Breastfeeding Twins – How to do, Tips and Best Positions

Breastfeeding would take up a lot of your time in the first few months of motherhood. You will have to formulate a routine for it so that your twins can have all the required nutrients from the mother’s milk. Breastfeeding is a great way to soothe your baby. This would not just make them stronger but also build their immune system.

How Can I Prepare For Breastfeeding Twins?

Breastfeeding mothers need to be fully prepared so that they can perfectly feed their twins. When a breastfeeding mother is in a good state of mind, the nutrients in the breast milk double up, and this way the baby gains more goodness than usual.

Here we come up with some useful tips so that you can prepare yourself in a better way to breastfeed your twins.

1. Organize a Separate Nursing Room

Well, a nursing room is somewhere you can breastfeed your baby with no complications. This room will have all the essential amenities which are required during the breastfeeding sessions such as burp cloths, feeding pillows, wipes, diapers, snacks, drinks, etc. It would be helpful for you if you set up a separate nursing station so that you can breastfeed your twin babies comfortably.

2. Eat Your Meal and Keep Yourself Hydrated

It is very crucial to keep yourself well-fed and hydrated when breastfeeding so that you do not fall short of nutrients while you’re breastfeeding. Also, as you are breastfeeding twins, this is required even more. Breastfeeding makes you feel thirsty and hence a breastfeeding mother should make sure that she is keeping herself hydrated and full so that there’s no harm to the milk supply of the twins.

3. Do Accept Help

You might hesitate in accepting help while you’re breastfeeding. But when you need help in some serious situation, always ask for it. There’s no harm in having someone near you who could help you and your baby in a situation of need.

How to Breastfeed Twins?

As per some experts, the ideal way is to place the twins simultaneously and then breastfeed. This is the best way to feed a twin baby. For instance, if one baby is awake and is willing to breastfeed, you should also wake your second baby and breastfeed them as well. The reason behind this is that your babies would eat around 8-12 times a day and hence feeding them separately would make you super tired.

Furthermore, having the same breastfeeding schedule for both of your babies would help you keep count of their feedings easily. This way you will also have some extra time to rest. Although, feeding both the babies at one time simultaneously is the better choice but even if you do not feel comfortable doing so, you are free to feed your twins one by one. But you can always try simultaneous feeding. Once you come across a better feeding position, you can switch to simultaneous feeding.

Top 3 Appropriate Positions to Breastfeed Twins

There are some appropriate positions that we’ve catered for you in this blog so that you can breastfeed your little one comfortably and without any physical strains. Keep reading:

1. Front Cross or Double Cradle Hold

In this position, all you need to do is to place both of your babies in a cradle position so that their legs overlap and form an X in your laps. You can also use your hands to support your head.

2. Double Clutch or Double Football Hold

This breastfeeding position is mainly for the ones who just had a C-section. This is because in this position there would be less or no pressure on the belly.

3. Football and Cradle Hold

In this breastfeeding position, you need to place one baby in a football position and the other one in a cradle position. It is to be noted that the baby who latches easily must be placed in a cradle position and the other one in a football position.

Five Easy Tips to Follow While Breastfeeding Twins

We have mentioned some breastfeeding tips which you should know while breastfeeding your twins. This would ensure safe and optimum breastfeeding.

1. Consult an Expert to Position the Baby Properly

When you have just entered motherhood, you may experience some complications in holding your baby in the correct position. But as you seek a professional’s help, you will realize that this is not even a challenging task. Well, do not hesitate in taking the help of a professional and this would ensure comfortable feeding and correct latching for your newborn.

2. Take the Help of a Lactation Expert

Are you unable to breastfeed your twin babies simultaneously? If yes, then you should go and take some advice from a lactation expert. They will help you with solutions and help you decide what works best for you and your baby.

3. Move Your Breasts

You may notice that your babies are comfortable latching from one particular breast so in this case, you should let them feed from that breast. But for this, you need to move your breasts constantly so that your breasts do not experience engorgement or clogged milk ducts.

4. Get a Feeding Pillow

To make the twin breastfeeding experience easy, you can get a feeding pillow. This is designed in a way that helps in supporting your back and arms as well as helping your baby while breastfeeding. These cushions/pillows are better than regular pillows.

5. Take Care of Yourself

To be successful in breastfeeding, you need to take care of yourself so that you stay healthy and active throughout the breastfeeding session. It is essential to take a well-balanced diet enriched with fruits, vegetables, and other nutrients so that your milk proves to be safe and healthy for your twin babies.

Are You Producing Enough Milk For Your Twins?

If you are breastfeeding your twins regularly, then this habit would keep up the supply of your breast milk. But if you are feeding your baby on demand and not regularly and having problems with the supply, then this might be an issue of concern. To cope with this situation, regular stimulation from a pump might help.

If you start pumping the breasts regularly each day then this would boost your supply and help you to keep your breastfeeding sessions for a longer time. It is better to formulate a regular schedule of pumping each day for better results.

What if Your Twins Are Unable to Breastfeed?

Well, there is a possibility that your twins are not able to breastfeed. If you are not able to breastfeed your twins right away, then you should cuddle your twins and practice skin-to-skin contact so that your baby feels pampered and starts latching the milk.

Your babies’ pediatrician and lactation consultant will advise you on the further course of action. For all babies, breastmilk is the best source of nutrition and highly recommended.

• A lactation consultant can guide you in case your babies are experiencing latching issues.
• For underproduction of milk, you can make changes to your diet, and take supplements and home remedies to improve milk production.
• For any other issues, your doctor may advise supplementing breast milk with formula. You must start your babies on formula only after due consultation with the pediatrician.

Having twin babies is a blessing and a double package for everything- double the joy, double the fun, and double the issues too. Among the many issues moms may face with twins, breastfeeding tops the list. We hope our article on how to breastfeed twins will help new moms ease into breastfeeding mode without much worries and stress.

Happy Parenting.

FAQ’s

1. Is Breast Milk Different For Twins?

No, breast milk is not different for twins. It is the same as for any type of birth – singleton, twin, or multiple.

2. How Many Calories Does a Mother Burn When Breastfeeding Twins?

When a mother is breastfeeding her twin babies, then they would be burning at least 1,000 calories every day.

3. Should You Feed Your Twins Together or Separately?

It is your choice whether you want to breastfeed your twins together or separately. Well, if you choose to breastfeed them together, it will save a lot of time and you will be able to take proper rest. You can also keep a track of how many feeds your babies are taking.

Read Also: Supplementing Breast milk With Formula for Twins