Breastfeeding Twins FAQ

What do you want to know about breastfeeding twins?

Here are some commonly asked questions and answers.

Should I prepare my nipples ready for breastfeeding?

There is no need to toughen your nipples up at all, breastfeeding isn’t suppose to hurt (as long as your twins latch on correctly). The softer your nipples are, the easier it will be for your babies to breastfeed.

Is breastfeeding preemie twins possible?

Yes you can breastfeed preemie twins. Depending on how premature your twins are will determine whether you will have to pump your breast milk and feed through a tube or cup, or breastfeed naturally. If you need to pump your milk, you only need to pump until your babies are ready to feed at the breast.

How often should I Nurse my newborn twins?

For the first month newborn twins are breastfed between 8 and 12 times a day. It all depends on your twins and how often they want to feed. Most babies will need feeding every 2 to 3 hours.

If you have had preemie twins (who now breast feed) it’s best to feed them as often as they want to get their weight up. Newborn twins should not go more than 4 hours without a feed. As your twins get older they will feed less frequently, about 7 to 10 times a day when they are 1-2 months old. Feeding less as time goes by.

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum (also known as first milk, beestings, immune milk) is what your body produces before the breast milk comes in. You could say its super milk as it contains antibodies to boost the immune system, is higher in protein and minerals, and is lower in fat. Colostrum is thicker than breast milk and has a yellowish tinge. This first milk (colostrum) gives newborn twins a healthy start to life.

How long should a feed last when breastfeeding twins?

There are a few things to take into account:

Your milk flow could be fast or slow
Correctly positioning your babies to your breast can help your twins feed more efficiently
It will take longer to breastfeed if your milk has not yet fully come in
It also depends on how your babies feed, when feeding my twins one would stop and start (grazing) while the other guzzled it down
When breastfeeding twins, feeding them together (tandem nursing) will save you time

Newborn twins will feed for much longer than older babies, the older they get the more efficiently they will feed. Newborns can feed 20 – 40 minutes whereas an older baby between 4 – 7 months could feed 10 – 20 minutes.

Can I breastfeed twins at the same time (tandem nursing)?

Yes, most definitely Click here to view: Positions for Tandem Nursing Twins

Will I have enough milk for twins?

There is no need to worry about having enough milk because the more you twins feed (emptying your breasts) the more milk you will produce. A breast pump can be used to get your milk supply up, which you can then freeze and keep for later.

How do I know if my babies are getting enough milk?

There are a few other ways to know if your babies are eating well:

Weight Gain, this is the best way to know if your babies are getting enough to eat. Keep in mind that newborns will lose weight in the first few of days from birth but they will regain this within about 2 weeks
Your newborn twins are feeding every 1 ½ – 3 hours
Your breasts feel empty after a feed (they feel soft)
They have about 7 wet and 3 poopy diapers a day. You can keep a chart to keep track of this

Breast or bottle feeding for twins – whichever decision you take, read our indepth guide on Breastfeeding twins