Keep nursing and gradually increase the amount of formula they are getting while decreasing the breastfeeding. If you are getting engorged you are going too fast and can end up with plugged ducts and mastitis.
Drop ONE nursing per week till gone. Only one. You can speed it up a little by dropping a feeding every 3 days... but don't go faster than that because you will end up engorged.
Your other alternative is to get on estrogen birth control TODAY. YAZ in particular is a known supply killer that will have you dry by Friday.
Fair warning, however. The twins will remain equally hungry and demanding and you'll get fewer breaks with bottle feeding. And more expense with formula for two; even WIC doesn't provide full coverage for it any more. So think VERY carefully. This is a short term problem. Six week olds are pretty gnarly. You don't want to trade a short term problem for a long term one.
yep.
And just to add,m if they take your breast, than maybe if you stop pumping and just nurse than that will save you time as well. Also if you can use a carrier that may help too. I have never nursed twins but I have nursed two babies. who were 20 months apart. Once they can hold their heads up it gets sooo much easier! You can nurse them both at the same time as well. Having just one child at that age is challenging, I bet its even more challenging with two......but its so worth it, and once you get past this part it does get easier to nurse.
Quoting gdiamante:
Drop ONE nursing per week till gone. Only one. You can speed it up a little by dropping a feeding every 3 days... but don't go faster than that because you will end up engorged.
Your other alternative is to get on estrogen birth control TODAY. YAZ in particular is a known supply killer that will have you dry by Friday.
Fair warning, however. The twins will remain equally hungry and demanding and you'll get fewer breaks with bottle feeding. And more expense with formula for two; even WIC doesn't provide full coverage for it any more. So think VERY carefully. This is a short term problem. Six week olds are pretty gnarly. You don't want to trade a short term problem for a long term one.
Quoting gdiamante:Drop ONE nursing per week till gone. Only one. You can speed it up a little by dropping a feeding every 3 days... but don't go faster than that because you will end up engorged.
Your other alternative is to get on estrogen birth control TODAY. YAZ in particular is a known supply killer that will have you dry by Friday.
Fair warning, however. The twins will remain equally hungry and demanding and you'll get fewer breaks with bottle feeding. And more expense with formula for two; even WIC doesn't provide full coverage for it any more. So think VERY carefully. This is a short term problem. Six week olds are pretty gnarly. You don't want to trade a short term problem for a long term one.
My baby was nursing every hour at 6 weeks up through about 7 and a half weeks. They are going through a growth spurt. Now he is almost 4 months and only eats every 3-4 hours during the day and I get a 7-9 hour stretch at night. Feeding off the boob takes a lot less time and effort than properly making a bottle and all the cleanup that goes along with it. I don't know how anyone could make it pumping constantly though, I hate the 3 12 hour shifts I have to pump during I couldn't imagine trying that around the clock, especially for twins! Good luck!
I felt like it was never going to end but I promise it will get easier.
Get a pillow lay them on it w their feet toward your back you can nurse both at the same time.
As often as they want. There's no single answer to that... and you can nurse when you want and supplement, or pump for part of the time. It's never an all or nothing situation... but, if you WANT to exclusively breastfeed, you can do that too... It's entirely up to you and what works best for you.
6 weeks is a hard age... just expect to spend a few days with them on the couch nursing and changing diapers. Watch some good movies, read a book, play online.. etc... it will pass!
Quoting purple-vanity:
So how often should I nurse? They are already drinking 4oz of formula.
Quoting gdiamante:Drop ONE nursing per week till gone. Only one. You can speed it up a little by dropping a feeding every 3 days... but don't go faster than that because you will end up engorged.
Your other alternative is to get on estrogen birth control TODAY. YAZ in particular is a known supply killer that will have you dry by Friday.
Fair warning, however. The twins will remain equally hungry and demanding and you'll get fewer breaks with bottle feeding. And more expense with formula for two; even WIC doesn't provide full coverage for it any more. So think VERY carefully. This is a short term problem. Six week olds are pretty gnarly. You don't want to trade a short term problem for a long term one.
Quoting SewingMamaLele:As often as they want. There's no single answer to that... and you can nurse when you want and supplement, or pump for part of the time. It's never an all or nothing situation... but, if you WANT to exclusively breastfeed, you can do that too... It's entirely up to you and what works best for you.
6 weeks is a hard age... just expect to spend a few days with them on the couch nursing and changing diapers. Watch some good movies, read a book, play online.. etc... it will pass!
Quoting purple-vanity:
So how often should I nurse? They are already drinking 4oz of formula.
Quoting gdiamante:Drop ONE nursing per week till gone. Only one. You can speed it up a little by dropping a feeding every 3 days... but don't go faster than that because you will end up engorged.
Your other alternative is to get on estrogen birth control TODAY. YAZ in particular is a known supply killer that will have you dry by Friday.
Fair warning, however. The twins will remain equally hungry and demanding and you'll get fewer breaks with bottle feeding. And more expense with formula for two; even WIC doesn't provide full coverage for it any more. So think VERY carefully. This is a short term problem. Six week olds are pretty gnarly. You don't want to trade a short term problem for a long term one.
6 weeks is tough as it's growth spurt time! Just nurse, nurse, nurse and after about a week it should even back out. Don't stop cold turkey though, you'll end up with worse problems than the constant nursing felt like:)
I'm currently nursing twins. They are 2 weeks old tomorrow and they are hungry all of the time it seems like. I think maybe they are hitting a growth spurt early. I'm fortunate that they are fast eaters. They are usually done in 10 minutes...sometimes a little longer, but not usually. It will get better. i know some days i feel like a jersey cow, but with all the trouble i had with my daughter, i'm so glad that it's working out. my boys also had jaundice when they were born. they had to be under bili lights and have supplemental formula...they always nursed on me first though and my nurses and theirs were very pro breastfeeding. it's very possible to keep going. i'm giving you all the encouragement in the world. you can do it :)
caught the stomach flu and now i dont produce enough
- purple-vanity
on Aug. 21, 2012 at 10:24 AM