As a mom of twins, I understand the concerns of how to breastfeed two babies. Can I exclusively breastfeed twins? Do you feed them both at the same time? Do you feed one at a time? Do you ever do anything but spend time breastfeeding?
The answer to all of those questions is YES.
You can absolutely exclusively breastfeed twins. You can choose to feed both at the same time or one at a time. And let me tell you, you will feel like all you do is breastfeed, but your babies will become more efficient over time, and the time spent feeding them will get shorter.
Before I had my twins, I asked some fellow twin mamas how they breastfed their twins. Some told me that they liked to feed one at a time to have some special time with each baby. While others said that they fed both at a time because it took less time. I suggest starting by breastfeeding one at a time. Once you get the hang of that, and with your partner’s help, you can work on adding a second baby.
I loved using the TwinZ nursing pillow. It was so helpful when it came to breastfeeding twins, and it was also a very comfortable pillow to sleep with at the hospital.
The first day, I fed one baby at a time. By day two, I mostly fed one at a time, and when my husband was there with his two extra hands, I would sometimes attempt tandem feeding.
Once you feel comfortable, you can attempt tandem feeding and use some of the positions below.
As your babies get older, it will get easier because they will latch onto the breast on their own.
Twin Breastfeeding Positions
If you’re unsure of any of these positions, the singleton positions covered in my first blog post on breastfeeding positions will help clear things up, so you can start mixing the positions.
- Double Football Hold—I recommend starting with this position when tandem nursing. You can get one baby latched. Then with the help of someone else (or while the TwinZ nursing pillow supports baby), you can get the other baby latched to the other breast.
- Double Laid-Back—This is the position that I fed my twins in 99% of the time once they could latch on their own.
- Cradle & Football—One baby is in football hold while the other is in the cradle position.
- Double Cradle—Babies are both in cradle position; one may be laying on top of the other.
If you have any concerns or questions about breastfeeding twins, be sure to reach out to me. I have both personal and professional experience that will prove invaluable. You can reach out for a free fifteen-minute consultation. I am happy to help you navigate your breastfeeding experience. Let me be your breast friend.