Once the shock of hearing that you are having twins is over, questions will arise. One of the most important is probably: can two babies be breastfed? Yes, it is possible. We explain what you should pay attention to when breastfeeding twins.

Most women are able to breastfeed more than one baby, although the beginning can be difficult. Take comfort in the fact that for any mother, including the "single" mother, learningto breastfeedcan be difficult at first. However, be prepared for the fact that, in addition to the difficulties, you will face an enormous effort. If you are still ready to give it a try - applaud for ambition and courage. It is worth taking the trouble, because doctors agree: there is no better way to feed babiesbabies .

Breastfeeding twins - together or separately?

Breastfeeding twins simultaneously is possible and even advisable. It is best to start them within two hours after giving birth.Twinsare often born by caesarean section, but this should not be an obstacle to placing newborn babies in mom's arms. Babies instinctively look for the breasts and begin to suckle. However, if joint feeding does not work out at the beginning, you have to wait a while - until at least one of the babies can suckle well. You have to reckon with the fact that when you feed one baby, the other - if he is awake - may cry during this time. So you will need the help of a midwife or someone from your family.

Breastfeeding twins - it's important to get started

Certain conditions must be met for the feeding to be successful. The most important is the correct position of the mother and the baby and the correct latching of the baby to the breast, which will enable him to properly grasp and suckle the baby. There are many feeding positions. Good ones are those with:

  • mother sits or lies comfortably, relaxed
  • the baby touches his mother's body with his belly, his face is turned to her breast
  • the child's head is on the axis of the spine, it does not bend forward or backward
  • baby's head, back and buttocks are well supported (by mom's hand, pillows).

The most popular position is the classic position, in which the woman is sitting, and the baby, with its belly against her belly, is lying on her forearm, holding her head in the crook of her mum's elbow.The method of latching onto the breast is very important. You need to grab the breast with four fingers from the bottom, and put your thumb on the breast - above the nipple, quite far from the areola. After touching the baby's mouth with the nipple, he involuntarily opens his mouth. Then, with a vigorous movement of her arm, mum places the baby's face on the breast. If the baby grips well, not only the nipple should be in his mouth, but also a large part of the areola. The tip of the baby's nose and chin should touch the breast. When properly grasping the breast, after a few faster and shallower movements, regular, slower and deeper movements begin - this is a sign that the baby is swallowing food. A swallowing noise is also heard. If the grip of the breast is incorrect (there is only a nipple in the mouth, you cannot hear swallowing, but a kiss), stop feeding by placing the tip of your finger in the corner of the baby's mouth and latch your baby on again.

Breastfeeding twins - how to arrange them?

Once at least one of the babies has mastered the art of sucking the breasts, you can feed them simultaneously. At the beginning, it would be good to have someone to help, because mom herself may not be able to cope. Pillows or something that can play such a role (rolled up blanket, duvet, etc.) are also very useful. Three positions are very convenient for feeding twins. Simultaneous feeding saves mom a lot of time, which is extremely valuable for twins. Newborns need to be fed 8-12 times a day, and each such meal lasts about 20 minutes or longer. So if you would feed one individually, your mother would have to spend about 8 hours a day on it!

What to look for

A mother who is breastfeeding two babies at the same time should remember not to let them suck on the same breast over and over again - you have to make changes, because each baby sucks a little differently and empties the breast in a different way. The change is therefore beneficial for a better stimulation of lactation. It can be done either during each feeding or - which is more convenient - once a day. Feeding can take half an hour or more - it is a big effort for the little ones, so they sometimes rest or fall asleep (then they have to be woken up). However, make sure that each of the babies suckles effectively for at least 10 minutes - otherwise they may not eat well. Twins are often premature babies, which means they are weaker and sleep longer, sometimes even 5-6 hours. An inexperienced mother can be happy about it, but it is not good at all, because the children will not gain weight. During the first 6 weeks, breaks in feeding should not exceed 4 hours, also at night. Night feeding is an essential condition for maintaining proper lactation. Only older babies can be fed at night less often (but also at least oneonce).

When to feed babies separately?

While feeding, mom has to watch her babies as it is rare for them to eat the same. Usually one sucks slower and weaker, so he may not eat well during a joint meal. Such a baby requires extra care - you need to feed him longer or put him to the breast more often. In the beginning, when lactation is not stabilized, stimulating both breasts at the same time (by suckling) can cause milk to be secreted so much that babies cannot keep up with swallowing and choke. Then it is better to feed them one at a time.

Don't make mistakes

If you have already decided to start breastfeeding and have mastered this art, be consistent and don't make mistakes that can ruin your efforts.

  • Feed only with your own milk for the first 6 months. If the children are developing well, they do not need to be supplemented with tea or glucose, let alone supplemented with a mixture. Note: feeding should be continued even when the mother or child becomes ill - the nutritional and protective properties of the food are then particularly important.
  • Do not express milk unless necessary. If lactation is normal, pumping is not recommended as it leads to an overproduction of milk. On the other hand, it is justified to express small amounts of milk during a food load or inflammation of the breast. Food can also be expressed to stimulate lactation when:
    1. baby refuses to suck or sucks poorly, unsuccessfully
    2. one of the children (or both) is in hospital or the mother has to separate from the children for some other reason
    3. there is not enough food (very rare situations).
  • Do not use a soother for at least the first 6 weeks. Pacifiers - both the calming and feeding ones - interfere with the suckling mechanism. The baby sucks differently from the breast, and then gets confused - by sucking on the breast as shallow and light as a nipple, it does not take in enough milk. There are several ways to feed your baby with expressed milk. This can be done with a spoon, glass or cup, a plastic-tipped dropper, or a method called "finger syringe". What is it about? Put your perfectly washed finger into the baby's mouth (with the fingertip facing up), and when the baby starts sucking him, put the tip of the syringe into his mouth and slowly press the plunger.

These methods require a bit of patience, but according to lactation advisers, they are much better than a bottle with a teat. Breastfeeding twins is a huge effort, so it must always be the decision of the woman herself. So don't let anything be imposed on yourself. It's up to you to choose how you feed your own children. If you can, it's greatif not - no one has the right to criticize you.

monthly "M jak mama"

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Pregnancy