because I'm pretty sure the right side is dodgy.. Or at least that's what I think my girls would say if they could talk .
The twins are 6 weeks old and for each girl I have been breastfeeding on one side and then giving a bottle top up of either EMB or formula of between 30-60mls. (eg.. Claudia would have a feed on the left side and then top-up, Milla feeds off the right side then top up. Swap sides next feed) I make sure I alternate which breast they get each feed. Whoever is on the right side seems to need a bigger top up, and also tends to fight/fidgets when feeding. The left side I can hear definiate swallowing and sometimes they tend to choke on the milk because it is coming out so quickly. The right side theu seem to nibble at alot and suck really really hard. When I am due to feed, my left side is almost double in size compared to the right side (DH was the one to point this out - I had perfect clevage on the left and normal-ish boob on the right ).
Is this something to be concerned about? Is it normal? When I express I get between 80-120ml on the left and am lucky to get 40ml on the right side. I am worried that the right side is well, dodgy for lack of a better word. Any hints or advice?
Differences in supply between sides are quite normal.
As is babies having a definite side preference - usually the one where they are supported by your dominant hand.....
I don't think there is much you can do about it - and if your babes are growing happily then keep up the excellent work.
If you are worried about insufficient supply overall then you may want to talk to your gp or a lactation consultant about motilium, which is a medicine that increases milk production.
It sounds like you are doing a great job hun. Getting into the swing of feeding twins can take some time but you seem to have settled in well already!
As Kmn says, it is very normal for one side to produce more than the other, and for babies to have a preference for one side (the preference could cause the extra supply, or the extra supply could cause the preference)!! It could also be related to the speed of the letdown - that can vary from side to side also.
Are you topping up because you are worried you don't have enough, or is it more a time thing? As breastfeeding works on a supply and demand basis, mums of twins have enough milk to feed both babies so topping up is not usually necessary unless it works better for you to do it that way. If one side doesn't seem to satisfy them, you could offer a top up at the breast - that is the second side or even the same side again after about 30 minutes. The milk is fattiest about half an hour after a feed, and the extra demand should increase your supply if need be. I'd be wary of taking drugs unless you have a diagnosed supply issue - in nearly every case mums make enough milk but it's our confidence that lets us down. Medications for supply are over-used and in the absence of a real problem are a waste of money and also can introduce new problems like oversupply. Nothing beats more frequent feeding for building supply up. Once again though, if what you are doing is working for you then keep doing it - if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!
Thanks for your replies girls! I didn't realise that there would be a difference in sides. It makes sense though as I am left handed, and that's the side they like!
MR - the top ups are a timing thing mainly. Both girls are having 7 to 8 feeds a day, and feeding about half an hour apart - so it makes for many many hour stuck on the couch - which is normal with all babies I know - but this would mean over 14 hours spent feeding a day. I have tried tanden feeding but they are so little, it's hard to position them by myself, and I also like the schedule they are on because it allows for a more one on one time
I was given motilium while the girls were in the Special Care nursery and it did help boost my supply, but I'm not sure that I would go down that track again. They have both been quite unsettled today and I am offering heaps of feeds, so I think that will help us all. Thanks again for the great info!
I'm not sure how you would manage this with twins... but whenever I find one side is making more milk than the other, I try to stimulate the smaller breast to make more milk. For me I just let my toddler feed from the smaller side so that he drains it. That seems to give the breast a bit of a kick in the butt and it starts making more milk faster. I guess you could express from the smaller side a bit to convince that breast you need to make more milk on that side, but I can imagine that you don't exactly have a lot of spare time for expressing right now
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I'll take the left side thanks...
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