Breast Feeding Diaries

I wanted to take some time to share/document how we feed our twins. I'm always interested in hearing other people's stories about what worked for them and I like to share my story in hopes that it could help other mamas out.

All photos by Jen Wertman Photography

For the first 3-4 months I was feeding the twins my own breast milk. They were super tiny and not gaining weight (hello, they had to share!) so the doctor suggested supplementing them with formula. At the time my best friend happened to have a HUGE stash of  breast milk in her freezer since her baby refused to take a bottle and she only took one side at a time. She gave it all to me and I began giving the twins 2 ounces of extra breast milk before bed at night.

As the months went on she wasn't pumping as much and it was looking like we were going to need to start supplementing them with formula. This time around I told myself that I would do the best I could but if I needed to use formula it wouldn't be the end of the world. I was not that open minded with Blair. As it turned out I found another friend who was able to give me a TON of her breast milk and to this day we still supplement with both mamas milk! Talk about bosom buddies... ;)

Fast forward to now and the twins currently take 3 ounces of breast milk in a bottle (from my friends) at their 11:30 and 3:30 feedings and four ounces at their bedtime feeding. We make sure to give them the bottle before they breast feed from me so that they end their feeding session on me feeling full and satisfied. My lactation consultant said they will associate a fully belly with mama and this will prevent them from refusing to nurse and only bottle feeding. During their first feed of the day (7:30 am) they don't need a supplement because I'm so full from not nursing overnight. Each baby takes 10 ounces a day...20 total (on top of what I provide them). It's a miracle that we've been able to find friends who can, and are willing to, pump this much extra for us!

At this point I'm riding the gravy milk train as far as it will take me. I was hoping the twins could be solely on breast milk for six months and here they are still on breast milk at seven months! I'm thankful for this but not obsessing over when/if it will end. No matter what the twins will get fed whether it be from me, friends, formula or solids. I'm doing what works for us, and this set up happens to be best for our situation with twins.

It takes a village to raise kids and apparently 3 mamas to feed 2 babies. ;)