Lynne asks about managing twins when the mother has low supply.  I would
still encourage the mother to breastfeed the babies together if that is
what she prefers - presumably they will both drain her 'low supply' breasts
to their maximum anyway, which is what we are trying to achieve ie. both
breasts with as little breastmilk in them as possible, so that milk
synthesis will be at maximum in both of them.

What we want to avoid is a baby (or two) staying on the breast for a long
time after they have got as much milk as was already there, because very
little milk synthesis occurs while the infant is actually suckling.  For
the sake of the baby getting an extra 5ml or so over the course of sucking
for the next half an hour it's best to have the baby off the breast and put
him back on again at the end of that half hour to get the maybe 30 ml that
she was able to synthesis in that half hour.   (Figures are very sloppy -
please don't quote me)

BUT this is only for treating a problem.  I certainly wouldn't say it to
any mother whose supply is fine - in fact I encourage long lingering feeds
because they are so lovely. Ahh the memories :-)

Denise

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Denise Fisher MMP, BN, IBCLC
BreastEd Online Lactation Studies
http://www.health-e-learning.com

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