Breastfeeding twins

Tips and advice on breastfeeding twins and triplets

As most twins are born before term, there is even more reason to breastfeed. It may take a little time to get into a routine that works for you and your babies

At first you may find that one baby wants to sleep while the other wants to feed, or one wants to sleep while the other wants to stay awake, which can be exhausting. Give it time and the babies may get into the same feeding and sleeping pattern and your life will become a lot easier.

Benefits of breastfeeding premature twins

Breast milk is better for premature babies as their gut is immature and it’s easier for them to tolerate and digest breast milk. It also helps them to fight infections and it contains hormones and growth factors which will help them to grow and become stronger.

How to breastfeed twins

Some mums like to breastfeed their babies separately while others prefer to breastfeed them together, which can be time-saving and a good way of establishing a plentiful milk supply quickly. There are three ways to feed babies at the same time.

1. The rugby hold is a popular technique where the mother supports her babies’ heads with her hands and uses cushions down both sides to support their bodies
2. The parallel hold position with both babies in front of the mother with their feet pointing in the same direction and supported by cushions
3. A third position with the babies criss-crossed in front of the mother, again supported by cushions

Your milk supply with twins

Lots of skin to skin with both of your babies can help establish your milk supply and encourage the babies to latch.

If your babies are born very prematurely, then expressing the milk and feeding this to them can be an excellent way of providing them with the nourishment they need, and helping to establish breastfeeding when they are bigger.

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, and eating well so that your body has enough energy to produce milk.

Ask for help from those around you to enable you to focus on your babies.

Breastfeeding triplets

If you are feeding triplets, a good way to build up your milk reserves is to use a rotating system. This is done by feeding two babies together for ten minutes and then the third baby for five minutes on each breast. At the next feed, rotate the turn of the third baby to make sure each one gets fed with the first ten minutes of milk supply.