PLANNING ahead MAKING ENOUGH MILK You can avoid some of the problems that lead SECURING SUPPORT FOR YOUR It is important to start breastfeeding or to a low milk supply if you know what to DECISION TO BREASTFEED expressing your milk right after giving expect and make some plans. • Inform your partner, support person, or birth. This is when your body will be helper and your health care professionals primed to make milk; so starting then One possible problem is that some twins, as early as possible in your pregnancy that will help establish a good milk supply. and most triplets and quadruplets, are born you plan to breastfeed. If they would like to The key to getting off to a good start in prematurely. They may not suckle strongly know more about breastfeeding multiples, breastfeeding multiples is establishing an enough or regularly enough in the early days you can share the list of support groups, abundant supply of milk. You will be able after birth to stimulate mother’s breasts to websites, and publications in the Appendix to do this best if you understand how your make an ample milk supply. Another is that section of this booklet body determines how much milk your mothers may not feel well for 24 to 48 hours • Ask your health care professional to babies need. after delivery, when breast stimulation is so refer you to a breastfeeding specialist, important. This is especially true if the such as the lactation consultant who is Studies have shown that milk volume is mother had pregnancy-related problems affiliated with the hospital where you determined mainly by the amount of milk resulting in long periods of bed rest, will give birth. Plan to meet with this that is removed from the breasts, rather medications to treat blood pressure or person during your pregnancy to than by the ability to make milk. In these premature labor, or a cesarean delivery. As a discuss your breastfeeding plans and studies, mothers with an established milk result, milk production and removal might goals. Some hospitals offer breastfeeding supply were asked to use a breast pump in be delayed. Here are some steps you can take classes. You may also find useful addition to feeding their babies. Researchers to prepare yourself and your family before information by attending meetings of your found that the daily milk volume increased your babies are born. local La Leche League with increased removal through breast- The key to getting off to • Talking with someone who has breastfed pump use, and decreased again when a good start breastfeeding the same number of infants that you are pumping was stopped. For parents of expecting can be very helpful. Often, your multiples, this means that the body will multiples is establishing an breastfeeding specialist or La Leche League know to make enough milk for more than 1 abundant supply of milk group can help by putting you in touch with baby provided the breasts are emptied a parent who has breastfed twins or frequently and completely throughout the triplets. The organizations listed on pages day. 67–68 are other excellent sources of information about caring for multiples and can refer you to parents who have breastfed multiples 54 55