Breastfeeding Facts!

Momtoc

Thank you for the below information. Yes I am high risk due to the IVF and mostly because my twins are identical and sharing a placenta. We hope to push it to past 36 weeks but we will have to wait and see, the doctor want to see how my body reacts to every thing and we can make better dissections closer to then. Most twins are prem now we wait to see how prem they are, I am also trying to prepare myself for encase I go into labour at 32 weeks or heaven forbid before that even I am hoping that by the time they are born that they are mature enough to take the breast but we will have to wait and see.

It is so interesting that the milk is adapted to their gestational age. The body and the merical of a baby is simply amazing.

Thank you for the valuable information and I think I will def join the La Leche Group. I am based in Namibia so I am sure most of the support and compunction will be via internet.

Just a comparison to show what is in breastmilk vs formula

Morning morning

Here's the next few points re: breastfeeding

4) A baby should be on the breast 20 (10, 15, 7.6) minutes on each side. Not true! However, a distinction needs to be made
between "being on the breast" and "breastfeeding". If a baby is actually drinking for most of 15-20 minutes on the first side, he may not want to take the second side at all. If he drinks only a minute on the first side, and then nibbles or sleeps, and does the same on the other, no amount of time will be enough. The baby will breastfeed better and longer if he is latched on properly. He can also be helped to breastfeed longer if the mother compresses the breast to keep the flow of milk going, once he no longer swallows on his own Thus it is obvious that the rule of thumb that "the baby gets 90% of the milk in the breast in the first 10 minutes" is equally hopelessly wrong.

5. A breastfeeding baby needs extra water in hot weather. Not true! Breastmilk contains all the water a baby needs.

6. Breastfeeding babies need extra vitamin D. Not true! All babies need vitamin D. Formula has it added at the factory But the baby is born with a liver full of vitamin D, and outside exposure allows the baby to get the vitamin D from ultraviolet light.
The baby does not need a lot of outside exposure and does not need outside exposure every day. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is stored in the body. In some circumstances (for example, if the mother herself was vitamin D deficient during the pregnancy) it may be prudent to supplement the baby with vitamin D.

Hi there Hopeful

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy I followed your story on the afr TTC thread.

There is no such thing as a silly question.......

You can always become a member with the La Leche Group and they can support you in hospital, at home, over the phone or via pc. If the need arises to get the support you want.
These are mothers that have been bf for a long time, more than one child and are qualified to help you through it. They were my lifesaver on fb

Okay, here are the answers to your questions that come directly from mothers who had premmies and twins(either full term or early)....

Firstly, why did the doctor say you have to have the babies so early? Are you a high risk pregnancy or is it because of the IVF?

Regarding your questions :
1) Yes, you will have milk if your babies are prem. Your body knows best and makes milk according to your babies needs. Demand feed when possible and express at least every 2 to 3 hours if they are tube fed. If they are micro prem babies you will express and they will be tube fed. They will be given a prem dummy to stimulate the sucking reflex. Then once your babies get stronger you will start to breastfeed them once per day. Micro prem babies get tired very quickly so you start bfing once per day. Then as they gain weight you increase the amount of times you bf them in a day. The rest of the feeds will be via tube."
2) Also, insist on kangaroo care. Hospitals which are classified baby-friendly will do it automatically, but you will have to negotiate with those which are not.
3) Your milk duct system is fully developed by now and the removal of the placenta will initiate milk production-and the awesome thing is-it is specifically designed for your babies gestational age! So if your babies are born at 35 weeks the colostrum your breasts produce are adapted specifically for babies that age! Maybe it would be a good idea to visit the NICU and find out what their policies are re breastfeeding. And get your support system in place before birth so you know who you can call to assist you when problems do arise. Unfortunately Doctors and most nurses are not trained to assist you in any kind of breastfeeding advice.
4) Get Mothering Multiples by Karin Kerhoff Gromada if you love reading and also the WAB (Womenly Art of Breastfeeding)

Hi There ladies,

What a great thread. I am a new mommy currently 23 weeks pregnant with twins. I know that twin breast feeding can or may be tricky but I would very much like to try. Sorry if my below questions are a bit dumb but as mentioned I am a first timer

1) I know that I will have perm babies ( my C-section is scheduled for 36 weeks but the doc thinks I will go into labour before that ) Will my milk still come in the same as with full term babies?

2) What do I do in regards to prem babies not being able to latch? is expressing and bottle feeding my only option?


Sorry if these questions are a bit silly and once again thanks for am awesome thread

I will post a few points every day and please, ask questions and let's get it answered

Morning Moomie Moms

I thought I would start this topic because some women fear breastfeeding, get false info from their doctors, clinic sisters, family & friends and give up way too soon.


I'm a member of the La Leche League and have read enough questions & answers to know what is true & what is not.

These leaders are trained to give factional advice and have saved many bf(breastfeeding) relationships where women wanted to give up because of false info.

I have a lot of links to back up any questions you might have.

I'm NOT here to judge any mom who choose to formula feed their baby. That is your prerogative BUT we all need to be educated properly when it comes to giving our babies the best milkies there is

My 1st born was formula fed. I wasn't educated properly, didn't do enough research, didn't get any support in hospital and gave up on day 2 because I thought I didn't have enough milk - STUPID STUPID STUPID. With my 2nd pregnancy, I changed my mindset & told myself that I'm going to breastfeed, no matter what & here I am, 11 months later, still feeding my son & so proud of myself.

So let me start off with the basic things 99% of moms have heard about breastfeeding and let's debunk them

1)Many women do not produce enough milk. Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he/she is poorly latched onto the breast. Very important that mommy be shown from the very beginning how to latch properly on 1st day. If you struggle with the nurses, get a lactation consultant in to assist.

2) It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt. Not true! Though some tenderness during the first few days is relatively common, this should be a temporary situation that lasts only a few days and should never be so bad that the mother dreads nursing. Anypain that is more than mild is abnormal and is almost always due to the baby latching on poorly. Any nipple pain that is not
getting better by day 3 or 4 or lasts beyond 5 or 6 days should not be ignored. A new onset of pain when things have been going well for a while may be due to a yeast infection of the nipples. Limiting feeding time does not prevent soreness.

3) There is no (not enough) milk during the first 3 or 4 days after birth. Not true! It often seems like that because the baby is not latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk that is available.When there is not a lot of milk (as there is not, normally, in the first few days), the baby must be well latched on in order to get the milk. This accounts for "but he's been on the breast for 2 hours and is still hungry when I take him off". By not latching on well, the baby is unable to get the mother's first milk, called colostrum. Anyone who suggests you pump your milk to know how much colostrum there is, does not
understand breastfeeding, and should be politely ignored. Once the mother's milk is abundant, a baby can latch on poorly and still may get plenty of milk. What also ties in with this statement where a mother thinks she doesn't have enough milk is, DON'T feed on a schedule. The more baby feeds, the quicker your milk will come in. Don't stretch for 3/4 hours. Demand demand demand is key here and if baby wants to feed every hour, 1 1/2 hours or 2hourly.......that is perfectly normal.