October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast-feeding Twins, Triplets & More

Mothers Breast-feeding Twins Need Double the Nutrient Quotient

While breast-feeding one baby is a monumental task what about the moms of twins and triplets? Can they effectively breast-feed two or three babies providing them all the nutrients and antibodies that the babies need? The answer is a definite yes. Breast-fed babies have multiple advantages including lower risks of respiratory tract, ear infections, eczema, diabetes, obesity and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breast-feeding helps the new mom to spend invaluable time with her baby and to lose weight.

Worldwide, exclusive breast-feeding is suggested for the first six month after the baby is born and is recommended to continue at least up to the baby’s twelfth month along with complementary foods.

Nursing multiple babies requires increased nutrients consumption along with ample fluids intake. Mothers need to consume an extra 500 calories for every baby they breast-feed. The best sources to acquire maximum nutrition include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy to fulfill iron, calcium and other nutrient requirements. Omega-3 fatty acids must be consumed during breast-feeding for optimal brain development. Fish is the main source of these fats and it is recommended to eat fatty fish such as salmon and sardines to fulfill the requirements. A registered dietitian nutritionist at www.firsteatright.com can help you plan your diet chart such that you provide nutritious breast milk to every child of while adding nutrition to your body as well.

Although breast-feeding two or three bundles of joy might seem to be daunting, it is practically possible. You face the same challenges as you face in the case of a single child.

Check out these tips to make your task a little easier:

• Meet a good lactation consultant who can boost your confidence and solve your queries as you breast-feed the babies.
• Feed two babies simultaneously and the third baby with expressed breast milk in a bottle.
• Accept your partner’s helpful gesture with open hands. Husbands who change diapers and play with the babies are doing a great favor to the mother by giving her sometime to rest and focus on her nutritional needs.
  
  

Notes on Nursing Premature Multiples
Sometimes, the multiples may arrive early and may have problems with digestion. They also find it a problem to latch on and suck properly due to insufficient muscle development. In such situations, it is advisable to express breast milk and feed it from a bottle instead of directly breast-feeding the little one.
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Premature infants also take a little longer to start on solids as they take more time to develop the chewing motion. Even in the toddler stage, these children have developmental delays that create problems during mealtimes. Parents and physicians can work together to come to identify feeding cues to move the child forward.
Numbers don’t matter. How many ever children you are feeding, don’t skip on your nutrition needs, the support of a good lactation consultant, help from your partner and finally patience to help you become successful in your breast-feeding venture.