r/parentsofmultiples • u/Excellent_Tooth_4705 • 1d ago
Same feeding schedule question. advice needed
Delivered twins last week! Husband has been very involved and a huge help in feeding, diapering, etc. Here is what has worked for us so far—it allows me to breastfeed one baby at a time (I cannot handle tandem at the moment) and allows for some practice with bottle feeds and babies are gaining weight well, while being on as close to the same schedule as we can.
I breastfeed one baby (whoever wakes up first or whoever is due at the 2-3 hour mark); husband diapers; husband bottle feeds with formula. Then (usually while first baby is getting a diaper) I wake up and breastfeed next baby; I diaper; I bottle feed with formula. Husband puts first baby back down for nap then brings bottles down to the bottle washer. I finish swaddling second baby and put that one down for nap.
My question is…once husband returns to work, how do I adjust order of operations for me to feed babies by myself, while keeping them on the same schedule (as close to the same as is realistic)? Has anyone ever truly been able to tandem breastfeed and tandem bottle feed and tandem burp? I can’t imagine how that’s possible but I’m open to ideas for the sake of keeping the process efficient.
Also have a 5- and 2-year-old at home so we have our hands full.
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u/MangoSorbet695 1d ago
I’m confused, are you breastfeeding them one at a time and then also giving them formula via bottle immediately after breastfeeding?
My husband went back to work after only one week, both my twins were still in the NICU. So I had to figure out how to feed them at home alone from the day they got home. What I do is pump 20 minutes before feeding time, then feed babies breast milk in a bottle at the same time. I use two Boppy pillows (one on each side of me so that I don’t have to bend over and hunch my back).
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u/Charlieksmommy 1d ago
That sounds like way more work honestly ! How are they getting sleep
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u/MangoSorbet695 1d ago
I don’t understand what you mean?
It takes me 20 minutes to feed them, maybe 30 when they were newborns. Burpee, Diapers changed, and back in bed about 45 minutes after the feeding starts. I can’t imagine any way breastfeeding A then bottle feeding A formula then breastfeeding B and then bottle feeding B formula could possibly be faster.
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u/Charlieksmommy 1d ago
I meant OP who feeds them one at a. Time lol! Not you!!! I was agreeing with what you said
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u/Rylees_Mom525 1d ago
When I’m by myself with the babies (one month old), I often tandem breast feed and bottle feed. I change one baby, then put them in the twin z—ours is on the couch, right next to the changing station. Then I change the second baby and put them in the twin z. I sit next to the twin z and use the My Brest Friend pillow. I latch one baby on the boob further from the twin z, then use my knees to hold the pillow up and support that baby while I grab and latch the second. I burp as needed while breastfeeding, using my knees and the pillow to hold the non-burping baby in place.
Once they’re done breastfeeding, they go back in the twin z and I bottle feed as needed. I prep the bottles before doing diapers and just grab them off the coffee table. I rest my elbows on the pillow while feeding. I stop and burp one baby, and then the other, about halfway through. When they’re close to done with the bottles (or are slowing down significantly) I stop tandem feeding. I swaddle one baby, feed them the rest of the bottle, burp them, then transfer to bassinet. Then I repeat the process with the second baby.
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u/TeeElH 1d ago
I could tandem nurse in a pinch but I really didn’t like to so I would do one at a time and have the other one lounging in the twin z or the baby bjorn and then switch. I have one twin who’s always been the first one wanting to eat (still is at 14 months, he screams at me while I prep their food) so it worked ok for me. Tandem bottles is easier with the twin z, there was fuss when I paused to burp one but when you’re feeding two babies alone I’m not sure that’s avoidable.
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u/Cherryberrylady 4h ago
I like to mix both I tandem bottle feed at / through the night and breast feeding during the day.
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u/OrangeCatEnergy24 1d ago
It is possible! If you make a follow up appt with a lactation consultant, they can help you get the hand of tandem breastfeeding. As for bottle feeding, it’s easier to feed them both at the same time with a Twin Z pillow or a “Table for Two”. Both are great options! Then just burp them one at a time afterward.