If you have questions like, “How should breastfeeding be in twin babies?”, “Which breastfeeding positions should be used?”, “How should I plan the breastfeeding order?”, “How should the mother’s nutrition be in this process?” today we are with the article we compiled for our parents with twin babies.
Breast milk is a miraculous food that perfectly meets all the needs of a baby during the first 6 months. Every mother’s milk is special. Every mother produces milk suitable for her baby. In addition, the content of breast milk varies according to the baby’s month, energy needs, developmental status and even the weight or number of babies.
Is Only Breast Milk Sufficient for Twin Babies?
According to studies, it has been determined that mothers of twin babies produce close to 2-2.5 LT milk per day for the first 6 months. If you are a mother of twins, your body realizes this and produces enough milk for both babies! However, in some twin babies, baby food can be started as a supplement to breast milk, if necessary, by following the development of the babies. At this point, we emphasize that the development of your babies should be evaluated by your doctor, and the decision on formula should be made by your doctor.
The best way to assess whether you have enough milk for your babies is to examine your baby’s weight gain.
Breastfeeding for Twin Babies
Breastfeeding in twin babies differs in two ways compared to breastfeeding of a single baby. These are breastfeeding patterns and breastfeeding positions.
Breastfeeding Patterns for Twin Babies
The breastfeeding pattern is different from the normal in twin babies as there are two babies who need breast milk at the same time. There are two techniques, alternately breastfeeding and simultaneous breastfeeding.
We compared the methods of breastfeeding at the same time and breastfeeding alternately and talked about the advantages and disadvantages for you. You can examine both ways and choose the one that suits you best and the one you feel most comfortable with.
Sequential Breastfeeding in Twins
It is a very common method of breastfeeding twin babies. In this method, you breastfeed your babies alternately.
Advantages:
- It is more comfortable than breastfeeding at the same time because you are breastfeeding one baby at a time.
- You will be paying attention to your babies individually and spending one-on-one time.
Disadvantages:
- Especially if we consider the time that newborns spend at the breast, it is more tiring. It takes more time as the number of breastfeeding increases.
- While one baby is feeding, the other baby will also be hungry, so they may get impatient and cry.
Simultaneous Breastfeeding for Twins
It is a method of breastfeeding twin babies simultaneously and in the same position.
Advantages:
- It saves time as you breastfeed both babies at the same time.
- While one baby sucks, the other does not have to wait.
- Since both breasts will be stimulated equally, the milk secretion mechanism works more balanced.
- At the same time, you support more skin-to-skin contact, more stimulation of the oxytocin reflex and more milk secretion by breastfeeding.
Disadvantages:
- It is physically tiring since two babies will be held simultaneously.
Things to Consider While Breastfeeding Your Twin Babies
There are some important points that you should pay attention to while breastfeeding twin babies.
The content of the first milk from the breast and the hindmilk is not the same. The milk that comes first has higher lactose and water content, while the last milk has a higher fat content. It is important for the development of the baby to receive both of these milks. For this reason, you should breastfeed at the same time or alternately. You should give the right and left breast to a different baby at each feeding.
For example, if one baby sucked on your right breast at one feed, you should give your right breast to the other baby at the next feed. In this way, both babies receive these two milks, which have different nutritional content.
At the same time, when you apply this transformation;
- It produces an equal amount of milk in both breasts, stimulated by both babies.
- If a baby has a weaker sucking reflex, you will always be sucking on the same breast to prevent less stimulation in that breast.
- You establish a balanced system for both your babies’ milk intake and the milk production in your breasts.
Another point you should pay attention to is to follow your babies’ hunger signs. Especially if you are breastfeeding in turns, your baby may get impatient and cry while you feed one baby. In the early signs of hunger, the baby’s movements increase, and it begins to be sought. In progressive symptoms, he stretches and yawns. As her hunger level increases, she starts to suck her hands. In late symptoms, the baby goes into a crying crisis, and the stress level reaches a high level.
The baby who reaches this point does not hold the breast even if the breast is given. It should be sedated before breastfeeding. A baby should be fed at the latest when signs of progressive hunger, which is stage 2.
Breastfeeding Positions for Twin Babies
There are some special positions applied for simultaneous breastfeeding of twin babies. The most commonly used of these are “Leaning Breastfeeding”, “Front Cross Grip”, and “Cross Football Grip”.
Cross Football Grip
In this position, after placing both your babies on your nursing pillow, you position them under your seats and support their heads with your palms.
Front Cross Grip
In this position, after placing your babies on the breastfeeding pillow, you put them on your chest, as in the image, diagonally.
Upright Breastfeeding
This position can be used to breastfeed twins who are slightly older by month. Babies are positioned on the nursing pillow, facing the mother’s breasts.
Leaning Breastfeeding (Natural Breastfeeding Position)
In this breastfeeding position, the mother leans back, supports her back with a pillow, and breastfeeds both babies by laying them on her chest.
Using a Breastfeeding Pillow for Twin Babies
Oxytocin, the hormone responsible for milk secretion, is greatly affected by the mother’s mood and stress level. If you are stressed and nervous, your baby will feel it and become restless. Therefore, it is very important that you take a comfortable position and be relaxed during breastfeeding.
This is where breastfeeding pillows come to your aid!
The nursing pillow ensures that both you and your babies take a comfortable position during breastfeeding. It helps you to adjust the distance between you and your babies during breastfeeding, while supporting your waist and preventing the problem of low back and back pain.
In addition, with the breastfeeding pillow, your babies can settle on the breast more easily and grasp the breast better. In this way, you will have an effective breastfeeding.
The use of breastfeeding pillows is especially important for mothers of twin babies. Because holding both babies at the same time can be tiring most of the time.
With the breastfeeding pillow, you can use your hands and arms more comfortably as you place your babies better while breastfeeding your twins. Thus, getting more contact with your babies will stimulate your oxytocin reflex and support your milk flow.
How Should the Mother’s Nutrition be during Breastfeeding in Twin Babies?
Proper nutrition during breastfeeding is very important. The energy required for the breastfeeding process is met from the foods consumed by the mother and from her own stores. For the mental and physical development of the baby, and not to waste the mother’s warehouses, it should be fed quality and adequately during the breastfeeding period.
Breastfeeding mothers spend 600-700 calories during the day due to milk production. But when it comes to twin babies, this number reaches 1200-1400 kilocalories. It is very important that you fill this energy deficit from sources with high nutritional value. You should consume enough and balanced each food group. Since you have a high energy deficit, you can increase your portion amounts within the framework of a healthy, natural diet.
Sample Nutrition Program for Twin Breastfeeding Mothers
Breakfast (09.00)
- 1 boiled egg
- Two fingers thick cheese (you can add black cumin seeds)
- 7-8 olives
- 2 teaspoons tahini/molasses
- 2 walnuts
- 3 thin slices of whole wheat/rye/bran bread
Snack(10.30)
- Fennel Tea (1 cup)
- 1 fruit + 10 almonds
Lunch(12.00)
- 8 tablespoons of dark green leafy vegetables
- 6 tablespoons of yoghurt (3 tablespoons of boiled quinoa)
- 2 thin slices of whole wheat/rye/bran bread
Snack (14.30)
- 2 matchbox size tahini halvah + 10 almonds
- Tea that increases breast milk
Snack (17.30)
- 5-6 grissini
- Buttermilk
Dinner (19.30)
- 1 small bowl of soup
- Meat / Chicken / Fish (60 grams of chicken / up to 3 meatballs / 250 grams of fish)
- Salad with plenty of greens (You can add fruit to it)
- 2 thin slices of whole wheat/rye/bran bread or 6 tablespoons of bulgur pilaf
Supper:
- 1 cup lactose-free milk (with cinnamon)
- 1 serving of fruit
Note: This list is general. The diet is personal, and it can be reduced or increased according to personal differences. You, too, should consult a nutritionist to create your own plan.
Would you like to share your experiences and questions as a comment?
Wishing you well!
