Breastfeeding Twins or Multiples

The idea of breastfeeding more than one baby may seem overwhelming at first, but the benefits are well worth it. Many moms of multiples find breastfeeding easier because there is nothing to prepare. A lot of mothers successfully breastfeed more than one baby even after going back to work or school

Finding

Support

Talk to WIC, your healthcare provider, hospital, or local breastfeeding center and ask for help with:

  • Joining a support group for parents of multiples
  • Finding a lactation consultant who has experience with multiples
  • Finding online resources, brochures, and books for parents of multiples
  • Reaching out to other moms of multiples who have successfully breastfeed

Even if your babies need to spend time in the hospital, breastfeeding is still possible.

Making

Enough Milk

Most moms of multiples make plenty of milk for their babies. Many mothers exclusively breastfeed or express their milk for triplets or even quadruplets!

Keep these tips in mind:

  • Breastfeed soon and often after giving birth
  • The more milk that is removed from your breasts, the more milk your body will make
  • Using an electric breast pump between nursing sessions can help you make more milk
  • You can track wet and poopy diapers to know your babies are getting enough milk
  • Your doctor will also check your babies’ weight to know they are getting enough milk

It helps to have each baby feed from both of your breasts. Switching sides helps keep your milk supply up if one baby isn’t eating as well as the other baby.

You can do this by:

Assigning a breast to each baby for a feeding and switch at the next feeding

OR

Assigning a breast to each baby for a day and switch the next day.

Feeding a 6-7 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon and from a bowl, never from a bottle.

Feeding a 10-12 Month Old

Breast milk is the most important source of nutrition for your baby, even after you start offering solid foods.

Feeding a 8-9 Month Old

Feed solids with a spoon. Never put cereal in a bottle.

Tips

Mom new born home

Breast milk and formula feeding:

Around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months of age, babies may experience a growth spurt when they feed more often.

As they grow babies can hold more milk, so feedings may become further apart and take less time.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Start offering whole milk when your baby is one year old.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months and beyond.

feeding solid foods

Feeding solid foods:

Wait to offer solid foods until your baby:

  • Can sit up and hold up their own head.
  • Opens their mouth when they see food.
  • Can close their lips around a spoon.

To prevent choking, always hold your baby when feeding. Never prop up a bottle to feed.

Try one new food at a time. Wait 5 days before trying another new food to watch for allergies. Food allergies may include wheezing, rash, or diarrhea.

Introduce peanut butter around 6 months. Spread a small, thin smear of peanut butter or nut butter thinly on a cracker.  Watch your baby for any reaction for the next 2 hours.

Babies under one year should NOT have honey due to the risk of botulism. Also, babies should not have foods that can cause choking like nuts or whole grapes.

All babies are different. Talk with WIC or your baby’s healthcare provider about your baby’s needs.

Feeding Cues

Feeding a 4-5 Month Old

Before teeth come in, wipe gums with a soft, clean wash cloth after each feeding, especially before bed.

Feeding a 0-3 Month Old

Newborns have tiny tummies and need to be fed often. In the first few weeks, you may need to wake your baby to feed if they sleep longer than 4 hours.

Growth Spurts

Many babies are fussy during a growth spurt and will want to nurse longer and more often. This is called cluster feeding. This is your baby’s way of helping you increase your milk supply so that you can keep up with their needs. Remember, the more your baby nurses, the more milk your body makes.

Growth spurts can happen at any time, and every baby is different.

They often happen at these ages:

two-three-weeks

2 to 3 Weeks

6 Weeks

three-months

3 Months

six-months

6 Months

What foods can I get?

Authorized Food List
Authorized Food List

Where can I shop?