***This post is written in partnership with Medela. All opinions are my own. All feeding breasts mentioned are mine too***
“Here. Put mouth here.”
Like attaching an electrical cable to a socket feed, the midwife shoved my nipple to my 2 day old boy’s tiny lips.
This was our first attempt and I’ll never forget it.
Whilst feeling excited, intimidated and vulnerable are also emotions that spring to mind.
Popping out my gonzolas for the first time in the NICU ward totally freaked me out. Suddenly, I turned into an absolute prude. But as it happened, a boob fest in that little part of the hospital was the norm rather than the exception. Nothing was too precious to hide or be prudish about.
Then, just as me and K-Bear had some brief boobie feeding success, the scary realisation hit me: I was going to have to do this all over again…but with two on my tits.
Okay.
Now, looking back, breastfeeding twins is really like riding a bike.
Actually, it’s not at all.
But persistence is something necessary for riding two wheels or feeding two babies.
I remember when that big blue twin breast pillow made its debut that on my lap, welcoming my two tiny babies.
The cold hands of midwives again handling my (no longer) precious puppies encouraging the feeding procedure to begin.
After a few attempts, they both latched then finally they started to suck. For a split second we were in sync – all three of us.
We made a perfect little triangle.
In those early days, finding that harmony, that rhythm, would only be a brief magical moment but it would be a start. With each feed, we made further steps in progress.
When I look back on those sleepless nights and endless days, I truly wonder how I breastfed twins. Especially on the many occasions when I was on my own.
But I did.
Even through the excruciating pain of nipple thrush, a quiet force of determination told me to keep going.
I had every opportunity to quit but I liked that special triangle my babies and I had created. It was intoxicating, initmate, irreplaceable.
My mother-in-law would often come over with a helping hand during those new born baby days.
She would take the responsibility of bringing each baby over to me, placing one at each of my side (now HER hands were icy cold!). She would hover over my shoulder, lovingly look at her grandchildren like any other doting grandmother. I thought nothing of it.
Then, one morning, in the midst of her usual task, she gave me an unusually solemn look.
Thinking perhaps something had upset my mother-in-law, instead she said,
“This. These moments of you feeding the boys. I will always cherish them”
If there is any similarity of bike riding to breast feeding it would be this:
The perseverance to find your momentum; to listen and work with your intuition; that the more you do these things, the more confident you’ll become.
Most of all, enjoy the journey because it’s one of those fleeting times in life that only happens once.
For one lucky mum to be or breastfeeding mum or anyone who knows one, I have a Medela $50 voucher to giveaway!
All you have to do is:
Subscribe to With Some Grace by Email
Leave a comment on this post telling me:
“What’s one piece of advice you would offer to a new mum about feeding?”
Medela provides real solutions for breastfeeding mothers to get over any hurdles in the early days and to support their long term breastfeeding goals. Through its extensive range of breast pump products and other breastfeeding products, Medela is committed to promoting the benefits of breast milk and encouraging long term breastfeeding.
For more information visit: www.medela.com.au or www.facebook.com/medela.au
Terms and Conditions:
- This giveaway is open to Australian residents only.
- Closing date for entries is 10pm AEST Monday, 16th of June.
- The winner will be contacted via email on the following Tuesday.
- If the winner does not reply to my email within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries will be judged on merit and decision of the winner will be final.
The post Breastfeeding Twins appeared first on With Some Grace.
