The boys are all breastfeeding on demand, without any bottles all day!
You may be wondering how they got to being able to get all they need every three hours from nursing. The answer: they didn't! I gave up on that unnatural schedule and am feeding them when they are hungry, two at a time, for hours on end sometimes. They are simply not ready to nurse every 3 hours, so I am following their lead. Today I think I nursed each about 9 or 10 times ... but sometimes it was in tandem. I do not need to pump as often, and I am having the wonderful experience spending more time with my children and less time with my pump.
There is so much less crying (by them AND me) and much more bonding time. They nurse happy, smiling and cooing. I feel the same way.
I will write a detailed post about how we came to this awesome place despite our major setbacks and roadblocks. I feel so lucky to have all the support of nursing friends, experts and other triplet moms. I have learned more about the way the body makes milk, keeps a supply and the way babies, especially preemies, nurse since the boys were born. I am one of the lucky few who can, with effort, make enough milk for all my babies.
I have not felt this good in MONTHS. It feels so frustrating to know where you want to be but not be able to get there, and that is what the last weeks have been full of. Little progress, frustration by all and lots of crying on my part. What it took ultimately, was time, persistence
(bull headedness?) and support. We are here!
Details to come if there is interest!
The boys' other favorite new pastime is touching hands.
I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! I can just *feel* the joy, relief and peace emanating from you through the screen. Funny that we both wrote blog entries today about just following the lead of our kids and being so much happier and more content for it.
ReplyDeleteLike your boys, we are peas in a pod. Loves!
Perfect timing, someone recently posted a comment on my blog asking about the logistics of BFing twins, and I really feel so unprepared! I will absolutely eat up every piece of advice you have for BFing multiples. (No pun intended.) :)
ReplyDeleteIs that the EZ Twin pillow, or whatever it's called? Do I need one?
Congratulations!! That is such an awesome accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the hands photo :)
ReplyDeletecongratulations! that is awesome. i have triplets but didn't manage to the patients to get all three of my kiddos to breastfeed
ReplyDeleteel
www.thetriomom.blogspot.com
Woohoo! That's fantastic! I give you a lot of credit for sticking it out. I'm still stuck to my pump and the babies have forgotten how to nurse. But they're happy and healthy and getting 70% breast milk and that's where we are right now.
ReplyDeleteThe touching hands thing sticks around for a while and is joined by reaching for faces and ears. My three are 7 months old and will actually hold hands (and other body parts/clothing). It's still cute. Just wait until they start smiling and cooing at each other!
This is so great! I love that you are able to give for your boys the way that most dream of doing! I'm glad that you found your glitch with feeding them and controlling the fussiness too! What a joy! I'm so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful news! It's so important to listen to our instincts and not be too rigid in our approach to things. I'm so glad this is a much more pleaseant experience for ALL of you and that the babies are doing well. BTW, the picture is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's awesome! I'm really impressed and in awe of you. I'd love to hear more about it. And I'd love to know what nursing pillow you're using, too!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed! And very curious to hear more. My two initial thoughts: you must have nipples of steel, and you must ALWAYS be hungry. I'm so glad you're able to spend more quality time with your boys.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO happy for you! And proud!
ReplyDeleteI am determined to BF my twins, and have started to look for any information out there about feeding multiples. Sadly, it's hard to come by...so I would welcome ANY advice you would share!
LOVE the picture of their hands...just precious!
Love the photos - they've such cute little heads and hands!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're thriving and in a good place now.
Absolutely amazing. :) I'm just so happy for you.
ReplyDeleteMelting...those photos are amazing, as are YOU and your boys. xxoo
ReplyDeletehow beautiful! so good to hear you're all doing great!!! waiting to read more :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful!!! I loved nursing Bobby and Maya together. It was so wonderful. I am SOOOO happy for you!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe never did a schedule either and just let the babies' bodies dictate. More time-consuming for the adults and occasionally crazy-making, but I felt better about it for the babies' natural rhythms.
Tell us all about it when you can -- now that you no longer have all that computer time while you pump!
Yay! I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to read the post that describes all the "how to" secrets. I too have breastfeeding tandem and looking forward to (maybe 2 weeks) when my boys won't need to be supplemented for their inefficient sucking. Maybe some of my questions will be answered in your next post!
ReplyDeleteBoth of those pictures are dangerously cute!
ReplyDelete(love the sleepers, too.) I'm in awe...just being able to read what you've learned will refresh my memory for my boy due in June.
I am the happy mother of 10 week old b/g twins born at 37 weeks. I too exclusively breast feed. I have been told by a LC that I have overwhelming milk supply and with that I am supposed to pump off some of the fore milk to get to the richer hind milk. I don't do this simply because my twins are experiencing normal weight gain but I was tempted a few weeks ago because my son had copious amounts of reflux since birth. It has tapered off and I feed on demand often times simultaneously. All the advice about feeding schedules and pumping is helpful to an extent but four children later I just do what feels and works best. Congratulations on finding your groove and having the motivation and patience to get there.
ReplyDeleteYay Carrie! Way to stick with it. It must feel good to have all your hard work finally pay off.
ReplyDeleteAmazing Carrie - you rock! Hand holding pic is so adorable! I am glad things are settling in for you!
ReplyDeleteI recieved the book - I am glad I bought it - Thank You... hopefully it wont be required, but I am so glad I am reading up on it before hand in case I need all that info! I am already 2/3rd way through it.
how awesome. I bf my twins, and it was the best feeling of accomplishment...I can't even imagine how proud you must feel at being able to do it for your trips. good for you!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhoo hoo!!! I feel like I could have written your exact post! Doesnt it feel good to say "Screw you" to the stupid schedule? I know I feel better!! Go you!
ReplyDeleteYES! I am so glad! You're amazing!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome news. Love the tandem nursing photo. You rock! Glad you found a way (on demand) that works for you and your boys. That's ultimately what it's about. Not sticking to some artificially imposed schedule that works for others. We've gone on demand at night, and are feeding much more frequently in the late afternoons/early evenings, because that's how the girls want it.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it so much easier once you figure out your babies' routine and what they prefer? Each situation is unique, and with your and my reflux babies, the more frequent feeds are better for them anyway.
By the way, I took very similar pics of intertwined hands a day before you posted yours! It's the sweetest of sweet.
Girl I missed you;) So glad all is well!! Love the pics;) Hope you have a wonderful weekend!!
ReplyDeleteWow - you are amazing! Great job! I had preemie twins and just couldn't handle the b/feeding. I pumped 7.5 months and that was all the longer my body would go. Now, I'm feeding a singleton and wish I could have done more for my twins; but we do what we can, right?
ReplyDeleteIt's so great you have such a good support system. And such beautiful boys!
Just popping in to check on you and the boys. Hope all's well and your absence here means lots of quality time with all 4 of your kiddos. Thinking of you, lots, and where we were just a year ago...
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