on my nipple) and bottle fed breast milk, formula combo. After a while, I got used to nursing and so did the twins...They each had their preferred side and, yes, my breasts were different sizes...I just did the best that I could...it was very hard and consumed A LOT of time, but after about 4 months, I was able to produce about 7 oz of milk per breast, per feeding...So I nursed, formula, regular food (my tiwns were hungry all the time)...

In the hospital, I was devistated when I looked down at my daughter who was suckeling and there was blood from my nipple dripping down her chin...

I tried everything and eventually, just did what I could do...I nursed as much as possible for almost a year....

They used ADVENT bottles and never had a partucullarly hard time going from the bottle to the nipple...

Also, I NEVER wore a bra, it hurt too much. I wore tank tops that had built in bras, that way I culd just pull my top down and let them eat. Wearing a bra in tank also allowed my milk to come in more freely...

Good luck...
deleted_user
deleted_user
You just have to do what you can. It's so difficult sometimes and so exhausting. I too, never wore a bra, and there were moments when I just felt like a milk machine, but there were beautiful, wonderful moments too. We also used Avent bottles, eventually my kids figured it out and wouldn't go back to a bottle, but it was worth it. I wish you luck and hang in there.
deleted_user
deleted_user
When babies are born too early, as mine were, they haven't quite refined their sucking reflex and they don't have a lot of energy. So feeding is extrememly tiring for them, especially since they are trying so hard to get it right. Just don't give up on them!! It will "even out", no pun intended and you will all fall into some sort of happy medium.
suzyhopes
suzyhopes
My twins are rpeemies too and still learning to suckle. The lactation consultant I am working with suggested a nipple sheild. It helps them to stay latched on longer so you are not constantly reattaching them and they don't have to work quite as hard. Medela makes them and they are in babies r us. It is really frustrating, I was talking ot my partner earlier and on the verge of tears because I had a hard week with breast feeding. I mostly pump because I have to make sure they eat a certian amount right now and my nipples hurt so bad I thought they were going to fall off. I also wish my production was a little more consistent. One time I will get 100ml's the next I will get 300ml's. It seems so much easier at this point to just do formula. I completely understand the frustration, I am right there with you! ANd Lizzy! OW! makes my nipple pain pale incompariosn!
deleted_user
deleted_user
my first daugther i breast fed til she was 22 months but with the twins i only fed lily til 14 weeks and otm only took the bottle..you need to do what is best for you too hun cause it is you who is mum 24/7 and you need your strength! Don't worry about odd looking boobs they do revert back sortof to their normal size once you stop BF:)
do you ever just air your nipples out..if you rub your own breast milk on your nipples and air them in a sunny place for a cople of mins a day they should heal up for you just make sure the neighbours aren't home..lol!

also with engorged breast it is best to actually feed from the swollen one first as it helps to clear the ducts and stop mastitis from occuring...i used to just have a shower and "let down" my milk sure it wasted some but it also released a lot of soreness and also got my milk flow up too cause the more milk you express the more you make.
wishing you luck hun but don't feel like a failure if you just can't breast feed cause you are a great mum no matter how you feed them!
hugs!
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