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Breastfeeding Twins Series
The Principle of Supply and Demand
By Melissa Clark Vickers
Preparing for the arrival of twins is much like preparing for the arrival of just one baby, only more so. The more you learn ahead of time, the better prepared you'll be when the time comes. Chances are good that you'll learn ahead of time that you are carrying twins, so you'll have at least a little time to adjust to the idea before your babies arrive. In order to prepare for breastfeeding twins, take time to learn as much as you can about:
- Normal breastfeeding – Read all you can about how breastfeeding is supposed to work. Learn how to tell when things are going well – and when they are not. An excellent source of information is La Leche League International's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (Plume Books, 1997). Remember that all the benefits of breastfeeding apply to twins – doubly so. They'll be healthier, you'll decrease your risk of breast cancer and you'll save time and money by not having to deal with formula!
- Breastfeeding preterm infants – Chances are greater that your babies will arrive early, and it helps to learn ahead of time what that might mean – and not just for breastfeeding, either. For example, there is evidence that you can decrease the chance of a preterm delivery by increasing your calorie and protein intake during your pregnancy.
- Expressing and storing milk – Depending on whether your babies come early, how early and whether they require special hospital care, you may need to pump your milk and store it so it can b used as the babies are ready for it. Check out pumps in your area. The best ones – especially if your babies won't be ready to go to the breast from birth – are the larger rental hospital-grade pumps, such as the ones made by Medela, Ameda/Egnell (Hollister) and White River.
Managing twinsWant to see more?
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