Hi Ladies -
I am currently almost exclusively breastfeeding my 3.5 week old twin girls. They were born at 37w4d and have always been pretty good latchers, I am able to tandem feed both of them relatively easily. The problem is, they tire very easily and fall asleep before they are full, then are unable to have the strength to latch and continue feeding, so we feed them bottles of EBM/formula if needed following the feeding. We currently have to supplement about a bottle a day of formula. Right now, I still have help at home so someone else is able to feed the bottles while I pump after feeding them from the breast. However, I will be on my own in another 2.5 weeks and am trying to plan accordingly if I still want to be breastfeeding at that time, since it is just so time consuming right now and I'm finding it difficult to get out of the house. I have a 2.5 year old DD and need to be getting out more with her after the help leaves. Bottles would allow me to do that as I could feed the babies wherever I am going--I don't feel comfortable or think it's practical for me to breastfeed twins outside of the house. The elimination of pumping after every feed would free up about 2 more hours a day for me. My questions are:
How long will the need to breastfeed and then pump continue? At what point do they not become such sleepy eaters and will be able to fill them up entirely on a meal from me?
What are solutions other people have found for getting out and still trying to breastfeed when you also have an older child? I have debated pumping less during the day and bottle feeding, but am afraid my supply will plummet so I am keeping up the current routine as long as I can. I have "regular" supply I would say, not a surplus but not too little. With DD I breastfed without supplement for 7 months and had leftover to freeze in the beginning.
Any insight anyone can share would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Beth
twin girls, 3.5 weeks old