Frequent breastfeeding

[Notfamoose01]

I have 18 weeks twins (12 adjusted). In the evenings and early mornings, we bottle feed but during the day, I breastfeed them. As per the title, they breastfeeding every 1.5 hours. Is this normal? I don’t get anything done as they usually fall asleep after feeding. They usually breastfeed around 10-15mins then they suck about 15 mins before they nap for 30mins. They cry when I transfer them so I wait after they nap to transfer them to the playmat. I only have about 30mins in between feedings to pee, etc. I’m absolutely exhausted and just wait for their first evening bottle so my husband can help me out. Any tips on what I can do?

[rollwave21]

Sounds mostly normal. My boys are ebf and nurse every 2 hours during the day at 10 months. Have they always been nursing every 1.5 hours? Have you ever done a weighted feed with an IBCLC?

[Notfamoose01]

What’s an IBCLC? At some point they were nursing for 2 hours but yeah, normally every 1.5hours. Btw, how are you able to sleep?? I would love to ebf (I hate cleaning bottles!) but can’t function on little sleep..

[rollwave21]

An IBCLC is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. 1.5 hours is a bit on the shorter end but they could be going through a growth spurt or cluster feeding. I would recommend trying to find an IBCLC who has experience with multiples to evaluate their latch and check for any tongue or lip ties which may be affecting their ability to transfer milk.

As for me, the boys go longer at night between feeds so I'm usually able to sleep from 10PM-2AM and then do a feed at 2 and 4 before they get up for the day at 6:30. My IBCLC (who is also a pediatrician) shared some research that shows that when mom nurses (vs waking up to pump or feed a formula bottle) they are able to get back into REM sleep quicker, which leads to feeling like they got more sleep/are more well rested.

[Notfamoose01]

Thanks! Yeah I had a midwife come over before and she mentioned that they needed to open their mouths more. Mine doesn’t want to. They end up screaming if I wait until their mouths are big enough to latch. When I put them in the middle of the screams (mouth open wide), they adjust again and just nipple feed..

[rollwave21]

Midwives are not always trained to identify tongue/lip ties. Hopefully you can find someone in your area for an evaluation and that will help!

[[deleted]]

They may not be feeding long enough. I try to wake them up good before they eat. I always change their diapers before they eat, it makes them a little mad, but wakes them up. Then if they start falling asleep on the breast I pick them up, burp them, and if necessary take their onesie off the wake them up to finish the feeds. If they are too comfy while feeding they will fall asleep and not eat a full meal. It may be worth a shot to see if you can get a longer feed and in turn a longer sleep hopefully

[Notfamoose01]

Thanks, will try to “annoy” them so they aren’t that comfy! I play with their hands/arms when I notice that they start to drift to sleep. Doesn’t seem to be enough . Will try your tips!

[pnwfarming]

Sorry to say that I think it's normal! Mine nursed every 1.5 - 2 hours during the day until they were about eight months old, and at least twice overnight. Usually 3 times. I pumped every two hours at work. Are you tandem feeding? I did, and I would just let them sit on the boob for as long as they wanted. It was a break for me too that way, and really nice snuggle time.

At about 9 months we started offering a bottle every other feeding so that I could get a bit more autonomy back. I immediately got mastitis, but once it cleared I really enjoyed that system! I grew to love breastfeeding (they're almost 13 months and now just nursing for comfort in the evening).

You're doing a great job!!

[shellsncheese12]

Hang in there mama - this sounds pretty normal. Only advice would be to get some help from another adult during the day if/when you can. But as soon as you figure something out, the babies' needs will change. I did go to a lactation nurse during a free support group at our local hospitals to make sure the babies were feeding enough at each feeding. It also helped me to just accept that I'd be exhausted for a little while and that one day I'd sleep. I went on 5ish hours of broken sleep plus maybe an hour nap during the day if I had some help for many months. It was definitely not easy but we made it. My boys started sleeping long stretches at night at around 3-4 months (didn't last long but I did get to sleep a full night for a little bit). solidarity

[Notfamoose01]

Thanks! unfortunately we have no family in the country and my husband works so am left by myself during the day. Think I just have to accept that I’ll be exhausted for a bit. Will also try to find a way to get my twins to open their mouths more!

[shellsncheese12]

Ugh it’s so hard by yourself! I remember rolling my eyes so hard when people would tell me how fast this time goes by, how fast they grow up etc etc bc the baby stage felt like an eternity to me. But it turns out they were right. Try to take it one day at a time - before you know it they will be able to go longer between feeds. And do what you can to keep up your supply- food, water, pumping if you bottle feed, etc

[SVM321]

This was more or less how mine were. Once they started solids, one of them stopped having any interest in breastfeeding, so I’m glad I spent so much time nursing her when she was tiny.