Feeding Twins
Raising twins looks different for every family
What works for you might not be ideal for another. Which is why choosing your way of feeding your twins has to be right for YOU.
Peer pressure to do things differently adds unnecessary stress for new mothers, which they can really do without.
Tune in, listen to what feels right for you. And if for whatever reason you need to do things differently to how you hoped, wished for or wanted in the beginning, be kind to yourself.
Bottle feeding, breastfeeding or mixed feeding, whichever method you end up choosing - is ok. There is no one way to do anything.
And when it comes to feeding twins, there is definitely more than one way.
Breastfeeding
There is a crushing pressure these days for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be a source of tremendous joy, and also pressure, stress and disappointment. Not every woman succeeds at breastfeeding right from the get-go. Each woman has unique breast and nipple shapes. Every baby has its own special shape of mouth. It can take many attempts and efforts to feed your baby. Sometimes you might need to consult with a professional. If you tried and decided it’s not for you or if you chose right from the beginning not to breastfeed, that’s okay. It doesn’t reflect on you as a mother. The pressure society puts on new mothers to breastfeed can cause severe trauma and stress for women. Failure to do so can damage their self-esteem and negatively impact their image of themselves as mothers.
Breastfeeding twins can be all the more challenging. While tandem feeding is appealing, it can take a moment to get the logistics right. An extra hand is often key in getting trapped gas out during feeding. Taking turns is a wonderful way to bond with your little ones, and can provide a break from the ongoing multitasking. I recommend trying any method that works for your and your little ones’ rhythm, pace and style. Attentiveness to your needs, as well as the babies, is essential to make this process successful and pleasurable.
While expressing milk can be the right solution for you, it might not be feasible, successful, or worth the time it demands of you.
The bottom line is: the decision is yours, and yours alone.
If breastfeeding is working out for you, I do recommend expressing milk as well to allow your partner or supporting person to lend a hand when necessary. Teaching newborns to feed off the bottle will reducing dependency on you, while promoting partner’s involvement and bonding with the babies.
Formula
There is a wide variety of formulas out there, and finding the right one can be a bit tricky at times. While some babies take the standard option rather easily, others might have intolerance to consider. Formula tends to leave the baby fuller for a bit longer than breast milk, and this may affect your baby’s sleep. If you suspect your baby isn’t sleeping well after feeding, they might not be eating enough. This can happen with both formula and breast milk. If you are solely breastfeeding your baby, observe whether they latch well to maximise milk intake. If you want to know how much your baby is eating, expressing milk can help you gauge this.
If you are bottle feeding your newborn (formula or expressed milk), space the feed to match the duration of breastfeed (about 20-30 minutes). Give a little milk, then take a break, burp, settle, and continue. This will ensure baby isn’t going to sleep too far after feeding, which will then wake them up too early hungry, again.
To find out more about your baby’s feeding and helping them sleep better, book your sleep consultation package or a discovery call today.
