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spooks
So in love!
Member since 6/06 4378 total posts
Name:
Sarah
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Nursing / supplementing
This may sound silly but how do u know when u can stop supplementing? My twins were born at 37 weeks ans about 5 pounds- we have been trying to nurse- with mixed success and have supplemented from start . They r now almost. 6 pounds and my supply is improving although definitely still not where they need it to be . When they nurse more it doesn't hold them very long- maybe bc supply is still low? When do I just try nursing only? I nervous they will lose weight. Now I nurse 10-20 minutes- they pull off then I give formula.
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Posted 10/27/14 9:26 PM  |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Nursing / supplementing
Supplementing will actually hurt your supply. It's normal for little babies to constantly, constantly be on the boob-there were days I nursed dd 17-20 times in a day when she was little. The more you supplement the less milk you will make though. As long as they continue to gain, bm should be more than enough.
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| Posted 10/27/14 9:30 PM |
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MrsT809
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 12167 total posts
Name:
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Nursing / supplementing
Do you have a great LC? I would maybe start there to get some advice on weaning from the supplementing. I don't have experience with supplementing but my best guess would be to slowly decrease the amount in the bottle and try to get them to nurse longer or more frequently. How old are they now? Like PP said, in the beginning it's totally normal for them to not last long after each feeding. Sometime we just went back and forth from one side to the other for what seemed like forever or had what I thought was a good feeding only for her to want to eat again a short time later. It was exhausting but that's ultimately what gets your supply up where you need it. GL!
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| Posted 10/28/14 8:01 AM |
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MrsD121011
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 1460 total posts
Name:
Elicia
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Nursing / supplementing
I nursed and supplemented for the first month. Do you pump at all after nursing?
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| Posted 10/28/14 8:49 AM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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Nursing / supplementing
My dd was born at 37 weeks 6 days so a little early too. I never supplemented. But I used to nurse and then pump to build up my supply. By you unlatching and offering formula you're telling your body okay you only need to make 20m worth of milk. I would leave the baby on the full time. I give you a lot of credit nursing twins!
In those early days I felt like shed nurse for 45m and then I'd shower and get dressed and ready to leave and she'd be ready to nurse again! But I swear to you it gets better!!! The baby (babies) become more efficient suckers and take what they need a lot faster.
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| Posted 10/28/14 9:04 AM |
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MrsD121011
LIF Adult
Member since 5/12 1460 total posts
Name:
Elicia
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Nursing / supplementing
I agree with Leb. Let baby nurse for as long as they want. They will let you know when they are done/full. My DD nursed every hour and a half in the beginning and each nursing session lasted 30-45 min and then there was the comfort nursing! It isnt easy and with twins its double time! I give you credit for doing it! There were days were I felt like DD was on the boob alllllll day! Your body is never truly out of milk. It just slows down. I asked about pumping because I knew when to stop supplementing when I had extra milk in the fridge after nursing her. I realized I was giving formula when I had a whole basket of freshly pumped milk in the fridge. I stopped suplementing and then she was EBF until 7 months when my supply tanked from irregular pumping at work. I went through my freezer stash and started supplementing again. Now I still nurse in morning/night and give formula at the sitters. Do what works for you!
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| Posted 10/28/14 9:31 AM |
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spooks
So in love!
Member since 6/06 4378 total posts
Name:
Sarah
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Thanks- this is all helpful. I do have an LC who has been advising- I didn't ask her this yet. I guess one. Of my issues is I also have. 4.5 year old who makes it hard to pump and or nurse . I do it in front of him- it's not that- it's that all the time then he wants me to play- hard adjustment period.
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| Posted 10/28/14 12:19 PM |
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JSDB
<3
Member since 1/13 1329 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Congrats on your babies! Do you have a hands free pumping bra? It's life changing
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| Posted 10/28/14 8:27 PM |
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Jbon630
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1340 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Posted by evrythng4areason
Supplementing will actually hurt your supply. It's normal for little babies to constantly, constantly be on the boob-there were days I nursed dd 17-20 times in a day when she was little. The more you supplement the less milk you will make though. As long as they continue to gain, bm should be more than enough.
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| Posted 10/28/14 8:37 PM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Posted by spooks
Thanks- this is all helpful. I do have an LC who has been advising- I didn't ask her this yet. I guess one. Of my issues is I also have. 4.5 year old who makes it hard to pump and or nurse . I do it in front of him- it's not that- it's that all the time then he wants me to play- hard adjustment period.
Definitely go out or have DH or family/friend and buy a bunch of little toys or activities that are new and whenever you need a few minutes give him something new to play with. And I mean like stickers and coloring books or magnets.. Whatever he's into!
I am also not above tv, video games, bribery, snacks, whatever it takes!
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| Posted 10/28/14 8:40 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Posted by Leb
Posted by spooks
Thanks- this is all helpful. I do have an LC who has been advising- I didn't ask her this yet. I guess one. Of my issues is I also have. 4.5 year old who makes it hard to pump and or nurse . I do it in front of him- it's not that- it's that all the time then he wants me to play- hard adjustment period.
Definitely go out or have DH or family/friend and buy a bunch of little toys or activities that are new and whenever you need a few minutes give him something new to play with. And I mean like stickers and coloring books or magnets.. Whatever he's into!
I am also not above tv, video games, bribery, snacks, whatever it takes!
ITA. I know it's much harder with twins, but I'd promise my 3.5 year old that once I was done feeding his brother, I'd do something special with him. I also gave him special toys or books at the beginning to keep him occupied.
Also, they're not lasting as long with BM because it's easier to digest. That's why BF babies tend to eat more often than FF ones. The more you nurse/pump, the better your supply will be. I had to supplement for a few days when DS1 was in the NICU, but I stopped once my milk came in and he was gaining weight.
As long as they have enough wet and dirty diapers, you'll be fine. Don't worry too much about them losing weight.
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| Posted 10/30/14 8:33 PM |
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blustar214
So in love with my little girl
Member since 1/10 2471 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Have you spoken to your dr about all of this? My twins are just under two weeks and I am exclusively breast feeding them. My milk came in at the end of day 4. On day 5 they had a second weight check and their weights held steady from day 3. I went in on day 11 and they had each gained 9oz in 5 days so my dr told us we no longer had to wake them every 3 hours to nurse and I could now feed on demand.
I agree with a pp who said the supplementing will only harm your supply. As long as the babies are back to their birthweights and having plenty of wet diapers I would try exclusively nursing them for at least several days.
When you say that when you nurse then it doesn't hold them for long what does that mean exactly? Sometimes my twins want to nurse again only an hour or two after I nursed them the first time, sometimes they can hold off for four hours. I am trying to nurse them frequently during the day and then let then dictate night feeds.
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| Posted 10/31/14 2:34 PM |
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spooks
So in love!
Member since 6/06 4378 total posts
Name:
Sarah
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Posted by blustar214
When you say that when you nurse then it doesn't hold them for long what does that mean exactly? Sometimes my twins want to nurse again only an hour or two after I nursed them the first time, sometimes they can hold off for four hours. I am trying to nurse them frequently during the day and then let then dictate night feeds.
So my supply is increasing But I think their needs are increasing as well. They will sometimes nurse for up to 25 minutes but even then after a few minutes of being done then they cry at that they're hungry again i've tried putting them back on the breast but it seems that then there's nothing left. So then I give them one or 2 ounce formula.
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| Posted 11/1/14 9:29 PM |
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Leb
LIF Adult
Member since 12/09 4166 total posts
Name:
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Posted by spooks
Posted by blustar214
When you say that when you nurse then it doesn't hold them for long what does that mean exactly? Sometimes my twins want to nurse again only an hour or two after I nursed them the first time, sometimes they can hold off for four hours. I am trying to nurse them frequently during the day and then let then dictate night feeds.
So my supply is increasing But I think their needs are increasing as well. They will sometimes nurse for up to 25 minutes but even then after a few minutes of being done then they cry at that they're hungry again i've tried putting them back on the breast but it seems that then there's nothing left. So then I give them one or 2 ounce formula.
I was always told you won't run out! As your baby is nursing your body is literally making more milk. The best advice is to drink tons of water. It's annoying because you will have to pee every 10m but you need to be hydrated. Your babies will take EVERYTHING from you! They come first and get all your vitamins, nutrition, and hydration. I has success with mothers milk tea from traditional medicines. Also fenugreek pills and oatmeal.
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| Posted 11/1/14 10:15 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Nursing / supplementing
Posted by spooks
Posted by blustar214
When you say that when you nurse then it doesn't hold them for long what does that mean exactly? Sometimes my twins want to nurse again only an hour or two after I nursed them the first time, sometimes they can hold off for four hours. I am trying to nurse them frequently during the day and then let then dictate night feeds.
So my supply is increasing But I think their needs are increasing as well. They will sometimes nurse for up to 25 minutes but even then after a few minutes of being done then they cry at that they're hungry again i've tried putting them back on the breast but it seems that then there's nothing left. So then I give them one or 2 ounce formula.
They should still be getting something even after 25 minutes and they're telling your body to produce more. As a newborn, DS1 nursed for at least 45-60 minutes. Your DC could also be crying because they need to be burped or just want to suck on something. It may not necessarily be from hunger. Both of my boys were comforted by sucking and the pacifier helped a lot.
Try to not give them formula because it will only hurt your supply. Make sure you're drinking and eating enough. Good lcuk! You're doing a great job. 
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| Posted 11/2/14 1:41 PM |
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