So I plan to breastfeed but, will I need to supplement?

Question

So I have 29 weeks left with my twins. They will be slightly premature - we are hopeing only 4- 6 weeks if all goes 100%. With twins who are already small 4 weeks they would be pretty tiny. Any way will I be able to breastfeed right away or will I need to supplement with formula for the first. If I do need supplement for a while which kind of formula should I use. I want to use the best of the best. Will they be on feeding tubes?

This formula: http://www.enfamil.com/app/iwp/enfamil/productDetail.do?dm=enf&id=/Consumer_Home2/Enf_Products/ForInfants/EnfamilPrematureLIPIL2&iwpst=B2C&ls=0&csred=1&r=3443962122

or: http://www.enfamil.com/app/iwp/enfamil/productDetail.do?dm=enf&id=/Consumer_Home2/Enf_Products/ForInfants/EnfamilEnfaCareLIPIL2&iwpst=B2C&ls=0&csred=1&r=3443962169

BQ: When did you give birth to your twins? What is the survival rate at 34,32,30,29,28 weeks with twins?

Answer 1

I have identical twin sons who were born at 27 1/2 weeks. They were 3 lbs. 6 ozs. and 3 lbs. 2 ozs. One twin needed oxygen for a few hours after birth, but other than that they did really well. They were much too small to nurse, so they were tube fed for a couple of weeks. The nurses let you manually work the tube feeding so that you are actually feeding the babies. When I was allowed to try breastfeeding, the boys did really well. They had me pumping the whole time, so even though they couldn't nurse, they were still getting the breast milk. They spent a month in the NICU (which is great for being 3 months early!!!!) and came home at around 4 lbs. There is a good chance that your twins will be big enough to nurse from birth, but if not, make sure to pump ALOT because when they are ready to nurse they will need ALOT of milk lol. I ended up eventually using formula in addition to breastfeeding because it was way too much work to pump and nurse 2 babies, and their dad bottle fed them sometimes. It's nice to know that you can take a little break and someone else can give them a bottle from time to time. Congrats on the twins, and please feel free to email me if you have any questions about preemies! [e-mail]

Answer 2

The best of the best is breast milk. Especially for pre term babies. Do not let the doctors talk you into giving formula instead. You should find a local le leche league very soon. Go ahead and join there group. They usually meet monthly. They will give you the support you need and you will be able to call them with any questions. If you do find you are having a hard time keeping up with demands of two preemie babies take turns nursing them. This may confuse them with going from nipple to plastic nipple. But don't let them win. They will want to take the easier route of the bottle but just be persistent and always put them to the breast. They will learn to adapt. There are many positions for a mother nursing twins. There is going to be more of a commitment and breastfeeding is not always easy at the beginning but you can do it. I know many women who have successfully breastfed twins. Also ask to talk to a lactation consultant at the hospital. Preferably a international certified lactation consultant. They are specially trained for situations like this. Also pick up a book about nursing twins and pre term babies. The best thing you can do is become prepared before the babies are born. This way you aren't struggling afterword and give into temptation and give the babies a bottle.

Answer 3

It all depends what the hospital makes you do

If you are able to stay pregnant until 34-36 weeks, you have a super great chance of being able to feed them directly from the beginning.

The earlier they are born, the more likely it is you will have to pump until they are strong enough to feed directly from you

The doctors may or may not require you to supplement with formula in the beginning until your milk comes in

Preemies are a bit different than a regular newborn.

Some have trouble with latching on to the breast, so a bottle is used until baby is strong enough

If they make you supplement with formula, they willl likely choose it, as it will need to be gentle on the babies bellies, and will need to be high calorie

Just know this though, there are many women that breastfeed twins successfully and do not have to supplement once the babies are out of the NICU

So don't let them bully you into thinking you need to supplement simply because you have twins

If the doctors and nurses have valid reasons for supplementing, of course follow their orders

But if your babies are able to feed just fine, then go for it full throttle

Answer 4

I haven't had premature babies but I know that latching is very difficult for premature infants. I would say that you may need to but you can also pump and offer breast milk until they are strong enough to learn how to latch. I hope breastfeeding works out for you and the pumped breast milk will be far better for your babies then the formula but if you do still need formula they will tell you which kind would be the best your babies. If you're interested in pumping check out kellymom but basically pump as much as you would normally feed the babies so it would be best to start pumping asap every 2-3 hours for at least 15-20 mins maybe longer to get your body used to feeding twins. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Yes, you should be able to breastfeed right away. Your milk won't come in for a few days, but babies are meant to only consume colostrum when they are born. It contains a big dose of maternal antibodies and works as a laxative to help clear out the meconium.



Depending on how developed your babies are, they may have to have feeding tubes, in which case you can rent a breast pump from the hospital to provide them with breastmilk.

Answer 6

If you have a large enough supply to feed both twins, then you may not need to supplement. However, never think that because you supplement you're a bad mother or that there's something wrong with you, especially with twins. One perk of supplementing is that the dad can be given bottle duty and you get a bit of a break.



I am a twin, and after having my son and discussing feeding practices with my mother, she informed me that I was primarily a formula baby and my brother was nursed. The reason for this was due to sleeping patterns. For middle of the night feedings, my brother would nurse and be back in his crib in fifteen minutes. If my mother nursed me, I'd want to play for 45 minutes and not go back to sleep. However, if I was given a bottle of formula, I'd be back in the crib in 15 minutes and back to sleep. So my brother was nursed, I was bottle fed, and both of my parents were back to sleep in 20 minutes.



Personally, for my son, I prefer Similac over Enfamil. It's a little more expensive, but he stomachs it better with less gas.

Answer 7

you won't need to supplement. i personally know a woman who breastfed twins while also nursing a toddler and i know another woman who had triplets after IVF and she breastfed all of them (nursed two at a time and her husband fed the third expressed milk with a bottle). as was mentioned, if you start using formula, you pretty much guarantee the failure of breastfeeding.



the survival rate at 28wks is 80% but your doctor will have a more accurate prediction for you based on your particular medical history and test results.



keep this site - it's pure gold: http://www.drjacknewman.com - he's THE go-to guy for breastfeeding help and info.

Answer 8

Don't supplement. If they can't feed directly from the breast, you can pump. And if you can't pump enough to meet their needs, there's always a milk bank. :) But the more you pump/feed, the more you'll produce, and if you supplement, your supply will be diminished because the baby is eating formula instead of breastmilk.

Answer 9

You do NOT need to supplement if you plan on exclusively breastfeeding. If you supplement with formula, you will have serious supply problems. Breastfeeding works on supply and demand - the more your babies nurse, the more milk your body will produce. The more formula they drink, the less they nurse, the less milk your body will produce.



How do you know your babies will be born so early? Not all twins are born super early.

Answer 10

My son was born 5 weeks early unexpectedly and I tried breastfeeding. It was difficult for him to latch because of his small mouth and my large breast. I was able to get breastmilk in him for 2 weeks until he just stopped latching on all together. I then switched to formula (which I had been supplementing with all along because I wasn't making enough) because it was the best choice for us. We are both much happier this way. Best of luck to you.



I used Enfamil Premium to supplement and then switched to the Gentlease formula because he was getting bad gas pains.