Sorry to interrupt the horrible amount of blogging that has been going on here lately.
I have quite a few posts in the works, but today I just need to put this out there.
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I have quite a few posts in the works, but today I just need to put this out there.
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Got Milk?
Or is there enough milk?
Long story short, the twins have been exclusively breastfed since birth.
I think each of them has had less than 2 ounces of formula each. I'm not against formula, in fact Miss O. was fed breast milk exclusively through 3 months, then was fed formula while I was at work, and breastfed when I was with her. It worked for us. I went into this pregnancy hoping to produce enough for both babies, but open to the idea that if I couldn't we would supplement.
I just want my babies to be healthy.
Pretty Girl is doing great. She's a champion nurser who will nurse anywhere at any time. At 1 week she weighed 5 lbs, 8 oz., at 6 weeks 7 lbs, 8 oz., and last night at 1o weeks, 10 lbs, 2 oz.
Big Boy is concerning me. We're still nursing with a nipple shield, as he gets hysterical if I try to get him to latch without it, yet takes forever to get latched. Once he's got it, he's great...but sometimes it takes 10 minutes or more to get there. His weights are not as impressive, either. At 1 week, he weighed in at 5 lbs, 4 oz., at 6 weeks 6 lbs, 8oz., and 10 weeks was 7 lbs, 4 oz.
His weight gain has slowed waaaaaaayyyyy down. Around 6 weeks was when I finally got the hang of tandem nursing them...or so I thought. Now, I'm just worried that he's not getting enough milk.
He has plenty of wet and dirty diapers a day. He's nursing 8 to 12 times a day. What else can I do?
They go in for their 2 month check up next Thursday.
I'm fully expecting to be told to supplement Big Boy at this point. Again, if that is what's best for him, I will...but I'd really like to continue just breastfeeding if we could.
Any thoughts?
I'm no expert of course, but I wonder if it is a problem of absorbing the nutrients rather than not getting enough milk from you. If he's no problem in peeing and pooing (I assume not much different from Pretty Girl) maybe he has a bit of intolerance? Love, Fran
ReplyDeleteI don't have any advice but I just want to say that you are a great mom! Don't let any guilt from others make you feel any less. There is enough to deal with as a mom of twins;-)
ReplyDeleteis there any way to slip the nipple shield off during his nursing session...after he has latched on and nursed for awhile? I thought I read that the shields can cause them to get a little less...but I could be way off - and we used the nipple shield too.
ReplyDeleteWhat about "supplementing" with bottles of your own milk...like you have so much time to pump, right? Oy.
Listen, there is absolutely no shame in supplementing a bit if that gives his weight a boost. Maybe you can just give him one ounce of formula here and there after his nursing sessions..so he is still getting the same amt. of nursing, with a little extra at the end.
Sorry, that must be frustrating.
Hang in there!
Does he like formula? Maybe he goes on formula and your daughter stays with the boob since she is such a pro? Since you want to keep breastfeeding, maybe you could do a mixture of 1/2 BM and 1/2 formula? Maybe he's just a bottle kid. I have had two friends that have exclusively fed their kids breastmilk for 6 months, but were never able to actually breastfeed. Just a thought that I am sure you have thought about too. Good luck. :)
ReplyDeleteis he still gaining? my first inclination would be to say if he's peeing and pooping enough, its probably okay. But, if he isn't gaining weight, he may need a little encouragement to stay on the breast longer that sis does.
ReplyDeleteHave you seen an LC, yet? They should be able to help you with a lot of this. One thing that might be helpful is a before and after feed weigh in.
Make sure there a big hole in the nipple sheild so big boy does not have to work so hard. Also big boy might only be getting the fore milk not the fatty hind milk so make sure he empties the breast at each feed. You could also pump from the breast big boy has just fed at and see what come out.You are doing an amazing job and the babies look wonderful. You have successfully combined breastfeeding with bottle feeding before so if he needs a suplement just go with the flow.
ReplyDeleteMake sure there a big hole in the nipple sheild so big boy does not have to work so hard. Also big boy might only be getting the fore milk not the fatty hind milk so make sure he empties the breast at each feed. You could also pump from the breast big boy has just fed at and see what come out.You are doing an amazing job and the babies look wonderful. You have successfully combined breastfeeding with bottle feeding before so if he needs a suplement just go with the flow.
ReplyDeleteUm, yeah. What everyone else said. Maybe pump for him for a while so you can see exactly how much he's getting at each feeding (pain in the butt, but allows you to avoid giving formula). Alternately, you could nurse him until he stops, and then give him a bottle of formula so that he's only getting a minimal amount of formula (only what it takes to "top him off"). Plus that way you can see if he's hungry and not eating enough (if he scarfs down the formula, he may not be getting enough through the breast shield).
ReplyDeleteI've used fenugreek successfully to build my supply. Make sure you're eating enough/drinking enough water, so that you're sure that there aren't any supply issues (I doubt that there are, but if he's using a nipple shield, building your supply up to where it's bordering on oversupply would make it easier for him to get more milk during the feeding).
I know it's hard thinking about adding formula. Well, at least it was for me. Once I got the hang of nursing, I kinda hoped that I'd be able to feed both enough to avoid having to use formula. But then, I found out that they really were pretty hungry, and at the end of the day, I needed to give them that small boost to get them through the night (or rather, through the first couple of hours after bedtime!).
My girls both gained weight at about the same rate as Big Boy: (birth 5lb 5oz dropped to 4lb 13 oz by day 4 Six Weeks 8.25lbs Two Months 9.25lbs). I think part of the 'problem' might be that you're comparing them which is so hard not to do when you have twins. If you just had big boy you'd probably feel reassured that he was gaining properly. My girls are nearly a pound apart now at 12 months and it's because one of them just does not sit still! She can't gain at the rate that her play with a book for 30+ minutes sister does.
ReplyDeleteMy advice: rent a hospital scale. Weigh each baby before you nurse. Burp them and then weigh them after you nurse. You can't change the diaper or anything. Weighing in grams is more accurate: for each 30 grams of weight they put on they took 1 oz of breast milk. If he is taking less than his sister, then I would schedule an appointment with a Lactation Consultant.
I too had to use the nipple shields. They do slow the flow of milk. So you might have to work extra hard to keep him awake and interested for longer than his sister. Eventually he'll wean off the shields (mine did at 12 weeks) so keep trying about once a day to latch without shields so that you keep your and his frustration level down.
Hang in there! The first 12 weeks of breastfeeding twins is an emotional overtired crazy crazy journey!
Hi there, I have no idea about breastfeeding, but there are good posts on it by BabySmiling and Sunny (in Seattle)...
ReplyDeleteI hope that whatever happens will be the best for babies...
Good Luck!
Seriously don't stress. With my twins, One just breastfed better and got the hang of it. My suggestion is to see a LC because one may just be taking more in at each nursing session. One has better latch and therefore will take more in. An LC can tell you exactly how much plus they'll have their own scale. My boys were 3lb difference since 2 months and there's nothing wrong with that. Payden is just growing at his own rate just as Big boy is. Hang in there..
ReplyDeleteLots of great suggestions. I stopped reading halfway through the other comments. I just want to ask- do they each take turns on each side or do they each nurse on just one side? Do you feed baby boy first or baby girl first or at the same time?
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion, if you aren't already doing this, is to have baby girl start off and draw that nipple out. Then latch baby boy on so he gets the hindmilk and has the benefit of your nipple already being pulled out.
So long as baby boy is gaining and not losing I think it's alright. Each little one is so unique! He might just be a petit boy for now.