Breastfeeding Multiples

Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it involves learning and perseverance. Most new parents of multiples find that any difficulties they may encounter get easier over time with the help of supportive family, friends and professionals. There is an abundance of information to help you in the breastfeeding section of this site.

When you are nursing two or more babies, the challenges multiply, but so do the rewards. Breastfeeding smaller infants is more of a challenge. When you are expecting more than one baby, there is an increased possibility that your babies will need special care after birth. This may limit your opportunities to breastfeed at first. One practical thing you can do to prepare for this situation is to investigate renting a good-quality electric breast pump to use at home. Click here to learn more about what to expect if your babies need special care.

Some women worry that they won't have enough milk but, since milk supply increases with the amount the babies feed, rest assured that if you have more babies, you will produce more milk.

Despite the challenges, consider the advantages of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can have tremendous health benefits for your babies. Breastmilk is the ideal food for infants: It provides them with a perfect balance of nutrients, and it increases their immune protection against illnesses, infections and other conditions, such as:

• respiratory, ear and gastrointestional infections
• type 1 diabetes
• leukemia and other cancers
• meningitis
• sudden infant death syndrome
• rheumatoid arthritis
• osteoporosis
• asthma
• allergies

This protection can be especially important for babies that are premature.

In addition, breastfeeding

• is free
• is more convenient than formula and cuts down on the amount of work involved in feeding
• relaxes you and your babies
• increases bonding between you and your babies

Breastfeeding also benefits the mother. For example, some studies show that women who breastfeed for two or more years have half the rate of breast cancer as women who never breastfeed. Research also shows that it lowers a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. Women who breastfeed also lose weight more quickly after giving birth.

Here is what some mothers of multiples had to say:

You have plenty of milk for both! But you have to be committed. If you don't really, really want to breastfeed, it is hard to keep going.

The first thing my husband thought was, 'How will I support two babies?’ The first thing I thought was, ‘How will I breastfeed two babies?’

I found that one of the greatest bonuses of nursing (as they got older)... was the way that it would calm them down if there were any conflicts.

• The juggling act – tips for nursing

The World Health Organization recommends feeding babies breast milk only for the first six months of their lives, and continuing to breastfeed for two or more years, while adding other foods to the babies’ diets. 

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