How to Successfully Nurse Twins

Congratulations! You are expecting twins! You're probably overwhelmed with all the planning you have to do now - especially if these are your first babies. One of the decisions you'll be faced with is whether or not to breastfeed your little ones. You might already know all the benefits of breastfeeding, how it helps to boost their immune systems, provides just the right amount of nutrition for their growing bodies, not to mention how much money you will save from not buying all that formula! If you want to nurse your twins, but are nervous about nursing two babies, here's some information that can help make your breastfeeding experience a positive and successful one.

The first thing you need to know is that it is not as hard as it sounds. When my twins were born and people found out I was exclusively breastfeeding them, they acted as though I was a super mom. As good as their compliments made me feel, I felt as though I was hiding a secret because it really wasn't that much more difficult than nursing one baby. Not to say that it was easy - nursing in general can be a challenge- but if you can nurse one, nursing two doesn't take all that much more effort. So take heart, you can do it!

Second, you should try to find a good lactation consultant in your area who can help you out if there are any issues. When my son and I developed thrush, it went undiagnosed until I saw a good lactation consultant because my son didn't have the classic white patches and my nipples looked normal. I dealt with severe pain during nursing for months because I didn't know a good lactation consultant. Calling your local LaLeche League is a good place to start when trying to find a lactation consultant. Also, check with your hospital to see if they have any on staff - some offer lactation advice for free and some will even come to your home if you need help. Establishing a relationship before your babies are born will go a long way should you have any trouble once they have arrived.