Breastfeeding twins has many advantages for both the mother and baby.

Breastfeeding strengthens the baby’s immune system and reduces the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is also a great way for mother and child to bond.

Breastfeeding twins can seem overwhelming to a new mom, but thousands of new mothers successfully breastfed their twins every day.

These tips will help you to be successful from day one.

1. Get a Lactation Consultant

As soon as you arrive in your Postpartum room after giving birth, ask to see the Lactation Consultant. As a mother of twins, you will be a priority for her.

She will sit with you and teach you exactly how to get each of your babies to latch correctly onto your breast. Learning how to do this from the very first feeding is important.

If your babies do not latch correctly, breastfeeding twins can be painful and your babies will not be able to feed efficiently.

That is the number one reason responsible for issues with breastfeeding twins.

Nowadays all Lactation Consultants receive training on teaching mothers how to breastfeed twins, so she will be able to help you with different positions and issues particular to twins.

2. Find a Lactation Consultant in Your Area

Before giving birth, you may want to find a lactation consultant in your area, so you can make an appointment to see her once you have been released from the hospital. Many will come out to your home to continue to help you after you leave the hospital.

3. Get in a Comfortable Breastfeeding Position.

The position is very important when breastfeeding twins. There are many positions mothers prefer when breastfeeding twins and there is no one right way.

The positions for breastfeeding twins should allow you to relax your back and neck. Your posture of choice should allow easy digestion while the babies suckle.

You may find a number of positions helpful at different times. The goal is to try different positions until you find the ones that work best for you and your twins.

4. Get a Comfortable Breastfeeding Pillow

Get a special breastfeeding pillow designed for twins.

The My Brest Friend Supportive Nursing Pillow For Twins 0-12 Months, Plus-Size is the most useful breastfeeding pillow for twins.

It is soft and provides plenty of room for both babies. The strap is also awesome, as it keeps the pillow in place while you move your twins around and help them latch on correctly.

Colors: Light Green (Pictured), Dark Grey, Light Grey, Fireworks, and Black and White

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $58.04- $67.99

5. Wear Easy Access Nursing Tops and Nursing Bras.

In the beginning, you will find soft, comfortable 2-in-1 nursing tops with built-in bras to be extremely useful. While you are learning how to nurse twins and your twins are feeding to often, you will find yourself constantly needing to expose your breast to feed. These tops also make it simple to breastfeed both twins at the same time.

Caramel Cantina 3 Pack Women’s Nursing Cami Built-in Bra is a great 2-in-1 soft tank top and nursing bra. You can wear it by itself or under another loose top. It comes in many sizes and colors, thus matching everything. You will want to buy at least a few packs of these because in the beginning, milk will leak and babies will spit up on you.

Colors: Black, White and Charcoal (3 Pack), Navy, Burgundy and Teal (3 Pack), Black (3 Pack)

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $36.99 (Pack of three)

Having plenty of comfortable nursing bras is also important. When your milk supply is first coming in and your twins are learning how to breastfeed, it will messy. You will find yourself often needing to change your bra. You will also need to wear a bra all the time in the beginning because your breasts will leak milk.

Therefore, you will want to have comfortable bras you can wear all day and night.

The 3 PACK Full Bust Seamless Nursing Maternity Bras with Extenders & Clips is the perfect nursing bra bundle.

We recommend you buy at least three of these packs to get started. The extender will be great right after you give birth before you lose your pregnancy and while your milk supply is adjusting. The clips allow you to connect the two straps in the back to hide them when wear tank tops or other sleeveless shirts.

Colors: Black, Pink & Nude (3 Pack), Nude (3 Pack), Black (3 Pack), Black, Grey & Nude (3 Pack)

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $36.99 (Pack of three)

6. Start with One Twin at a Time

As a new parent or one who is having your first pair of twins, it is advisable that you start gradually, with a twin at a time to the breast.

Once each twin is latching properly and you feel comfortable, start trying to feed the other twin at the same time.

Be patient with yourself and know you will master breastfeeding twins at the same time. It is a skill like any other and simply requires practice.

7. Use a Breastpump Only When Necessary

Before you consider using a breast pump, be sure it is needed.

Mothers panic, saying their breasts don’t produce much milk and they are afraid they are not making enough for the twins.

it takes a few days for your milk to come in. The most effective way to establish a strong milk supply is to latch them properly and encourage your twins to feed often.

The woman lactation process actually generates more milk with the demands placed by the suckling mouth(s). Breast pumps are just not as effective at expelling milk from the breast.

In the early days, encourage your twins to breastfeed often. These early days will determine how much milk your body makes. It is a supply and demand system established during the first days. That is also why learning how to latch your twins on is so important from the beginning.

So, before you go for a pumping aid, be sure you need it.

When it is time to begin pumping, we recommend you use the Medela Pump in Style Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump with On the Go Tote.

It is an awesome all-in-one system.

Medela is the most well-known and recommended brand on the market. All of their products come with a lifetime warranty and their service department is excellent.

While the bag this breast pump comes with may not be your first choice, this bundle is a great deal and has everything you will need to immediately begin pumping.

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $190.93

8. Alternate the kids to the breast

Each of the twins might have different appetite and sucking behavior.

Therefore, alternate which twin feeds from each breast with every feeding. A great way to remember which twin fed from each breast is to wear a simple bracelet or hair tie on your wrist. Assign the hair tie to Twin A. After you have completed breastfeeding your twins, move the hair tie to the other wrist. This will tell you that Twin A should feed on that breast during the next feeding.

9. Get Rest

You need as much rest as you can get.

When your newborn twins are sleeping, you should sleep, as well.

Ask friends and family members to keep up with the daily tasks around the house.

In the early days, your task is to heal your body from birth, breastfeed and care for your new twins. That is a full-time job. Everything else can wait.

10. Ask for Help

Neighbors, friends, co-workers, and family are great helpers in the early days. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Hiring a Postpartum Doula is also an excellent choice.

Postpartum Doulas can help you care for your newborn twins, clean your house, cook and help organize the help of others in your life.

11. Eat and Drink Frequently

Think of your body as just recovering from running a marathon.

Labor is exhausting and you have lost a lot of blood. Now you are trying to make food for two little people.

Allow yourself to eat foods you are craving. Your body may need more salt, protein or fats to recover.

In the early days, we drank lots of Ensure High Protein Nutrition Shake with 16 grams of high-quality protein, Meal Replacement Shakes.

We loved them because they did not contain milk and thus did not need to remain refrigerated. We kept them on our nightstand and drank them during the night when we woke up hungry.

Product Details:

Flavors: Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla

Price: $31.94 for 24 8oz Bottles

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Drinking lots of water is one of the best ways to ensure your body will produce enough milk.

Breast milk is composed of 90% water.

During birth and for days after giving birth, your body will lose a lot of blood. Blood is composed mostly of water. Therefore, you will likely be extremely dehydrated.

One of the biggest factors that will affect your milk supply in the early days is your water intake. This is a crucial time as your body is figuring out how much milk to make for your twins. If you are severely dehydrated in the early days, your body will not establish the correct amount of milk supply.

You will probably notice that soon after you begin breastfeeding your twins you will become thirsty. The oxytocin that your body releases during breastfeeding is responsible for triggering your thirst. This is your body’s natural way of ensuring that you are getting enough water to make breast milk.

As soon as you can, begin rehydrating your body. This can easily be done simply with water. During breastfeeding one baby, you should drink an extra quart, or 32 ounces, per day.

12. Start Preparing Before Your Twins Arrive.

Preparation is key. Create a plan now to ensure you will have all of the tools and people in place when your twins arrive.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People who love you will want to feel needed and your twins will benefit from it, as well.

The post 12 Tips for Breastfeeding Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

That is not true.

As parents of twins, we have compiled this simple list of the five pieces of baby furniture for twins that you will want to invest in.

1. Two Convertible Cribs

The Delta Children Emery 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib is an awesome choice. As a 4-in-1 crib, it is the only bed your twin will need for years to come.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in Dark Chocolate (Shown), Grey, and White

*It is also available as a mini crib.*

If you have a smaller room for your twins, you may want to purchase two mini cribs. However, remember that if you purchase mini cribs for your twins, you must also purchase mattress pads and sheets that fit mini cribs.

Price: $189.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

2. A Changing Table

You will only need one changing table.

It will be the station where you keep your diapers, wipes, diaper rash ointment and changes of clothes.

The Delta Children Infant Changing Table with Pad matches the crib er recommend. It received excellent reviews and is very affordable.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in 5 Colors

Price: $249.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Rating:

3. A Playard with Bassinets

It has extra features the other pack n plays we found for twins just don’t have.

When your twins are first born, a pack n play can be a great first place to have your twins sleep at night.

We placed this pack n play next to our bed and had each twin sleeping in one of the two removable bassinets. That made it easy for me, as the breastfeeding mother, to lean over and pick up each twin when they needed to breastfeed.

This will be the place you lay your twins down to nap throughout much of the day. During the day, many parents have this crib in the main sitting room. At night, many parents bring this crib into their bedroom.

Product Details:

Colors: Comes in Color Shown

Price: $249.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Rating:

Below we have included the main pros and cons of each pack n play.

Pros:

★Two removable rock-a-bye bassinet each convert to standalone rockers

★Removable rock-a-bye bassinet comes with canopy and carry handle, plush fabric and mesh sides for proper ventilation

★Flip away changing table and deluxe parent organizer. Use only household mild soap and warm water. Do Not Use Bleach. Do Not Machine Wash

★One-hand locking mechanism and large wheels with brakes

★Electronic music center with volume control, nightlight, and vibration

Cons:

• Only available in 1 color

• Twins will quickly outgrow the bassinets

4. Two Bouncer Seats

One of the absolute must haves as a parent of twins is a bouncer seat for each twin. This will be a great place to sit your twins for bottle feedings, to read books to them, for short naps, when you need to go to the bathroom, and even while you cook dinner.

The Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker is our favorite choice for bouncer seats.

The seats are comfortable, well-made, lightweight and adorable.

Product Details:

Colors: 8 Colors and Patterns to Choose From

Price: $29.00-$69.99

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Ratings:

These seats can be used for many purposes. They are the perfect place to bottle-feed your twins. Simply sit your babies in the seats, strap them in, and feed.

Babies love to be held. Holding one baby for hours a day can be tough enough, but holding twins can often be impossible. We often placed our twins into these bouncers, strapped the in and gently rocked them with our feet. Often the gently rocking put them right to sleep and allowed us to get a much-needed break.

These bouncers are also a great, safe place to put your twins if you need to go to the bathroom or get something to eat.

Unlike a large bassinet or portable playard, these bouncers can easily be taken into the kitchen, bathroom, porch, yard, or anywhere else you want to go.

5. One Electric Swing

In the beginning, we highly recommend you only purchase one baby swing.

We found there was never a time when we felt like we needed two swings. We also found that our twins would go through phases. One would find the swing soothing and the other would not.

The Graco Simple Sway Baby Swing is a great choice. It is versatile and made by a very reputable company.

Product Details:

Colors: 3 Colors and Patterns to Choose From

Price: $69.00-$92.87

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Amazon Ratings:

Below we have included the main pros and cons of this baby swing:

Pros:

★ Plug-in option allows you to save money on batteries while using your infant swing. Also takes D Batteries.

★ This baby swings small frame design fits in any room of your home so you can easily keep baby close wherever you are.

★ Gentle, side-to-side swaying motion soothes and comforts baby. 2-speed vibration to help keep your baby calm and relaxed.

★ The deep, plush seat with removable head support keeps your little one cozy and comfortable while in the baby swing.

Cons:

• Some customers said the swing squeaks.

• Can hear the motor when the swing is on.

In summary, there are five pieces of furniture for twins you will want to have before your twins are born.

Many parents of twins feel overwhelmed by all the furniture and supplies for twins. Hopefully, this list of the 5 essential pieces of furniture for twins will help you feel better about what you should buy to prepare for your twins.

Comment below and let us know which of these items you have purchased and what you think about them.

Did we leave any furniture for twins off this list?

Let us know and we will add it right away.

The post Must Have Baby Furniture for Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

As soon as you find out you are having twins, you may feel overwhelmed by all the preparation ahead of you.

Often parents expecting twins buy way more than they will actually ever use.

Before you create your registry for your twins, read this.

We have compiled a complete list of the essential must-have items you will need during your twins’ first year. These items should be included in any registry.

1. A lightweight double frame stroller

A double frame stroller is the first item for twins you will want to purchase.

It is designed to allow you to snap your twins’ car seats directly into a lightweight stroller frame. This is important because your twins will spend much of their first six months sleeping and growing.

By simply unsnapping your car seats from their bases in your car and snapping them into the stroller frame, you will be able to take your twins on outings without having to wake them up.

We recommend using the lightweight double stroller frame, instead of a complete stroller system because the frame is much lighter. You will not need the seats in a traditional stroller, so don’t bother carrying around the extra weight.

Once you figure out which car seat you want for your twins (our list of recommended car seats for twins is here), you will either need the Baby Trend Snap N Go or the Joovy Twin Roo Plus (plus adapters). Read more about each one here.

Product details:

Recommended weight: 5lbs to 40lbs

Lowest price: Amazon

Price: $75.34

While not all car seats will fit, all the car seats we recommend will fit into the Baby Trend Snap N Go without any attachments needed.

Eventually, your twins will no longer fit comfortably and you will need either a larger everyday stroller or an umbrella stroller. We reviewed hundreds of strollers and created a list of our recommendations in this article.

Below we discuss the next item you will need to have before your twins are born.

While you certainly won’t need to purchase two of everything, you will obviously need to buy two car seats.

2. Two safe newborn infant car seats

The first type of car seat you will want for your twins is designed specifically for infants.

The carrier portion of the car seat can be removed from the base, which will remain in your car. By removing the car seat from the base, you will be able to let your twins continue to sleep and will not need to wake them up by removing them from the car seats.

All the car seats we recommend are compatible with the Baby Trend Snap N Go double stroller frame.

The Graco SnugRide SnugLock 35 LX Featuring Trueshield Technology is our number one recommendation for newborn infant car seats. It is Graco’s safest car seat yet. It has received 4.7 out of 5 stars from customers on Amazon.

Product features:

★ Adjust handle with one hand, leaving your other hand free.

★ Silent Shade canopy easily and quietly adjusts without disturbing baby.

★ InRight LATCH system for a one-second LATCH attachment.

★ 4-position adjustable base lets you customize fit to your vehicle.

★ Easy-to-read level indicator helps eliminate installation guesswork.

3. Two convertible cribs

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents of twins to have them each sleep in their own crib. That practice has been shown to reduce the incidents of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The Delta Children Emery 4-in-1 Convertible Baby Crib is an awesome choice. As a 4-in-1 crib, it is the only bed your twin will need for years to come.

Product details:

Colors: Comes in dark chocolate (shown), grey, and white

*It is also available as a mini crib. If you have a smaller room for your twins, you may want to purchase two mini cribs.

Price: $189.99

Lowest price: Amazon

4. One portable Playard or pack-n-play

Sometimes called a portable Playard, pack-n-play, or bassinet, a foldable crib will be an important item for twins to have before your twins arrive home.

This will be the place you lay your twins down to nap throughout much of the day. During the day, many parents have this crib in the main sitting room. At night, many parents bring this crib into their bedroom.

In the early days, your twins will feed a lot. Most new babies feed every 1-2 hours for weeks. Having this crib right next to the bed makes these frequent feedings much easier.

The Baby Trend Twin Nursery Center is more than just a portable crib. It comes with an organizational basket and removable bassinets. 

5. A comfortable double breastfeeding pillow

Breastfeeding twins is one of the most intimidating aspects for expecting and new moms of twins. While it can seem scary and you may even doubt whether you will be able to breastfeed your twins, we have found most who want to, can.

We have written a helpful article on how to breastfeed your twins successfully.

The most important item you should have is a comfortable double breastfeeding pillow. It will make the learning process and the daily feeding of your twins so much easier.

The My Brest Friend Supportive Nursing Pillow For Twins 0-12 Months, Plus-Size is our #1 recommendation. Unlike other double breastfeeding pillows, it has a velcro strap that secures the pillow around your waist. It is also firmer than the other pillows, which will be extremely helpful when you are helping your twins first learn how to breastfeed.

Product features:

★ Easy to wash, zip off cover – Your twins will spit up. The cover comes off easily and can be washed and dried in your washer and dryer.

★ Adjustable back support – Encourages better posture during breastfeeding, alleviating strain in your back, neck, and arms.

★ Adjustable fit for most sizes – Large design is big enough to comfortably support both twins during breastfeeding.

★ Large multipurpose pocket – Handy pouch keeps your maternity supplies within easy reach

★ Secure wrap around design – Adjusts to fit most sizes, My Brest Friend surrounds your body securely, for the ideal position, providing the best support for mom and babies

★ Lactation experts approve – My Brest Friend is proud to be the top choice of lactation consultants and birthing hospitals

*Note: For bottle-feeding and general “hanging out” purposes, we recommend you use infant bouncer seats. We have included our favorites below.

6. Two safe bouncer seats

One of the absolute must-haves as a parent of twins is a bouncer seat for each twin.

The Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker is our favorite choice for bouncer seats. These seats are comfortable, well-made, lightweight, and adorable.

Product details:

Colors: 8 Colors and patterns to choose From

Price: $29.00-$69.99

Lowest price: Amazon

These seats can be used for many purposes. They are the perfect place to bottle-feed your twins. Simply sit your babies in the seats, strap them in, and feed.

Babies love to be held. Holding one baby for hours a day can be tough enough, but holding twins can often be impossible. We often placed our twins into these bouncers, strapped them in, and gently rocked them with our feet. Often the gently rocking put them right to sleep and allowed us to get a much-needed break.

These bouncers are also a great, safe place to put your twins if you need to go to the bathroom or get something to eat.

Unlike a large bassinet or portable Playard, these bouncers can easily be taken into the kitchen, bathroom, porch, yard, or anywhere else you want to go.

7. An organized diaper bag

Initially, you will want a diaper bag that has a lot of smaller compartments to help you organize your twins’ items. It should also come with an insulated compartment for bottles, a changing pad and a baby wipes container.

The Bag Nation Diaper Bag Backpack is an awesome backpack for parents of newborn twins. It has tons of pockets designed to hold diapers, bottles, wipes, clothing, toys, and more. It comes with a large changing pad and can be worn as a backpack so you can get it completely out of your way.

Product features:

★ High quality – Water-resistant twill polyester (stronger than cloth), non-fraying stitching, and strong zippers mean you’ll have a diaper bag backpack that lasts for years.

★ Lifetime warranty – Buy with confidence, we stick by our products and customers no matter what. Our outstanding support team is only a message away.

★ Connects to most strollers – While it is an extremely comfortable bag, it can also easily and conveniently connect onto almost any stroller.

★ Organized functional compartments will save you hassle – LOTS of awesome pockets! As parents, we have a lot of baby items we must carry and find at a moment’s notice! From diapers, clothing, bottles, and more! The 14 organized pockets, including 4 insulated bottle pockets, and pockets for wallets and keys.

★ Hands-free and comfortable to wear – This backpack allows you to carry all of your essentials while having both hands free. The padding on the back and shoulder straps make sure this is super comfortable to wear for any length of outing. Built-in stroller straps can hook onto any stroller, as well.

★ Gender-neutral, unisex design – We love the fact that this bag will not cause anyone to feel uncomfortable. Men and women alike can feel comfortable trading this bag back and forth from one caregiver to another.

★ Baby wipes case, changing pad, and other accessories included – Two packing cubes are also included to help organize clothing for each twin. There is also a wet/dry bag which is awesome for soiled clothing. There is a waterproof changing pad, so you can change diapers anywhere and a baby wipes case with its own easy access side pocket.

8. A reliable baby monitor

Baby monitors allow you to check in on your babies without entering the room and possibly waking them up. Today’s baby monitors do much more than that.

Baby monitors can monitor the babies, room temperature, breathing of your twins, and even be used to soothe them using lullabies or your own voice.

Some parents choose to buy a baby monitor with two cameras, while others get one monitor that can view both cribs at once. In our review of the best baby monitors for twins, we have included both one and two camera options.

Our #1 recommendation for a baby monitor for twins who share a bedroom is the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens.

84% of the customers who reviewed this baby monitor gave it either 4 or 5 stars, it is a very safe choice.

9. Baby wraps and carriers

Having a comfortable carrier is essential as the parent of twins.

There will often be a time when at least one of your twins wants to be held.

While there are a few carriers designed for twins available, we rarely found a time when both twins had to be held at once.

The two types of carriers we suggest you invest in are the wrap and the carrier.

Our favorite wrap for carrying newborn babies is the Ergo Baby Wrap by CuddleBug. It allows you to essential swaddle your baby against your body. It is versatile, comfortable, and effective.

Once you are past the newborn stage, you will need a carrier with a lot of back support and cushioning on your shoulders. Trust us, babies are heavy.

The Ergobaby 360 All Carry Positions Award-Winning Ergonomic Baby Carrier is our favorite versatile baby carrier.

Product details:

Colors: Comes in 16 colors and patterns

Price: $104.95- $160.00

Lowest price: Amazon

Product features:

★ Comfortable and ergonomic as baby grows: Easy to adjust bucket seat supports your baby in an ergonomic natural “M” position in all carry positions from baby to toddler.

★ Comfortable for you: Exceptional lower back support with a wide wraparound waistband that maximizes comfort especially post C-section. Extra padded shoulder straps help evenly distribute your baby’s weight.

★ All carry positions included: Face baby in or out. Wear on the hip or back as baby grows (~4-36 months/12-33lbs or start with newborn infant insert ~0-4Months/7-12lbs, sold separately).

★ Custom fit: Easily adjusts to fit multiple wearers from petite to larger body types (waistband adjusts 26-52″, shoulder straps 28” to 48”).

★ Thoughtful design: Easy breastfeeding & UPF 50+, tuck away baby hood for sun and wind protection; machine washable.

In summary, these are the 9 most important items you will need to purchase before your twins are born. While there are many other smaller items, you will find useful, these are the essential items any new parent of twins will need.

Comment below and let us know what you think of this list.

The post 9 Must-have Items for Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for your twins and ensure that you will be successful at breastfeeding them.

You CAN Breastfeed Your Twins

When I was pregnant with my twins, friends and even nurses would take one look at my breasts and my small physique and say, “There is no way your little body will be able to make enough milk to feed twins! You should stock up on formula now!”

I felt defeated before I had even begun.

However, I was determined to master breastfeeding twins and so I decided to learn everything I could about breastfeeding and get a plan in place for the day my boys arrived.

I am pleased to say my little 130lb body (when pregnant) gave birth to two healthy little boys and I breastfed them for 20 months.

The reason I was so successful was in large part to these 10 tips. While many well-meaning people will complicate breastfeeding, it is a very innate, natural action and one you can expect to quickly learn and feel comfortable with.

1. Use a Breastfeeding Pillow Designed for Feeding Twins.

My Brest Friend Supportive Nursing Pillow For Twins 0-12 Months, Plus-Size was the most helpful tool of all. It is soft and provides plenty of room for both babies. The strap is also awesome, as it keeps the pillow in place while you move your twins around and help them latch on correctly.

Colors: Light Green (Pictured), Dark Grey, Light Grey, Fireworks, and Black and White

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $58.04- $67.99

Amazon Rating:

2. Wear Easy Access Nursing Tops and Nursing Bras.

In the beginning, you will find soft, comfortable 2-in-1 nursing tops with built-in bras to be extremely useful. While you are learning how to breastfeed your twins and your twins are feeding to often, you will find yourself constantly needing to expose your breast to feed. These tops also make it simple to breastfeed both twins at the same time.

Caramel Cantina 3 Pack Women’s Nursing Cami Built in Bra is a great 2-in-1 soft tank top and nursing bra. You can wear it by itself or under another loose top. It comes in many sizes and colors, thus matching everything. You will want to buy at least a few packs of these because in the beginning, milk will leak and babies will spit up on you.

Colors: Black, White and Charcoal (3 Pack), Navy, Burgundy and Teal (3 Pack), Black (3 Pack)

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $36.99 (Pack of three)

Amazon Rating:

Having plenty of comfortable nursing bras is also important. When your milk supply is first coming in and your twins are learning how to breastfeed, it will messy. You will find yourself often needing to change your bra. You will also need to wear a bra all the time in the beginning because your breasts will leak milk.

Therefore, you will want to have comfortable bras you can wear all day and night.

The 3 PACK Full Bust Seamless Nursing Maternity Bras with Extenders & Clips is the perfect nursing bra bundle.

We recommend you buy at least three of these packs to get started. The extender will be great right after you give birth before you lose your pregnancy and while your milk supply is adjusting. The clips allow you to connect the two straps in the back to hide them when wear tank tops or other sleeveless shirts.

Colors: Black, Pink & Nude (3 Pack), Nude (3 Pack), Black (3 Pack), Black, Grey & Nude (3 Pack)

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $36.99 (Pack of three)

Amazon Rating:

3. Have Plenty of Breast Pads and Nipple Cream on Hand.

When your milk first comes in and your twins begin breastfeeding twins, your body may make more milk than your twins will need. Often, mother’s of twins find their breasts leak a lot in the beginning.

Breastpads will absorb the leaking milk and keep wet stains from appearing on your clothing.

There are two main types of breast pads new mothers can choose between: disposable and reusable.

Disposable breast pads are intended for one time use. Reusable breast pads can be washed and reused.

Lansinoh Nursing Pads, 4 Packs of 60 (240 count) Stay Dry Disposable Breast Pads are by far the most well-known and most absorbent breast pads. We suggest you buy them in bulk because you will use quite a few during the first few months.

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $28.48

Amazon Rating:

If reusable breast pads seem to be your preferred choice, the Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads (14 Pack)+Laundry Bag & Travel Bag bundle is a great choice. Reusable breast pads will end up saving you a lot of money, but you must be willing to do some extra laundry.

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $12.99

Amazon Rating:

When you and your twin babies are first learning to breastfeed, the babies often do not latch properly. This can cause you nipples to become sore and sometimes cracked. By keeping your nipples lubricated with a good nipple cream, they will heal more quickly and help you and your twins quickly experience the joys of nursing.

We have found Motherlove Nipple Cream Certified Organic Salve for Sore Cracked Nursing Nipples to be the best and safest on the market. It is 100% organic and cruelty-free in their testing practices. It is all natural and doesn’t need to be washed off before breastfeeding.

Lowest Price: Amazon.com

Price: $10.40

Amazon Rating:

4. Use a Quality Breast Pump

One of the items moms of twins should invest in is a hospital grade breast pump. Even if you are not planning on bottle feeding your twins in the beginning, a breast pump may be needed if one of your twins needs to stay in the hospital after birth or if you want to increase your milk supply.

The Medela Pump in Style Advanced Double Electric Breast Pump with On the Go Tote is an awesome all-in-one system. Medela is the most well-known and recommended brand on the market. All of their products come with a lifetime warranty and their service department is excellent.

While the bag this breast pump comes with may not be your first choice, this bundle is a great deal and has everything you will need to immediately begin pumping.

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5. Meet with a Lactation Consultant as Soon as Your Twins are Born.

As soon as your twins are born, you will be moved into a postpartum room. That is when you should immediately ask to see a Lactation Consultant.

The Lactation Consultant will help you learn how to hold each twin, get them to open their mouths wide and latch properly. By getting this teaching during your very first feeding, you will save yourself from pain and frustration. While you may feel extremely excited about breastfeeding your new babies, we highly recommend, you wait for the Lactation Consultant.

Generally, as a mother of twins, she will try to come see you as soon as you arrive in your room. She will sit with you and warmly walk you through the process of breastfeeding your twins.

Throughout your stay, we suggest you ask the Lactation Consultant to periodically observe you while you breastfeed each of your twins.

During the first days, be patient with yourself and your babies as you all learn together.

Before leaving the hospital, the Lactation Consultant should provide you with the number to a consultant in your area. You can also look up Lactation Consultants in your area here.

6. Master Breastfeeding One Twin at a Time.

When you are first learning how to breastfeed your twins, we recommend you feed them one at a time until they are both latching on correctly. This usually takes 4 or five days.

The Lactation Consultant will help you know when you are ready to begin feeding your twins at the same time. While you may feel motivated to quickly begin feeding them together, it will be much easier if you take your time and focus on each individual twin first. You will have many amazing months of feeding them at the same time.

6. Learn to Breastfeed Your Twins Together.

As soon as you feel comfortable feeding each of them individually, it is time to learn how to breastfeed them at the same time. This might seem difficult at first, but it will save you hours each day while your twins are eating every few hours.

When your twins are first born, they will sleep often and very soundly. In order to get them on the same schedule, we let the first twin to awaken determine when to feed them both.

When one twin wakes up hungry, gently wake the other one as well. It may be difficult at first to get the second one to wake up, but once they are both awake, offering them each a breast. Almost always, they will both feed.

If you continue to wake the second twin up when the first one is hungry, you will quickly get your twins on the same schedule. It will be an amazing feeling when this process begins to become easy. You will get more sleep and your breasts will both be emptied at the same time.

As your twins get older and begin to develop head control, breastfeeding them becomes even easier. The early days of breastfeeding are the hardest, but going slowly and taking the time to use proper techniques and practices will benefit you immensely in the future.

7. Drink Lots of Water to Maintain Your Milk Supply.

Breast milk is composed of 90% water.

During birth and for days after giving birth, your body will lose a lot of blood. Blood is composed mostly of water. Therefore, you will likely be extremely dehydrated.

One of the biggest factors that will affect your milk supply in the early days is your water intake. This is a crucial time as your body is figuring out how much milk to make for your twins. If you are severely dehydrated in the early days, your body will not establish the correct amount of milk supply.

You will probably notice that soon after you begin nursing your little one you will become thirsty. The oxytocin that your body releases during breastfeeding is responsible for triggering your thirst. This is your body’s natural way of ensuring that you are getting enough water to make breast milk.

As soon as you can, begin re hydrating your body. This can easily be done simply with water. During breastfeeding one baby, you should drink an extra quart, or 32 ounces, per day.

When breastfeeding twins, you should drink an additional 64 ounces of water each day.

In the early days, breastfeeding can take a long time. It will be hard for you to get up to get yourself water during long stretches of time. Always have a glass or a bottle within arms reach so you don’t have to sit there thirsty until everyone is done nursing.

8. Take Natural Supplements if You need to Increase Your Milk Supply.

Milky Way Natural Breastfeeding Supplement for Lactation Support is formulated to help the body naturally increase your milk supply. Their advanced formula contains super-effective herbs, such as fenugreek, alfalfa, fennel, nettle, milk thistle and more. of all the natural supplements intended to increase milk supply, this has the most complete blend.

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Another excellent way to increase your milk supply is by drinking tea specially formulated to help your body make more milk. Pink Stork Lactation: Smooth Vanilla Nursing Support Tea -Organic Loose Leaf Tea is a delicious choice that tastes great hot or cold.

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In summary, breastfeeding twins will be one of the most rewarding and bonding experiences of your life. While you await the arrival of your babies, you may begin to feel worried that you will not be able to breastfeed them. That is normal.

The 8 tips I have outlined above will help you to prepare for your twins and begin breastfeeding them with confidence from the very beginning.

By purchasing the items above and preparing to immediately reach out to the lactation consultant in your hospital, you will begin the journey of breastfeeding your twins with confidence.

The post 8 Simple Tips for Successfully Breastfeeding Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Multiple multiples? Where do you even start to count your blessings?

At the best of times, parenting is a challenge. Add several sets of children all going through the “terrible twos,” the “ferocious fours” or the troubled teenage years at the same time, and the thought is often enough to make someone go a bit crazy. Where do you find the strength and energy? What kind of support is available? How does your marriage survive when it seems that life is focussed on the children? How do you have a normal life, and what does a “normal” life even look like?

We sat down with two families in Canada’s Golden Horseshoe to discuss parenting multiple sets of twins, to learn what their lives are like, what unique challenges they deal with every day, and what advice would they give to other parents in the same parenting boat.

Multiples often run in families so news of expecting twins is not that surprising for some families. For Kim Tait of Oakville, the news that she was expecting a second set of twins wasn’t as surprising or shocking as you might think. She says, “I just knew. I think your brain prepares you for this type of shocking information. We weren’t trying for more kids, so when I got pregnant again, I knew it was (twins) and wasn’t surprised when they told me.” For Lyndsay Petican of Burlington, the news was taken pragmatically. “We were like yes, this is what we do! We make twins. We already had the infrastructure, like car seats, cribs, and highchairs,” she explains.

We asked both families what they did differently with each set, or wish they had. For the Taits, they agree they became smarter the second time around. “With the first set we both tried to be up all the time to feed them; we realized with the second set that it’s impossible. So, we split the night up, doing shift work. My husband liked staying up late so as soon as my older daughter went to bed, I’d go to bed and wake up at 4 a.m. and start my day then. The babies would eat around 2-3 a.m. and then again around 5-6am. Feeding two crying babies in the middle of the night on no sleep is no party, but we found a system and stuck with it. It became easier with time.” For Lyndsay she explains that she definitely has a different viewpoint on parenthood, perhaps as any second time parent might. She tries to remember that “everything is a stage, and where newborn twins is really hard, it too is just a phase.”

As her kids started school, Lyndsay is learning from her actions with her older girls. She kept her daughters together until grade one, and then had them separated in school, as they began wanting their own friends and experiences. She’s been thinking of separating her sons earlier so they can grow more independent.

If there’s any advice either family would have liked to have in advance of having their second set of twins, it would be, according to Lyndsay, to “just be kind to yourself, try not to fixate on what you can’t do, and enjoy the things that you can. It is really hard at the beginning but it pays off in dividends doubly later.” For Kim, she said knowing what to expect probably made things a bit worse. “I knew it was going to be insane, and it was. We had four little boys in diapers at the same time.”

Many couples struggle with maintaining the romance in their marriage once kids come along. We wondered if having not just one, but two sets of children, and maybe even a singleton or two in addition, changes this part of their relationship dramatically? Or, does it strengthen a marriage in ways other couples might not understand? According to Lyndsay Petican, “My husband and I work as a great team… we have to. We try to get alone time where we can by grabbing a breakfast date or a quiet cup of coffee before all the kids awaken. We found it was easier when I was working to meet for breakfast rather than going out for dinner. We had a lot of our date nights by just making dinner and hanging out. Once every couple of months we go out for dinner and every year we have a kid-free vacation to Vegas or Nashville to relax.”

Kim’s experience is a bit different. “I would be lying if I said it didn’t have an impact on our marriage; this is hard. We are both working full-time, I commute an hour and all the kids have activities, so we are running in different directions all the time. Our kids are still young, so they need us for a lot of things; for now, we divide and conquer and at the end of the day we are exhausted and start all over again the next day. We don’t have a lot of time to just sit and talk, but as they say, this is a season of life, it’s constantly evolving and changing. Date nights are a challenge too. They get expensive quickly as we tend to have to hire two people to watch the kids. Add dinner and a movie and the cost adds up. So we don’t get to do it much unfortunately.”

Self-care is an aspect of life that is challenging for all parents, but even more for parents of multiples. Lindsay says her children’s nap time is very important to her, she tries to work out during one of the nap times, and online shopping has become very important to her, in order to keep her sense of self sometimes.

Support from family and the community is also invaluable as parents of multiples sometimes feel isolated because they can’t find time for themselves or time to leave the house to run errands or take part in recreational programs with all their children. Both women agree that without either a nanny or family members to help out, life would most definitely be more challenging. Lyndsay explains that with her first set of twins she “hung around singleton moms and felt very sad about the activities that I didn’t feel I could manage on my own (i.e., swimming, hikes). I spent a good bit of time grieving the maternity leave that I thought I would have. On my second mat leave with my boy twins I hung out with a lot of twin mamas; we mostly hung out at other people’s houses to keep all of our kids contained and less stress-free.” For her own well-being, and so an outing wouldn’t end up in tears (either the children’s or her own) she stopped signing up for programs that she knew were going to be unsuccessful for their family dynamic. Lyndsay also had support from her Mother-in-Law who would watch the boys to allow her to leave the house by herself and run errands. That was a much-needed break.

For the Taits, who have no immediate family nearby and have full-time jobs that often require travel, a nanny was the only way they could survive. When the nanny wasn’t available or one of the parents was out of town, their kids became used to doing their homework at a sports arena while the other siblings had a hockey practice. “We just drag them all along,” she explains.

We wanted to know if there exists any extra government of community support for parents with multiples. Lyndsay explains that she joined a twin mom group and they were a great support during maternity leave. “Maternity leave with twins is not relaxing, a longer maternity leave of two years would’ve really been great as you only received one year (when I was on mat leave).” She recently began volunteering with the Halton Breastfeeding Connection to support new moms and new twin moms with breastfeeding. It’s her way of giving back. For Kim, she wishes there had been more financial support when they had to have two nannies. “There is a maximum we can deduct for childcare on our taxes; we have definitely exceeded that each year. I wish there was flexibility there!” They have, however, found some support with rEcess Oakville, a respite program that offers free care to children with disabilities and their siblings while their parents enjoy a night out once a month.

For all the joys that multiple multiples bring, there are of course, emotional challenges. As might be expected, for both women, finding individual time to spend with each child is difficult but much-needed. For Kim, who has an older singleton daughter, she especially tries to spend some alone time with her because she knows her daughter needs that alone time the most. Both women agree that finding quality one-on-one time with each child is what they have the most mom guilt about.

Every parent wishes they could bond equally with their kids. For parents of multiples, it can seem like a daunting or impossible pipe dream. Lyndsay’s advice to new parents of multiple multiples is “be kind to yourself. Some days one child is needier than the other and then the next day it changes. It will not always be fair and equal, but you try to do the best for those kids and their own temperaments.” For Kim, her family has its own challenges, as her two youngest twins both have special needs, so she realizes she must spend more time with them. Her son Zackery is on the autism spectrum and she expresses, “he has definitely taught me so much about humans in general. I thought I knew how to parent, but boy has he challenged me in absolutely every way. There are days where all our focus is on him. His twin has moderate to severe ADHD, so he is always very busy. I make a point of spending time with my daughter alone, but I know this is a constant challenge and I’m very aware of it.”

Aside from bonding and finding time for each child, what seems to be the biggest challenge of having multiple multiples? “The price of daycare for multiples is crippling,” says Lyndsay. It can be as much as a second mortgage. Kim explains for them, it’s time management and not having a big safety net. That frustration of the unknown from day to day, makes this really hard sometimes. It especially hits home when there are health emergencies and everything seems so overwhelming.

We wondered how their families are coping with the isolation and quarantine of Covid-19? Lyndsay admits, “So much togetherness time has the increased the sibling fighting. My kids are happiest when we go out on adventures, but with limited adventures and limited contact with friends, especially for my 10-year-olds, this has been especially difficult. But in many ways, it has been easier too. Lindsay explains, “Our mornings are way less hectic. We let the girls sleep in. We don’t have to rush to make lunches. My husband has been home to help a lot more as he hasn’t been travelling for work.” And Kim agrees, “I think there is where big families shine. I can kick them out into the backyard, and they all play together and can entertain themselves (and each other). I think having a single child might be harder than five!”

In conclusion, the greatest joy for both families is seeing how all their children interact and love each other. For Kim, who herself is an only child, she didn’t understand the dynamics of siblings before she had children. “Watching the five of them interact is fascinating to me. I love just sitting back and watching them work through something together without us intervening. My daughter being the oldest, tends to take charge and all four boys listen to her lead. I think she will benefit from this role in her own life. And certainly, for the kids to have each other once we are gone is reassuring.”

For parents of multiple multiples, life is definitely busy, crazy, fun, exhausting and so much more. It’s parenting, multiplied. It’s also blessings, multiplied.

The post Double Double – life with two sets of twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

Breastfeeding twins is an incredible way to ensure your twins health and can be done.

There it was again–another look of disbelief. Melinda’s confidence dipped a little lower with each look or thoughtless remark: “You’re not going to nurse twins, are you?” or “You’ll have your hands full enough without nursing.” Already exhausted from a lack of sleep–it was hard to get comfortable at night–Melinda was especially vulnerable to negative remarks. Melinda’s concerns–sleep and milk–are not unlike those of thousands of other mothers who eventually find nursing twins one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. In the beginning, however, the reality–sleep, milk production, emotions and a dramatic change in lifestyle–can be overwhelming.

“When I was breastfeeding my twins, I felt like I had my shirt off 24 hours a day,” recalled Jean Dosdos, a breastfeeding support volunteer through the West Palm Beach Mothers of Twins Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. “I know how frustrating it can be for new moms of twins, and that’s why I volunteer. I know it’s a tremendous help to have that support and encouragement. Otherwise, new moms would quit trying after two or three weeks.”

The Proper Technique for Breastfeeding Twins

Breastfeding Twins is simply a skill you must learn to do correctly.

As soon as your twins are born, you will want to have a Lactation Consultant come in to your hospital room. She will show you how to properly hold each twin, position his or her mouth around your nipple and latch properly onto your breast.

The first steps to successfully nursing twins are to seek out supportive family, friends and an encouraging Pediatrician; get accurate information; and turn a deaf ear to negative remarks.

Talk to other mothers who are nursing twins a couple of months older than yours. Join a Mothers of Twins club and attend La Leche League meetings before your delivery.

Carol Huotari, accredited La Leche League leader and an international board certified lactation consultant, said that commitment is essential to successfully breastfeeding twins. “A migratory field worker pumped her milk three times a day in the bus and the other workers laughed at her, but her commitment was strong and her twins were the healthy ones who didn’t have ear infections.”

Set Goals to Ensure You Will Be Successful at Breastfeeding Your Twins

“Are you going to nurse exclusively for six months? A working mother may supplement with bottles. Think it through and decide what will work in your life,” Huotari advised. Success is defined differently for every mother.

Be Patient with Yourself While You are Learning How to Breastfeed Your Twins

While still in the hospital, talk to a Lactation Consultant about your goals, concerns and lifestyle.

Ask that she be there when you first nurse and ask for a home visit if you have preemies.

Contact your local Lactation Consultant Organization to schedule home visits.

The Lactation Consultant in the hospital will guide you through the first sessions.

These are the learning times for you and your twins. Your newborn twins are trying to latch on and you are establishing your milk supply.

“With twins in the football hold position, you can really watch what they are doing with their mouth,” Huotari explained. As they grow you may find more comfortable positions.

Preemies may take a little longer to latch on since their sucking instinct may not be fully developed. In that case, you may need to pump your breasts to get the milk flowing.

You Will Have Enough Milk to Breastfeed Your Twins

When your twins latch on well and nurse effectively, your milk supply will quickly build.

It is a case of demand and supply. The greater the demand, the more milk you supply. Expect to nurse your newborn twins about 10 to 12 times in a 24-hour period.

Until your twins learn to latch on, it may be a good idea to nurse them one at a time.

“It really helps mothers to individualize their twins and see who’s who. Each baby has a different nursing style,” Huotari said.

Know Which Twin Nursed When and on Which Breast

Whether you continue to nurse them individually or simultaneously, you do it you need to be organized about it. Keeping track of who nursed first and at which breast helps you know how they are feeding.

Each of the twins might have different appetite and sucking behavior.

Therefore, alternate which twin feeds from each breast with every feeding. A great way to remember which twin fed from each breast is to wear a simple bracelet or hairtie on your wrist. Assign the hairtie to Twin A. After you have completed breastfeeding your twins, move the hairtie to the other wrist. This will tell you that Twin A should feed from that breast during the next feeding.

“I breastfed my 30-month-old triplets, Sammy, Hope and Emma. One of the three is still breastfeeding, one weaned at 13 months, the other at 24 months,” said Sheri Ingalls of Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“To keep my milk supply up, I nursed the babies on demand through the night. It also alleviated some of my concern over the babies getting enough to eat. During the day, the babies had to be on a schedule so that I could ensure that each one had the opportunity to be first–which was the easiest let-down–and last, which was the longest time on Mommy. If I allowed them to nurse on demand all the time, Hope would have nursed all day and left the smaller ones with nothing.”

Sleep When Your Twins Sleep

Allison Berryhill of Atlantic, Iowa, found nighttime nursing to be a way of life during her twin boys’ most milk-dependent months. “With newborns, I reclined in a pillow-piled Lay-Z-Boy, each boy to a breast, attached for the night. I did not get long, uninterrupted hours of slumber, but I was no more sleep-deprived than during the final months of pregnancy when few positions were comfortable.”

Sleep becomes the top priority–after establishing your milk supply and feeding your twins.

The rule for mothers of twins is sleep when your twins sleep.

You’ll get more rest if you can learn to nurse lying down in bed and if you set up a comfortable “nursing station” for the days.

Whether it is a Lay-Z-Boy or a comfortable sofa, you need room to prop plenty of pillows and a footstool for your feet. On a table within easy reach have a telephone, diapers, a notepad for jotting down who nursed first and where, and a snack and a beverage.

A well-arranged nursing station means you won’t have to hop up once you’re settled and you will be more rested.

You Must Take Care of Yourself Before You Can Care for Your Twins

If you become fatigued your ability to keep a positive outlook while coping with the ups and downs of nursing twins diminishes.

You must take care of yourself first.

That means sleeping as much as possible, eating right and drinking plenty of fluids each day.

The number one piece of advice new mothers of twins offer expectant mothers is to get help with the household chores and cooking.

But housework may have to wait. Cooking is something others do for you.

Only you can nurse your twins.

Sleep deprivation and neglecting your basic care just opens the door to depression.

About 10% of women have postpartum depression the first year, but with mothers of twins the figure jumps to 25%, according to Huotari. When you are home and alone with your babies, you can quickly feel isolated and overwhelmed.

Be sure you have a friend to talk with, one who understands the special demands of multiples.

Don’t Give Up

Regardless of how much support you have and how well you prepare mentally, the reality of your new job can be an emotional seesaw and the adjustment definitely takes time.

Huotari offered some sage advice: If you feel like giving up, stick with what you’re doing for three days and then see how you feel. Remember, tens of thousands of nursing mothers say joy does come out of the early chaos.

Sheri summed up: “Don’t listen to other people, not even doctors, when they tell you it can’t be done. You can make enough milk. You can get some sleep. You can have a life! Don’t give up if it’s tough at first, because after your babies are bigger and getting more milk in a shorter period of time, it’s a breeze.”

BREASTFEEDING FAQs

How can I tell if my twins are nursing effectively?

Most newborns breastfeed 10 to 12 times per 24-hour period. They nurse for 15 to 30 minutes at a feeding and swallow after every one or two sucks. A baby who is having difficulty getting enough to eat will not latch on properly, may want to nurse inordinately long and will not swallow often.

How do I know if my babies are getting enough to eat?

After the first couple of days, they saturate six to eight diapers per day and have from three to five bowel movements.

With multiples, it is helpful to keep notes on who nursed at which breast, for how long, and the number of wet and soiled diapers. An electronic scale help your confidence.

Once your milk and their weight gain are established, tracking the nursing schedules and diapers is not essential.

Why are my twins suddenly starving all day and night?

Growth spurts occur periodically; the first may come as early as 10 to 14 days after birth. The next one may surface around four to six weeks and another one around three months.

Prop your feet up and nurse, nurse, nurse on demand. Your milk supply will quickly catch up with your twins’ needs. If, however, you respond with supplemental bottles, your milk supply may not increase to meet the rising demand.

Can I nurse my preemies in the NICU?

Babies develop the ability to swallow when they are 11 to 16 weeks in utero.

The ability to suck follows a few weeks later. The ability to coordinate both actions and breathing comes later still. If your babies are very low birth weight, you may have to express your breast.

Expect to pump for a total of 100 to 120 minutes a day. The NICU will watch for signs that your preemies are ready for nutritive sucking.

The post Breastfeeding Twins: It Can Be Done! appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

“When I was breastfeeding my twins, I felt like I had my shirt off 24 hours a day,” recalled Jean Dosdos, a breastfeeding support volunteer through the West Palm Beach Mothers of Twins Club in West Palm Beach, Fla. “I know how frustrating it can be for new moms of twins, and that’s why I volunteer. I know it’s a tremendous help to have that support and encouragement. Otherwise, new moms would quit trying after two or three weeks.”

Find support
The first steps to successfully nursing twins are to seek out supportive family, friends and an encouraging pediatrician; get accurate information; and turn a deaf ear to negative remarks. Talk to other mothers who are nursing twins a couple of months older than yours. Join a Mothers of Twins club and attend La Leche League meetings before your delivery. A lactation consultant can administer a healthy dose of facts and the wisdom of experience.

Carol Huotari, accredited La Leche League leader and an international board certified lactation consultant, said that commitment is essential to successfully breastfeeding twins. “A migratory field worker pumped her milk three times a day in the bus and the other workers laughed at her, but her commitment was strong and her twins were the healthy ones who didn’t have ear infections.”

Set goals
Knowing your goals is part of the commitment. “Are you going to nurse exclusively for six months? A working mother may supplement with bottles. Think it through and decide what will work in your life,” Huotari advised. Success is defined differently for every mother.

It takes time to learn
While still in the hospital, talk to your lactation consultant about your goals, concerns and lifestyle. Ask that she be there when you first nurse and ask for a home visit if you have preemies. She will guide you through the first sessions; they are the learning times for you and your babies. Your newborns are trying to latch on and you are establishing your milk supply. “With twins in the football hold position, you can really watch what they are doing with their mouth,” Huotari explained. As they grow you may find more comfortable positions.

Preemies may take a little longer to latch on since their sucking instinct may not be fully developed. In that case, you may need to pump your breasts to get the milk flowing.

You will have milk
When your twins latch on well and nurse effectively, your milk supply will quickly build. It is a case of demand and supply. The greater the demand, the more milk you supply. Expect to nurse your newborn twins about 10 to 12 times in a 24-hour period.

Until your twins learn to latch on, it may be a good idea to nurse them one at a time. “It really helps mothers to individualize their twins and see who’s who. Each baby has a different nursing style,” Huotari said.

Know who nurses when and where
Whether you continue to nurse them individually or simultaneously, you do it you need to be organized about it. Keeping track of who nursed first and at which breast helps you know how they are feeding.

“I breastfed my 30-month-old triplets, Sammy, Hope and Emma. One of the three is still breastfeeding, one weaned at 13 months, the other at 24 months,” said Sheri Ingalls of Port St. Lucie, Fla. “To keep my milk supply up, I nursed the babies on demand through the night. It also alleviated some of my concerns over the babies getting enough to eat. During the day, the babies had to be on a schedule so that I could ensure that each one had the opportunity to be first–which was the easiest let-down–and last, which was the longest time on Mommy. If I allowed them to nurse on demand all the time, Hope would have nursed all day and left the smaller ones with nothing.”

Sleep when your twins sleep
Allison Berryhill of Atlantic, Iowa, found nighttime nursing to be a way of life during her twin boys’ most milk-dependent months. “With newborns, I reclined in a pillow-piled Lay-Z-Boy, each boy to a breast, attached for the night. I did not get long, uninterrupted hours of slumber, but I was no more sleep-deprived than during the final months of pregnancy when few positions were comfortable.”

Sleep becomes the top priority–after establishing your milk supply and feeding your twins. The rule for mothers of twins is to sleep when your twins sleep.

You’ll get more rest if you can learn to nurse lying down in bed and if you set up a comfortable “nursing station” for the days. Whether it is a Lay-Z-Boy or a comfortable sofa, you need room to prop plenty of pillows and a footstool for your feet. On a table within easy reach have a telephone, diapers, a notepad for jotting down who nursed first and where, and a snack and a beverage. A well-arranged nursing station means you won’t have to hop up once you’re settled and you will be more rested.

Nurture yourself
If you become fatigued your ability to keep a positive outlook while coping with the ups and downs of nursing twins diminishes. You must take care of yourself. That means sleeping as much as possible, eating right, and drinking quarts of fluids each day.

The number one piece of advice new mothers of twins offer expectant mothers is to get help with the household chores and cooking.

But housework may have to wait. Cooking is something others do for you. Only you can nurse your twins.

Sleep deprivation and neglecting your basic care just opens the door to depression. About 10% of women have postpartum depression the first year, but with mothers of twins the figure jumps to 25%, according to Huotari. When you are home and alone with your babies, you can quickly feel isolated and overwhelmed. Be sure you have a friend to talk with, one who understands the special demands of multiples.

Don’t give up
Regardless of how much support you have and how well you prepare mentally, the reality of your new job can be an emotional seesaw and the adjustment definitely takes time. Huotari offered some sage advice: If you feel like giving up, stick with what you’re doing for three days and then see how you feel. Remember, tens of thousands of nursing mothers say joy does come out of the early chaos.

Sheri summed up: “Don’t listen to other people, not even doctors when they tell you it can’t be done. You can make enough milk. You can get some sleep. You can have a life! Don’t give up if it’s tough at first, because after your babies are bigger and getting more milk in a shorter period of time, it’s a breeze.”

BREASTFEEDING FAQs
How can I tell if my twins are nursing effectively?
Most newborns breastfeed 10 to 12 times per 24-hour period. They nurse for 15 to 30 minutes at a feeding and swallow after every one or two sucks. A baby who is having difficulty getting enough to eat will not latch on properly may want to nurse inordinately long and will not swallow often.

How do I know if my babies are getting enough to eat?
After the first couple of days, they saturate six to eight diapers per day and have from three to five bowel movements. With multiples, it is helpful to keep notes on who nursed at which breast, for how long, and the number of wet and soiled diapers. An electronic scale helps your confidence. Once your milk and their weight gain are established, tracking the nursing schedules and diapers is not essential.

Why are my twins suddenly starving all day and night?
Growth spurts occur periodically; the first may come as early as 10 to 14 days after birth. The next one may surface around four to six weeks and another one around three months. Prop your feet up and nurse, nurse, nurse on demand. Your milk supply will quickly catch up with your twins’ needs. If, however, you respond with supplemental bottles, your milk supply may not increase to meet the rising demand.

Can I nurse my preemies in the NICU?
Babies develop the ability to swallow when they are 11 to 16 weeks in utero. The ability to suck follows a few weeks later. The ability to coordinate both actions and breathing comes later still. If your babies are very low birth weight, you may have to express your breast. Expect to pump for a total of 100 to 120 minutes a day. The NICU will watch for signs that your preemies are ready for nutritive sucking.

The post How to Succeed in Nursing Multiples appeared first on TWINS Magazine.

I was almost 30 years old and resigned to the fact I would never have children. Suddenly I learned I was having identical twins. My husband, a fraternal twin himself, was less surprised, knowing the genetic lottery we were playing.

What we didn’t know …

• Identical twins aren’t hereditary—our girls were just a stroke of luck.

• How sick I would get.

• How big I would become.

• How many diapers we would need.

And on and on. What we didn’t know could fill a bassinet.

What we did know … is that we were very unprepared.

Normally, I am very organized, in my career and my personal life. I’m uncomfortable being disorganized. Even worse, I hate being caught off-guard. Once I regained my senses after “twinshock” and came to embrace the idea I was having two babies, I set out to prepare myself for the journey of a lifetime. But it was very difficult to find what I needed.

I was given books upon books on how to have a baby—one baby, that is. I received countless suggestions and ideas for having a baby—one baby, of course. But where was the advice and hands-on experience for moms preparing to have twins? I spent eight months searching fruitlessly. What I found was eye-opening.

Get Ready To Be Sick

Morning sickness—whether it occurs morning, afternoon, or at night—will be part of your life. With twins, it’s worse than when pregnant with a singleton. A few lucky souls manage to escape twin-nausea, but for most, it is a part of the pregnancy. Morning sickness doesn’t always include vomiting. For me, morning sickness meant constant nausea for three months—24/7. Foods I had once loved, like canned green beans, I couldn’t even bear the sight of.

Allergies, whether chronic or seasonal, are likely to be greatly magnified as well. I was unfortunate enough to be pregnant during the summer and fall. I carried a whole tissue box in my purse at all times. Some mornings I couldn’t even open my eyes. Yes, this is normal.

It Happens So Fast

Avoid reading books about singleton pregnancies. They will only confuse you and make you worry needlessly. In a multiples-pregnancy, things progress much quicker. If you read in a book you should be feeling ligament stretching at 20 weeks, and you’re feeling it at 12 weeks, you’ll more than likely become upset and wonder if something is wrong. Books fail to mention that in a multiples-pregnancy, feeling ligament stretching at 12 weeks is completely normal.

Be Prepared Early

I felt like the worst mother ever when my hospital nurse asked me for the name of my pediatrician, and I responded with a blank stare. “You did pick out a pediatrician didn’t you?” she glared. Well, no, I shook my head. I delivered at 35 weeks and finding a pediatrician had slipped my mind. I felt awful.

A good rule of thumb: Have everything accomplished by 30 weeks. That helps ensure you will be prepared and allows for relaxation during your last weeks of pregnancy. Believe me, you’ll need it and will be thankful for the downtime.

So what is included in that elusive “everything” you should do? The basics:

• Purchase or collect enough clothing for two babies’ first few weeks.

• Have enough bottles, diapers, and formula (if not breastfeeding) for two babies’ first few weeks.

• Decide where the babies are going to sleep and if they will sleep together.

• Line up helpers to be on-call during your first few days at home.

• Select a pediatrician.

Ask for Help

As a self-proclaimed independent woman, I had the hardest time asking for help. I had no idea how much help I would need. Having my mother, mother-in-law and stepmother on hand to help with chores like laundry, dishes, and some light housecleaning was the best gift they could have given me. Chances are you won’t sleep much at night, so having someone available to fill in so you can sneak catnaps during the day is the best way to maintain your sanity.

In today’s society, many women return to work fairly soon after having children. This is especially difficult for moms of multiples, given sky-high childcare expenses and double the “getting ready” time required each day at 7 a.m. I was very clear with my husband about our ground rules from the start: Since we both work full-time, we will co-parent with equal responsibility. Gone are the days when a man wouldn’t change a diaper.

Find Friends

An invaluable resource while pregnant with twins, and one I will continue to use through my babies’ first year is online communities. Wonderful support is available from people going through the same thing you are, at the same time. TWINS Magazine has a variety of articles for families with twins and higher multiples, from pregnancy through the kids’ teen years. Another wonderfully informative site is Pregnancy.org. These sites contain invaluable advice, wonderful friends, and when you need it (which you will), shoulders to cry on.

It Really Isn’t That Bad!

My husband still complains about the reactions he receives when he tells people we have twins. Most people respond with something like a moan and a quip: “Oh, just wait!” or “Double the trouble!”

Yet, having twins not only is not as bad as you think it’ll be but is actually better than you ever imagined. Some benefits of having twins include:

• One pregnancy, instant family. If you never want to have kids again, you already have an instant family!

• Two kids, same age. I pity my friends who have one child finally entering school, only to find themselves pregnant again. Now they must again find childcare again, endure the nightmare of getting a baby to sleep through the night, and experience it all while raising another child.

• Their own best friends. When I put my girls down in their crib at night, if one is still awake, she never cries. Why? Because her sister is lying alongside her. They are never alone. This means more free time for mom since they amuse one another.

Having twins doesn’t have to be scary. Support and reference material is out there if you know where to look. You may feel overwhelmed at first at the prospect of having two babies at the same time, but take solace in the fact that twin pregnancies are more common now. And with numbers on the rise, you benefit from having more people available with more knowledge, more resources, and more support.

I never knew, beforehand, the love I would feel when I see my daughters’ two heads pressed up against one another as I dim the nursery light. I know now I’ve given my children more than life itself; I’ve also given them a best friend.

The post What I Wish I Had Known While Pregnant With Twins appeared first on TWINS Magazine.