Hi folks,
        I've been lurking via the archives for a while -- life got busy!! I
had no real luck finding a succinct answer to my question and unfortunately
could not find a good search word to find the info I'm after...So I've got a
question and I need a well reasoned, present it to the local LC (or convince
me -- depending on whose perspective you take...) answer:
        Here goes... twins born 33 wks, now 10 wks. Gaining slowly but
moderately - were 4.11 and 5.11 at discharge, been home 6 weeks and are now
over 7lbs and over 8lbs (Mom doesn't know exactly, she's so stressed out).
Single older Mom, no support -- lives with her mother and brother who refuse
to help AT ALL!!
        LC tells me babies are 60% supplemented getting about 14 ounces per
day (mom didn't know herself). Babies were very fussy when we arrived, over
the three hours we had the babies nursing very well for 10-15 min. stretches
broken by 20 min or so naps the entire time. The smaller one needed to be
latched on most and more frequently, larger twin fed once or twice and then
slept soundly.
       I suggested one thing she could try is a 24 hour nurse-a-thon -- NO
supplements, in order to up her milk supply and get the babies off the
bottles. Mom reports that babies will refuse bottles and cry hysterically if
given bottles after breastfeeds. She reports same is true if she gives
bottles first and then tries breast. Mom is going nuts and thinks she is
harming the babies by going back and forth. Wants to do one or the other,
cannot take both any longer. Hence my suggestion. Mom has been told she
doesn't have enough milk to feed two babies right now bc of the supplements
and therefore sees formula as her only option.
        LC is adament that she CANNOT do a 24 hour no supplement breast only
bc "you cannot go cold turkey from60% supplementation"
        My question is: WHY NOT? won't a nursing fest especially with twins
up her supply but quick????
                        How would the mother know if they weren't getting
enough? would there be fewer diapers in a mere 24 hours? (I'm thinking
crying would be an indicator - but if they eat well by signs of swallowing,
etc and then fall asleep, and nurse again 30 minutes later so what?!)
                        How would one tell after that 24 period whether or
not and by how much to supplement?
        Mom has NO support and NO transporation so getting to an accurate
scale is next to impossible... but could be worked out maybe?

Pleae email your thoughts as well as posting as I am still nomail...

thanks in advance,
anne