Breastfeeding the Twins

For starters…let me say, I’ve been hungry in fact, starving for the last 365+ days since breastfeeding the twins. The hunger is uncontrollable. When we first brought them home, now a year ago…the Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps & his diet were all over the news. I could have beaten Michael hands down in an eating competition during the first few months of their little lives. One word: Starving! And for the past year, I can remember feeling “full” just about 6 times. Honestly.

Perhaps, I should also mention I have zero medical training nor am I a licensed nutritionist. I guess what I am saying, is in many eyes, I am no expert. BUT what I will say is I have been actively – daily – hourly – breastfeeding my twins for 365+ days of their lives. So maybe, I have a little “hands on” experience.

When I was pregnant with the twins I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I was going to breastfeed. I breastfed my first for 15+ months. So I knew the do’s & don’ts. I thought I kindof knew what to expect. And boy, was I ever wrong! If you google, “breastfeeding twins” there are a few options that will pop up. In most breastfeeding/nursing books or magazines they have devoted a chapter or two to the subject of twins. There isn’t really a lot of info to find, so my knowledge was vague to say the least. So without a lot of knowledge…I thought to myself, I can handle it – “What’s one more – right?”

I wont go into month by month detail, but I will say the first month was the hardest, most trying month of my life. My genetic make-up or personality what have you, is pretty much a “Happy-go-Lucky” type of gal. (hopefully, my friends will testify to this.) But during the first month, everyday I felt the urge to throw something at the wall. OR at my very supporting husband. (almost too supporting.) Plain & simple my 37 week gestation, 7lbs 9ozs & 7lbs 2ozs twins would.not.latch.

For the love of Pete, you sweet, little, precious, babies – just latch! Try-try-try. Minute after minute, hour after hour, they would hardly latch. Imagine if you will post partum hormones raging, milk coming in, upper torso leaning forward because my breast were so FULL of milk, and so tender to any touch. Might I also mention, they were born in July. Hot-Humid-Hazy days in the South, and I was trying to nurse 2 babies. Geez Louise. One thing going in my favor is that I had a great support team. My support team consisted of Chief my husband, my dear Mom, and some very close friends. My team was lucky enough to see me at my best. By that I mean…milk stained night gowns, my hair was (and still is) the biggest bunch of frizz mess imaginable, the house torn apart, milk stained sheets, not a clear place to sit, fast food wrappers everywhere, and the kitchen..it was all so gross. I remember my dear friend Susan Lucci, not the real Susan Lucci, I’ve just called her that for up-teen years, told me, “The only thing that is important is that, you brush your teeth & get those babies to latch. Don’t worry about anything else.” Of course, I worried about everything else, but that simple statement and other support is what helped us get through the first month.

proof of big hair, no sleep. paper plates, babies here & there

there’s more then one reason for “the deer in the headlight look”

i can’t believe i’m posting this picture

I knew I wouldn’t even consider to “double nursing” for the first month. So everyday, hour after hour we (me, husband, & mom) would try to get these babies to latch & nurse for at least 7 minutes each time. Chief & mom hovering over me, keeping the babies awake, rubbing their arms, stroking their faces, anything to get those lips to attach!

So let me go ahead and say:

*do NOT give your baby a pacifier the first week

*do NOT give your baby any type of bottle the first 3 weeks. (That is if you are planning to nurse exclusively.)
* do NOT eat garlic, onion, or spicy food the first few weeks.

*do NOT drink carbonated beverages the first 2 weeks
If you do…I can almost assure you your life will be more chaotic, and you will have even less sleep.

Now for some good news…after about the 3rd week & a few visits to our local Le Leache League we conquered & karate chopped those “latch issue” and we have been good to go ever since. Can I hear a “Woot – Woot?”

Chief, will swear to this day that I finally started double nursing because Angelina Jolie came out & said that she was. Her twins were born within a week or ours. Well, perhaps Chief is right. Also too, I knew since we finally mastered the latch issue, never gave them a bottle, they never had formula, I thought I can do double. I wish you all could of seen my face & Chief’s the first time we double nursed. High fives, doin the happy dance all around our little house. It worked like a charm the very first time! It was extremely emotional for me for them to double nurse with such ease. I am sure one could imagine how the tears rolled down my face. They were about one month old.

There are no words to describe how one can handle getting set-up to nurse with two. Two to nurse, two to burp, trying to carry one off to bed, while the other is awake or asleep waiting for his/her turn to be carried to bed. Finally getting one to sleep, and keeping the other from crying in the other twins ear. It is extremely hard. The vision of a Mrs. Stretch Armstrong should pop in your head. (while drafting this post, I was nursing the twins for the last nursing of the day before going to bed. One of them fell off the couch while sound asleep.) One cannot imagine how hard it is to situate one without waking the other up. Getting one to bed, without having the other one roll off the bed, chair, or couch. I feel as if I should have a doctorate in nursing or at least a t shirt saying, “I can nurse & juggle two babies @one time. What can you do?” Basically what I am saying is that you just have to find your groove. For some it’s the bed, for me it is our deep seated couch with many many pillows. Obviously, nothing will be a perfect set up. Especially when you are by yourself with no one around to help. It will be hard.

Chief had saved all his vacation time so he was off for 40 days with us. I could of NEVER done it without his help. Never. The first month, if you have twins & are breastfeeding you will have to have help. The amount of effort, time, patience, food, sleepless-ness is unexplainable. But at the same time, finally finding a groove, feeling a true latch, seeing not one but two little creatures is really a spiritual awaking. You become so in tuned to your body. Supply/demand, little squirms & grunts. It is all heavenly.

The earlier months got easier & easier until…one is sick. And then, you realize you have a puker on your hands. Hands, lap, hair, and the other twin that is. Ugh.

meet my blue-eyed puker

When breastfeeding twins you are almost “quarantined” to your house every 3 hours. Unless you have someone to go out with you. I mean really, who wants to sit on a mall bench with both breasts exposed, your legs separated slightly to support the large twin nursing pillow? Not me. I guess the mall walkers would enjoy having something ‘new’ to look at, but this girl just couldn’t do it. Double nursing is the most un-lady like, un-flattering position you could ever be in. But yet the few who have seen or been around to see me double nurse have said, “It is one of the most beautiful sights they have ever seen.” Not me. Just the actual act. To be clear. When Chief is around we really do try to tear up the town. I have nursed around town doing double duty in various places such as: Target’s Lawn & Garden section, Home Depot on a pile of lumber, parks, ball fields. You name it we have christened it. At least for me, this past year I have been in my house waaaay to much. Honestly, you don’t have any other choice unless you do have someone with you. Prepare yourself mentally for this. Although, one could consider pumping. As for us & our lifestyle, pumping just couldn’t be an option. Plus, the amount of milk going out for regular nursing times, then adding an extra pump or two, I.just.couldn’t.do. It was just too hard.

We have mastered & doubled nursed almost everyday in the past year. If one was sick or both I would nurse them separately. But as a whole it was double almost always. It is so hard, but also so rewarding. Rewarding for them to have the ‘best’, rewarding for me to watch them grow and know our sacrifices were worth it all. Not in any day of the past year has these two ever had formula or a bottle to substitute for a nursing. I can’t believe we did. 365+ days, and look at us now. Perfect in every way & extremely healthy. Everyday it is hard. Everyday it is pure pleasure to watch them nurse and finish with smiles on their faces. Our bonding is unmeasurable. I am a lucky wife to a extremely supporting husband. Who’s encouragement & understanding of it all makes him the best support team a wife-mother could have. I am very thankful & blessed beyond measure for him.

*photo by Susan Lucci*

When their one year birthday arrived we celebrated their lives, our family of 5, big brother being a big brother to these two, reminiscing the day they were born. It was a lovely day. But on that one year anniversary, I celebrated. Giving myself a huge pat on the back, jumping up & down in the bathroom (oddly, I was by myself for 2 minutes) getting dressed, and I found myself twirling one of my year old nursing bras in the air and saying to the bra, “We Did It, Sister. Woot – Woot!”

Hello! I’m so glad you’re here & reading my posts! I’ve started truncating my posts, so please click over to read the rest of the story!
THANK YOU!