Breastfeeding

I can't believe I'm posting this for the world to see.
Not exactly a beauty queen moment for me - but
definitely reality! This might be the only photo I
have of me feeding both babies. I wish I had taken
more! I know I don't look happy here (I think I'm
saying, "WHY are you talking my picture, Brian?!)
But I really did and do LOVE nursing twins!
Note: LOTS of pillows, waterbottle nearby, book
open. Everything I needed to hang there for awhile!

As far as caring for my babies, nothing was more important to me than exclusive breastfeeding. Giving my children the nutritional, emotional, physiologic NORMAL start in life was worth whatever we had to do to make that happen. The life-long value of breastfeeding and breastmilk for both them and myself are well documented and supported by research and the top health agencies in the world. But it takes a little more than just determination to make breastfeeding work!
I did a lot of reading. Having Twins, by Elizabeth Nobles and Mothering Multiples: Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins or More! by Karen Kerkhoff Gromada are two books that address the special joys and challenges of having (and breastfeeding) more than one baby.
 I did a lot of "interviewing" (bugging, grilling, hounding) other mothers of twin who had breastfed. I attended La Leche League meetings for support and information. I looked up how much $$$ I'd be saving (like $5,000/yr for artificial milk for 2! EEEEKK!) Money is very motivating for me :) I had a Lctation Consultant come see me in the hospital. She wasn't amazing, but definitely reassuring and supportive.
 Bennett was a champ. He latched on well, ate until full, and took himself off. Miss Courtney on the other hand... ugh. She had a terrible latch ("it's called breastfeeding, honey, not nipple feeding!!") and would fall asleep very easily.  It was very difficult to work with her on her latch while tandem feeding. So I tried to feed her separately. But opportunities for that didn't always happen. So we had some serious soreness in the first month or so. I worshiped my "soothies" and kept them in the fridge to put on after nursing. Such relief. Coconut oil also helped.  But I should've spent more time working on her latch - THAT would've been the real solution! She might have also had a slight tongue tie, I'm not sure.

The first few months are a blur, really. We did a LOT of breastfeeding. Never on schedule - just went with the babies' hunger cues. So maybe avg 10x/day. But if I got them positioned right on the twin boppy, I often had both hands free. So I could use my phone, read something, type, or most importantly - interact with Brianna (age 2.5 at the time of the babies' birth). 
Nursing gets easier and more enjoyable as the babies get older!!  I can't even express how grateful I am that we had a successful breastfeeding relationship. The economic and health benefits to our family are already so evident. And seriously - staring down at four little eyes, looking up at their mom while filling their bellies and having all that physical contact - it builds such a strong bond of trust and love. At the time of this writing, my twins are almost 2 years old, and still nursing a few times each day. Occasionally during the night too.

Blurry photo.  Just like those first few months - all a BLUR!!

The value of nursing doesn't end when toddlerhood begins - although tandem nursing toddlers is a whole new adventure! I hope no one chooses to take my feelings and words on breastfeeding in the wrong way. I wish it wasn't such a sensitive subject to so many people. I'm just talking about my own experience, and I know other women have different circumstances and challenges and have to do what's best for their own family.

PUMPING:  I only expressed milk a few times. Maybe a total of 40 oz during those first few months. It really wasn't necessary. I had a well-meaning friend who put a lot of pressure on me to pump so she could help out.  Looking back I realize how absolutely ridiculous that was. And potentially detrimental to the breastfeeding relationship. She just wanted to spend more time with the babies. The best help any friend can give a new mom of twins is to support her in the bazillion other mom duties she still has - house cleaning, meal prep, shopping, caring for older children, etc etc.
However, I do have a LOT of experience with pumping. With my older child, I started pumping around 9 months old, until 15 months. It was exclusive after 12 months. I ended up donating about 300 oz to the IMBP, and they gave me a double electric pump. I've used several other kinds of pumps. My advice to other moms - if you'll be pumping a lot (like going back to work) - get THE BEST PUMP you can afford! Hospital grade if you can!  If you're just going to do it occasionally - hand expression isn't hard to learn, is free, and works well.

Most importantly - attend La Leche League meetings and get support from other breastfeeding mothers!  There are way more exclusively nursing mothers out there than I ever knew before I started this journey, and they can help encourage and support you along the way.

Happy double Lactation to you!  :)