As is becoming common with life with twins, this post is coming late. Regardless, I cannot believe the girls are 2 months old! This month has been very emotional and full of tough decisions. As I've mentioned in previous posts, feeding is typically our biggest struggle. Having a rented scale at home has really helped with the process. I've learned very quickly that Bria had pretty much mastered breastfeeding, while Nova continued to struggle. Bria would take full feeds from the breast and Nova continued to struggle with .5 oz and always needed a bottle after. This made it EVEN MORE frustrating. I have one baby who can breastfeed and the other cannot effectively. So I continue to breastfeed one, while pumping for the other. Every day I question how long I can continue on this path. I start to consider putting Nova 100% on formula and breastfeeding Bria. I call my lactation consultant (Pat) and tell her my frustrations. She tells me its time for the 24 hour breastfeeding challenge. She explains to me that before we goto bed we weigh both girls naked and record their weights. I would bottle feed the girls through the night and the first morning feed would be from the breast. From that point on, there would be NO PUMPING and NO BOTTLES... NO MATTER WHAT. Pat also suggested that I not weigh each girl after feeds and just try to trust it. I told her that would be virtually impossible for my type A personality. She said it was ok to do, but not to get disappointed or frustrated and no matter what- NO BOTTLES. Whenever a baby seems hungry, you put her to the breast. She prepared me for a tough day ahead and that I would need help. "You have one job and that's putting the babies to the breast." I went to bed nervous yet excited for the challenge.
When we woke up in the morning we began the challenge. Joe was instrumental in the process as he kept Nova from melting down while I nursed Bria. Once I finished with Bria, I took Nova. (I'm not tandem feeding them because Nova needs too much help and Bria gets upset when Nova is on the boob too... unfortunately, Bria will kick her sister so this just not work well for us.) Anyways, I literally sat in the recliner all day long while Joe handed me one baby after the other. During the day, I ended up spending the whole first day in that chair with the exception of 45 minutes where both babies napped. Other than that it was baby on the boob all day long! At the end of the day we weighed both girls and called Pat. Nova had not lost or gained any weight. Bria gained .5 oz. Pat said since Nova hadn't lost any weight to go ahead and do the challenge again for the 2nd day. On the second day, it was pretty much a repeat of the first. Babies on the boob non stop! Although this time, Nova began to drink more. Her best nursing session she drank 2.1 oz! I was amazed and so very proud of her! At the end of the day, we weighed the girls. I was shocked! Bria had gained 1.5oz and Nova gained 1 oz!!! I called Pat. She said, "Congratulations! You are breastfeeding your girls! Keep doing it. On the third day I woke up with a lot of pain in my right breast. I knew something wasn't right. I nursed Bria and after I was done, my boob was throbbing and aching. I tried to nurse Nova and she just cried and cried. I caved and gave her a bottle. I ended up at my OB's office to find out I have thrush and inevitably, the girls also have thrush. We all began treatment and I reverted right back to my pumping and feeding methods. Breastfeeding the girls is still a priority for me but it continues to be a roller coaster ride for all of us. It's not perfect but I'm determined to find a way that works for our whole family.
On the two month birthdate of the girls we are primarily breastfeeding Bria and bottle feeding Nova. Both girls are supplemented with formula and I've backed off pumping a little bit so that I can spend more time with Ryder and have a better balanced life. In the meantime, I'll keep trying. Luckily, I have a great supply that my body seems to regulate well. So as long as I'm producing, we'll keep trying to work on it until we find the right balance.
Unrelated to feeding, lets talk a little bit about sleep. Both girls are now primarily sleeping in their own cribs. But don't get me wrong, their are times when they end up in bouncy seats and/or the swings. We do whatever it takes to get sleep but always attempt the crib first. We have good nights and bad but mostly good nights. The new trend seems to be that the girls get up twice in the night. We put them to bed between 7:30-8:00pm and one baby will wake between 1-2am. We feed that baby and then wake the other to feed as well. They go back to bed and one will wake between 5-6am for the next feed. Again, we wake the other and typically feed them individually. Joe and I take turns doing the middle of the night feedings- he takes one and I take the other. Most nights the girls are fed individually but their are times where they both wake and we have to prop the bottles to feed them both at the same time. I definitely prefer the one on one. It gives us good opportunity for snuggles! There's just never enough time for snuggles with twins!
Ryder continues to be a great big brother. The girls have started to smile and Ryder loves that! He talks and sings to them and constantly tells them they need to stop pooping in diapers and start pooping on the potty. He's too cute! He loves to help us push them in their stroller on family walks. So far, he hasn't shown any jealousy issues but does tell me that "those babies cry a lot. Its so annoying!"
I'm gearing up for back to work and we have hired some part time help. I won't go into this too much since I"m late on writing this, we have already fired her and have hired our full time nanny who is absolutely amazing. (More on this for the 3 month update). :)
