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Problem bottle feeding one of the twins



 
 
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  #11  
Old September 28th 07, 09:28 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
[email protected]
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Posts: 6
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

Hi again,

Thank you for all the great info. Just to clarify, I was talking
about breastmilk in the bottle. As for burping, she does burp well
(finally) but burping her makes no difference in her fighting the
bottle when she starts to do that. She had taken the bottle perfectly
earlier on but maybe now it is just a preference to the breast. I
don't think we're trying to overfeed her because she starts fighting
the bottle sometimes after only taking 1 oz. Typically, we try to
give both of them 4-5 oz per feed when we bottle them (they are each
just under 12 lbs and feed 5-6 times per day). I do feed her sitting
upright and have also tried feeding her by putting her in her bumbo
chair but it doesn't seem to make a difference. The doctor says it is
the reflux and that's where the Prevacid comes in.

I'm going back to work soon and my wife was hoping that she might
exclusively pump and bottle both girls with the breastmilk rather then
nurse them one at a time as it would be far quicker. Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either and until
they can self latch and hold my wife literally needs an extra hand to
do it. Bottling one, nursing the other and then pumping doesn't
really buy her any more time so I guess we'll have to make the
decision on going to formula or not. She's just putting so much
pressure on herself to keep them on breastmilk only...

  #12  
Old September 28th 07, 10:05 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
Anne Rogers[_4_]
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Posts: 670
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

I'm going back to work soon and my wife was hoping that she might
exclusively pump and bottle both girls with the breastmilk rather then
nurse them one at a time as it would be far quicker. Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either and until
they can self latch and hold my wife literally needs an extra hand to
do it. Bottling one, nursing the other and then pumping doesn't
really buy her any more time so I guess we'll have to make the
decision on going to formula or not. She's just putting so much
pressure on herself to keep them on breastmilk only...


I really don't think the logic follows, a bottle shouldn't be consumed
much faster if at all than a feed at the breast, if there is a
significant difference in time taken, then either the bottle nipple is
too fast (which could be yet another reason for the problems one of the
is having), or there is time at the breast which is comfort sucking
which it may be possible to reduce, maybe with the aid of a pacifier.
Even if she bottle feeds them at the same time - which isn't all that
easy and leaves you with no hands free, the time spent pumping, washing
cleaning etc probably negates it. It sounds like it would really help
her to learn to nurse the twins together, at least for some feeds, I
know there are a lot of ways of doing it, but not being a mother of
twins I don't know where to point for the best help or information.

Cheers
Anne
  #13  
Old September 28th 07, 11:22 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
toypup
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Posts: 1,227
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:28:24 -0700, wrote:

I'm going back to work soon and my wife was hoping that she might
exclusively pump and bottle both girls with the breastmilk rather then
nurse them one at a time as it would be far quicker. Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either and until
they can self latch and hold my wife literally needs an extra hand to
do it. Bottling one, nursing the other and then pumping doesn't
really buy her any more time so I guess we'll have to make the
decision on going to formula or not. She's just putting so much
pressure on herself to keep them on breastmilk only...


I personally don't think it saves time to pump and feed rather than just
BF; but then again, I don't have twins. I know that if I had to pump
exclusively for either child, I would have given up completely and switched
entirely to bottle. It's just too hard.

Maybe if she could keep it up for just awhile longer until they are good at
BF'ing, she'll just keep BF'ing. It's hard with a physician's job, but
then maybe you could hire a nanny who will bring the baby to the office at
lunchtime to BF. My DD, who wouldn't take a bottle, would wait until I
came home to BF. I worked a split shift just to accomodate her.
  #14  
Old September 28th 07, 11:44 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
toypup
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Posts: 1,227
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:19:42 -0500, Donna Metler wrote:


It really bothers me to hear people make it sound like it's breastfeeding or
nothing, and that pumping is a major obstacle. Maybe if I'd ever been able
to breastfeed a baby and seen how easy it was, I might feel that way, but
having EPd, I know it can work, even in a worst case scenerio where
breastfeeding just isn't working at all.


I was speaking for myself. I did pump for more than a year for DS and we
combined EBM, formula, BF so I could work. I also pumped for DD until I
finally gave up, since she just wouldn't take a bottle. I hated pumping
with a passion, found it labor intensive and would give it up if I had to
do it full-time. It takes double the work of BF'ing or FF'ing; since in
addition to feeding, one must pump and clean the pump. My friend pumped
exclusively and my hat was off to her (and to you).
  #15  
Old September 29th 07, 04:24 AM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
Jeff
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Posts: 1,321
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

wrote:
Hi again,

Thank you for all the great info. Just to clarify, I was talking
about breastmilk in the bottle. As for burping, she does burp well
(finally) but burping her makes no difference in her fighting the
bottle when she starts to do that. She had taken the bottle perfectly
earlier on but maybe now it is just a preference to the breast. I
don't think we're trying to overfeed her because she starts fighting
the bottle sometimes after only taking 1 oz. Typically, we try to
give both of them 4-5 oz per feed when we bottle them (they are each
just under 12 lbs and feed 5-6 times per day). I do feed her sitting
upright and have also tried feeding her by putting her in her bumbo
chair but it doesn't seem to make a difference. The doctor says it is
the reflux and that's where the Prevacid comes in.

I'm going back to work soon and my wife was hoping that she might
exclusively pump and bottle both girls with the breastmilk rather then
nurse them one at a time as it would be far quicker. Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either and until
they can self latch and hold my wife literally needs an extra hand to
do it. Bottling one, nursing the other and then pumping doesn't
really buy her any more time so I guess we'll have to make the
decision on going to formula or not. She's just putting so much
pressure on herself to keep them on breastmilk only...


One thing is that sometimes kids won't drink mom's breastmilk when mom
is around, but will drink it when she isn't around. I mean why use the
bottle when the tap is around the corner? It's like drinking Sam Adams
dark beer from a bottle when the bar has it on tap (ok, different types
of bottles, but you get the idea). It could be that when she is not
around (and kids will smell her if she is in the next room) or your out
of the house without mom, both kids will suck it down like a sump pump
in a flood.

Jeff
  #16  
Old September 29th 07, 06:51 AM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
Anne Rogers[_4_]
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Posts: 670
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins


It really bothers me to hear people make it sound like it's breastfeeding or
nothing, and that pumping is a major obstacle. Maybe if I'd ever been able
to breastfeed a baby and seen how easy it was, I might feel that way, but
having EPd, I know it can work, even in a worst case scenerio where
breastfeeding just isn't working at all.


but this isn't a situation where breastfeeding isn't working at all,
it's the opposite, breastfeeding seems to be fine and giving bottles is
the issue, a lot of people offered multiple suggestions to solve the
bottle feeding problems. Deciding to EP when breastfeeding is working is
a totally different ball game to deciding to do it when it isn't, you
pretty much had no option, it was give bottles of breastmilk or give
bottles of formula, you committed to the smart choice of pumping for her
- but unfortunately that means you haven't experienced a normal
breastfeeding relationship. Mixed pumping and breastfeeding can work out
great, most of us have done it and I imagine with twins that it could be
a helpful tool. EPing can apparently go pretty well at first, I've seen
it happen many many times, life revolves around baby anyway, you always
have to take a bottle out etc, you just do it, but as time passes it can
get harder and harder to keep the milk supply up, then once they are on
solids they can get a bit more unpredictable, do you take a bottle out
with you or not? will you need to pump on this trip or not? the
convenience of breastfeeding really increases at this point. It all
depends what your goals are - you really are very rare in providing some
ebm through to 2 years, which is the WHO recommendation for
breastfeeding, even 1 year is pretty unusual, so it depends what your
goals are, it's going to look different if you're wanting to make it
another month or another 6 months. The vast majority of the time fixing
a breastfeeding problem is going to get better results than moving to EPing.

Anne
  #17  
Old September 29th 07, 08:18 AM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
betsy
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Posts: 234
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

On Sep 28, 1:28 pm, wrote:
Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either


Does this seem to be because the milk comes out too fast during tandem
nursing? If so, one option might be to latch on the other baby first,
wait until after the fastest part of the first letdown is done, then
switch the first baby to the other side and latch Hannah on to the
first side. Later in the nursing session switching sides again would
be an option. Since this would change the foremilk/hind milk ratio
each would receive, you would want to pay attention to how this
affects their dispositions and growth.


Another thing that might help would be to work on finding a tandem
nursing postion that keeps Hannah more upright. As they grow in the
next weeks, tandem nursing is likely to get a lot easier.


and until
they can self latch and hold my wife literally needs an extra hand to
do it.


It is really hard when they are still at the point where it takes her
full concentration and effort just to keep one latched on. Very good
propping can help but it can be difficult to even get the second one
latched on without loosing the first one's latch. A good tandem
nursing pillow can be especially helpful when they are so small.

Bottling one, nursing the other and then pumping doesn't
really buy her any more time so I guess we'll have to make the
decision on going to formula or not. She's just putting so much
pressure on herself to keep them on breastmilk only...


Despite the fact that it has been a while since their births, they are
still at a stage where nursing them together is a challenge. Does
your wife have any local support from other women who have nursed
twins and made it through the difficult early stages? If not, your
local La Leche League leader might be able to put you in touch with
some.

--Betsy

  #18  
Old September 29th 07, 02:44 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
Rosalie B.
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Posts: 984
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

betsy wrote:

On Sep 28, 1:28 pm, wrote:
Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either


I had two children (not twins but born at separate times) who would
only nurse on the right breast. One of them was quite adamant about
it, and would scream in anger any time I tried the left. (This was
when she was 3 weeks.) I was told (after the fact) that the right
side usually drew down easier if the mom was right handed. So it
wasn't because the milk came out too fast, but the reverse.

So maybe Hannah prefers one breast over the other, and you are trying
to nurse her tandem on her non-preferred side.

Does this seem to be because the milk comes out too fast during tandem
nursing? If so, one option might be to latch on the other baby first,
wait until after the fastest part of the first letdown is done, then
switch the first baby to the other side and latch Hannah on to the
first side. Later in the nursing session switching sides again would
be an option. Since this would change the foremilk/hind milk ratio
each would receive, you would want to pay attention to how this
affects their dispositions and growth.

Another thing that might help would be to work on finding a tandem
nursing postion that keeps Hannah more upright. As they grow in the
next weeks, tandem nursing is likely to get a lot easier.


and until
they can self latch and hold my wife literally needs an extra hand to
do it.


It is really hard when they are still at the point where it takes her
full concentration and effort just to keep one latched on. Very good
propping can help but it can be difficult to even get the second one
latched on without loosing the first one's latch. A good tandem
nursing pillow can be especially helpful when they are so small.

Bottling one, nursing the other and then pumping doesn't
really buy her any more time so I guess we'll have to make the
decision on going to formula or not. She's just putting so much
pressure on herself to keep them on breastmilk only...


Despite the fact that it has been a while since their births, they are
still at a stage where nursing them together is a challenge. Does
your wife have any local support from other women who have nursed
twins and made it through the difficult early stages? If not, your
local La Leche League leader might be able to put you in touch with
some.

--Betsy

  #19  
Old September 29th 07, 04:29 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
NL
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Posts: 444
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

Rosalie B. schrieb:
betsy wrote:

On Sep 28, 1:28 pm, wrote:
Unfortunately,
Hannah doesn't take to the tandem nursing very well either


I had two children (not twins but born at separate times) who would
only nurse on the right breast. One of them was quite adamant about
it, and would scream in anger any time I tried the left. (This was
when she was 3 weeks.) I was told (after the fact) that the right
side usually drew down easier if the mom was right handed. So it
wasn't because the milk came out too fast, but the reverse.


Sara prefers the left, as did Sam. However (!) I went to the doc with
Sara last week to get her neck checked and sure enough she did have one
"blocked" disc (?) in her spine, I think it was the first or second one.
The doc fixed that by basically giving it a push from both sides at
once, and she's a lot better, she turns her head to both sides now and
when she's laying on her back her head's not turned to the side all the
time anymore. She's still no good at nursing on the right breast though
:-/ I think let down is too fast for her there, she latches on fine but
pulls away frequently.

So, if your twin also has some neck issues (doesn't turn her head to one
side, or does so very reluctantly; lays like a banana when her head's
turned to the non preferred side,...) see your doc about it and get a
referral to a "specialist". It's very common for newborn babies to have
this, I'm sure Sam did, too but we didn't find a doc prepared to
check/treat him because they weren't experienced with babies...

cu
nicole (nak, yay!)
  #20  
Old September 29th 07, 06:41 PM posted to alt.parenting.twins-triplets,misc.kids.breastfeeding,misc.kids
betsy
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Posts: 234
Default Problem bottle feeding one of the twins

On Sep 29, 8:29 am, NL wrote:
when she's laying on her back her head's not turned to the side all the
time anymore. She's still no good at nursing on the right breast though
:-/ I think let down is too fast for her there, she latches on fine but
pulls away frequently.


When mine were newborns, they preferred my less productive side. As
they got bigger and more able to handle the more forceful letdown,
they switched to liking the more productive side better.

--Betsy

 




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