FEEDING the Twins

Feeding my little ones is an art.  I wish this was a post about how I just whip out my boobs and tandem feed my twins like a rockstar, but it's not.  You see, the double My Brest Friend isn't getting much action these days.  As I mentioned before, I hoped and planned to breastfeed but {sadly} it just didn't work out physiologically and psychologically for me.  Why do I feel like I'm being judged as I type this?  Yes, the guilt still lingers and yes, I'm still a good mommy {a GREAT one, in fact}.  I'm no less of a mommy because I don't breastfeed and my twins are as healthy as can be.  I'm not any less close to my kiddos and {as a wise friend said} children never grow up and say, "Thank you for breastfeeding me, mommy."

All that to say, if breastfeeding is your forte and you have the luxury of NOT toting bottles and formula everywhere you go...congrats {seriously}!  That's amazing.  And to the twin/triplet mommas out there that are able to breastfeed, you are my hero.  Straight up.

In the beginning, I was going to hold my babies when I fed them {gosh, darn it}!  I once tried feeding Bennett in his nap nanny.  This was followed by crying on my part.  I mean, if I wasn't breastfeeding, I'll be damned if I wasn't holding my babies, one at a time, and gazing into their eyes during feedings.

HA {I now laugh at myself}!  That girl was a crazy, impractical fool.  This new baby thing is all about the mushy-gushy, lovey things but it's also about survival.  And I was NOT surviving hours of feeding screaming babies each day and it probably sucked for them too!!  Something had to give.  I had to figure out how I was going to feed Bennett and Clara at the same time...and fast.  When the twins were around 12 weeks old, we started something new and it was glorious.

Here's our routine:

First, I make sure my "tools" are ready: warmed bottles, bottle props, bibs, blankets {for extra support under the props} and bouncers {propped higher than usual, using the couch as a stabilizer}.  Proper preparation makes for less screaming.  Less screaming makes for happier mommies and babies.  Yes, please.

I start one baby about 5 minutes before the other, so that burping is staggered.  Once we get going, here's what the set-up looks like:

While it may look like you can easily run to the restroom, grab a coffee or watch an uninterrupted episode of Dance Moms, this just happens to be a peaceful moment {pretty sure they were showing off for you guys}.  It's important to stay close-by and monitor.  The bottle props WILL fall and your little ones WILL choke from time to time.  But it's okay, because you're right there to help.  I try to burp each baby twice during and once after feeds.  I also try to squeeze in clipping their nails and other grooming tasks that are difficult when they're being super wiggly.

Feeding them this way cuts my time {and stress} in half.  Most feedings take about 25 minutes and then I'm free to spend quality time with both of them.  Amazing.