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Breastfeeding Your Twins
By Rochelle Caviness
Breastfeeding twins can be a challenge.
Luckily you have two hands and two breasts – with a little preplanning and patience you should find that feeding your twins is not really any harder than breastfeeding one baby.
Before the babies are born:
When planning to breastfeed twins, it is important that you eat a well balanced diet throughout your pregnancy and that you follow a recommended exercise regiment.
- This will help your body recover from the delivery faster and will provide you with the energy you need to care for twins.
- Seek out a support group. Not only for support, but in order to learn the 'tricks of the trade' before the babies arrive.
- Read as much as you can on breastfeeding. Everything that applies to breastfeeding one baby applies to feeding two.
Premature Birth
Many multiple births occur prematurely; therefore, it is imperative that you obtain adequate prenatal care. A premature birthing may also mean that you cannot begin breastfeeding your babies immediately.- In order to ensure a good milk flow later, manually, or with a breast pump, begin to express your milk soon after the birth.
- Many hospitals will allow you to feed your expressed milk to the preemie. If the baby is not developed enough to handle the expressed milk, it can be frozen and fed to the baby later. As soon as the babies are strong enough to be held, you can normally begin to breastfeed a preemie.
- Mothers' of preemies are often encouraged to provide as much of their initial milk (colostrum) for the baby, even if they do not plan on nursing. The colostrum provides valuable antibodies to the baby.
Breastfeeding Twins
Feeding on demand is recommended, especially during the first few months of life. Be sure to drink lots of fluids, eat well, and get plenty of sleep – you'll need it! - There is no right way to hold the babies while nursing. You will need to experiment to find out what positions are best.
- It is also a matter of preference, if you give each baby its own individual breast or if you alternate.
- Keep a list of who feeds and for how long so that you can assure yourself that both are getting enough to eat.
Relaying on a Bottle
If you find it necessary to feed your babies with expressed milk, such as when you are at work, try not to feed the babies with a bottle.
Some babies prefer to eat from a bottle and may be reluctant to switch back to the breast. The 
