My twin feeding stories and schedule

[elie1031]

So, I know that some of you have been asking about feeding shceules and stuff, so I thought I would kind of give you the run down on how we handled things.

I read in one of my twin books during pg that with multiples feeding "on demand" is not always practical and you may have to make them be on a schedule. So, that is what I decided I was going to do.

I tried to nurse, but it didn't go real well. Olivia never would latch on and Blake did, but not real goog. So, I tried to nurse him and pump for Olivia. After about 2 weeks of that I was just pumping for them both and then at 1 month switched to formula.

When they were being b/f, I fed them every 3 hours, sometimes a bitt sooner, but for the most part I kept to that schedule. If one was hungry sooner, they waited. If one was sleeping at the 3 hour mark, I woke them. After a few weeks though I would let them go longer at night if they slept longer, but once one woke I woke the other and fed them both.

Once they were strictly on formula, at 1 month, I moved their feedings to about every 4 hours. Otherwise, followed the same routine I had been. Once we all went to bed at night, I did not wake them, but if one woke for a bottle, I woke the other. Once they were starting to go longer stretches, then I started stretching them out even more. Like if they were going 6 hours at one stretch for a while, then I would slowly extend that to longer. If they woke after 6 hours, I made them wait 15 minutes longer for a few nights, and so on. By 2 months, they were sleeping a good 8 hour stretch every night.

I know it may sound like a very rigid and harsh schedule, but it worked for us and they handled it just fine. And that, I think is the most important thing. That you find a routine that works best for you.

[Holly]

I love info like this, it's incredibly helpful so thank you!!

[terilynn112]

Can I jump in and give my info here?

Michael and Matthew were apart for 3 weeks. Michael was eating every 3 hours, so when Matthew started eating in the nicu they put him on the same schedule. So he came home on a schedule. They both fell into such a wonderful routine, that by 1 month after they came home (7 weeks old) they were eating 4 eight ounce bottles a day and sleeping all night. We now not always have the 4 bottles, but we're on solids. They get a breakfast bottle around 7 or 8 am and cereal. Around noon, another bottle and veggies and fruit. Around 6 a bottle and more fruit. Sometimes, not always Michael will skip the bedtime bottle. Matthew only takes about half now. And bed at 9.

Teri