What You Should Know About Breastfeeding Twins
February 21, 2009
More and more women are starting to breastfeed their babies. When you have one child breastfeeding isn’t all that complicated, but if you happen to give birth to twins, breastfeeding becomes considerably more difficult. Not only do you have two hungry babies that you have to feed, your body has to produce twice as much milk as it would have to if you only had one baby.
The good news is that there are several things you can do to make breastfeeding twins easier.
Set a Feeding Schedule
The first thing you should do when you make the decision to breastfeed your twins is to arrange a feeding schedule. By doing this you will accomplish two things. Your body will be able to make the necessary adjustments and have enough milk produced, and your twins’ digestive systems will learn when to expect a meal.
When your twins are brand new you will want to feed them at the same time. After spending nine months together in the uterus, your children will be more comfortable eating together. Separating them will cause your twins anxiety and ruin their appetites and can lead to colic. The best way to hold your twins while breastfeeding is to use a football hold. As your twins grow you will have to start feeding them separately, as you won’t be able to hold them both at the same time.
Take Care of Yourself
It’s extremely important that you take care of yourself when you are breastfeeding twins. Your body is working hard to produce enough milk to nourish your children. It doesn’t have enough resources left to repair any damage you might put it through. Get plenty of sleep, keep yourself hydrated, and eat a balanced diet.
Stress can affect your milk and any changes in your milk will upset your childrens’ digestive systems. To prevent this from happening you should take advantage of your family’s support and take the time to pamper yourself. Go out for a nice dinner, take a walk, soak in the tub, or just take a short nap. Any of these things will make you feel better and keep your children happier.
Get a Pump
Invest in a good quality breast pump. There will be times when your breasts are full of milk but your twins aren’t hungry. When this happens you will be able to hook yourself to your breast pump, and store the excess milk in your freezer. You will then be able to thaw this milk and use it when you need to get away from the house and leave your twins with a sitter.
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