Well done Angelina and Brad! Vivienne & Knox are too cute!

Re: tips for breastfeeding twins and higher multiples — I hope it’s OK to suggest a book I wrote (and La Leche League publishes) entitled Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins or More, which is based on all the info shared over a couple of decades by mothers of twins, triplets and (a few sets of) quads at our special LLL group just for mothers of multiples. (Latest edition/revision is 2007.) Our LLL group is still meeting and those of us leading the group are constantly learning from these moms. I also have a lot of info/tips about breastfeeding twins and other multiples at my web site http://www.karengromada.com. Of course, I’m also a mom of twins — identical (MZ) boys.

Main tips:
1. Be persistent! Learning to work as a breastfeeding trio (mom plus 2 infants) requires more of a learning curve — but once everyone gets it, it’s so much easier — always available, ready in an instant day or night, free, etc. — and so worth it.
2. If having to pump because babies were early or needed extra time to figure out breastfeeding, RENT a breast pump. Mom will get more milk in less time than with even the best “personal” purchased pump.
3. Partial breastfeeding beats no breastfeeding. If physical or family situations don’t allow for exclusive breastfeeding, some breastfeeding (or mom’s milk) is always better than none!

Hang in…

Karen G

My mom breastfed twins 45 years ago and was a true anomaly! Thanks for making it seem like a healthy and possible way to go to nourish and bond with your multiples. Great article and thanks for writing it!
Alma

I breastfed twins for 9 months and it was a great experience. I think the key is having enough milk for twins. If you have a good enough supply, anyone can do it. It does take a lot of time, but I fed mine at the same time almost every feeding. That saved a lot of time – especially since I had a toddler who needed attention.

Wow…there are some amazing moms on this blog. I am the proud mother of 14 month old fraternal twin girls. I had an emergency-C and both were small and not doing so well, so they were taken away immediately. The nursing was so hard at first and they didn’t bring me both kids when it as time to nurse, so they got some formula and then it was really easy for this super tired mom to continue supplementing. However, I really wanted to nurse, so I got lactation consultants twice. Once at a week and once at 6 weeks. At six weeks, the woman from LaLeche laughed at me and said just throw out the supplemental milk and you’ll see you’ll have enough milk. I stopped everything for about a week and threw myself into the nursing (and that meant good eating and drinking enough water)-and voila-she was right . I threw out the bottles and we have been having “nursing parties” ever since.
My advice for future parents of twins who want to nurse. Have a plan, but be flexible. You don’t know how your delivery will go-don’t get discouraged early and freak out. Just go with the flow and try to be calm-you are likely to have a panic attack from lots of other things in those first few weeks anyway. Get a great nursing pillow, a chair that is good for you and make space in your heart. Those first few weeks/months require a lot of time and patience. If you can nurse tandem, you’ll get a lot more sleep time for yourself and your kids will have a special bond. You must eat well and drink enough. Esp. if you are giving birth in the summer. At some point, each kid is drinking a liter of milk from you a day and you need a liter for yourself, so you have to drink 3 liters at a minimum. I generally nursed them sep. at night and also during the day now too (although they nurse on demand during the day with one really wanting to stay nursing and one not so interested anymore except at night). My final comment-give each of them a side and stick to it. In all fairness, the jury is out on this and other people might say differently, but here was my reason: I tried the other way (switching each kid each nurse) but I was slightly uneven and they each ate consistently different amounts (in addition to not being able to remember who I had nursed and on which side) and I would get engorged or be empty at each feed. Instead, I gave each kid a side that they seemed to like best. My daughter who ate more, still does and so she got the more side. They were both born at (or below) the 5th percentile. By 3 months and after 2 months of exclusive nursing, they were both in the 95th percentile. At 14 months, they haven’t really been ill or even ever had an ear infection, they eat everything, nap well and are pure happiness and joy for me. And yes, they regularly hold hands or tickle each other while nursing. Whatever your decision, just enjoy your twins and welcome to the MOT club!

I have six kids that last two of which are 5 month old identical twins. I have breastfed all of mine for around the first year. The twins are hard going but now they are on solids its much easier–i have a 1 1/2 year old as well-so its all go. Its great to see someone so high profile as her breastfeeding–but in fairness must be much easier having the money for all the help she needs!!!

I am mother of six kids–and my last two are 5 month old identical twins. Have been breastfeeding them as well–hope to continue for some time. Its great that Angelina is breast feeding–twins are much harder to feed yourself-and there isn’t the same enjoyment as with singletons!! But for me now its easy they are on solids.

I found that nursing my twins together during the day and separately at night saved time and let me sleep more. I kept the babies in bed with me and nursed them as the woke so that I could sleep through it without getting up. During the day I kept pillows handy for positioning and when one was hungry I’d nurse them both. They are 2 now and still nursing and I’m a few weeks away from having my second set of twins-who will also be breastfed!

That’s great that she’s breastfeeding twins! I know there’s a lot of misinformation out there. I nursed my 2 boys that were 22 months apart for 18 months. It’s not the same as nursing twins – probably easier, since the older one could wait, but we tandem nursed many of the times.

dsmom, when the baby travels down the birth canal it sends a signal to the brain to produce the hormones that stimulate milk production. However, breastfeeding can be initiated successfully no matter what kind of birth a woman has had. Studies have found that the two most important factors leading to a successful breastfeeding relationship are; putting the baby to the breast immediately after birth (within 30 min., often babies delivered by c-section are taken away from the mother and given formula, two things that will greatly hamper breastfeeding initiation) and the amount of support the new mom receives. I happen to think that the support of friends, family and community are invaluable. With enough support a new mom can do anything.