I'm so sad...

[Smidget]

I had it the other day and realized that i don't pump enough to be able to leave the girls with anyone for an extended period of time, and i definately needed to when i was in CT cuz i just need a freaking break. so i gave them formula just so they're a little used to it. i didn't want to do it a lot, and still don't, just want them to be used to it, KWIM?

well so i give them each a bottle yesterday which they proceed to devour, and after three full days of crankiness for absolutely NO reason whatsoever and not sleeping well, they are perfectly content, satisfied, and happy for HOURS after eating formula. :cry i don't know what to do. it's almost like my breastmilk isn't enough. i mean i know it takes longer to digest, but that's not it. they'er not even calm adn satisfied when they're done nursing. they jsut start crying again.

i don't know what to do. i don't want to stop nursing. i'm so upset, disappointed, and i feel so inadequate. i still want to nurse, but i can't stand them crying ALL THE TIME like they have been. and they slept really well last night, too. when they haven't been lately. OMG, i'm crying while i'm typing this i'm so upset! i mean i almost want to give them formula from now on just to keep my sanity, KWIM? but what about nursing? i don't want to give that up. and i'm afraid if i get into the routine of formula they won't want to nurse...:sigh.

[Spuds]

I am sorry. I have no words of wisdom. I didn't BF. I wish I would've becuse you BFers are strong, tireless woman. I couldn't do it. You have done a great job so far, and hopefully it gets easier. Maybe they are just going thru a growth spurt and will get back to normal. You are doing great! Keep it up! :hugs

[zak frost]

I would give it until 3 or 4 months at least. They stop doing so many growth spurts and your hormones level out some. See how you feel then. Have you tried playing with your diet? I know one baby that would cry all the time when his mom ate garlic (an easy fix). Another would cry all the time when the mom ate dairy products and a whole bunch of other foods (kid wound up being allergic to alot of things).

[zak frost]

Another idea is once a week or something, BW take a "night" and he feeds them a bottle. You get some sleep and a break and he gets a turn. And, you won't go broke paying for formula.

[Master~Debator]

I think you'll get plenty of advice and encouragement from the BF mommies here.

My babies were formula fed so I don't know much about switching.

Just wanted to give you some :comfort

[WhoserMomma!]

Don't stop nursing if you don't want to. I'm telling you from experience, it does get better. I didn't make enough milk to pump for Daniel, so I had to strictly breastfeed. He also had colic and cried ALL THE TIME for the first three months. Once I got passed three months, we were on easy street! I BFed him for a year with no problems. If your babes are gaining weight, they are fine. If you would like, give them a bottle of formula before bed, but make sure you pump right after to keep your supply up.

[Bonkey]

:hug
Take a deep breath girlfriend...
I know how that feels. I bet your girlies are in the middle of a growth spurt and they are telling your bb's-''Hey BB's we need more milk, fools! So hurry up and make some more, darnit!".
You are doing a terrific job! You have been nursing for 2+ months now- that is fantastic! There is a place reserved for you in heaven for BFing twins for that long-:lol
Now, I know that this probably isn't the best advice, but I gave the girls a formula bottle right before bed starting at 8 weeks. I did it for a few reasons and I am still doing it today.
1. I wanted to be able to pump and have some stored. So after they went to bed I pumped and froze!
2. I wanted them to be able to take a bottle of formula in case I got sick or something. I had to have a D & C at 10 weeks pp and I had no worries that the girls wouldn't eat from a bottle.
3. My sanity. I needed a break. So it is our little routine at night that we bathe, give bottles, put them down, and I pump! DH loves feeding the girls and someone else can do their night routine (ie- a BABYSITER!!! YAY!!) while we are at a movie or something (imagine that A MOVIE!!!).:rockon
I still do this minus the pumping at night. It is very important that you pump to keep your supply up in case you don't want to supplement anymore and your body doesn't think they girls have dropped that feeding. :oldman
Things will get better- you are still at that melt-down-hour stage!!! Jesus-that was some rough stuff- I can still remember dreading 5 o'clock in the afternoon. :para
It also helped me to get out of the house. I put the girls in their stroller (double snap n go) and we would go for a 45 minute walk everyday! It is so nice to get out and the girls enjoy the change of scenery, The sunshine does a body good!:surf
You are at one of the hardest stages right now! I promise it will get better. hang in there. PT me anytime and we can talk and swap BF stories...:hug:gossip

[gypsymom]

Smidge darling it's okay to be upset, but don't give up. It is sooooooooooo hard for the first few months and it seems like other things might be a good fix, but it WILL get better and you don't have to use formula. Your breast milk is adequate, but maybe you need to try an exclusion diet.

Check out this link to get more info.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/mom/index.html

I wish I had time to write more, but hang in there girl. PM me for my number or give me yours. My MIL has free long distance and we can talk any time. :hugs I :pinkheart you.

[Ringlette]

I completely know what you are going thru! There was more than one time that I just wanted to give up. My breasts felt like they had been pummeled for about 2 months, I had a plugged duct for 3 months, the girls and I had thrush for 4 months, both girls were colicky, Eowyn became a picky nurser and refused to tandem nurse or nurse in the football hold at 2 months, I could never pump more than 2oz per breast in a sitting so I was their only source of food...no bottles, they nursed every 1 1/2-2 hours for the first 3 months (even at night), and Ame went on a nursing strike at 6 months.

And I made it through and nursed them for 2 years! It can be done! I agree that they are probably going thru a growth spurt right now. Try cluster nursing them to up your supply. It will catch up with them. It is nature for the babies to grow and demand more milk before your breasts start to make more milk. Remember they work on a supply and demand basis. The exclusion diet idea is a good one too. A lot of babies can't handle the way certain foods are metabolised thru breastmilk. Dairy is a big one. Are your girls still on Zantac? Mine were until they were 4 months old. Try nursing them in the bathtub. This might relax them and you more so that your breasts will produce more milk, and they will nurse more efficiently. Check their latch too.

Also remember, that you and the girls are still getting used to all of this. It really does take a few months. My big turning points with nursing were 3 months, 6 months, and a year. Things just seemed to click a little bit more at each milestone. They will become much much more efficient nursers soon! Mine nursed for 30-45min at a time every 2 hours for 3 months. By 6 months old, they were down to 10-15 min a session, and could latch with no assistance from me.

Don't give up on nursing! You really really can do this, and you are doing such an amazing job so far! I think you should contact a Lactation Consultant just so you can get a peace of mind with everything.:hugs

[Smidget]

thanks everyone! i'm sure it is a growth spurt, and i'm definately not gonna stop nursing...i love it way too much. i think i am gonna do a bottle at night, just for my sanity. but they don't fall asleep that way, so i'll still nurse them to sleep after a bottle. it's the only way i can get them to fall asleep. luckily by that point it doesn't take too long...and i definately pump every time i give them a bottle because i REALLY don't want my supply to diminish. i've never had a day where i just wanted to give up like that and it was really scary! i feel better now though, thank god. i was just having a really bad couple of days. i think my supply increased though, cuz last night and today my boobs have been really sore and full, adn the girls are content after nursing. at least right now they are, :lol

[WhoserMomma!]

thanks everyone! i'm sure it is a growth spurt, and i'm definately not gonna stop nursing...i love it way too much. i think i am gonna do a bottle at night, just for my sanity. but they don't fall asleep that way, so i'll still nurse them to sleep after a bottle. it's the only way i can get them to fall asleep. luckily by that point it doesn't take too long...and i definately pump every time i give them a bottle because i REALLY don't want my supply to diminish. i've never had a day where i just wanted to give up like that and it was really scary! i feel better now though, thank god. i was just having a really bad couple of days. i think my supply increased though, cuz last night and today my boobs have been really sore and full, adn the girls are content after nursing. at least right now they are, :lol

I can so relate and completely understand! :hug

[Bella~*]

sweetheart, I went through this with isabella, ask mamabirdie or even ringlette. the times the babies go through growing spurts, or are fighting a sickness, or even a milestone.. they tend to want to nurse more... I just went through one with isabella a few days ago. Unfortunatly... she's not settling too well after I nurse, So I have been putting her in the swing.

Start eating oatmeal or take some fenugreek, if you think that the nursing isn't bringing you enough Milk. It can't hurt. but those two things INCREASE milk supply..

Keep your head up, and know it will get better, with some bumps in the road just like this one. Im still nursing my last baby the longest I've ever nursed, I have days where I am just overwelmed and bothered i cant get ANYTHING done because she's wanting to sit on my and nurse non stop.
buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut what keeps me going is.. 1. It's kept her from being sick ( like the rest of my children) which means one less child to take care of. 2. she just hates bottles, We try giving her a bottle here and there, but she just cant' keep it in her mouth.

and ultimately its the best stuff in the world for her. really our body's do the best superpower any human can really do. i bow down to you (doing it for two ) as long as you have.

:hug sweety!!

[Sarabela]

Maybe try doing both. I have been combo feeding since my twins were a few days old. They lost too much weight in the hospital, my milk came in too slowly because I hemorrhaged after the birth and needed a blood transfusion. I didnt have enough blood in my body to produce much milk so I started supplementing with formula after each feeding. They are 6 months old and I am still BF! They get about 1/2 and 1/2. There have been times I have wanted to try really hard to get them off formula but then I think of how much of a pain it is to pump the 1-2 days a week that I work and I would have to do it so often to have enough BM for the day (s) I do work that I keep doing what I am doing. I am thinking maybe when they are on more solids in a couple of months I can do away with the formula. They still seem to love BF even though they also love their bottles.