Mothering multiples: Breastfeeding and caring for twins

by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada

Book Overview

A mother of multiple babies may find herself wondering if she can produce enough milk, how to coordinate feedings, and if breastfeeding is even an option for her. The simple answer: Yes! In the third... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0912500263
• ISBN13: 9780912500263
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: La Leche League International
• Length: 111 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Truly a life saver

This is just the best book. I ordered it three weeks after my twin boys were born and I was beginning to despair that I'd be able to breastfeed them even to three months, much less six months as I'd hoped. As soon as it arrived, I couldn't put it down. Finally! A book that actually discussed how to breastfeed twins. Not just a little paragraph advising patience and talking about the double-clutch hold as if it were some holy grail, but details and encouragement galore. By the second day after the book arrived, my boys and I were already doing better. They're now 3.5 months old and while I don't have quite the support network in place to breastfeed them exclusively, we're actually using less formula than we used to. My goal now is to breastfeed them for their entire first year, and with this book to refer to, I feel confident we'll make it. I echo the comments of another reviewer, that if you're expecting twins - get this book NOW. The best thing you can do is to be prepared. I didn't get nearly the support at the hospital I'd hoped for, as far as breastfeeding my twins goes, and so this book was just invaluable to me. Without this book (and a good breast pump), I doubt I'd still be breastfeeding my boys today.

A must read for mothers of twins or multiples

Buy this book today if you are serious about breastfeeding. Other books are either vague or offer only a short paragraph on breastfeeding. The book is so well written and easy to read. I just finished reading it and made sure to highlight important tips before my twins arrive in Feb. In addition, there are several other chapters besides breastfeeding that are a must read (i.e. labor, caring for newborns, twin or multiple toddlers). I won't even let anyone borrow this book as I refer to it so often!!

The best way to prepare for your twins!

I'm not a big fan of La Leche League (the publisher), but breastfeeding my twins has been a wonderful experience for me and I couldn't have done it without this book. The number one thing I took from it was that I needed to be prepared and learn all I could BEFORE the babies got here. Because of this book, I contacted my local lactation counselor and rented a breast pump a week before my boys arrived. Within 12 hours of delivery (by c-section), I was pumping in-between feedings. Before we left the hospital, I had tried tandem nursing a few times. Now my boys are 10 months old and are nursing champs. The first three months were the hardest, but this book was such a valuable resource and encouraged me to keep at it. I'm SO glad I did.

Thank goodness there is a book out there for me!

I am in my third trimester with twins and with their impending arrival coming anytime, I thought I'd better brush up on breast-feeding techniques. And thankfully, someone from La Leche recommended this book to me! I even made my husband read it. It is chock full of good suggestions and little things to keep one aware of what breast-feeding twins really consist of. It gives one an idea of the average time of breastfeeding ... how often, how to handle both of them at once, what to do when only feeding one of them at a time ... it just gives a good idea of what to expect. And it's extremely helpful for this first-time mother! It helps allay the panic that I've been feeling ever since the doctor said, well, they can come anytime, so be prepared!I highly recommend this book to everyone ~~ even though my copy was dated from 1985 ~~ it is still sensible advice for new moms.6-7-02

Best book available on caring for twins

I didn't buy this book until my babies were 4 months old, and I was reluctant to buy it because I feel the LaLeche League (the publisher) is very shrill and dogmatic. However, I was having trouble producing enough milk to keep my guys happy, and was about to return to work, and didn't want to give up breastfeeding completely, but really needed advice on how to manage all this. This is the only book I have found that discusses breastfeeding multiples in any detail. She DOES give the LaLeche League party line that ONLY breast is best (which we all know), but she also gives advice for maintaining milk production and including formula in the diet. In addition, she gives many suggestions for breastfeeding two at once, and very complete and useful instructions for when and how to express milk to maximize production. Beyond the breastfeeding discussion, however, she provides the best, most specific advice for all aspects of caring for twins throughout the first two years that I have seen anyplace. This includes extensive discussions of caring for preemies and low-birth weight babies, managing relations with the twins' siblings, and the psychological affects of taking on the responsibility of caring for twins. She also had many sensible and specific suggestions for making life easier that I wish I had known after I had my first baby (a singleton). Finally, she makes several thought-provoking observations about the psychology of twins and issues involved in raising them which I have not seen anyplace else. I found this book very very helpful, and very reassuring.