Gema Cárcamo, IBCLC and expert twin lactation consultant has provided us with this article of tips and ideas on how to survive breastfeeding multiples. We are sure you will find useful!

Recommendations for initiating breastfeeding with twins, triplets, or multiples

Saving time when breastfeeding twins

Time is your biggest enemy, but sometimes you have to be patient: it’s better to start giving the breast one at a time and get familiar with the tastes and preferences of each baby, discover their needs, and if you have to make adjustments with positioning or pay attention to small difficulties they may have. Rushing is never a good thing.

Limit the time they are suckling at the breast if you notice that your babies are not stimulating the breast enough. You can save time by pumping for a while until they are able to suckle on their own at the breast. This is just temporary. You can give them this pumped milk with a suitable method that doesn’t affect their suckling technique too much.

Positions to breastfeed twins

Learn to breastfeed lying down or semi-reclined. You may find it impossible at first with two at the same time; you don’t have to do it from the first day or both simultaneously, but if you can breastfeed and doze off, you can rest and get some sleep. It’s better to breastfeed in bed than on the sofa to avoid unnecessary risks.

Choose the most comfortable option, and don’t overcomplicate things with the order of which breast side. You can breastfeed each baby from the same breast or alternate them as you like; it doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, they will have all the milk they need and it will have the right composition.

If you have more than two babies, it may be a good idea to alternate breastfeeding the third baby and the other two on each breast.

Breastfeeding one or two babies at a time?

Not all twins want to breastfeed at the same time. Identical twins tend to synchronize better because they are very similar, but fraternal twins can be very different.

Each baby evolves at a different rate, even as identical twins. Some achieve their milestones earlier, and others later. Avoid forcing a particular breastfeeding pattern, or at least watch the consequences, and if you detect them, adjust the pattern until you find the right one, although babies will eventually do so when they are ready.

Giving the twins pumped breastmilk?

Weigh well the idea of giving your babies pumped breastmilk at night to rest. While it can be very helpful at times, you have a higher milk supply during the night, and there is more risk of breast engorgement if you skip a feed during the night. Some mothers prefer to pump and continue to sleep while their partner gives the babies pumped milk rather than skip a feed for an hour or two of sleep.

What do you need to breastfeed twins?

Don’t rush into buying unnecessary things. A nursing pillow can be useful if you know how to handle it and if it is well-adapted to your needs. Perhaps you can try one in a breastfeeding support group or meet with another mother so she can show it to you before buying something that you won’t use later, or that may endanger breastfeeding because it doesn’t favor an effective latch for one of your babies.

It’s a similar story with a breast pump. You may or may not need it, and having a breast pump may force you to use it unnecessarily. It is a time-consuming and skill-intensive third twin that can give you some discomfort and make you lose confidence.

What to do when supplementing with formula is suggested?

If the start has been the best possible and breastfeeding has been able to be initiated within the first few hours while assessing that the babies are suckling well, supplementing will not be necessary.

Even so, it is possible that the start may have been difficult, that the mother may not be in a position to initiate breastfeeding in the first few hours/days or there may be some barrier such as the separation from a baby, a small baby with poor suckling strength, an immature baby or difficulties in getting milk from the breast. Sometimes supplementing is necessary for a period of time.

Supplementing does not necessarily have to be with formula milk but can be with the mother’s own previously expressed breast milk. If no other options are available and the hospital has a Donor Human Milk Bank, twin babies may benefit from this, although there may be limitations due to the amount of milk available and the priorities of other sicker or more delicate babies. If not, appropriate commercial formula milk will be used as needed with a physician’s prescription.

One idea that can be considered during pregnancy is to perform the so-called colostrum harvesting method, to have some own breast milk or colostrum in case it is necessary.

The first thing is to ensure that the babies are feeding well, but also protecting their ideal food by making some adjustments so that the mother has time and can put her babies to the breast, pump breast milk, and rest. This prevents the mother from getting overwhelmed and encourages her to move forward on her roadmap, navigating her way to her ultimate goal.

Remember that supplementing in twin babies can have more complicated consequences, as it is more difficult to reverse when more than one baby needs to be cared for.

10 key recommendations for breastfeeding twins or multiples

Our experienced IBCLC lactation consultant, Gemma, points out the following 10 key recommendations for breastfeeding twins and multiples. 

Mother’s belief and commitment

The mother must be convinced that she can do it: “I am going to breastfeed my twins; I can do it.”

Make a plan

It is advisable to make a plan with short-term objectives that are easy to achieve and allow for temporary deviations for unforeseen events, seeking to be as realistic as possible.

Find examples

Try to find other mothers who have breastfed twins before and tap into their wisdom from Breastfeeding Support Groups or online groups.

Follow healthcare professionals’ advice

Healthcare professionals ensure the best possible start to breastfeeding. A birth and breastfeeding plan can be an excellent help. It doesn’t hurt to have an emergency phone number of an IBCLC on your bedside table in case you panic and need someone to listen and understand.

Prepare your family and surrounding

Seek support from those people closest to you and involve them in breastfeeding so that it becomes a source of support and not a source of conflict and confusion.

Restrict and/or manage the number of visitors

Especially in the first few weeks, as this can be overstimulating for babies, which can be detrimental to breastfeeding and a source of unsolicited comments that undermine the mother’s confidence and security. Don’t feel obliged to answer them; you can nod politely and say, “I appreciate your input, but that’s what you think; I have my own ideas, and I’m doing fine so far.”

Make the lactation process simpler

It is advisable to simplify breastfeeding as much as possible to make it as easy and comfortable as possible. Although there are support tools that can help a lot, in many cases, they are not necessary and can be a hindrance that complicates breastfeeding. If it is not necessary, you can do without them.

Take breaks

You may often think of suspending breastfeeding because you are on the verge of exhaustion and burnout. It is possible to make small breaks by choosing the right detours on the roadmap and take a break to regain strength.

Any amount of breast milk is liquid gold

If the breastfeeding journey you are comfortable with happens to be occasional during the day, it’s better than nothing at all.

The act of breastfeeding is not complex

Most of the difficulties of breastfeeding twins are not related to breastfeeding, but the fact of having to raise two or more babies. With or without breastfeeding, you will have to deal with these needs, and let’s be honest, breastfeeding can actually lighten the load in the long run.

Conclusion

You are biologically ready to breastfeed twins, and breastfeeding is not all or nothing. You need to find your way so breastfeeding feels comfortable for you and you are at peace. Seek information in advance from resources such as Breastfeeding Support Groups or IBCLC Lactation consultants.