Feeding twinsHowever you choose to do it, feeding twins is time-consuming! The choice of breast or bottle feeding is complicated and it’s important not to feel pressured. In the early days, you may need to mix breast and formula feeds as well as using milk from a milk bank. BreastfeedingYes, you can breastfeed twins - if the babies are allowed to feed as much as they want you will produce enough milk for them both. As well as breastfeeding being healthier for the babies and cheaper, you can learn to feed both babies together, saving a lot of time. However, it makes great demands on you and can take four to six weeks to get going properly. At first you may hit problems with sore nipples, backache and exhaustion. You will also need extra food - around 450 to 600 calories per baby per day. Putting your babies to the breast within the first hour after birth helps in establishing breastfeeding but isn’t essential. The support of a feeding counsellor or the example of a mother who’s done it herself can make the critical difference. Once home, you’ll need a routine because otherwise days can become one long feed. At first many mothers find it easiest to feed their babies one at a time, but simultaneous breastfeeding saves time, and a stronger twin can stimulate the let-down reflex for a weaker twin. Some mothers keep one breast for each baby or swap each feed. Older twins often decide which breast they prefer. See also Breastfeeding Twins.
Bottle feeding
Perhaps the strongest argument for bottle feeding is that someone else can help you. You also know how much milk the babies are drinking. You can bottle feed two babies together but it isn’t easy and you may end up doing feeds in succession. To save time, make up all bottlefeeds for the next 24 hours and store them in a fridge. |
