Sorry it’s been so long! I’ve been feeling very lethargic and emotional, with not a lot of voom to do anything.
Breastfeeding the boys has been in forefront of my mind over the last couple of weeks, so I have been lucky enough to meet the lovely Tash who is a Barnado`s Breastfeeding Peer Supporter. I have always thought I would like to at least attempt breastfeeding for as long as possible, but it wasn`t until I met her that I realised it could even be possible to exclusively feed them for a number of months. Tash has provided me with a wealth of information and lent me a La Leche League book called Mothering Multiples by Karen Gromada which covers breastfeeding for twins, triplets and quads.
I found the book so interesting, especially the chapters on ‘Breastfeeding in NICU’ and ‘How To Make Up For A Poor Start’. I’ll be honest, trying to soak up and process all the information is quite overwhelming as there a lot consider and do to make it work. However, I do think the book could be used to dip in and out off rather than reading it cover to cover, making it an invaluable resource. It has certainly opened my eyes to the ways I can give my boys best opportunity to feed once they are ready.
To give them the option to breastfeed I will need to start expressing 6-12 hours after their birth and then continue to express every 3-4 hours in order to build up my supply. In the first few days I will produce very small amounts of colostrum, the super juice which is so important for newborns especially prem babies. The babies will be fed this through their drips and once my full supply comes in I should hopefully be able to start expressing properly for them. They will continue to feed on my milk through their feeding tubes until they are able to master the suck, swallow and breath reflex, at which point they will be able to start taking milk from my breasts. I think this is about 35 weeks but it really depends on the health and progress of the baby. Hopefully I will be able to produce enough milk for all four but if not they will need to be supplemented with formula. This to me sounds very do able, its just when I have to consider that all four babies could be in separate hospitals, it starts to seem a little daunting. I don`t know how I will manage to express and supply the milk to the boys if they are.
We have been warned it will be very likely that there won`t be enough incubators where I am now when they are born, so they could potentially be transfered to one of six Level 3 NICU units. (Southmead (North Bristol) Cardiff, Taunton, Bath, Birmingham or London). As soon as a bed space becomes available they would bring them back one by one. This was so hard to take in when we were first told but realistically if there are not enough beds or staff in a given hospital, then we really have no choice. Obviously the health and safety of our boys is all that matters to us!
Trying to organise and manage the milk and breastfeeding in this case will be very hard but we`ll just have to try and do the best we can. Thanks Tash for coming in to see me and giving me the knowledge and support, and showing me that it is possible to breastfeed quads despite what people around you may think. Tash exclusively breastfeed her adorable twin boys Jackson and Hamish until they were fully weaned onto solids. I think thats amazing! Here is a little more of what she does if you are interested in getting in touch with her. Let me know and i’ll connect you.
It`s only 2 more weeks till I reach my 28 week goal, WOO HOO!!! It's actually starting to feel achievable. I didn`t think I would be saying that 3 weeks ago. After 28 weeks it will be one day at a time to see how much further we can all make it.
I had some wonderful surprise visits and gifts from family and friends over the last 5 days. My dearest friend came down from London and surprised me with a visit on Saturday. Thanks so much Heli it was amazing to catch up!!! I also want to send lots of love and thanks to my lovely Mother in Law for sending me the most amazing basket of pampering goodies which has already made me feel a bit more human, and to my wonderful Dad and Bek for the awesome puzzle which will keep my brain adequately stimulated. Something which I am desperately needing to stop me going loopy. Love you all very much!!!
Breastfeeding the boys has been in forefront of my mind over the last couple of weeks, so I have been lucky enough to meet the lovely Tash who is a Barnado`s Breastfeeding Peer Supporter. I have always thought I would like to at least attempt breastfeeding for as long as possible, but it wasn`t until I met her that I realised it could even be possible to exclusively feed them for a number of months. Tash has provided me with a wealth of information and lent me a La Leche League book called Mothering Multiples by Karen Gromada which covers breastfeeding for twins, triplets and quads.
I found the book so interesting, especially the chapters on ‘Breastfeeding in NICU’ and ‘How To Make Up For A Poor Start’. I’ll be honest, trying to soak up and process all the information is quite overwhelming as there a lot consider and do to make it work. However, I do think the book could be used to dip in and out off rather than reading it cover to cover, making it an invaluable resource. It has certainly opened my eyes to the ways I can give my boys best opportunity to feed once they are ready.
To give them the option to breastfeed I will need to start expressing 6-12 hours after their birth and then continue to express every 3-4 hours in order to build up my supply. In the first few days I will produce very small amounts of colostrum, the super juice which is so important for newborns especially prem babies. The babies will be fed this through their drips and once my full supply comes in I should hopefully be able to start expressing properly for them. They will continue to feed on my milk through their feeding tubes until they are able to master the suck, swallow and breath reflex, at which point they will be able to start taking milk from my breasts. I think this is about 35 weeks but it really depends on the health and progress of the baby. Hopefully I will be able to produce enough milk for all four but if not they will need to be supplemented with formula. This to me sounds very do able, its just when I have to consider that all four babies could be in separate hospitals, it starts to seem a little daunting. I don`t know how I will manage to express and supply the milk to the boys if they are.
We have been warned it will be very likely that there won`t be enough incubators where I am now when they are born, so they could potentially be transfered to one of six Level 3 NICU units. (Southmead (North Bristol) Cardiff, Taunton, Bath, Birmingham or London). As soon as a bed space becomes available they would bring them back one by one. This was so hard to take in when we were first told but realistically if there are not enough beds or staff in a given hospital, then we really have no choice. Obviously the health and safety of our boys is all that matters to us!
Trying to organise and manage the milk and breastfeeding in this case will be very hard but we`ll just have to try and do the best we can. Thanks Tash for coming in to see me and giving me the knowledge and support, and showing me that it is possible to breastfeed quads despite what people around you may think. Tash exclusively breastfeed her adorable twin boys Jackson and Hamish until they were fully weaned onto solids. I think thats amazing! Here is a little more of what she does if you are interested in getting in touch with her. Let me know and i’ll connect you.
‘I am a Barnardo's Breastfeeding Peer Supporter. I am always happy to talk to anyone interested in breastfeeding and try to offer information based advice. If I don't know the answer to a question then I work with Breastfeeding Counsellors who usually do and if not can point me to the best resource. There is a network of Bristol Breastfeeding support groups and cafes where mums can meet and feed with the presence of Counsellors and Peer Supporters, which I also try to attend. I am always interested to meet new mums and dads especially those expecting multiples.’Otherwise all is well with bump and I but am getting incredibly sore hips, thighs and leg pain from lying on my side all day long. I`m not getting a lot sleep because of it and as far as i'm aware there's not much I can do. If anyone reading my blog has spent some time on bedrest and has any suggestions, I would really appreciate them. I have also started on soya protein supplements to increase my daily protein intake. Protein is the building blocks for a growing baby and unfortunately hospital food isn't giving me nearly enough for four.
It`s only 2 more weeks till I reach my 28 week goal, WOO HOO!!! It's actually starting to feel achievable. I didn`t think I would be saying that 3 weeks ago. After 28 weeks it will be one day at a time to see how much further we can all make it.
I had some wonderful surprise visits and gifts from family and friends over the last 5 days. My dearest friend came down from London and surprised me with a visit on Saturday. Thanks so much Heli it was amazing to catch up!!! I also want to send lots of love and thanks to my lovely Mother in Law for sending me the most amazing basket of pampering goodies which has already made me feel a bit more human, and to my wonderful Dad and Bek for the awesome puzzle which will keep my brain adequately stimulated. Something which I am desperately needing to stop me going loopy. Love you all very much!!!
Here we all at 26 weeks pregnant
It's amazing to breastfeed. It's hard work with one, so can't imagine breastfeeding four. But once it is established, it's sooo worth it.
ReplyDeleteExpressing milk on a full time basis (which is what you'll be doing at first) is hard too, but again, totally worth it to know you are giving your babies all that lovely milk which is tailored exactly for their needs.
Best of luck, I really hope you get lots of support with it.
I just wanted to recommend breast shells for you. Once your milk comes in on around day 4, you may find that you leak a little in between feeds (or expressing) and the shells collect the milk which you can then transfer to a bottle (if you sterilise the shells first) and you don't waste your precious milk. Also you don't need breast pads when you have them on. (oh, but don't use them if you're lying down! The milk goes everywhere!).
Fran xx
In total awe of you! Truly amazing baby growing on your part. Hope that you are managing pockets of rest and times when you can get a bit comfy. If you can get some
ReplyDeleteLansinoh cream in you might find it helpful when you start breastfeeding. It's just nice and soothing and you don't need to wash it off before expressing or breastfeeding. Chin up and keep your little stars growing!! X
I've just discovered your blog and I've so enjoyed reading it. Good luck with the breastfeeding. There's a wealth of excellent breastfeeding support in Bristol (and it sounds like you've already tapped into some of that via Tash) so don't feel shy of asking for it when the time comes. Good luck!
ReplyDelete@ Fran - thank you! it would be so special for me to be able to give them that goodness. The shell sounds fantastic, I'll have a look out for them. Em x
ReplyDelete@ annon - thank you so much!
@ hazel - thank you, I look forward to getting out there when I can and joining the network. Em x