Im gutted but I just dont think I can do this :-(

From 5pm - 9am I am feeding one baby while the other one screams. I have tried feeding them together but they cant stay latched on themselves so one falls off while im trying to latch the other one on and its practically impossible.

I was so desperate to bf them both and I would love 30 mins in between feeds as it seems people with one baby get in other posts but my 30 mins is spent feeding the other baby.

I cant cope with the screaming anymore and end up joining them in tears myself.

Ive managed 3 1/2 weeks and think im going to give them until Monday (4 weeks) and if it doesnt calm down I think I may have to resort to ff them.

Gemma, Ryan and Alfie (24 days)

Wow i think you have done so well. I have found it very hard feeding one baby so for you to have nearly managed 4 weeks feeding 2 you should be very proud of yourself. My LO is now 16 weeks old and since 6 weeks things have been much better.

I used to nanny for twins and their mother used to mix feed them both. So one baby would be breastfed and the other ff then the next feed they would swap over. Could this be an option for you if you are really keen to continue? You could just do this overnight perhaps if OH is able to help feed the other one then you would be able to rest between feeds.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do but one think i would say is don't see it as 'giving up' just that you have decided to stop so you have a happy mummy and happy babies!

Katstar xxx

Gemma my hat goes off to you hun as at 3 weeks I wanted to stop and I only have one baby!
I started mixed feeding at 4weeks and honestly, it has given me the break I need to carry on bf'ing which is very handy as I love the night feeds, just scooping her up in bed and not worrying about making up bottles.

Like Katstar said, it's not 'giving up' you need to be calm and happy for your babies and do whatever it takes to be calm and happy!

Lulu
xxx

I think you have done an amazing job!! well done!!
Is there someone who could give one a bottle a couple of times a day while you feed the other? It would be ashame for you to stop totaly (unless you are ready to?) If you could take it in turns each feed they would both be getting the best milk and a happier mummy.
xx

Even your reply had me in tears! Thank you. When they are sleeping I wonder what I find so hard, but when they are both screaming and I dont know who to feed first, its a nightmare.

Thing is, I have surprised myself at how comfortable I have felt feeding them, and I really enjoy it. I would love to get to 6 weeks as this seems to be the magic marker but ive now done 4 sleepless nights and feel awful so not sure I can continue for another 2 weeks.

I may try the mix feed thing if I can get it to work but at the moment they feed totally differently, at different times and for different lengths so would need to factor this in.

Thank you for not preaching to me that I should keep going and it will get better. I know things get better but im not sure how long I can keep this up.

Going to keep it going till Monday anyway as thats 4 weeks. Will see where we go from there.

this has actually really helped me hun as I really want more info on mix feeding, I'm expecting my first and would love to breastfeed if I can but just dont know how I would cope with being the only one who can feed them, You have done amazingly well!

Well done Gemma I don't know how you've done it with one baby its hard enough. I've said since having little one if I had twins i'd ff.
Hope yr getting help inbetween with housework, breaks when they are not feeding, someone making you tea
xxx

You are doing SOOOOOOOOOO well so first of all sit back and congratulate yourself it is blooming hard work!!!

I had so many moments between the boob feeds, expressing to top up as we had to, then topping up with ebm from a bottle then washing the bottles and sterlising and mixing up his gaviscon (when I had time to think I don't know ) but I would think - I should just give this up it's crazy but then each feed got easier and I enjoyed it!! In the end I was damn glad I did not give up in those early weeks and it was very rewarding.

BUT - It is not always possible or for everyone and I have NO IDEA how hard it must be with the 2 of them!!! The only way I got through it was with small goals - like ypou have set yourself for Monday - I always just said in my head I'll see how tomorrow goes. I don't really remember when it got easier but it definitely did!

DO your boys have dummys (can't remember) it might be worht considering if not as they may not necessarily be wanting feeding but just the comfort of mummy and a suck!?

Mixed feeding may well be a good way forward for you if you still enjoy the breastfeeding - as some one else suggested boob one and bottle the other then swop. I don't know how it works but I know that a fair few of my mum friends mixed fed and it worked for all of them.

At the end of the day it is not 'giving up' it is a change of feeding that's all!!!! You are doing great

Hi

you have done fab and as you are finding it natural im gonna write a pro bfeeding post but at end of the day do whatever is right for you.

have you asked m/w lactation specialist to help you with tandem feeding. i think thats the only way forward so that you get some time to yourself.

have you tried the rugby ball postition, even when your feeding one at a time so they get used to it? and what sort of pillow are you using, i found the traditional v shaped rubbish as it didnt give enough support, found the C shaped pillows like the widgey from mothercare much better as it curved around my body. or the E Z to nurse twins pillow is also fab.

regards mixed feeding i was only allowed out of hospital on proviso that the twins had one bottle of ff a day. i gave this to them last feed of the day when i was shattered and i really looked forward to the break, it allowed me to have a rest even if i was the one giving the ff, and gave my boobs a chance to fill for when they woke in the night. but as it was only one feed it didnt affect my milk supply.

If there are any questions i will do my best to answer. for me ff was a faff and created other problems but all that really matters is that you do something that makes you happy.

xx

You are doing SO well hun. I have found bf so demanding enough with just one baby.

I am a twin and my Mum stopped bf us at 4 weeks as she said she just couldn't take anymore. You need to just do what feels right for you. Mixed feeding might be a good half way house though. We tried it for a couple of weeks one bottle in the night) but found Beth fell back to sleep much quicker after bf so have stopped ff now.

One thing I would say is that pretty much every day for the first 6-7 weeks I said that I hated bf and wanted to stop but it honestly, truly has got better now (Beth is 8 weeks on Tues) and I want to try to keep going. 6 weeks was my goal too - now I set myself short term ones (get to end of week, end of weekend, next weight check etc etc) and just see how it goes. I'm hoping by doing this I might make over 3 months (ideally 6) but I'm not going to put too much pressure on myself.

Do what you feel is best. But you need your rest too otherwise your supply may suffer anyway if you're totally exhausted.

x

Gemmiebaby you have done brilliantly to get this far. Any breastmilk is a good start for a LO even just one feed straight after birth so keeping going for 3.5 weeks is absolutely fantastic, especially with two.

The NCT have breastfeeding counsellors in most areas who may be able to help you. You can find out about the your nearest via their enquiries number: 0844 243 6227 Option 1 and they will put you in touch with the nearest one to you. Some of them can be a bit militantly pro breastfeeding though!

There are also several telephones lines offering Breastfeeding Counselling:

NCT Breastfeeding Line on 0300 33 00 771 from 8 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week

La Leche League Call 0845 120 2918, 24 hours, 7 days a week

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers 08444 122 949 from 9.30 am to 10.30 pm every day.

There is also likely to be a breastfeeding group nearby who will be able to help and support you. I wouldn't have continued breastfeeding without mine and I only had one baby!

But whether you decided, breast, mixed or formula just remember you have already given your twins a fantastic start and done really well so don't beat yourself up over your decision. What is right for you will be the best for your twins.

Gem, you are doing fabulously hun! How you have managed to BF 2 I do not know! I understand completely how you feel about giving up BF'ing- I've just done it and I think it is one of the hardest most horrible and guilt ridden decisions I ever had to make!! A couple of girls have mentioned speaking to a BF'ing specialist which is something I tried but could I get hold of someone?? Could I heck! I became completely disillusioned by all the 'pro-BF'ing' talk and realised that if I carried on the way I was going, I was gonna end up resenting Ollie (purely for wanting to eat bless him!) and probably heading towards PND.

The decision you make will be incredibly hard (whatever you decide) BUT it will be for the best whether that's FF or BF'ing and a happy mummy = happy bpys!! xxx

Hey,

Just wanted to say thank you all for your fantastic replies. This post sees me still bf exclusively, although the boys have had one bottle of formula (Thursday night) as I was close to tears and hubby thought it would be best to give me a break.

Things have calmed down a little and I am now getting some sleep. I think I needed to slow down a little and remind myself what my priorities are. I have been doing really well with getting jobs etc done while the boys were asleep but what I found was that I was then very unprepared, through a severe lack of sleep mainly, for the 3 week growth spurt. Im really glad I perservered and, while I dont see myself exclusively bf for any more than 6 months, im glad I still feel able to do it.

My issue at the moment is finding the time and the energy to express. I want the boys to have a regular bottle (maybe 3 a week when hubby is at work late) but I would like it to be breast milk. Im not sure this will always be the case as each baby takes a good 4 - 5oz in a feed and I cant express 10oz and bf at the same time.

They had Aptamil 1 and seemed to take it well so might be the best port of call for 1 or 2 of the bottles.

Your posts have kept me going, as they have on many other occassions in this pregnancy and since the boys have been born, so thank you all very much. It was lovely to read posts from people who understand as many of the midwives ive spoken to dont seem to.

Gemma, Ryan and Alfie (4 weeks tomorrow)

WOW Gemma how do you find the energy never mind the time to do "jobs!" I don't have the energy to do anything and i'm only feeding 1! (or could it be i'm lazy??ermmm??lol) Don't forget you need to rest too!!
If you feed til 6 months you might fine you can carry one because they will be eating soilds by then and only want a couple of feeds a day? But however long you feed for you have done FAB!!
It is ashame how many doc's/ health visitors & midwives don't understand or support breastfeeding :-(
xx

Wow, well done you! Like all the others have said I struggled feeding 1! I hated bf for the first couple of months and don't think it was very good for having a bonding experience as i did end up resenting my LO every time she wanted a feed.
But I set myself little milestones and kept a small carton of formula in the house so that I knew I could always stop if I really wanted to. But after a couple of months I sudenly realised I loved bf and am now still doing it 9 months down the line (it's really easy when they start on solids). I also realised that making up bottles is hard work and is not neccesarily the easy option.
You've done so well already and any decision you make will be the right one.
xx

One of my close friends is a twin Mummy. She mixed feeds them and its suiting them really well. The twinnies are now 5 months old and actually now they are eating food, most of their milk feeds are BFs. I have seen her go through times when they've had more FFs (she was poorly, very poorly, and her milk supply was dreadfully affected) too. I'll be honest, it was a struggle for her - but her determination kept her going and the support and encouragement from all those around her. You could see week by week it was getting easier and easier for her. Sadly she rarely gets the twins to feed at the same time (was easier when they were younger though) and still doesn't have them sleeping through - but they are thriving! Toby is 3 weeks older than the twins and the twins weigh more than Toby and he's solely FF!!!
You have done so so well - but do what's right for you and your babies!
xxxxxxxxxxx