Please tell me it will get easier!

• 04-10-2009 5:48 PM

  Daraka906571 Joined on 08-04-2005 Finley Kathleen 4/9/06~Emmy & Joey 4/6/09 Posts 12,014

  Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact Well, we got home yesterday and things have been pretty crazy since then, which you all know!  Today went better than yesterday.  Breast feeding has been the most challenging part but between pumping and using the haberman bottle when needed, we are getting along.  Emmy is a better nurser than Joey so alot of times he gets most of his breast milk from the haberman.  I'm trying not to stress out about it because we need our sanity.  They sleep about 3 hour stretches so that makes it easier to get some things done and to rest.  I know that when Finley was born, the first 2 weeks were a nightmare so I'm trying to tell me that it will get better after 2 weeks.  Thanks for letting me get this out and any positive reinforcement is greatly appreciated!!!

• 04-10-2009 6:54 PM

  In reply to

  DRS~Are~The~Best Joined on 09-12-2006 Germantown, MD Posts 1,455

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact First of all, welcome back and I'm happy to hear that things are going so well (everyone home and getting used to the new life). In answer to your question, just like I tell people who have singletons, it's not really a matter of getting "easier" but becoming more "familiar".  Everyone will find their place in the world and the twins will learn what they need to do to function.  YOU will learn how to balance everyone's needs (including your own).  Sleep is an issue, but with double the love you won't really notice. One thing I will suggest to you (mainly because I'm not sure when you'll be back online), once you do get used to things, try to learn how to "tandem feed" them (nursing them both at the same time).  It's a bit of a juggling act and not exactly easy to get used to, but once you get the hang of it, it's MUCH easier and it will be as natural to you as nursing them one at a time.  And you will be done in half the time which will make YOU feel better and not as stressed out. You aren't alone -- we've been there and we know what it's like.  Feel free to post whenever you need and we'll do our best to make things better for you!!!!!!!! All the best, Ilene

• 04-11-2009 6:26 AM

  In reply to

  Tina'sTwinksPlus1 Joined on 06-07-2004 Just south of KC, MO Posts 2,686	Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact  Definitely try to tandem nurse.  Things will get easier quickly.  I remember being in tears the night before DH went back to work.  I was terrified of being alone with them but we managed and I was still sane at the end of the day.  Every day gets a little easier.  Hang in there.

• 04-11-2009 7:55 AM

  In reply to

  Daraka906571 Joined on 08-04-2005 Finley Kathleen 4/9/06~Emmy & Joey 4/6/09 Posts 12,014	Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact I would love to tandem nurse but Joey will hardly latch at all and Emmy takes a good hour to latch.  It's very frustrating.  I've been pumping and giving it to them and trying to get them to nurse.  I am about to throw in the towel.

• 04-11-2009 8:44 AM

  In reply to

  DRS~Are~The~Best Joined on 09-12-2006 Germantown, MD Posts 1,455

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact Daraka906571: I would love to tandem nurse but Joey will hardly latch at all and Emmy takes a good hour to latch.  It's very frustrating.  I've been pumping and giving it to them and trying to get them to nurse.  I am about to throw in the towel.   THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH FORMULA FEEDING YOU BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!  Many people do it and their kids are PERFECTLY fine, so don't let ANYONE tell you otherwise!!!!!!!!! If you are really trying to get the nursing, have you tried contacting a lactation consultant?  In many areas (all that I know of), they will come to your home and work with you, see what you are doing, and make good suggestions.  Just DON'T LET THEM MAKE YOU FEEL THAT NURSING IS THE ONLY OPTION!!!!!!!! Just remember that you need to do what's right for you and your family.  You are going through a really hard adjustment period right now -- everyone understands that.  The reason I talked about feeding is that was the biggest issue for us (especially following NICU time and having it hounded into us that the babies needed to get their "minimums" until that stuff was coming out of our ears).  And remember that the babies are also making adjustments here and that they are learning new things every day. YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS!!!!!!!! All the best, Ilene ][/url]

• 04-11-2009 1:13 PM

  In reply to

  Daraka906571 Joined on 08-04-2005 Finley Kathleen 4/9/06~Emmy & Joey 4/6/09 Posts 12,014	Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact Thank you girls so much for your support!  I have contacted the lactation consultant and she's helped some.  I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and if giving them formula is the worse thing that happens, then that's ok with us!

• 04-12-2009 8:56 AM

  In reply to

  serial mommy Joined on 02-16-2005 the mitten Posts 5,115

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact i know in a few months i'm going to be in the same boat you are...i'm going to try nursing the twins, i also know that in the past i have NOT been very sucessful in nursing for any length of time...and jason is VERY supportive of how i feel about nursing and helping me do it, but also letting me know that it is very ok with him to do formula as well...and to me, it matters what jason thinks, as they are his kids too...remember, just take it a day at a time and go from there...no one can tell you how tomorrow will be, so in situations like you are in now (and i'll be in soon enough) one day at time seems to be the best way to go about it..

• 04-12-2009 9:44 AM

  In reply to

  Carrie31805 Joined on 08-25-2006 Central Missouri Posts 735

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact It will get easier, as pp have said. It may take a while, but it will. Promise!! :) I was only able to actually nurse one of my twins. My DD was born with a growth in her mouth that kept her from latching on. For the first 4 1/2 months I pumped for her and BF my DS. After that it got to be too much so she started on formula and I kept BFing him until 8 months. I actually found that that setup worked well because it meant that DH could get up with Lucy at night to give her bottles and I got up with Kellen to BF. Maybe something like that would work? I really think the biggest key to raising twins, especially as infants, is to figure out whatever routine works best for you, your family, and your situation, and stick with it.... no matter what it looks like or what anyone else thinks about it. Once you figure out what the routine is for your family, that's when things will get easier! Good luck!

• 04-24-2009 5:25 AM

  In reply to

  DRS~Are~The~Best Joined on 09-12-2006 Germantown, MD Posts 1,455

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact Daraka906571: Thank you girls so much for your support!  I have contacted the lactation consultant and she's helped some.  I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing and if giving them formula is the worse thing that happens, then that's ok with us!   Was thinking about you and wondering how things are going....are things starting to settle down for you? Please let us know when you have the chance.... Ilene ][/url]

• 04-24-2009 6:48 PM

  In reply to

  Daraka906571 Joined on 08-04-2005 Finley Kathleen 4/9/06~Emmy & Joey 4/6/09 Posts 12,014

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact Things are going well.  I ended up switching to formula.  It was for the best.  I was so depressed and crying all the time so I ended up going back on anti-depressants to get through....I am so much happier now that I am bottle feeding.  I was getting to the point where I wasn't enjoying my babies and I couldn't live like that.  So, things are going so much better!  We are getting a little routine down and just taking things one day at a time!

• 04-27-2009 9:23 AM

  In reply to

  DRS~Are~The~Best Joined on 09-12-2006 Germantown, MD Posts 1,455

  Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact I'm so happy to hear that you are finding a routine that is working for you!!!!!  And you're right -- just take it one day at a time.... As for the decision to swtich to formula, GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!  It's far more important for you to be able to take care of your kids, and this is helping you to do just that!!!!!  I'm proud of you for doing what's best for you and your babies!!!!!!!!!! All the best, Ilene

• 05-21-2009 7:04 AM

  In reply to

  love2Bmomma Joined on 01-27-2004 Posts 65	Re: Please tell me it will get easier! Reply Contact congrats! i too switched to formula and we were all a much happier family! so as you can see, it does get easier, and better, all the time. enjoy your little ones!!! :)