Breastfeeding your Twins
Is it possible to breastfeed twins? 
Yes. Some people breastfeed their twins exclusively and thoroughly enjoy doing so. If you would like to try breastfeeding tell your midwife and hopefully she will be able to help you and show you how to breastfeed.
Why should I breastfeed my Twins?
- It passes on some of your immunity,
- You do not have to spend time making bottles or washing up bottles or sterilizing bottles (unless you’re using expressed breast milk)
- It means that you will be able to offer your baby a feed where ever you are
- It is supposed to help you get back to your pre-pregnancy shape quicker
- It helps you to bond with your babies
- It does not cost anything *unless you count buying bottles etc if you express milk!
- Less chance of catching a tummy bug
- The babies are less likely to be constipated
What are the bad points?
- You will be the main person responsible for feeding your babies
- Dad will not be able to offer a feed unless you express your milk
- If you do need to be away from your babies at feeding time you need to have a feed available for them to drink. This may involve you having to express your milk in advance
- You will not be able to go on the Combined Contraceptive Pill
- Some medicines will not be suitable for breastfeeding mums
Should I Breastfeed my twins?
If you would LIKE to breastfeed your twins then breastfeed them. If you are not sure but wonder what it is like, then it is a good idea to try it shortly after you give birth. If the whole idea of breastfeeding your twins leaves you cold, then try not to worry about it at all, it is your choice. At the end of the day you have to do whatever is best for you and your family.
When will I be able to breast feed my twins for the first time?
If your twins are good birth weights and not v. premature, you will probably be able to put them to the breast soon after birth. Your midwife will show you how. If she doesn’t show you how, then ask her to show you.
Breastfeeding, the first few days after birth
At first (in the first 3 days) your milk will not have ‘come in’ yet. During the first few days a special substance called colostrum is produced by your body. This is a yellowy colour and is exactly what your baby needs. It also contains vital antibodies which can help protect him/her from infection. Eventually your body will stop producing colostrum and start producing milk.
How do you breastfeed Twins?
Get Comfortable
If you decide to breast feed then you will need a comfy chair preferably in a room with either an ipod, radio or a tv for entertainment as you will have both hands full supporting a baby under each arm and it can be a little bit boring after a while if you have nothing to listen to whilst you feed!
Have a drink before you start breastfeeding and one after you finish.
A large v shaped cushion is also really good for supporting babies on especially if you have a caesarean section in that you want to take as much pressure as possible off your abdomen. If you don’t have a V shaped cushion you could use some extra pillows stacked up so that your babies mouths are at the same height as your breasts.
What position should I use?
You need to get your babies to take into their mouth a good amount of nipple and the darker surrounding area and form a good seal round it. You should be able to see your babies suckling properly.
If you are worried about whether your babies are latched on properly, ask your midwife to double check how you latch your babies on. Sometimes a little guidance from a midwife or trained lactation consultant can make a huge difference to a mothers experience of breastfeeding.
How long should I allow them to suckle for?
As long as they need is the general recommendation. Some babies (particularly small ones) just need a small amount of milk at a time at frequent intervals. Some babies finish a feed in around 20 minutes, others take a while longer.
How will I know that they are getting enough milk?
You know that you are letting them suckle for long enough if they settle back to sleep soon after a feed and are not hungry again for around 3-4 hours after the feed. Your breasts should feel emptier after a feed.
If you find that your babies are not settling well, are still showing signs of hunger, or are not gaining weight or do not have at least 6-8 wet nappies a day your babies may need longer on the breast. If your breasts are sore after or during a feed you may need help latching your babies on to get them correctly positioned.
Will they both suck the same?
You may find that one twin likes breast feeding and gets a good sucking action right from day one and gets satisfied quickly where her twin may take a while longer to finish each feed. It is possible to work to the needs of each twin, you will get more adept at getting yourself comfortable and being able to put one twin safely down whilst you finish off the other twin.
It takes practice to get it right
Breast feeding can take a little while to become accustomed to, especially if your twins are your first children.
However you will quickly get into the rhythm of picking your babies up, getting ready for feeding and getting comfortable.
Feeding newborn twins- Do I have to feed them together?
NO! You don’t HAVE to feed them both together. Sometimes it is very nice to be able to simply feed them one at a time. I used to do this when my two were little, on an evening, I would cuddle up with one twin at a time and let them have a cuddle and a feed, individually.
However being able to feed them at the same time is a great skill to have as there was often times when I needed to be out of the house for a set time and I didn’t have time to feed them individually. Night time feeds were always given at the same time on the grounds I would have probably been up all night breast feeding if I didn’t feed them together.
Breast AND Bottle?
The argument still rages on regarding whether it is possible and / or sensible to offer babies a mixture of breast feeds and bottle feeds- some experts claim it confuses babies, where as others consider it to be an idea solution.
Personally I believe it offers the maximum amount of flexibility for a family – as long as you still either breast feed or express milk on a regular basis your body will still manufacture breast milk. Giving an occasional bottle (whether containing expressed breast milk or formula) can allow mum to get some sleep or go out, let other family members offer babies their bottles and allow mum to make some good quality breast milk by allowing her to rest a while.) The babies still get the benefits of some breast milk too.
Mixed feeding is ideal if you are going back to work, you can still breastfeed your babies directly before and after work, but allow your babies to either drink expressed breast milk or formula whilst you are at work.
If you are to consider mixed feeding your babies it helps to get bottles with breast like teats, as well as some formula which is similar to breast milk (look on the tin, some milks are marketed as being “similar to breast milk” )
Bottle feeding Twins
The Twinsonline Shop sells a selection of Bottle Feeding Items such as sterilizers, bottles etc please Click Here
Should I bottle feed my babies?
The Pro’s of Bottle Feeding:
- Other family members and friends can offer your babies a bottle, so they can form close bonds with more people
- It can be quite filling so you may find that your babies go slightly longer between feeds.
- If you need to go out for whatever reason you do not need to spend a long time expressing milk
- Your boobs will be yours!!
- The Con’s of Bottle Feeding!
- It involves making bottles, washing bottles, sterilizing bottles etc
- It is expensive you need to buy equipment and also tins of formula
- Your babies may be at a slightly greater risk of tummy bugs if on formula milk
- Your babies may suffer from constipation or pass harder stools if bottle fed
- You need to plan your day so you can feed your babies on demand, so you will need to pack a bottle of formula milk and keep it at the correct temperature and then reheat it.
- Bottle feeding is considered to be more expensive than breast feeding, and involves more time making feeds and storing them correctly and ensuring that they are served at the correct temperature, and sterilizing bottles etc.
- However at least other people can help you with the feeds, if you have a friend round or your partner is home then you can have help with the feeding of them which will free you up a bit.
- The choice is all yours and your children will be fine no matter what method you choose in the end. Just do whatever makes you feel happiest!
What will I need to bottle feed?
If you choose to bottle feed you will need.
- About 12 bottles,
- A bottle brush
- A Steriliser
- Some formula milk.
Make Bottles Up Fresh Each Feed
- You will need to
- Sterilize your bottles,
- Make the bottles quickly,
- Cool them in a jug of cool water until right feeding temperature
- Test on back of your wrist
- When sufficiently cool feed to your babies.
- Choosing Bottles make sure you choose bottles which will hold at least 7floz (200ml) of milk, whilst at first your babies will not be able to drink this amount of milk at first, they soon will, therefore getting the bigger bottles from the start will save you money in the longer term. Buy a bottle brush too.
Teats come in a range of flow sizes, which varies from newborn or slow to fast flow. They are also available in a range of materials from Latex to silicone.
Different babies have different preferences so you might have to buy a range of different teats before you hit on the correct one for your baby.
Also don’t be too alarmed if your twins prefer two different types of teats, this does happen sometimes. (you may also find that one baby takes to breast feeding and the other one would prefer to be bottle fed, again this is something that is perfectly normal and if you are happy to breast feed the one who would prefer to be breastfed then go for it!) each baby has different preferences.
Preparing bottles
Always wash your hands before you start. Make sure that the bottles are scrupulously clean and that they are sterilized. Milk is a fabulous breeding ground for bacteria and therefore it is very, very important that your babies bottles are as clean and germ free as possible.
Should I make all the bottles up in the morning for the day? In the past this was how mums used to make up bottles. However these days it is advisable to make up bottles as you go along see above.
What kind of formula should I use?
This is pretty much a matter of what is available in your area. Babies are generally happier if you stick to one brand of formula. There are plenty of formulas available these days to choose from. If you have any worries do talk them through with your health visitor or contact the formula milk companies help-line, they are very helpful and can advise you with which of their products to choose from
Never offer a baby under the age of 6 months old FOLLOW ON milk as it is not suitable for them.
Some formula fed babies may feel thirsty and it is fine to offer them a drink of cooled boiled water to quench their thirst.
Should I feed them both at the same time?
If you can find a partner or friend to help you feed them then that’s brilliant. It is possible to sit each baby in a bouncy chair and feed them simultaneously, but it can be hard on your arms to do that. Also you might find that doing this increases the amount of wind introduced, which can be painful for them.
If time allows try feeding them separately so that you can give each one a cuddle whilst feeding each of them.
How long should my babies use bottles for?
By the time your babies are one year old you should have them drinking out of lidded beakers. Bottles are bad for teeth in the longer term therefore you should ensure that they do not use bottles beyond a year old.
Night feeds
Always ensure you have a couple of bottles ready for the dreaded night feeds if you are bottle feeding. If you are breast feeding you need to have a drink to hand, a glass of water would work fine or make a point of having a drink after your babies have had their feed. Some mums take a flask up with them! If you want to be ultra trendy and have the space you could always buy one of these mini-fridges and a kettle for upstairs so you can make yourself a midnight brew without having to go downstairs. My mother-in-law very kindly made some flapjack and some fruit cake which I used to have in a tin near the bed which was ideal for having as a post-night-feed snack!
Establishing good feeding habits from Day One
The best way of establishing good feeding habits is to always ensure that your babies are fed regularly when they are first newborn. Their tiny tummies will not be able to hold very much milk at first and they may find feeding to be quite tiring. Therefore ensure you don’t go longer than around 3 hours between feeds at first. If you let them get too hungry they may be too tired or weak to feed properly which makes it doubly important that they get fed frequently.
If you are breastfeeding ensure that your babies are latched on properly and that they suckle until they are full. Try not to let your babies fall asleep whilst on the breast as this can lead them to need your breast as a comforter and will find it hard to sleep unless they have a breast feed first. Watch out for babies wanting to feed for comfort, some babies love to suckle all day long and will not let mum do anything. In this instance it is vital that you feed them and then put them down to sleep or in their bouncy chair etc rather than give them yet another feed!
If you are bottle feeding make sure that your babies are winded properly after each feed as wind can lead to discomfort and grumpy babies.
If you have any problems regarding establishing a good feeding routine with your twins either email sarah@twinsonline.org.uk or contact your Health Visitor or GP for help
Weight gain
If you are worried about the amount of weight your twins are or aren’t gaining, have a chat to your health visitor. Generally your babies should maintain a steady pattern of weight gain. If your babies were very small or premature they may find it takes them a short while to catch up weight with their peers. If they are happy and not constantly crying, have at least 6-8 wet nappies a day each, are having regular bowel movements and seem alert, that’s a good sign. Try not to compare your babies with other peoples (or each other!) as every baby is different.
If your babies seem drowsy, are not hungry, do not have wet or dirty nappies or constantly cry contact your GP or Health Visitor URGENTLY for advice.
Mixed feeding- the best of both worlds or confusing for babies?
I think it is mixing the best of both worlds. Babies are very adaptable and can quickly learn the difference between bottle feeding and breast feeding. However it helps if you properly establish breastfeeding first and continue to offer some breast feeds on a regular basis. It allows you to go out with the minimum of fuss whilst still giving your babies the benefits of breast milk.
Hungry Bottle fed Babies –help!
If you are bottle feeding your twins and you find that they are constantly hungry, discuss with your health visitor about putting them onto Hungry Baby Milk – a first stage milk designed for babies who have larger appetites.
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Page Last Updated
June 16, 2008
Disclaimer:- Twinsonline is here as a guide only - anything you do you do at your own risk
If you have a health concern please go see the relevant member of your health team (GP, Health Visitor, Midwife, Obstetrician)
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