Feeding Two or More Babies
In this article, you will find:
Bottle feeding
Essential
Anyone can help you with these alternate feedings. Your husband, a family member or friend, even an older child can feed the baby. Be sure to use these alternate feedings as a potential break, even if you wind up using a breast pump during the feeding.
E Fact
To warm up a cold bottle of breast milk or anything else, simply put the container in a large cup and let hot water pour over it from the sink. Never microwave the contents of a bottle, no matter what is inside, as this can cause hot spots.
Bottle-Feeding
Some multiples will need supplementation by alternative means. This can be by finger feeding, cup feeding, syringe feeding, or even bottle feeding. However, nursing moms (especially those with multiples) should try to avoid bottle feeding until their milk supply is well established. If any of your babies is having trouble latching on, consider avoiding bottles and using alternative methods of feeding your baby. This will help prevent additional problems with a breastfeeding latch.
You may wish to alternate feedings of your multiples, particularly when the number of babies outnumbers the number of breasts available. For example, with triplets, you may wish to give Baby A the right breast, Baby B the left breast, and have Baby C simply rotate onto both breasts at the end of a feeding. At the next feeding, Baby B gets the right, Baby C gets the left, and Baby A nurses at both at the end of the feeding. Continue this rotation every feeding.
Multiple bottles or cups can be a pain to keep clean. Be sure to enlist help in the washing, drying, and sterilizing of these items. Microwavable sterilizers can be very handy, and they decrease the need for huge numbers of feeding accessories. They are also good for sterilizing toys, breast pump parts, and other baby items.
If you use artificial baby milk, it is possible to mix or make up what you need only once a day. Many families do this in pitchers, stored in the refrigerator. Be sure to check labels for how to mix ABM, particularly when making it in larger quantities. You can actually harm your baby by making it incorrectly.