June 12th was the twins' original due date. As you all know they were born 9 weeks early on April 10th. My original goal was to exclusively breastfeed them until their first birthday, and IF I could, until their gestational birthday (June 12th). Today is June 15th and I'm sitting here at my desk pumping before I jump in the shower and get ready for work.
We were supposed to start giving the boys whole milk this weekend, but got busy and forgot! We want to start on a weekend in case they have any reactions to it, or spit it out! Hopefully we can remember to start this weekend.
Its an amazing feeling to say that I've exclusively breastfed/pumped for twins for over 14 months! I never thought I'd actually make it this far, and there were plenty times I almost didn't! I don't think many people realize how much you sacrifice to bfeed twins, and how much sleep I've given up just to do so. I know I've been really lucky to have had an ample milk supply without needing any drugs, and I don't take that forgranted for a second.
I'm now struggling with the idea of when to wean. If the boys like whole milk than the little guy will probably transition just fine. He has been getting Expressed Breast Milk (EBM) for months now and doesn't breastfeed directly. The big guy on the other hand, still nurses exclusively when we are together and only takes bottles of EBM when I'm at work. For the most part I can give him bottles of EBM if I need to during the day, but at night HE MUST NURSE! I don't want to force him to wean, but I also don't want to be nursing a four year old to sleep. I keep thinking one day he just won't want it anymore but I really don't see that happening.
At this point there is no rush as we are all getting much more sleep, but with the transition to whole milk comes the transition to sippy/straw cups and good riddance to Dr. Brown! We are going to keep their whole milk separate from their breastmilk so that they get used to the taste, and we are going to only give them whole milk in a cup. We'll start with 2-4 ounces a day and slowly increase from there. As they get more whole milk and less breastmilk, we will get rid of the bottles. My goal is to be done with bottles by the boys 18 month birthday.
The other factor that plays into this is my weird, never expected, sadness over the end of my nursing relationship with both boys. Even though the little guy doesn't nurse directly anymore, I still feel like I'm connecting with him by giving him breastmilk. I actually have to put more work in for him since pumping is such a task as compared to nursing. As for the big guy, I really am going to miss nursing him and laying with him and rubbing his chubby little feet while we nurse. I'm sure its normal, but it just seems like I've been counting down for so long, that now that I'm here I'm wishing I could just pause for a few months and enjoy them a little longer. I think its just another sign that our babies are getting older and soon they won't be babies anymore.
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Wow, that is quite an accomplishment! I can’t even begin to imagine how much work it is to exclusively BF for so long. Good luck with the weaning – I totally get the mixed emotions about it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your helpful comments over at our blog. Advice from other twin moms is priceless! :)
Congratulations on making it to your goal! Seems very natural that you'd have a lot of mixed feelings on being here finally. I hope the transition to whole milk goes smoothly. We felt lucky in that we didn't have any problems when we did it, but any kind of big change like that is stressful at the time. There are no rules saying you have to stop nursing the big guy yet...I think doing the morning and daytime transitions first will help immensely, and then over time, you can just see what happens with the big guy's evening feed. Best of luck to all of you!
ReplyDeleteHoly congrats to you!!!!! My BIGGEST fear with this pregnancy is I won't be able to breastfeed. I had a reduction over ten years ago, so we'll see. Your boys are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteSince my twins are just a bit behind yours, I feel like you are my guide through this twin life! I am starting to feel the same way about breastfeeding and weaning. I kept saying "until they are a year. . ." for lots of things, and now that they are almost a year, I find myself saying "when they are 18 months!" This year went to fast, didn't it?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am crying at the prospect of YOU weaning. . . what I am I going to do when I start weaning?!
I am constantly shocked at how different I react to things now that I am a mother. I though going back to work was no big deal, breastfeeding was no big deal. . . I was wrong!
Well, good luck! I have 3 days left of pumping (out for the summer) and then bottles will be few and far between! I will follow you to see how you do the transition to whole milk.
Jill
That's one hell of an achievement - congratulations on making your milestone. I still get upset about not nursing any more, even though the transition was smooth enough for our boy. Good luck with it.
ReplyDeleteThat is way impressive!!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing accomplishment and you should be so proud. I can't imagine bf'ing twins so this is so cool! Congratulations.
ReplyDeletei couldn't be more impressed by you and what a great mom you are to your boys. you've proven what can be done and set an amazing example for the rest of us.
ReplyDeletecongrats and i hope the transition goes well.