Expert: Sally Wendkos Olds - 8/22/2007

Question
Hello,
I'm a mother to 3 week old twin boys.  I am exclusively breastfeeding, although I rented a hospital grade pump so that I can increase my milk supply for these boys.  I am wondering how often I can pump in between feedings.  I want to be able to have enough milk in store for their next feeding, but I also want to pump so that I can store up extra breastmilk for times when it is needed and also to increase my milk supply.  Can you let me know how often I can pump in between feedings?

Answer
Dear Rebecca,

First, congratulations on the birth of your sons -- and for giving them the best start in life by breastfeeding them!

There is no hard-and-fast rule about how often to pump between feedings. It depends on how frequently the boys are nursing and on your current milk supply. For the time being, I would suggest that you focus on the nursing sessions, since even the best pump is not as efficient as a vigorously suckling baby. And the babies' frequent nursing sessions will build up your milk supply.

Then maybe in a week or two, if you feel that your milk supply is plentiful, try pumping once between morning feedings and once between afternoon feedings. Then see how that goes, and how much milk you are able to get. You sort of have to feel your way to doing this so that you have enough milk for the nursing sessions -- and so that you don't exhaust yourself by constantly nursing and pumping!

I am attaching an excerpt from my book (see below) on nursing twins.I hope it's helpful.

Regards,

Sally

Sally Wendkos Olds
Author, THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BREASTFEEDING: Eiger & Olds, 3rd edition 1999, published by Workman Publishing & Bantam Books, and available in most public libraries, bookstores & La Leche League chapters.

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  TWINS AND MORE
When Bobbi McCaughey of Carlisle, Iowa, told the doctors caring for her septuplets, who were born November 19, 1997, that she wanted to provide breast milk for them, the neonatalogist in charge said, "We are committed to providing as much milk as she is able to come up with to all of the babies." This indeed showed confidence in the benefits of breast milk! Even though it would be a major challenge for this mother to breastfeed all seven septuplets, whatever breast milk these tiny babies received would be a bonus.
  But what about twins? If you deliver two babies, one question is moot: you don't have to wonder if you should offer one or both breasts at a feeding. You have been designed with perfect efficiency for just this possibility. Furthermore, since breastfeeding operates on a supply-and-demand principle, your breasts will produce ample supplies of milk for both babies. Since babies born in multiples are likely to be small, they derive special benefits from breast milk.
  You'll probably find it easiest to nurse both babies simultaneously for most early feedings, even though you'll want to nurse them individually occasionally, so that each one will have a chance from time to time to enjoy your undivided attention (see Box 16-1). Then there will be times when one twin is desperately hungry -- and the other sound asleep. As a general rule, you can try letting the hungrier twin set the pattern. When you're about to feed him, wake his twin at the same time. This works best, of course, if both babies are about the same size.
  Try to alternate breasts and babies, so that the same twin doesn't always drink at the same fount. This way, if one baby nurses more vigorously than the other, both your breasts will be stimulated.
  You'll have to work out your own individual schedule. Some mothers nurse twins or even triplets totally, never giving any of the babies a bottle. Others alternate bottles of formula right from the start, rotating between breast and formula. Thus, Baby A gets the breast at one feeding, Baby B the bottle; they switch at the next feeding. You need to weigh the benefits of breast milk for your babies with the demands on your own energy and time, and do what's best. For special sources of help for mothers of multiples, see the Resource Appendix.
  
  BOX 16-1   NURSING TWO BABIES AT THE SAME TIME
When breastfeeding two babies simultaneously, position is everything. Ask someone to help you get the babies set for the first few times, as in the positions described below. Experiment until you and the babies are comfortable. Find a comfortable armchair and a couple of pillows. Then try one of these:
  * Half-recline and lay each baby on the side or stomach lengthwise along your body.
  * Sit up and tuck each baby under an arm, heads resting on firm pillows on your lap and feet by your back (the football hold).
  * Hold baby A on your lap and criss-cross Baby B across Baby A's body.
  * Hold baby A on your lap and tuck Baby B under your arm.
  END OF BOX