Hello, google creepers! Sorry to disappoint, but this isn’t an entry about how glorious my cleavage is. Buh-bye!
It is about breastfeeding, however. Yes, I’m still doing it. No, I still haven’t needed to supplement with formula. Yes, I still have a ginormous freezer stash.
My trio will be 9 months old in a week. Back pats are welcome, but don’t waste your time with the “zOMG, you’re ah-mazing!”s. I’m lucky. I’m determined as hell, but luck also helps a lot.
Blah-blahs out of the way now, I have a question for the Internet. I’d normally tweet something like this, but I realized it’d take way more than 140 witty characters, so I’m blogging.
I started breastfeeding with no “I’ll breastfeed until” date in mind, just planning to do it as long as it worked for us. Well, folks, a year (HOLY CRAP) is creeping up on us ninja-style, and I’m starting to ponder about stretching this breastfeeding gig past that typical, in-heavenly-lights one-year mark.
No, I’m not crazy. Swearsies.
Why, you ask? WHY, YOU CRAZY WOMAN?
RSV, cold and flu season, of course. With my kiddos celebrating their birthday in November, quitting a valuable source of good-health weaponry seems a bit silly. Maybe silly isn’t the word, but it seems like not the smartest idea just because one year is the mark when many women hang up their nursing bras and wave their middle fingers at their pumps.
We were on house arrest (recommended, not enforced, obv) through this past RSV season, and I fully intend to take the necessary precautions again this year to protect my three preemies from the evil that is Are Ess Vee.
So, yeah. The breastfeeding. I imagine that my trio will be taking in a whole lot less breastmilk at that point. That being said, I know nothing about what to do with this abundant supply and a lower demand. How will it all work? Is once a day all at the same time for each baby possible, or will I need to do more and/or space out their feedings (one in the morning, one mid-day, one at night)
Right now, I only breastfeed all three first thing in the morning, when I have the most output. I can feed two at each subsequent feeding, but getting the third to patiently work at getting his/her desired amount of milk is damn near impossible. If I breastfeed two, I pump after, most during-the-day sessions yield about 2 oz, which is 3 oz. short of a full third bottle (they drink 5 oz. bottles). Most often, I breastfeed all three first thing then take only one for the next three feedings, giving us one-on-one time.
Are you confused yet? Me, too.
With one, you just breastfeed when your baby wants to breastfeed. I have a feeling it won’t work this way.
Don’t you dare recommend any books. That ship has sailed, way back when I had zero idea this whole breastfeeding thing would even work and thus decided to skip reading about breastfeeding multiples. Now I couldn’t find the time until long after I needed the information.
I’m babbling now because I’m nervous thinking of my breastfeeding future, your “You are so dumb for asking this nonsense” responses and what I dread will be the responses full of, “Yeah, um, good luck with that because I’m more clueless than you!”
Bottom line: I want to give them all fresh breastmilk through cold/flu/RSV season for the sake of my antibodies. How am I going to make that work for three babies?
Help? Someone?
(I intend to also chat up my lactation consultant, but I’m thinking about this now, and God only knows when I’ll remember to call and the stars will align so we can discuss future plans.)
You are doing an amazing job… if someone tries to criticize, you send them to me.
You are doing everything right and you can just keep doing what you can do. If it means you bottlefeed your milk, do what ya gotta do. You are doing SO SO So well though Jen! *AwesomeMommyHighFives*
Annnnd now that I’ve emotionally vomited, I’m beginning to realize that breastfeeding – if they’re still interested – will be done on demand rather than a schedule, and I’ll pump a couple times a day to have milk to offer in bottles or cups.
Right?
Yes. I agree that pumping and using bottles or cups seems to be the solution.
My comment got away from me. I was just going to add that I’m breastfeeding a single and (as you are very well aware) – this breastfeeding this is very hard work! I, like you, decided that I would try it and just make it work as long as possible. I’m glad I’ve made it to almost six months. I know how difficult it has been for me, so I cannot even imagine times three. So you should feel very proud of your accomplishment. So good for you for deciding to buck the system and keep going! I love reading about your little pb&j.
It definitely depends on how much solid food they start eating after a year, they may up their food intake a lot and not need much breastmilk or they may go the other way for awhile, or switch back and forth. I’m guessing you’ll need to pay close attention to each baby and try and figure out what they need individually. Most one year olds will breastfeed every few hours during the day still, most likely always first thing in the morning, before naps, and before bed with a few other feedings thrown in. You might find that they want to nurse for just a few minutes here and there throughout the day, and you won’t need to worry much about pumping. I would suggest you pump two times a day after you feed any of the babies, that will keep your body knowing it needs to keep making a ton of milk, but won’t keep you making too much milk. Once you try that you’ll be able to tell if that’s enough to keep up with what the triplets need. You can also just cut out bottle feedings or most bottle feedings once they hit a year. Try cutting out bottle feedings during the day first, letting them all ask you when they decide they need to nurse, but maybe still give the third baby (or two babies or however you work it out) a bottle before bed as you’re nursing the other one or two. I think once you get to the one year mark, it will all just start to fall into place, especially if you start cutting back on the bottle feeding.
Thank you!
Take this with about 754 grains of salt because I was feeding 2, & nursing on demand, so not nearly as scheduled. But. When we got going on solids pretty steady is when they got very regular about when they nursed , & also when they cut themselves back. Pretty soon it was just before/after sleeps (we were at 3 naps, then 2). Now they EAT solids & only nurse before both naps, bed & when we get up in the morning, so 4x a day + any overnight nursing (now minimal).
So maybe once they are really actually taking in solid food try switching out a meal for a nursing session? One session at a time?
I know I got to be a lot more relaxed about it which was a luxury you don’t have, but that’s how mine naturally shifted it on their own, maybe that will help you figure out a pattern that works for the trio?
And if this is no help I’m sorry!
Dammit all to hell, I knew this was going to be a “the babies will figure out how it’s going to work, and you’ll just roll with it” sort of thing. I’m no Type A, but a little control would be nice! Ha!
I know very little about breastfeeding multiples, but I have heard (and experienced) that if you have a good, solid supply your boobs will make what you want for when you want it… I am starting to slowly, slowly wean Izey and I was afraid that my one-year-strong-and-awesome supply would plummet, but that hasn’t been the case.
As I cut feedings, my body kind of “figures it out” and has milk ready at his next feeding. I’ve only experienced a bit of engorgement and no leaking. My pedi told me that I would likely be able to continue to feed him at night and/or in the morning for as long as I want to.
I know that your milk output would make mine look skimpy, but I would guess that the same idea would transfer? Set them up on the schedule that you want and make those boobies work for you
I’m sorry if this is incoherent rambling. I truly am impressed by your dedication. I know that you say that a lot of it has to do with luck, but there’s also pure will and determination there. I know what a time suck breastfeeding Isaac has been this year and I can only imagine three times the fun. I’m proud of you and hope that you can keep this going as long as possible! Good luck and all that other good stuff!
This is very encouraging, Jacki!
I only have a singleton, but I did pump for him while at work for almost 18mos. He’ll be 2 in Jan. and I’m hoping to continue breastfeeding at morning and night through the end of winter, but we’ll see how it goes.
You said it – the 1-year birthday isn’t a cut off date if you don’t want it to be. You can slowly start cutting off the pumping session after you feed one or two babies at breast. If you’re only getting 2oz, you won’t feel too much engorgement. Are you still getting up in the middle of the night to pump? That would be a good one to slowly cut out also.
Haha, no. I quit that overnight pumping when the babies started STTN. I still frequently breastfeed one (sometimes more) overnight, but I don’t pump after. I’m too tired! 😛
You rock! So many twin moms don’t nurse because it’s too hard and you’re doing it with 3! I’m with the other mommas in that I wasnt ready to quit at 1. My experience is a little different because I work so at 1 I stopped pumping and did intro cows mill during the day. You may find that what yours are ready for goes more with corrected age than actual age, or it may be somewhere in between.
At 1, mine were interested in nursing upon waking, after naps, and before bed. A lot has to do with when they eat solids and how much they eat at a meal. When mine dropped to 1 nap in the middle of the day they became less interested in nursing during the day, but we continued nursing twice a day until 19 months. (My goal was 2 but they decided they were done!)
So, in all my rambling I guess my advice is continue the AM feeding for sure and work nursing into your bedtime routine because it’s a nice calming thing for toddlers. During the day, you will have to figure out how it all fits in with naptime and mealtime and that will change as naps and meals change. As for pumping, it really depends on what you want to do. I’ve been told that even just twice a day feeds the babes get the antibodies they need to fight infection and that definitely seemed to be the case with mine. So, if all 3 are nursing several times a day it would be reasonable at some point to ditch the pump.
The biggest thing is to enjoy it. I loved nursing my toddlers. There was something so gratifying about them being able to ask for it (taught them the sign for milk) and seeing them enjoy it. It was the only time all day they slowed down!
((((())))I think you got good advice already and I agree with shifting to letting them tell you when they want to nurse with fewer pumpingsessions. And Isay cut out themiddleofthe night pumping sessions!;)
I’d start just nursing them at the breast after their birthday, no pumping unless you feel like you want a few more months of bottles to get through germ season. Use up your freezer stash. Toddler nursing becomes about connection (look ma! I can run away! But please let me come back!!)as much as about the milk itself.
I’d STRONGLY recommend doing your research and talking to your ped about delaying the introduction of cow’s milk. The last thing your babies need is something that causes inflammation and mucus production — they don’t need the moo juice, especially if you’re nursing them.
Your body and your intuition will tell you what to do — you know your babies better than anyone, you are the expert!
Ditto diana’s post. You can most likely just wean off the pumping, and breast feed on demand. Your babies will tell you when they’re done.
Man, you are seriously a rock star. I’m still nursing my toddler and she’s slowly creeping up on her 2nd birthday… but there’s just one of her!!
That said, trust your gut. Yes, they’ll be on solids mostly, so nursing will be mostly for comfort and that all-important immune boost. But it will also start to be for YOU. The closeness, the snuggles, the sweet coos… until they become little acrobats and you question your decision to keep nursing! LOL!
As for supplementing with regular milk, we never did. Our girl just never got on board with it but she’s been just fine with water and the occasional diluted juice. Coconut milk is worth looking into, as is almond milk. If you’re feeling iffy about cow’s milk, that is…
Good luck!
I went through the same thing re: stopping at 1 year vs the IMPENDING DOOM of RSV season lol! I chose to continue pumping. Most of the things I’ve read (sorry, I don’t have any links handy right now but I can find them for you later if you want) indicate that during the week or so that milk can be safely stored in the fridge (NOT freezer, just to be clear), the antibody count does not decrease that much. So by bottlefeeding them breastmilk through RSV season you’ll be golden. Maybe not *quite* as good as straight from the source, but good enough.
I of course just have one baby – but honestly what I would do is start out giving frozen in their bottles BEFORE RSV season – this way you get ahead so by the time RSV season rolls around, everything that’s in the fridge is fresh and less than a week old (optimum antibodies). Breastfeed if you want to, if they want to, if it feels right. If you find you’re producing too much, you can either hoard more milk (that was my approach), donate, or simply cut a pumping session and wean your supply down to demand. If you find that nursing exclusively is working for everyone, maybe drop down to a “just for emergencies” pump.
Being a 29 weeker, E drank a LOT of breast milk until he was about 16 months old. That’s when it started to go to a 10 oz bottle at naptime and a 10 oz bottle at bed, and at 20 months I quit pumping and he used up the rest of my stash and we switched to cow’s milk. As soon as RSV season had ended 😉 lol!
Let me know if I wasn’t clear or if you have other questions! I’m always around to help. Xo!
Hi! I can’t comment on BFing triplets since I only had 1, but I, too, was aiming for the 1 yr mark with my daughter. She suddenly decided to stop nursing around 8.5 months, so I continued pumping until just past 9 months. My supply was definitely different once she stopped nursing – I had been nursing her mornings before daycare (and pumping the side on which she didn’t nurse), pumping both sides once during the day at work, then nursing maybe once after work and always at bedtime. When she stopped nursing I pumped in the mornings and at work still, but soon didn’t need the morning sessions. Then within 2-3 weeks after she stopped nursing I quit the pump as well. We had a decent frozen stock, so she was able to stay on breast milk until almost 10 months (mixed with whole milk by the end of that month). So I didn’t make the magical 1 yr mark, but once she stopped nursing I don’t think my body would have let me anyway, which was kind of surprising since I had always had an abundant supply from the beginning. Plus this switch to cow’s milk occurred during the spring and into summer, so the risk of flu season was significantly less.
Just be prepared for the painful boobs when the time to stop comes! Those suckers hurt!! 😉
I’ll echo the comment earlier that the more solid foods, the less milk intake. We also intermingled sippy cups of water here an there after the 1 year mark. Good for you for thinking about extending your feeding efforts. Never mind the baby, I wasn’t ready to stop at a year. I slowly started introducing BM (cold) in a sippy cup around 10 months in a Nuk Learner cup and pumped for that to overall start the weaning process. This helps later when you do start introducing whole milk. I would pump for the sippy and then when the baby had the sippy cup, I’d pump for the next stash. Your babies are going to take the lead. At 13 months with all three of mine I cut back to just nursing in the morning and at night and whole milk in between. Eventually I cut it back to just night time. My youngest turned 14 months yesterday and for the last week she has had less and less interest. Last night we skipped and read a book and she never cared. Every baby is different of course. Give yourself some grace though. When they’re ready for a sippy cup go for it. My daughters drank cold BM for months in a sippy before starting whole milk. Choose times where you only BF and then times when you just pump. I can tell you that having sippy cups of milk are at the ready when the babies want to feed on demand. I used my freezer stash some for this too. Try different things. Babies get much easier in the milk department when they start eating solids pretty regularly. Good luck!
My nicu NPs and LC reccomended we breastfeed till one year adjusted, which conveniently put us past rsv season too. keep it up mama youre awesome!
You are an awesome mom for nursing three at once! I have only nursed two, for three years each. When they are older, the once a day nurse is enough to boost their immune system. Could you have a special time for each of them? One gets morning, one at noon and one at night? Then they get a special snuggle and a belly full of goodness. Best of luck!
Just keep going like you are now! If they’re still happy with it, keep doing it. At least until they’re 1 year adjusted. But if you don’t really want to, yes you can maintain a supply if you only nurse once a day, or at least I did and I doubt you’ll have problems! Also, Austin got RSV twice last year and I truly believe breastfeeding made it not as bad as it could have been. You’re VERY VERY smart for continuing this winter.
Wow! I haven’t checked in on you in ages and I am so impressed you are still nursing! WAY TO GO! I only have one so can’t compare and everyone else has had great advice, so my only thing to add is “keep on keepin’ on!” I nursed for 18 months and my Eleanor (Ellie) only needed antibiotics once for a double ear infection during the winter and roseola at 9 months. That is it! Since I stopped nursing 6 months ago, I have been to the ped 6 times and Ellie’s had 2 rounds of antibiotics. I am convinced that had I continued nursing, she wouldn’t have gotten sick so much, since nothing else changed (she still goes to school, etc.)
I wish I had kept it up, but like you, I wasn’t counting down the days until their first birthday, just doing it as long as it worked for me…and then I got pregnant and was so exhausted in the first trimester that I just couldn’t do it anymore and wanted some time to have my boobs to myself again!
But at the end, it was only once in the morning for 5-10 minutes and about 20 minutes at night. I cut out her noon session around a year since she was eating so much and didn’t need the calories so much, but if you have a stash of the good stuff and continue to pump, then you should be good to go! It just got easier and easier though at the end and it was so nice to have the magic boobs to sooth her with teething, frustration, etc. and now that she’s 2 and freaks out at the littlest things and just cries, I so wish I could just nurse her for a few minutes to calm her down, but hugs work, too!
Again, so proud of you. Luck will only get you so far…deciding to BF and stick with it for as long as you have is sheer will at times! You DO deserve high fives and pats on your back!!