Friday, June 24

Nursing

Originally I was pumping like crazy to build up my supply. I hardly ever nursed the girls because I couldn't keep track of how much was consumed or produced, so instead I just hooked up to my trusty friend. There was pride in the numbers when I was hitting higher numbers each day.

But then I realized that if I only pumped, sure I'd get high numbers, but then the girls would never learn to nurse. I'd be hooked to the pump until I decided to give up feeding them breastmilk and, well, I really hate the pump. :)

SO I started nursing more- every feed- then giving them a breastmilk bottle to top them off, and then pumping. It was going well... and today at their 9am feed I nursed them simultaneously. (It's still such a pain... I need a better pillow) BUT afterwards I offered them bottles and BOTH refused. I don't know if that means they got a full feed, but it does tell me that they got enough to satisfy them for the time being. VERY cool. (Very uncool is the two breastmilk bottles that are going to waste... :))

9 comments:

LaRae said...

You can store the breastmilk. You are amazing. Nursing twins is hard, I remember always taking my boppy with me everywhere we went. LOL For a lot of people they let down more during an actual nurse than a pumping session. Keep up the amazing job! :)

svallely said...

Don't waste the bottles!! Freeze them!! It is liquid gold! :)

Yay for nursing!!!!! :)

Mindy said...

That's awesome, way to stick with it! It's great to see people who put their best foot forward to feed their multiples (though I'm sure it can be very draining). Keep rockin' it momma!

Catherine W said...

Wow! I really admire you, you must have been pumping like crazy. I've also heard that you sometimes get more let down from nursing than from pumping? Sounds like your girls are getting more than enough anyhow :)

Amy said...

That's awesome! :) I know that I get a lot more milk from nursing my daughter than pumping...and I let down a lot quicker, too. Once you get used to nursing all the time, pumping is such a pain in the butt. You're doing a great job! :)

Stace said...

I can't freeze the bottles because we have to fortify all bottles and after they are fortified they're only good for 24 hours. SO I can save them for a day or so but that's about it. :)

svallely said...

Can't you freeze them without the formula and then add the formula after it is defrosted and ready to feed? That is what we did while Ty was in the NICU. I'm just sayin... it's a lot of work to throw away!!!!! :)

Stace said...

We can... and I have frozen a lot, but if the bottles are already made when I've offered them & they've refused then they've already been fortified. So then they're a lost cause. :)

Jen said...

So excited for you!!! Next time don't fortify- see if they will drink any, then fortify??? Or pop those bottles back in the fridge and keep trying with the same bottles for 24 hours- I'm so happy for you!!!