Category: Baby, Breastfeeding, Pump
August 3, 2022
Raising a baby, especially a newborn, is a journey. While it’s a beautiful bonding experience, it can also be incredibly demanding and stressful. Some families intending to breastfeed may encounter unexpected situations that lead to detours. Triple feeding can be part of a plan to help achieve your lactation/breastfeeding goals.
What is triple feeding?
Triple feeding is when there are three defining aspects of each individual feeding:
- Direct nursing
- Additional
- Pump
There are many reasons why triple feedings may be needed, such as:
- Rejection of breasts/chests
- Lose weight for baby
- Stop pain
- Low milk supply
The child’s pediatrician and the IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) should be consulted to determine if triple feeding is needed.
Direct nursing
Making frequent and frequent breastfeeding efforts can be considered the most important part of triple feeding. Triple feeding is not a long-term solution to feeding difficulties. It is a way to overcome difficulties with the goal of achieving or returning to an exclusive nursing regimen. Direct feeding is the first part of each feeding. It may require support such as SNS (complementary nursing system). Direct breastfeeding is extremely important because it is where parents and babies learn about their sucking and direct sucking. It also sends signals to the body that breast milk is needed, thus stimulating the supply of nursing parents.
The length of time the nurse instructs or attempts to latch on during each feeding is different for each parent/child. Working with the IBCLC is extremely helpful throughout this process to determine what is appropriate for specific situations.
Additional
After trying to breastfeed directly, supplementation can be done with pumped breast milk or formula. The trend for supplementation should be to switch from formula (if using), to pumped milk, or not to supplement at all. This can be done directly at the breast/breast with pumped milk during direct, bottle, or finger or cup feeding.
Pump
How often to pump in a day, for how many minutes and in what settings are determined by each individual’s situation. The best way to identify these factors is to connect with IBCLC. It may be most beneficial to pump with a double electric breast pump. This can save time and help stimulate more milk than pumping once or using a manual pump. Thankfully, many electric breast pumps are double insured. In addition to double pumping, breast massage or manual pumping may also be helpful for stimulation.
It is important to follow Milk preservation instructions pumping and breastfeeding a baby.
When to stop thrice feeding
There are several factors to consider before ending a triple feeding. If the infant improves on dry suckling, has an adequate milk supply, and is consistently gaining appropriate weight, then feeding and pumping can be gradually reduced. All of these factors can be confirmed by the pediatrician and IBCLC supervisory care.
Support issues!
Before, during, and after all of the above, anyone who will be feeding triplets needs to make sure they have a support system in place. Having the right support system helps reduce stress. Less stress means your body has a better chance of producing oxytocin, one of the hormones responsible for milk production.
Examples of support that may be beneficial include prepared snacks, washing pump and bottle components, diaper changes, and general home care. Triple feeding takes time and energy! Any kind of support can make a huge impact.
For more information on how to support an individual who is breastfeeding, read This article is from Le Leche League.
