Nursing

From the Twin-Mommy

Dominic and Alexander are both learning to latch onto Mom for nursing, and we’ve taken our twin nursing pillow to the NICU to start practicing the football hold for tandem nursing. So far, we’re still working with each boy separately. We had an appointment with a lactation consultant on Wednesday who helped give me pointers on how to hold the babies and ways to improve my still slow milk flow. (Unfortunately, Alexander was completely exhausted during the feeding that the lactation consultant was there, and we couldn’t wake him up enough to nurse.) We have another appointment with the same consultant on Monday afternoon.

They currently have Dominic eating 1 hour before Alexander since the same nurse takes care of both, and I’ve been going to the NICU for three feedings a day: 10:30/11:30, 1:30/2:30 and 7:30/8:30. I spend 15 minutes nursing and then 10-30 minutes finishing off a 60 mL bottle with each one. I’ve also been more active while pumping (per the lactation consultant’s advice), using a warm washcloth on the breasts before pumping and gently massaging them to help start and keep that milk flowing. The time with the boys and the more active pumping have already doubled my milk. Yesterday I was up to 20 mL (from 10 mL) at each pumping, and last night I almost made 30 mL at my last pumping before bed.

When you start out scrounging for every .1 mL of colostrum to fill a syringe and your milk takes forever to arrive, it can be an extremely frustrating experience. Many moms of multiples deliver early by C-section, and it is very easy to become discouraged and to give up because we typically take longer and have to work harder to get our milk to come in. I remember one particular morning just crying in my hospital bed after a particularly meager pumping session. I felt so inadequate because there was no way I could feed my babies on my own yet.

I’ve been lucky to have a wonderfully supportive husband who was willing to suck up every drop of colostrum he could get with a syringe that first week and to cheer with me for every tiny increase we achieved. Plus, my mom and the NICU nurses have been supportive. They stress that they will use every drop of colostrum or milk that we give them for our boys and how important it is for them. I also did reading on the Web which reassured me that this is not an atypical experience for mothers of multiples.

If you want to breastfeed your babies (or baby), don’t give up!

• Seek help from lactation consultants.
• Try to spend as much time with your babies as possible, but remember that you’re recovering from surgery or labor and need sleep to keep from becoming ill. Being exhausted can also slow milk production, and if you get sick, they won’t even let you in the NICU to see your little ones.
• Start nursing as soon as it is considered safe for your babies if they are preemies
• Be persistent.

I’ve enjoyed every nursing session with my little tykes. It is an amazing experience to feel them latch on or to see them eager to nurse again, and it’s so much more satisfying than simply pumping.

Also, remember that many people won’t understand why you aren’t producing more milk or why your babies are on formula. Their questions or comments may upset and/or discourage you because you are feeling down about your own milk production. However, everyone just wants what is best for the babies and for mom, and we can educate each other about the trials of NICU and multiples nursing. I’m still hoping to transition my boys completely off formula, and we’re on our way.

P.S. While writing this post during a 2 AM pumping session, I just collected 50 mL of milk! A new record and almost enough to feed one of my boys a complete meal!