Melanie's story: breastfeeding twins
I had breastfed my first two boys and when I found out that my third pregnancy was a twin one I saw no reason to believe anything other than that I would breastfeed these babies. I spent a lot of time during the pregnancy learning about how to hold twins when simultaneously breastfeeding. I even attended a breastfeeding supporters group where they had dolls which felt like, and flopped like, newborns so I could try some of these holds in preparation for my new babies.
All the information I found seemed to point me towards establishing a joint routine, tandem feeding, etc. This made perfect sense to me. I was told of one mum who demand fed twins and the person who told me tutted and sighed, saying it was the mum’s own fault that she was always tired. I tutted and sighed and agreed, demand feeding twins would be a recipe for disaster. I felt very prepared and not at all concerned about parenting twins.
However I was a little disheartened in that the only mums I talked to who said they had breastfed twins had, in fact, usually supplemented with formula, or in one case fed one baby and not the other. I was determined this would not happen to me.
Shortly after my new babies were born I held them both for their first feed. My son Drew latched on perfectly but my daughter Scarlett found it all a bit more difficult. The midwife tried to attach her for me but I was determined to try biological nurturing again as it had worked so well for my other children. So on no uncertain terms I told the midwife to let Scarlett do it herself. Eventually it worked and they both had a good feed.
Whilst in hospital (I stayed for 24 hours) I tended to feed my babies one at a time as I was on a narrow bed and it seemed safest. However as soon as I got home I started practicing my simultaneous feeding holds. They were certainly a lot trickier with real babies but I could just about manage them. Scarlett was still finding feeding quite difficult but I had plenty of milk and could cope with the nipple pain from her poor attachment. I did feel like I needed an extra hand and often asked my mum to help me balance the babies.
The community midwife who visited me at home was wonderful. She never once asked to weigh my babies and I was so pleased as I am convinced that Scarlett’s poor attachment would have resulted in “too much” weight loss and therefore recommendations of supplementation, etc. Instead of weighing, the midwife looked at their bright eyes and rosy cheeks, and asked about how many wet and dirty nappies they were giving me.
Getting the twins into a shared routine proved to be a bit of a nightmare. Drew often wanted to sleep for longer periods and if Scarlett was not really hungry or too sleepy she would not open her mouth wide to attach. I found that feeding Scarlett was toe-curling for the first 15 seconds, and uncomfortable for the remainder of the feed.
On around day 7 I found a breast feeding counsellor who had fed twins, without supplementing. Finally the guidance I was looking for. She strongly recommended feeding my babies one at a time to allow each one to perfect their own attachment. I was dubious as I felt this would mean my whole day was spent feeding, but I took her advice and to great success. Scarlett started attaching well and was no longer causing me pain. I did not spend twice as long feeding as proper attachment meant the feed was completed much quicker, with each baby more satisfied. My babies also loved the close cuddle they got with each feed and I began to enjoy, rather than dread, feeding time.
On day 10 I had my first visit with the health visitor, who asked to weigh the twins. Drew was almost back at his birth weight, but Scarlett, who had weighed 6lb2oz at birth was now only 5lb10oz. I was not too worried, though, as by this point both twins were much better at feeding and I knew time would allow Scarlett to catch up with her brother.
The next night Drew stopped feeding altogether. I blamed myself for giving him a dummy and figured he would wake hungry in an hour or so. However overnight he continued to refuse feeds and by the morning, when he had refused EBM from a cup, I took him to see the doctor. My GP sent us straight to hospital, and 12 hours later that hospital sent me to a bigger one as Drew had sepsis and required intensive care. However as Scarlett had been suffering from a tiny bit of diarrhoea she was an infection risk and not allowed in intensive care. I had to choose which twin to stay with. I chose Scarlett as she was still feeding, and Drew was taken away by ambulance with a doctor, a nurse, and a bottle of EBM.
Although this separation was the worst point of my life to date, if I can be philosophical I would have to say that the silver lining was that Scarlett had, for the first time, almost 24 hour access to feed, and vast quantities of milk to consume. This gave her the opportunity to become brilliant at feeding. She helped me keep my supply going so Drew could have expressed breast milk and gave me a tiny baby to cuddle and feed when I so desperately needed one.
I visited Drew for two hours a day only, due to the distance he was from home. On day three of him being in NICU Scarlett was no longer quarantined so I was able to take her to hospital with me and spend a much longer time there. I took her straight over to her brother and told him I was going to feed her, and could he watch so he would remember what to do. Drew took one look at Scarlett and started sucking his fist. The nurse was delighted and said it was the first time he had shown an interest in feeding. So three days after his last feed I put him to the breast and he latched on like a pro and had a fantastic feed.
After 8 days in hospital I was able to take Drew home and I have not looked back since. Now they are 21 months old they rarely feed any more, and if they do then they both clamber onto my lap and latch on simultaneously which is fine now they are older.
The biggest problem with feeding my twins has been other people’s attitudes. People stare open-mouthed when they see me feeding, and I know the inevitable “are you feeding them both yourself?” is coming. I am frequently advised to give them a bottle to give myself a break, and one GP could barely hide her disbelief that I was breastfeeding. I think if I was to give some advice to a new mum of twins it would be to prepare a thick skin, and just get on with it. Your babies will thank you for it at every feed.
Created: November 19, 2009
