Mothering Multiples - Breastfeeding Twins+
Mothering Multiples - Breastfeeding Twins+
NEW! Mothering Multiples - Breastfeeding & Caring for Twins and Multiples (Revised Edition). Karen Kerkhoff Gromada expands the International Breastfeeding Organisation (La Leche League) best-seller of 15 years to include a host of updated information for parents of twins and multiples, especially discussing how to work together as a team.
With an emphasis on attachment-style parenting, Gromada discusses parenting twins and multiple birth from pregnancy and birth to toddlerhood, including infant care and maternal care, and the inclusion of older babies in the enlarged family.
She has based this expanded revision on her experience counselling thousands of women as a lactation consultant and La Leche League Leader and founder of the first LLL group for families with multiples. Gromada also includes a resource guide and index and recent photos.
Chapter 1: It's Twins, Triplets or More!
Chapter 2: Multiple Pregnancy as High Risk: Fact or Fiction
Chapter 3: Multiple Pregnancy: Caring for Three. Four or More Before Birth
Chapter 4: What to Do If...
Chapter 5: Getting Ready to Breastfeed Two. Three or More Newborns
Chapter 6: Getting Ready: Birth Preparation
Chapter 7: Getting Ready: Preparing for Multiples
Chapter 8: Happy Birthday
Chapter 9: Beginning Breastfeeding
Chapter 10: Multiples in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit
Chapter 11: Breastfeeding in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit
Chapter 12: Making up for a Poor Start
Chapter 13: Effective Breastfeeding
Chapter 14: Coordinating Feedings
Chapter 15: Breastfeeding Difficulties in Young Babies
Chapter 16: When Mother Had a Breastfeeding Difficulty
Chapter 17: Avoiding Problems During a Hospitalization
Chapter 18: Full and Partial Breastfeeding
Chapter 19: Enhancing Individuality
Chapter 20: Comforting a Fussy Baby x 1. 2 or More!
Chapter 21: Getting Enough Sleep
Chapter 22: What You'll Need
Chapter 23: Getting Out and About
Chapter 24: For Mothers Only: Adjusting to Multiples
Chapter 25: Adjusting as a Couple
Chapter 26: Older Siblings of Multiples
Chapter 27: Streamlined Housekeeping
Chapter 28: Breastfeeding, Starting Solids and Weaning
Chapter 29: Older Babies and Toddlers; Childproofing and Helpful Equipment
Chapter 30: Parenting Toddler Multiples Resources. Appendix. Index
Wonderful book, Wonderful ideas, great support and validated things I thought, but weren't sure could happen. Believe me, the phrase. "It's a twin thing" is so true! My first daughter never dreamed of doing some of the things my twins do. They really know how to accomplish a task together.
Only regret is that I did not make it all the way through until my girls were 18 months of age. It made me laugh, because I would think to my self. "Oh My. the author must be talking about my girls." E. Rogers June 05
I am a nurse by profession and researching is in my blood. This book was the best by far of all the books on breast feeding. I purchased this book midway through my pregnancy with my twin girls. I found the information to be invaluable once the girls arrived. I am now on a mission to inform all multiple mums that breast feeding is possible with multiples. I still refer to the book even after stopping nursing my twins at 16mth. I have wonderful memories of my time spent with my babies on the breast. L. Cocker Dec 04
I didn't buy this book until my babies were 4 months old. and I was reluctant to buy it because I feel the LaLeche League (the publisher) is very shrill and dogmatic. However. I was having trouble producing enough milk to keep my guys happy. and was about to return to work. and didn't want to give up breastfeeding completely. but really needed advice on how to manage all this. This is the only book I have found that discusses breastfeeding multiples in any detail. She DOES give the LaLeche League party line that ONLY breast is best (which we all know). but she also gives advice for maintaining milk production and including formula in the diet. In addition. she gives many suggestions for breastfeeding two at once. and very complete and useful instructions for when and how to express milk to maximize production. Beyond the breastfeeding discussion. however. she provides the best. most specific advice for all aspects of caring for twins throughout the first two years that I have seen anyplace. This includes extensive discussions of caring for preemies and low-birth weight babies. managing relations with the twins' siblings. and the psychological affects of taking on the responsibility of caring for twins. She also had many sensible and specific suggestions for making life easier that I wish I had known after I had my first baby (a singleton). Finally. she makes several thought-provoking observations about the psychology of twins and issues involved in raising them which I have not seen anyplace else. I found this book very very helpful. and very reassuring. Debbie - Jersey
I am in my third trimester with twins and with their impending arrival coming anytime. I thought I'd better brush up on breast-feeding techniques. And thankfully. someone from La Leche recommended this book to me! I even made my husband read it. It is chock full of good suggestions and little things to keep one aware of what breast-feeding twins really consist of. It gives one an idea of the average time of breastfeeding ... how often. how to handle both of them at once. what to do when only feeding one of them at a time ... it just gives a good idea of what to expect. And it's extremely helpful for this first-time mother! It helps allay the panic that I've been feeling ever since the doctor said. well. they can come anytime. so be prepared! I highly recommend this book to everyone. it is still sensible advice for new mums. Reviewer from Ohio. USA
Nursing ONE baby can be challenging. but when they come two at a time.you need to call in the big guns. Although a previous reviewer scoffs at the fact that Gromada had her twins over 20 years ago.she fails to realize that the author has been working in her field(lactation consulting.La Leche League leader. renowned expert on twins and public speaker)for over 25 years and consults with mothers of multiples daily. I for one would have never been able to breastfeed my twins for 18 months without the help in this book. And I would hardly refer to "breast is best" being propaganda.Even the formula companies have to admit their product is inferior to the real thing;it's just fact. N. Dastillung July 2005
Reviewed by Dee Keith From: NEW BEGINNINGS. Vol. 17 No. 2. March-April 2000 (La Leche League)
Whether you are a mother of twins. triplets. or more. a La Leche League Leader working with mothers of multiples. a health care provider. or the grandmother of twins. you will find MOTHERING MULTIPLES to be a definitive guide. More than once I've heard a mother of twins say to my co-Leader. Karen Kerkhoff Gromada. "I couldn't have done this without your book." In true La Leche League style. Karen brings a gentle ear and nurturing tone to her revision of this one-of-a-kind book.
As a mother of twins. I can honestly say that things could have been a whole lot easier for me had I had Karen's book. I discovered I was having twins only two weeks before they arrived but after six weeks of bedrest for preterm labour. It was a relief when our suspicions were confirmed that we were indeed expecting multiples. That was 24 years ago. Having parented twins remains a vivid life-altering experience for me: truly the best and the most challenging of my ten parenting experiences. My twins have caused me to grow as a parent in my skills and patience.
As Karen explains. having multiples is both a joy and an overwhelming experience. My stress level would have been greatly reduced had someone acknowledged this reality for me. I think I could have better understood what to expect and what to plan for. I would have had some ideas about how to help my older children adjust. and how my family and friends could better have helped me. I believe I would have gotten that outside help I longed for and not felt guilty about needing it.
Karen brings her experience as both a perinatal nurse and a board-certified lactation consultant to this book. She has worked with hundreds of mothers of multiples. The book is full of practical information. It covers prenatal care. pregnancy. preterm labor. birth. diet. milk expression. and the daily care of those precious little ones. It takes you from those early days and the rigorous demands of multiples to the complexity of baby-proofing when your babies become toddlers.
One thing which might be surprising to people who have not worked with mothers of multiples is how many difficulties there may be at the beginning of the breastfeeding relationship. MOTHERING MULTIPLES does an excellent job of providing information mothers and Leaders need. For example. there is a discussion of full and partial breastfeeding which is especially important when you have three or more babies. Kangaroo care. how to maximize supply. and hindmilk feedings for preterm infants are also covered.
She explains how to go from partial breastfeeding to full breastfeeding when nursing doesn't go as well as hoped for in the beginning. as may happen when babies arrive very early and spend time in a newborn intensive care unit. The resource guide at the end of the book will be of great help in finding that nursing pillow that is just a little larger, a support group (USA), or a good breast pump.
If you have or are expecting twins. and have never read MOTHERING MULTIPLES, now is the time to order your own copy. It will help you stop worrying and start enjoying what a wonder your babies are.
