Doubling your pleasure (in which I talk about boobs-as-udders)

Babies going on five months and I want to do a little post that might be helpful to Moms of Multiples, friends of MOMs, expectant MOMs, and probably no one else. There may be a little TMI in this post, but hey, anatomy isn't dirty. Especially not mine. I bathe regularly!* Now often there is a lot of judgement tossed about on mothers and their baby-feeding choices. Please know that this post is judgement-free! I'm dishing on how I do it, but without any judgement on how you do it.

Let me introduce you to the very most important item a new MOM needs (besides a night nanny and a milkshake**):

Yes, a twins nursing pillow! I borrowed one from a fellow MOM and could not live without it. There are many types, but I recommend one with a flat surface like this that straps around your back. This keeps the babies from rolling off or falling into the crack when you doze off (because you will). There were nights when my babies slept on the pillow on my lap while I was semi-reclined. Also, removable/machine-washable cover a plus.

Now, on to nursing! Let me preface this by saying I breastfed (or "boob-fed") two singleton babies before my twins without any problems. Nursed them for a year. Loved it. I didn't know what to expect nursing twins. Turned out to be no trouble at all. I'm not a lactation specialist and I know many women have troubles, but just so you upcoming MOMs know, it is possible. And for me, much more convenient, inexpensive, and enjoyable than bottle feeding. Not to mention good for the babes (all that nutrition and antibodies!) and for you (decreased risk for breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer!).

Here are my tips for making it work.

1. Twins nursing pillow.
2. Feed babies at the SAME TIME. This may seem overwhelming, but it really works out great. I've heard several women who tried nursing twins and quit say, "it was so frustrating to be feeding one baby and hear the other one crying!" If you nurse them at the same time, that frustration at least is eliminated.
3. Feed babies at the same time. (Did I mention this already?) They get on the same schedule, so you're not feeding babies all day long, not to mention all night long.
4. Nurse in bed. I like this because I can have the babies beside me on the mattress. I strap on the nursing pillow and then lift the babies on to it one at a time. I'm not stranded and in need of help, so I can do it easily for every feeding. If you're bottle-feeding, this is also a great system.
5. Feed babies at the same time. They become booby buddies! (Really, Ms. Hale, must you keep repeating anatomical words?!)
6. Nurse in public! I mean it. People who have to hide away to nurse are much more likely to give it up. Not that I'm in public much, because hey, I have two babies.

Here are a few other things that have worked for me but I know many specialists would not recommend, so be warned!

1. I hate pumping. Passionately. If I was going to take care of twins, I was not going to pump. And I haven't. Not once. For me, it was not necessary.
2. Since I wasn't going to pump, I still wanted the freedom to allow someone to take care of my babies while I caught a nap or something. So from day 1, in addition to nursing, we've given our babies 1 bottle of formula each day. There's been no nipple confusion. They will take bottle or breast and don't refuse the taste of formula because they're used to it. Formula is so good nowadays. I have a couple of dear friends who wanted very much to nurse but their bodies (aka boobies) were not compliant. No shame, ladies!
3. I have never written down or kept track of which baby nursed on which side for how long and how much and so on. They tell you to do this and I didn't bother because I need to eliminate busy work, not add to it. My babies were not premature or low birth weight so it just didn't seem necessary to me. And I know they're supposed to alternate sides in case one breast (aka boob) makes more milk than the other. But hey, I figure they've got a 50/50 chance of a fresh boob each time if I don't keep track. And they're both gaining the exact same amount of weight.

*Okay, other moms out there know that's a lie. Unless you have a loose definition of "regularly."

**My milkshake brings all the babes to the yard, babes to the yard.

Comments

[Juliana]

I did the nurse-two-babies-at-the-same-time bit as well. The only advice I'd add to your advice is:

1. Feed the babies at the same time. All day, all night. If one is hungry, they both eat. No negotiations.

...or wait, did you mention that already?

[Frogster]

I love your comment about the milkshake! :D I remember when that song came out.

Did you also hear that somewhere in the US you can get ice cream made out of breast milk?! That's just crazy imo.

[Angela]

We just got 10 month old twin boys (plus their three yr old sister and four year old brother) that we're fostering to adopt. It has been insane but I totally agree that if one is hungry both get fed, same with diaper changes and bed times and nap times and night time feedings etc. It just makes life so. much. simpler. I'm sleep deprived as it is I can't imagine if we didn't at least attempt to keep them on the same schedule!

[Janelle]

This post sounds like I wrote it! I cannot live without my twins nursing pillow. My four-month-old boys nurse at the same time all the time; I can't imagine any other way.

[Natalie]

And this is why I love your blog, Shannon. :)

[Jena]

Great post and great job. I think it is important to share breastfeeding stories so that people who may have questions or are searching for people who are making it work have great posts like this to help motivate!

And, thanks for the laugh, laughs, your disclaimers were hilarious!

[Cheri]

I definitely agree it's easier to nurse both babies at once. The only problem I had doing that was one of mine had a projectile vomiting issue that got kinda, well, messy. All over me and his brother. That's actually what made me stop nursing at 6 weeks, the stress involved in trying to nurse a baby that would just vomit--and his issue wasn't diagnosed and corrected until age 10 months.

Great post!

[Bonnie Childress]

I failed miserably at nursing my twins. I still have guilt over it. They will be 10 in May.
I am so glad that you have it figured out, and that it is going well. Way to go, on giving advice, it needs to be said.

[Laura]

This is an awesome post. Thanks for sharing it! I'm totally taking notes.

[Beth Lemon]

You're awesome. So are your girls. And your other girl and boy. And husband. I'm feeling all happy that I gave a pillow like this to my cousin with twins. Hooray. Btw, I still owe you a bday present. If you don't choose I will. That's a threat.

[Merry]

Great!

[Christen]

Ha, I'm sending this to all my pregnant friends! :)

[Amber]

I nursed my twins for only 2 months. My doctor actually told me I needed to quit because it was too hard on my body. I felt really guilty and miserable about it for a long time. (They are 4 1/2 now and sometimes I still think about it.) But I think you just do the best you can and accept that it was your best. I'm really glad it's working out well for you though! Keep up the great work and it's great to know you get the chance to shower "regularly" Those early days can be so hard, but so worth it!

[Amy Marshall]

I had trouble nursing my twins
(now 8 yrs old), too. We had compatability issues because they were small. I pumped for 2 months but I didn't have the support from my "helpers". Everyone wanted to get a quick bottle and opted for formula instead of waiting for the breast milk to warm up. My advice to those who struggle is (1.)to put your foot down. Decide what you want to do and make sure everyone knows. (2.) If you go for the bottle , hold them as much as possible. Spend a little time getting to know each one. I feel like I missed out on the bonding with my twins because I was constantly trading one for the other or letting other people hold them. I wish I had spent more time in the early months holding, cuddling, kissing, etc. I think it would have made a big difference in the long run.

[Jenny]

Way to lactate! I hope you regularly high five yourself for your awesome work. I think it is so great it's been going so well for you. People need to hear positive boob and baby interaction stories.

[Erin Shakespear]

hahahahahahahaha! Love the Boob Chatter.

I've nursed five singleton babes (still nursing number 5...in fact, I just laid her down) but I can't imagine nursing twins! Wow. So, this was very interesting.

[Allison]

Love this post! You totally rock for nursing twins. I've often wondered how it would work, so thanks for sharing your strategies!

[Renee]

When they get older, learn how to do one in cradle hold, stretched across your lap and the other in football hold, head resting on the legs of the cradle hold child. I nursed my twins until just past 2.5 and this worked great!

[Gail Zuniga]

This is a Great post! I might be preggers with twins. Ultrasound to confirm next week. I really want to boob-feed and wasn't sure it was possible. Thank you for sharing.

[Anna Elliott]

Hooray for nursing mamas! You are so amazing and how lucky you're sweet girls are.

I think the other thing to remember about nursing is that it DOES get easier. I remember with my first, at the 6 week mark, I was like, Women do this for months on end? Really? It just seemed so HARD. But you just keep at it and adjust and somehow you don't even think about it after awhile. I breastfed my first girl for 22 mos, and now her little sister is 17 mos. and still nursing and I love it--it's a joy, not a bother at all.

[Anna Elliott]

Argh. YOUR sweet girls, I mean. No apostrophe. I may not find nursing any bother anymore, but that doesn't mean I don't still have mommy-brain! ;-)

[Raindrops]

This is great! I'll have to remember this one.

[Je Reve]

You sound like my dad's family. All my cousins are older than me, and it's lactate this and stretch marks that. You make me giggle. Thanks.

[Becky Williams]

I agree with the nursing both of them at the same time. It's worked for me for about 8 months but now they're starting to pull each other's hair. Which is one of the funnest things for a baby to do in the world! I too had that double nursing pillow with my first set of twins. Yes, I have two sets of twins with a singleton in the middle. My chances are 90% to have them again so I am officially done. I unfortuatnely gave my double pillow away thinking I'd never have twins again...ah well, the pillows bunched around o.k. but not at all as great as that nursing pillow you've got.

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[Jennifer]

This is a great post. I never had multiples, but nursed both of my kids, and it was one of my very favorite things about being a Mom. It always surprises me that some people are so uptight about it. Thanks for your candor, Shannon.

[Marissa]

I recently found out that we were expecting twins and have been wondering about this exact topic! Of course, the brilliant Shannon (my birthday buddy, by the way) would have answers for me. Thanks!

[Danylle]

I resented my first born the entire year we nursed. Possibly because she never saw me as a MOM just a feeding Machine. She and I actually became much better friends when she took the bottle full time. Eight years later and now nursing #2--I make sure I get loves, hugs, and kisses before he ever gets the utters and because of that we are the best of friends. Luckily for me my supply isn't so strong that missing a feeding here or there doesn't slow us down, a bottle of formula lets us keep on living life instead of hiding in a lonely room. Good luck to all of you MOM's out there.

[Robin]

Oooh! I have a friend who is pregnant with twins. I will try to get her one of these nursing pillows! Good advice.

And those of you who feel you failed - stop - it just didn't work for you. It's sad, but it's not a reflection on your worth as a mother.

[Marcus Aurelius]

First the potty-language post and now the bosom post, in which you mention bosoms!

I heard you were making "adult" books and "graphic" novels and I didn't believe it, but my gosh! I can see it's probably all true now.

Good day madam, to you and your blog of boorishness, your coarse contemplations, your depraved deliberations, your revolting reflections... um...

Hold on, I need to get my thesaurus.

Hmmm hmmm hmmm...

Ah! Here we go!

*ahem* You and your gross engrossments!

Shame I say! SHAME!

[Britt]

I hope someone reads this and answers, but would the twin pillow also work well for one? I breastfed my first with the Bobby breastfeeding pillow, but wondering if this one would be better for number two who will be arriving in June.

[The Politick]

Hi :) I am a really big fan of yours...like...really...big. i am totally in love with Finn, i think. i hope nothing bad happens to him in Forest Born...i just started reading it after reading the first three three times each (not all at once :)...wait...nvm)
im awarding you an award called the 7 facts award! you have to post 7 interesting things about yourself. you can see all the instructions on my blog: http://curioussparkplug.blogspot.com/
and thanks so much for writing books :)

[Anna P]

i'm not a mom [yet], but this post made me laugh. and its very good advice to us future moms! i hope i have twins someday. so i'll bookmark this advice just in case. thanks shannon. :)

[Tiffany Schmidt]

This blog made me smile b/c my twins are just shy of 4 months and we've tried tandem nursing... maybe 3 times?

Don't get me wrong, I DO nurse them... just NOT at the same time. To be fair, they were preemies, they're still little and they've had their share of latching and eating problems. (After being fed through his nose for a month in the NICU, nursing just seemed like too much WORK for Baby B - it took a lot of effort to convince him to like the boob).

Since they've been growing and thriving, I've been loathe to try anything that would disrupt their routine (plus, I love that one-on-one snuggle time at the end of every feeding). BUT, maybe it's time to pull the twin pillow out of the closet and try tandem again.

[Faith Kenney]

Love it! Thanks! I'm currently nursing a 14month old (singleton) and am loving it.

[Krista]

I am 6 months pregnant with twins and have been wondering about how the whole nursing thing would work. I had no idea there was a special nursing pillow out there. Thanks for sharing this post. A couple questions, what brand of pillow is that and where do you find it? Thanks!

[Heidi]

I have 10-month-old twins, and have enjoyed nursing them, although I had one of those pillows and could not for the life of me get them to stay on it - they kept flopping over the sides and I wound up ditching it. I nursed them tandem at night quite a bit for efficiency's sake, but stopped at around five months when they got too interested in the world around them. It's difficult enough to keep one baby engaged in nursing, but when you've got one on each breast and only two hands, it's downright impossible. We made it through cracked nipples, latching difficulties, and three rounds of mastitis, though, so there was always a lot to pay attention to - nursing them one at a time has been easier for me.

[Nellie Butler]

Wow, you just said.....dare I repeat it? Boobs! Ahhhhhhhh! Must go get the soap to wash my...wait, mouth isn't right....hands out...off? Whatever!

Seriously though, that's great that you're able to nurse both babies. I've nursed five, but none at the same time. Thank heavens!

I hadn't planned to do it with the first one, but money was tight so I put aside my many reservations and jumped right in. I'm so glad I did! I'd never do it any other way, God willing.

Anyway, I'm impressed! Four kids and a great, active writing career. Well done!

[Marissa Doyle]

Yup, did this too--the twin pillow was a must. And now my twins are in high school...

Congratulations, by the way!!