aussietwirler
01-03-2008, 06:39 PM
:peeking"Hi all!
Finding my way around this place and doesn't seem to be an Introductions section, so thought I'd post a copy of my twin feeding journey that I posted on another forum, if that's ok?
I'm an Aussie twin Mum of 3 (7 year DD & 18 mth DS's) and gotta say although I know lots of twin Mum's who have breastfed without any probs, I found it one of the biggest challenges of my life!
* Twins born at 34 weeks and Nasal Gastric fed for 2 weeks mostly EBM.. I was so proud that their very first meal was all me
* At 2 weeks we first attempted feeding but had attachment problems
* Fixed with nipple shields, so left hospital when 3 weeks fully feeding 4 hourly
* Got home and they fed 2-3 hourly Good God I was sooo tired
* Feeding was taking 1 - 1.5 hours (feed - change nappy to wake - feed again)
* 8 weeks Nipple Thrush from nipple shields (nice warm moist environment to breed)
* Paid for LC to come visit to help get them off Nipple shield & week later we had success
* 9 weeks Mastitis I would sit and cry in the bathroom expressing saying "I hate breastfeeding".
* Supply dropped at least 50% due to Mastitis
* Antibiotics, motillium & other concoctions & expressed after every feed to get supply back up
* Continous lumpy painful boobs requiring ultrasound heat therapy & professional massaging
* Spend 5 days at Mother Baby Unit & back to fully breastfeeding
* Nipple thrush from antibiotics
* Nipple thrush again.. and again
* Numerous visits to Doctors and LC's & in the end a strong course of Diflucan Tablets cleared it up
* 3-4 mths and feeding still painful... finally diagnosed with Vasospasms
* Warming pads, change in diet and watching my environment and eventually it eased over the months
* 5 mths & Low weight gains, so instructed to comp feed twice a day
* Loss of confidence in my ability to breastfeed resulted in me comping more and more after most feeds
* 6 mths & spend 6 days at Mother Baby Unit to unwrap, undummy and separate the boys
* Leave MBU unsuccessful on sleep issues.. BUT we leave there fully Breastfeeding
* 9 - 10 months Ashley did start to bit (and draw blood) but we got through it.
* 12 months I went back to work and we had dropped to 3 feeds a day
* 14 months we dropped to just morning and night feed.. 2 feeds a day
* 16/17 mths & just 1 feed before Breakfast, but only if Mum shoves in their faces & forces the issue.
* 18 mths and they have self weaned :nono: :(
I am SOOO glad I persevered Psychiatrist, GP, Health Nurses etc told me to give up after all my problems because to be honest, it did send me into a state of Depression But I'm just a stubborn Cow who reads too much and just couldn't bring myself to do it (and believe me there were many times when I really wanted to). I just knew how much better off they would be with breastmilk.. so I virtually guilted myself into continuing.
The moral of the story.. with some determination, moral support and actively getting help you can breastfeed.. whether it be one, two or more!
Thank you for reading my story and I hope that this might inspire someone along the way
Finding my way around this place and doesn't seem to be an Introductions section, so thought I'd post a copy of my twin feeding journey that I posted on another forum, if that's ok?
I'm an Aussie twin Mum of 3 (7 year DD & 18 mth DS's) and gotta say although I know lots of twin Mum's who have breastfed without any probs, I found it one of the biggest challenges of my life!
* Twins born at 34 weeks and Nasal Gastric fed for 2 weeks mostly EBM.. I was so proud that their very first meal was all me
* At 2 weeks we first attempted feeding but had attachment problems
* Fixed with nipple shields, so left hospital when 3 weeks fully feeding 4 hourly
* Got home and they fed 2-3 hourly Good God I was sooo tired
* Feeding was taking 1 - 1.5 hours (feed - change nappy to wake - feed again)
* 8 weeks Nipple Thrush from nipple shields (nice warm moist environment to breed)
* Paid for LC to come visit to help get them off Nipple shield & week later we had success
* 9 weeks Mastitis I would sit and cry in the bathroom expressing saying "I hate breastfeeding".
* Supply dropped at least 50% due to Mastitis
* Antibiotics, motillium & other concoctions & expressed after every feed to get supply back up
* Continous lumpy painful boobs requiring ultrasound heat therapy & professional massaging
* Spend 5 days at Mother Baby Unit & back to fully breastfeeding
* Nipple thrush from antibiotics
* Nipple thrush again.. and again
* Numerous visits to Doctors and LC's & in the end a strong course of Diflucan Tablets cleared it up
* 3-4 mths and feeding still painful... finally diagnosed with Vasospasms
* Warming pads, change in diet and watching my environment and eventually it eased over the months
* 5 mths & Low weight gains, so instructed to comp feed twice a day
* Loss of confidence in my ability to breastfeed resulted in me comping more and more after most feeds
* 6 mths & spend 6 days at Mother Baby Unit to unwrap, undummy and separate the boys
* Leave MBU unsuccessful on sleep issues.. BUT we leave there fully Breastfeeding
* 9 - 10 months Ashley did start to bit (and draw blood) but we got through it.
* 12 months I went back to work and we had dropped to 3 feeds a day
* 14 months we dropped to just morning and night feed.. 2 feeds a day
* 16/17 mths & just 1 feed before Breakfast, but only if Mum shoves in their faces & forces the issue.
* 18 mths and they have self weaned :nono: :(
I am SOOO glad I persevered Psychiatrist, GP, Health Nurses etc told me to give up after all my problems because to be honest, it did send me into a state of Depression But I'm just a stubborn Cow who reads too much and just couldn't bring myself to do it (and believe me there were many times when I really wanted to). I just knew how much better off they would be with breastmilk.. so I virtually guilted myself into continuing.
The moral of the story.. with some determination, moral support and actively getting help you can breastfeed.. whether it be one, two or more!
Thank you for reading my story and I hope that this might inspire someone along the way