Breastfeeding Twins

Some people wonder whether it is possible to have enough breast milk for twin babies, and yes it is, it is possible to have enough milk for both your babies and extra for freezing. Not only will your baby twins receive all the benefits of breastfeeding, but you will also reap the rewards…you will save lots and lots of money and time ;-)

You don’t need to worry about not having enough milk. The more your babies suck and empty your breasts the more milk your breasts will produce. You might need to do some breastfeeding and pumping for the first couple of weeks just to get your milk supply up.

Breastfeeding when your twins are premature …read more on

Breastfeeding vs bottle feeding twins

Breast feeding saves time spent cleaning and sterilizing bottles preparing the formula and heating milk. According to La Leche League International, breastfeeding twins during the first year saves a mother about 300 hours and more than $1,200.

Tips for breastfeeding twins

- Relax. Make sure you have somebody else to do the dirty work, or at least most of it! Focus on feeding your babies and forget about everything else. Accept all the help you can get.

- Bottle feeding breast milk - Get yourself a good nursing pump so that you can store milk for times when you need to bottle feed your twins. A heavy-duty, electric double pump action breast pump is the best to use.

- Try different breastfeeding positions, try breastfeeding one at a time or both together until you find what works for you

- Drink enough water, your body will need the fluid to keep up with milk production. Keep a glass of water nearby especially during feedings. Also, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, keep snacks handy during breastfeeding.

- Sleep when your babies sleep… this will help you cope with their eating times. Whatever you do try to get eight hours sleep every day.

- Offer your breasts to your babies when they wake up, don’t leave it too long…as they might become fussy and miserable.

- Breastfeeding twins together will leave you with more time for yourself! A baby feeding schedule isn’t always possible with two babies that have different needs.

- Get yourself a comfortable twin nursing pillow before the birth to take to the hospital with you. A good breastfeeding pillow can ease allot of the stress, because you wont still have to struggle with getting comfortable.

- Be prepared to breastfeed often! Keep in mind that it gets easier as time goes by

- Get together with other women who have successfully breastfed twins. Pick up some hints, ideas and advice

- Try to breastfeed your babies immediately after birth if this is not possible then start to pump until you can breastfeed them.

- Do not assign your babies to their own breasts; rather keep putting them on the opposite breast every time you feed. If you do this, you won’t have one breast becoming bigger than the other due to them having their own sucking patterns.

- If your nipples become sore try nursing more often instead of longer periods of time. Read more on how to handle sore painful nipples

Healthy Twin Pregnancy

Your babies should feed for at least 10 min at a time at least eight times during a 24 hour period. They' should be gaining an ounce a day by the fifth day after birth until at least three months of age. More info on how to know if your baby is getting in enough breastmilk… click here

Positions for breastfeeding twins

- You could breastfeed them separately and use any normal breast feeding position

- Football hold – Babies are breastfed facing each other in opposite directions with their heads at the front of mom’s chest and bodies tucked under mom's arms

- Parallel - Babies lie in the same direction, one baby's head will rest on the other baby's tummy.

- Cross-cradle - Each baby is held in the cradle position. One baby's feet will rest on the other baby.

You need patience and willpower for nursing twins; it’s sometimes helpful to make yourself the target of breastfeeding for three months. Some days you might feel like all you do is breastfeed. But it will be worth it in the end!

Other breast feeding information pages that could be helpful for your different breastfeeding problems while breastfeeding twins

- Breastfeeding positions

- Breastfeeding diet guidelines

- Breastfeeding preemies

- Dealing with breastfeeding criticism

- Breastfeeding triplets and more

For more information on having twins, from twin pregnancy to raising twins and much more go to www.having-twins.com

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