Got Milk? Enough for 2?
Many moms of twins, for whatever reason, end up not breastfeeding 1 or both babies. And trust me, there are plenty of reasons that make it very difficult to breastfeed twins. But one of the biggest complaints is that you aren’t producing enough milk for 2 babies. While no 1 way is guarunteed to do so, here are some suggestions to help increase your breast milk supply.
1.Drink plenty of water/liquids. I’ve heard this tip from many moms and nurses. All liquids are good, but many say water is the best.
2.Try not to stress. This is, I think, a much great factor than people think. Put off unimportant projects that are weighing on your mind. Take time to relax. Sometimes that alone will stimulate letdown.
3.Watch what you eat. I haven’t found any specific foods that increase or decrease your milk supply, but there are foods that your baby might react more strongly to. Every food you eat goes straight through your breast milk, and will even sometimes flavor your milk. If the taste is too strong, they may not want to eat as much. And the less they eat, the less milk you will produce. A well-balanced, healthy diet is good for mom and babies.
4.Fenugreek. This is a medicinal herb that is supposed to increase milk supply. Although I never tried this, I’ve heard Fenugreek really does work. I’ve been told the milk might have a “maple syrup” flavor. There are also many other natural herb supplements that can help.
5.Switch breasts every feeding. Hopefully you’ve heard this already, but remember to alternate which baby gets which breast. Usually one baby is a better eater, so you want each breast to produce the same amount of milk. The more stimluation a breast gets, the more milk it will produce.
6.Pump/massage between feedings. The more you feed/pump, the more your breast “realizes” it has to produce milk. So pumping in between feedings will help encourage more milk production. When you feel you are making enough milk, slowly stop pumping as to not produce too much milk. Usually by about 2 months, your breasts will find an equilibrium, and produce the amount your babies are eating.
If you have questions/issues, a great resource is La Leche League. They provide consultants nationwide, frequently asked questions/answers, forums about breastfeeding issues, etc.