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You are here: Experts > Parenting/Family > Pregnancy/Birth > Breastfeeding > Breastfeeding Twins
Expert: ruth kraft - 10/27/2009
Question
I'm almost exclusively breastfeeding 3.5 month old twins, and have a question regarding pumping. I'm returning to work soon and would like for our caregivers to be able to feed them some pumped milk, but am not sure how I should begin to start building up a supply. I have a great, hospital grade dual pump (Medela Symphony) - but all of my friends with singletons simply feed on one side and pump the other to have a freezer stash of milk. Great idea, but with constantly tandem feeding my babies, I'm out of boobs!
My twins are currently eating every 3 hours; should I pump between feedings? (I've tried before and only gotten an ounce per side) Should I wake up during the night to pump even though they're sleeping through? (I really value this precious, unexpected amount of sleep...) And how soon after I pump can I reasonably expect to be able to breastfeed them a "full" meal - can I pump first thing in the morning and immediately feed them afterward without problems?
Thank you!
Jennifer
Answer
Hello! Congrats on nursing the twins! so, my suggestions would be, no, do not wake up at night. If you can sleep through, then you need the sleep. if you happen to wake up and not be able to go back to sleep, then pump. but otherwise don't cause yourself the stress as that actually can make milk supply go down.
So, what I would reccomend, is find out about what time a day your pumping sessions will be. If you know your schedule is from 8-5, then youll want to pump around 10, 12-1 and 3-4 ish. ( hopefully you will get 2 breaks . ) or pick whatever your schedule will be.
When you wake up in the am, pump before you nurse the babies. nurse the babies before you leave for work, then at a break, lunch and break, pump again. when you get home, you can just nurse .
If at first , it seems they dont get enough from the bottle, it is because of 2 things. They arent used to bottles, so they will guzzle a bottle fast being they are so efficient at nursing. and the bottle is easy. the feeling that tells you that your baby is full takes a while to kick in, so they think they are still hungry when they arent. In case they truly do want more, this will still be enough to carry them over until you get home. at which point, they will train your breasts to give more food at that evening feed to make up for any that they didnt get earlier ( our bodies are magical :)
So, no need to worry. they will ALWAYS get what they need.
Now, when to pump, start now pumping when you think your breaks are going to be. like extra feedings. Once when you first wake as your milk is most plentiful then, it will take a few days to build up but the babies will still get what they need . It is all supply and demand. if you get your breasts into the routine of pumping at those times, then when you go back to work, your breasts will not only be in the routine at that time schedule, but you will have fuller breasts also as the babies wont be nursing while at work. so you shoudl easily get enough for the feeds by doing this.
If something comes up, write me back with details and well go from there. but it sounds like you have no supply issues so this should work perfectly :)
good luck!
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