Pumping/BF questions

[Deleted]

Hey hon, congrats on your new little ones! Breastfeeding at the beginning is a such a mind game. Try to remind yourself that pumping output is not even close to an indication of supply. Some people never respond well to the pump, despite have plenty for their babies.

Also, I'd encourage you to stop following a clock. Nurse your little one(s) one demand for as long as they want/need to nurse and you're able to do so. Also, if you're pumping after feeding one of your children, you probably won't get much milk out.

My last suggestion is to get a lactation consultant involved. They'll have lots more tips on how to make this nursing relationship work for both you and your children.

AND! You're doing a great job. We've ALL be there and for many of us, it was only one hungry baby. You are a rockstar and you've got this! Just don't be afraid to ask for help.

[Deleted]

I don't have any advice, but wanted to say that the size of your boobs means nothing in regards to how much milk you're producing. My boobs are the same size as they were pre pregnancy. They never got bigger even after my milk came in.

Hang in there. Good luck.

[dancerspose]

@wineandcupcakes just wanted to wish you best of luck with this! BFing is stressful enough with one so I can't imagine with two. Everyone else has given great advice. So I'm just sending hugs!

[Deleted]

@wineandcupcakes - You are doing great! This BF twins is no joke!

You'd mentioned water above but also remember calories too, especially protein is important as well for a good supply.

One thing not mentioned which is the hardest by far is to try to relax. Stress is a supply killer and so hard to avoid since you are worried about two babies!

[emilie]

Hang in there @wineandcupcakes! I feel your pain as I have been diagnosed with "insufficient glandular tissue" by LCs. I'm 9 weeks pp and only EBF for the first two weeks - my LO wasn't gaining and I started supplementing at 2 weeks. However, we are in a groove now that I've come to peace with. I nurse my baby 6-7 times a day and I supplement with formula at about 4 of those feedings via bottle. I pump when I can after feedings (I can usually pump about half an an ounce to an ounce each time) and feed it to her that day as well. She probably gets about half her diet from breast milk and half from formula.

However - as time has gone on, she's slowly but surely been taking a little less formula and seems to be getting more milk. We weaned off nipple shields a couple weeks and that helped a lot, and I think keeping up with the pumping and nursing has caused my supply to increase. I don't know if I'll ever be able to EBF but you can breastfeed and have your babies get all the benefits of breastfeeding without doing it exclusively. You are doing an awesome job!