...And the struggles that go along with it...
I am trying in vain to breastfeed two infants. I will admit, I am having problems with it.
It all started out fine and well with little Dylan. He latched quickly and was sucking like a champ. Riley had issues from the get-go. She got frustrated that I wasn't producing much for her other than colostrum in the beginning, and once my milk started to come in she just wasn't having it. Dylan started to get upset too. So I started using nipple shields along with a syringe of formula. They both would give 2 or 3 good sucks and then release their latch looking for the syringe.
I should tell you that I began supplementing both with formula right away because I wanted to make sure they were getting enough. Plus - ever BF one child? Try two...
Anyway, I wanted to wean them off formula but it seems like that's all they want. They also like the texture of the bottle nipple as opposed to mine. So as the days have gone by they fight me more and more. I stopped using both the syringe and the shields on Friday, I think I will have to go back to using both again. They simply WILL NOT LATCH now. I've resorted to pumping, but even with that I am only getting one good ounce per session.
It's seriously bothering me. I feel like I need to go back to the start and try my hardest to get them off formula, or at least not so dependent on it.
Any tips I can get from a BTDT mom??
Peking Chicken
3 months ago
7 comments:
It get easier, but those first few weeks are tough tough tough! Definitely find and harass a good lactation consultant. And for a little encouragement (and a 7 months out story like yours) here's my entire breastfeeding twins story: http://bumblebeegrace.blogspot.com/search/label/Breastfeeding
Please feel free to email me if you have other questions! Keep at it!
emailed you..:)
love you sis
Hugs, I can hear the frustration in your words.
Unfortunately in this, I have absolutely no experience as I couldn't breastfeed due to the meds I was on for my migraines. My milk never did come in with Jake.
++++++ vibes that you get some good advice or find some peace in whatever decision you make.
Unfortunately, I don't have any advice for you. Breastfeeding is hard! Drake latched on great, but we supplemented with formula for the first two weeks to get his weight back up. Hope you get some good advice!
Ah, the frustrations of getting small twins to breastfeed. I pumped and pumped and pumped, mainly during the middle of the night to up my supply. I also fed on demand and not on a schedule. If one ate, the other ate too, but it didn't have to be every 3 or 4 hours. If they wanted to eat every hour I let them. It was time consuming, but in the end it helped. When I pumped, I made sure I was pumping for at very least 10 minutes after my milk stopped. If I could stand to be awake that long, I'd try to do 15 or 20 minutes extra. I started getting an extra let down and before I knew it I was actually pumping more than they were eating...Just keep trying to latch them if that's what you want. Eventually they may decide they like you more than the bottle. That's very common, especially after they are a little older. One of these days they'll become little hoovers and they'll amaze you at how great they can suck. Good luck!
Awww-sorry you are having such a rough patch.
I ended up picking my battles with my triplets and giving in the formula. It was difficult since I had BF my first for 12 months. But, I need to be stress free and they needed to be stress free.
With my last baby, she was also VERY frustrated with my lack of milk in the beginning and I had to supplement using a gavage (sp?) tube taped to my breast. She "thought" she was getting it from my breast but it was coming from the tube that was connected to the formula. It worked great until my milk came fully in.
Once I started pumping, my production decreased. My body just did not respond as well to the pump.
I ended up switching to formula at 6 months or a little less with the last baby because I wasn't producing enough. I just lost my dad and I think the stress was too much.
You have to look at the big picture and weigh the benefits against the expense (so-to-speak). Good luck. Your babies are gorgeous.
I only had one mouth to feed, but I went through many of the same struggles. We were supplementing because our little one was a bad latcher. She got better with time and practice, but the first few weeks were ROUGH. My advice would be to see a lactation consultant if you can, just to see if she has any tips to offer based on her observation of your feeding routine, and not to be afraid of the bottle. Your supply to the pump will increase eventually, and I can say that my sanity totally depended on giving the Mr. a couple of feedings at night.
Good luck....it's so hard. I can only imagine how much more of a challenge it is with 2!
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