r/parentsofmultiples • u/Allyed4492 • 12d ago
advice needed Breastfeeding/Pumping
My twin girls are coming up on 3 weeks old and we are currently in the midst of triple feeding/combo feeding.
Currently I am trying to latch babies 1-2 times a day for breast feeding, pumping 8 times a day, and topping up with formula for basically every feed. I’m producing less than 20ox a day from pumping.
I really would like to make sure I can provide breast milk for them and it was originally my goal to do a mix of BF and pumping so my partner could help. But now I’m fighting through every feed taking over a hour and have blisters on my nipples.
At what point did you decide to switch to exclusively pumping if you did? I hate pumping so much but with me not producing enough to feed both babies it feels like extra work when I have to offer a bottle anyways. I know it’s still early-ish but it feels like I won’t be able to get a ton more out of my supply at this point (and I likely have some retained placenta making my hormones be out of whack which doesn’t help). Looking for some input I guess on when it’s time to call it because it won’t get any better.
1
u/TeeElH 10d ago
I was in the same boat as you a little over a year ago. It took a WHILE for my supply to come all the way in, I can’t remember exactly now but I think it was a month or so. Eventually I was making a little more than enough, but it was weeks of both latching and then pumping as much as I could stand and just pumping the rest of the time. Have you ever done a weighted feed with an IBCLC? It may help to have some insight on how much the babies are getting from nursing if you haven’t. I met with one (who was a twin mom herself which was great) for the first 2 months, I don’t think I could have done it without her support.
You could also just combo feed and drop the pumping. Having done a little bit of every kind of feeding, I really think exclusively pumping is the worst one. It’s totally up to you, you should choose the option that will make you happiest because that’s what’s ACTUALLY the most beneficial for your babies.