Was it me or the twins who did the sucking during breastfeeding? Perhaps a bit of both. After navigating through one adoption, multiple miscarriages, numerous fertility treatments, a challenging high-risk twin pregnancy, bedrest with a toddler, and a severe postpartum hemorrhage, I was all too aware that breastfeeding wouldn’t go as planned. It was a struggle, both literally and figuratively.
I poured over every book recommended for breastfeeding twins, underlining passages in my La Leche League guide to the extent that my husband jokingly suggested I might want to mark only the things I didn’t want to remember. Though I tried to mentally prepare myself, I knew instinctively that I would have to improvise when the twins finally arrived. I couldn’t have predicted the reality that awaited me.
The Books Say vs. Twin Mom Says
The Books Say: Breastfeed immediately after birth, ideally within 60 minutes after a C-section.
Twin Mom Says: Breastfeeding is impossible in the ICU when you’re unconscious.
Winner: Nobody.
The Books Say: Frequent breastfeeding helps establish a milk supply for multiples.
Twin Mom Says: Nearly dying and receiving blood transfusions interferes with milk production.
Winner: Nobody.
The Books Say: Initially feed each twin separately to ensure proper latching.
Twin Mom Says: Sure, tandem nursing can wait.
Winner: Books.
The Books Say: Avoid bottles and pacifiers during your hospital stay to encourage proper nursing.
Twin Mom Says: You have no say when you’re knocked out in the ICU.
Winner: Nobody.
The Books Say: The double-football hold is ideal for tandem feeding.
Twin Mom Says: Seriously? You need a certain amount of “boobage” for that hold, which I definitely lack. Why didn’t anyone mention that?
Winner: Nobody, especially not my boobs.
The Books Say: Milk usually comes in within three to four days post-birth.
Twin Mom Says: Mine took eleven days, a record according to my lactation consultant.
Winner: Twin Mom!
The Books Say: Skin-to-skin contact aids in teaching babies to nurse.
Twin Mom Says: Hard to manage when I’m battered from all the lifesaving procedures. I left the hospital with a walker, bandages, and a physical therapist.
Winner: Nobody.
The Books Say: Pump or feed every 2-3 hours in the first two weeks to boost milk supply.
Twin Mom Says: Great, I’ll never sleep again anyway.
Winner: The books.
The Books Say: Rent a hospital-grade pump for twins.
Twin Mom Says: Nobody warned me about how awful pumping is; I had no idea how much time it would consume.
Winner: My toddler.
The Books Say: Tandem feeding is trickier with fraternal twins due to their different cues.
Twin Mom Says: Absolutely true. One twin was a pro, while the other faced numerous challenges.
Winner: The books.
The Books Say: Tandem breastfeeding is ideal for twins.
Twin Mom Says: How was I supposed to latch the second baby while the first was nursing? It felt overwhelming, and honestly, a bit strange.
Winner: Nobody.
The Books Say: Alternating bottle-feeding and breast-feeding creates inefficiency.
Twin Mom Says: I never produced enough milk, so I had to develop a system to manage both.
Winner: Twin Mom!
The Books Say: Breastfeed for at least a year.
Twin Mom Says: I aimed for one day at a time and made it to just under seven months, which in my Twin World counts as a year.
Winner: Twin Mom!
The Books Say: Any amount of breast milk is beneficial.
Twin Mom Says: Absolutely. I supplemented with formula from the start but was happy to provide what I could.
Winner: Everybody.
The takeaway from this journey is that while books offer valuable insights, real-life experiences of twin mothers surpass them. For those considering home insemination, check out this informative piece on at-home intracervical insemination. If you’re grappling with performance anxiety, learn more about it here. Additionally, for those exploring family-building options, this resource on intrauterine insemination is an excellent guide.