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When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

Multiple births

painful nipples from breastfeeding twins - OUCH!

13 replies

kittyt · 08/12/2006 12:45

any advice for a mum in pain? I have 4 week old twin boys who are breastfeeding exclusively. They are doing really well and putting on weight, and I am determined to stick with it. However, my nipples are agony! Is this ususal? As far as I can tell, they are both latching on properly, but it is agony for me for the first 30 secs or so, although the pain usually does ease after this. DT 1 also makes me sore towards the end of his feed. Is this usual for feeding twins seeing as my nipples are getting very little rest? Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks!

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Overrunderthemistletoe · 08/12/2006 12:49

Didn't really experience this with my boy dts, although I think there was a bit of soreness from time to time. Are you feeding them together or one after the other? Are you using the same breast for each dt or swapping?

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NotQuiteCockney · 08/12/2006 12:57

Well done on breastfeeding your twins! It sounds like you're doing a great job.

Can you get to a breastfeeding counsellor? Some pain at the start might be letdown, or it might be that they're feeding really hard, or it could be latch. The pain at the end of the feed sounds a bit more worrisome.

Are you rubbing the hind milk on your nipples, and letting them "air" between feeds, when possible?

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kittyt · 08/12/2006 12:57

I try and feed them together when I can, although if they ask for food atr different times, I fit in with them rather than forcing them into a shedule to suit me. I was using the same breast for each twin, but have recently started swapping as DT1 seems to cause more soreness than his brother, so I was hoping it would even it out a little.

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kittyt · 08/12/2006 13:26

i am going to a breastfeeding clinic this afternoon. I have tried airing my nipples after a feed, but have only recently started doing this, so have not seen any benefits yet. i also use lansinoh (excuse spelling).

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ThrockenAroundTheChristmasTree · 08/12/2006 13:39

kamillosan (in the tube not the tub) works really well for sore nipples. I think the first 30 seconds thing wears off over time - I got it with DS1 but not after the first month or two. If you are getting sore towards the end of a feed don't be afraid to take him off and relatch.

As a mother of twins I would advise trying to keep them in sync with feeding - otherwise life gets even more manic. I never managed to feed mine because they would not latch - but I expressed - which is probably the worst option in some ways !

Come over and join the d'ya every wonder how life carried on and on and on thread - full of other twin mums.

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glamourbadger · 09/12/2006 09:54

Hi kittyt

Well done for breastfeeding exclusively - you are a super Mum! I ran myself into the ground trying to and had to go over to bottles, tough decision but was right for us all at the time.

I had a similar pain with my twins - excruciating for the first 30secs or so, then fine. I found lansinoh cream really helped and the Johnson & Johnson breastpads were the kindest. I bought a few other random brands and some were completely hideous, like scratchy waxed loo paper! The pain got better in time - or perhaps I just got used to it? Did lots of grunting and foot stamping - am amazed my poor husband is still around!

Good luck with it and hang in there, you're doing a fab job.

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katyjo · 09/12/2006 10:10

Wow! Well done you. I just bf one and that was hard enough.
My mu bf twins exclusively as well, but they are 23 now so a while ago!
Totally agree with glamourbadger, lasinoh and johnson and johnsons breast bads are the best. The HV gave me jelonet dressing as well, which worked a treat for my raw bleeding nipple, was back to normal in 24 hours.
Good luck, you are doing a fab job!
XXX

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Overrunderthemistletoe · 10/12/2006 18:29

Kittyt, I ended up feeding my dts seperately as this worked out best for us, but it does mean a lot of time at the breast. would definitely agree with swapping breasts, as I noticed dt1 was a much better sucker than dt2, so using different breasts sort of evened it out
How are you getting on?

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moondog · 10/12/2006 18:35

Gosh Kitty,well done!
Hats off to you.

How did you get on at the b/feeding clinic?

The lovely people who run the Assoc. for Breastfeeding Mothers' helpline will also be able to talk this through with you.

0870 401 7711

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FrostyTheSnowMarsLady · 10/12/2006 18:39

Hi Kitty

I bfed my DTs for 18 months.

Now... (don't mean to sound bossy...but) are you sure about your positioning?

How do you hold the babies? Are you feeding them together? Do you use the football/rugby hold?

Airing your breasts is good. Also, try rubbing in the milk. That will help. I'd try that before moving on to the creams.

Also, whereabouts are you?

Oh and we multiple mums like to waylay new multiple mums and kidnap them and take them over to this thread. LOL!

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devondoris · 11/12/2006 21:50

Hi Kitty,

I'm bfing my 7 week DTs and I also have the 30 second (sometimes longer) toe curling. I had a day's worth of curling toes after feeding them simultaneously in the car park at Haytor (on Dartmoor). Cushions seem to be a big help in comfort. I also used Lansinoh for a time, but don't need it anymore because I think I've got used to the pain. Let down this time round is more painful than with DD1 too.

I have a feeling that Mars is right and that it's to do with positioning - I find it quite hard to position the second boy with a chomper already underway, so I've got to the grin and bear it stage because it's just something I have to do! I do routine them though so my nipples only have to do this every 3 - 4 hours and longer at night. Poor little boys! Also I've got an Eze2nurse Twins cushion - you can get them on 2became4.co.uk. Very useful!

Anyway, just thought I'd give you some fellow feeling!

xx
doris

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Overrunderthemistletoe · 12/12/2006 12:51

I always quite liked the pain of let down, if that doesn't make me sound too wierd. i guess it wasn't as painful as yours, but it did hurt, but found it reasuring that the milk was on its way

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kittyt · 18/12/2006 20:51

thanks for all your advice and support, much appreciated. I went to a BF clinic, and they said that the pain was caused by DT1 being tounge tied. As he cannot get his tounge out very far, he struggles to hold the latch for very long. When the latch 'breaks', my nipple slips out of his mouth a little. This means it rubs on his hard pallet instead of his soft pallet, which causes the pain. the only remedy is to get the root under his tounge snipped. Don't really feel I want to cut him for no good reason. pain does seem to be getting better, as people said it would. Certainly bearable, and not warrenting cutting his little tounge! DT1 is also eating for england. Have had to suppliment his feed with a bottle every night at 7.00 feed. BF Feeding for 45 mins and he still takes 3-5 mls of formula! Still, better he is full of breast milk and formula than going hungry. Now I just need them to sleep longer than 2.5 hours at night! Am following the baby secrets book by Jo tantum and have been doing it for a week. works well during daytime, but we are really struggling at night. Any advice?