Breastfeeding multiples

When you think about breastfeeding your multiples, you might shiver in fear – or maybe you’re looking forward to the challenge. Women have all different kinds of experiences with breastfeeding, both positive and more challenging. And with multiples, your experiences sort of get – well, multiplied.

With great cuteness comes great responsibility. Along with more chubby cheeks and more tiny baby feet to hold, you now have more mouths to feed and more stomachs to fill. Whether you’re committed to exclusively breastfeeding or plan to combination feed, there are some things it can be helpful to know about breastfeeding multiples.

Health benefits

Breastfeeding has positive health benefits for babies. Because more than 60% of multiples are born pre-term, it’s helpful to know that breastmilk has additional benefits for preterm babies. It is easier to digest than formula, and reduces the risk of GI complications and diarrhea. Early exposure to formula may also increase the risk of dairy allergy later in life. The antibodies in breastmilk also reduce the risk of ear infections, urinary tract infections and respiratory illnesses. For more on general breastfeeding benefits, click here!

Multi-tasking

While it might seem like a given as a parent of multiples, learning to multi-task by feeding both babies at the same time can have some advantages. This is called tandem feeding, and it may help to keep them on the same schedule and save you time. Although many moms find this easier once they get the hang of latching, it’s totally okay to work on this from birth. 

 If you’re expecting more than 2 babies, alternate which babies get fed first from feed to feed, and experiment with what keeps your other babies cozy while they wait.

Positions

Okay, so let’s say your little ones have the hang of things, and are fine feeding at the same time. How exactly are you supposed to position both babies to make this possible? You have a couple of options.

  • You can position the babies head to head, with their bodies  turned towards you. This is often called the “football” position.
  • You can mix things up and cradle one in your arm in front of you, and position one on your side with their legs facing the back of your chair in football.
  • You can also cradle both babies at the same time, and overlap them so that their legs form an ‘X’ in your lap.
  • An advanced move is feeding them both while lying down on your side. It requires pillow support and may not be feasible depending on your breast shape/size.

Some of these positions can feel awkward and strange early on. If you don’t like them, you can keep experimenting until you find a position that feels right to you, but these are definitely time-tested methods for feeding two babies at the same time.

Breast pumps

When you’re feeding more than one baby very frequently, it can feel tough to find a time to pump.  But, investing in a pump can give you additional feeding options. Pumping helps stimulate milk production if you need to increase supply, and allows you to let other people help you out at feeding time. If you want to learn more about how to find a pump, take a look here.

“Help! Breastfeeding multiples is driving me up a wall!”

Eventually, this thought might start running through your mind as you’re trying to get breastfeeding multiples down. If it does, don’t panic! There are so many different options that can help you meet your feeding goals. Meeting with a lactation professional, or even getting support for a group designed for parents of multiples can be such a win to help you navigate and feel more secure.You earn gold star for even considering breastfeeding your multiples – it isn’t an easy task. But remember that many other women are in the same boat, and eventually, you’ll figure out what works best for you and your family. There is no one right way to feed your babies, and you deserve support.

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