Breastfeeding twins

As a first-time mother, my wish was to give the best to my babies.

Unexpectedly, at 38 weeks of pregnancy, my husband and I decided that a C-section was the safest option. My babies were moving positions, and I didn't want to risk maneuvering them and causing any harm during delivery.

Several friends who had singletons shared their experiences of having a natural delivery and then needing an emergency C-section at the last minute. So, we scheduled a C-section.

Up to this point, nobody mentioned anything about the milk supply. It really takes a few days when it's not a vaginal delivery.

In my case, it took around 5-7 days to get the milk flowing. It brought tears to my eyes when the milk finally started to flow, knowing that my babies would have great nutrition to thrive and be healthy.

Waiting for this milk is very overwhelming. Listening to your child cry of hunger and not having anything to offer is frustrating.

I had planned to do exclusive breastfeeding and told the doctors so.

When I had the babies in my arms, I felt so much joy. I had the chance to put the babies on my chest, but they were covered and wearing hats. I really wanted to have skin-to-skin contact, but at that moment, the anesthesia affected my senses, and the constant shaking of my body after the babies were taken out was scary. You feel like you might be dying. Nevertheless, it was still a beautiful moment and, in a sense, traumatic.

My delivery was at 3:30 pm, and during the night, it was time to feed the babies. Of course, I didn't have a milk supply just yet. I placed the babies close to me and simulated breastfeeding. Nurses encouraged it and mentioned that the colostrum would be enough for them. It was a nice experience; only one of them would somehow latch. I wasn't sure she was sucking anything, probably not. The other baby had a hard time latching and cried so much during the night. My husband and I were becoming crazy. We were exhausted. It was such an eventful day that drained our energy, but we made it through the first day in the hospital.

The second night was a nightmare. Even my husband started crying because he didn't know how to handle the crying baby, nor did I. The babies wouldn't latch or simulate breastfeeding. They didn't want to have anything to do with it.

We called the nurse a few times. She asked me to breastfeed the babies, but I didn't have any milk. Nurses wouldn't make more suggestions than just to keep trying. The second time we called her, we asked her to bring formula. It was such a great relief to know it existed.

Be cautious if you ever mention to your doctor about exclusive breastfeeding. They won't offer the option of formula. You will need to ask for it, and for your sanity, I encourage you to take it if you really need it.

Here are some ideas about your breastfeeding routine:

1. It's very important to have a comfortable pillow that helps you breastfeed. I used a double pillow, which was a mistake because it made my stomach sweaty and touched the C-section area. I recommend the Twin Z pillow, which looks much more comfortable for women who have undergone a C-section and had twins.

2. It's very important to have a private area in your home where nobody makes any observations or comments about your milk flow. Any type of mood will affect your milk flow, and your baby will let you know if they are not happy.

3. Observe your diet. Avoid any type of food that will make you constipated or gassy, like certain nuts, broccoli, beans, and red meat. Whatever you eat will go to your body and your milk, and the babies will suffer as well.

4. Try pumping for your baby after breastfeeding. I would pump to make sure all the milk was out. Also, I would pump every two hours to reserve.

There was a point when it was impossible to breastfeed both at the same time because one of them would start crying and distract the baby that was sucking. At that point, I would take turns breastfeeding the babies. One would go to my breast, and the other baby would have a bottle of my milk.

When they started to drink more milk, I couldn't keep up with it. I would use this last technique, and after offering the bottle of my milk, I would offer formula to complete the 8 oz.

My best advice is: don't give up easily. Keep breastfeeding until it feels right for you and your babies. Remember, your babies need a happy mom, so try to stay positive. Whatever choice you make, feel good about it.