Following on from my post about being a parent of multiples, I wanted to write a separate post to review Kathryn Stagg (IBCLC)’s book ‘Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets: A Guide for Professionals and Parents’ (*) in order to do it justice.
Kathryn Stagg (IBCLC) (Facebook / Instagram) is an expert on this topic having breastfed her own twins (and two subsequent singletons) and founded the Breastfeeding Twins and Triplets UK Facebook page, they also have a private support group, Instagram page and a website.
What’s it all about?
Needless to say, breastfeeding / chestfeeding twins or triplets is much harder than feeding a single baby and comes with its own unique challenges. It’s absolutely possible, as Kathryn Stagg highlights , however it’s not as straight forward. That’s why she’s written this book, to give parents of multiples the information they need when embarking on their breastfeeding / chestfeeding journey.
Who’s it for?
I bought Kathryn’s book as I wanted to be informed in my role as a Peer Supporter, should I ever need to signpost a parent of multiples to support. However, having read the book I hand-on-heart recommend it to any breastfeeding / chestfeeding parent, regardless of how many babies they are expecting as this is honestly one of the best introductions to breastfeeding / chestfeeding I have come across.
It packs in so much information about the basics of breastfeeding / chestfeeding, as well as potential issues and information about hand expression, pumping, supplementation and combination feeding, all of which applies to any parent.
On top of this it explains the additional considerations of having multiples, including advice based on whether the babies were born prematurely, if they are admitted to NICU and things to think about after being discharged. The fact that the book also includes this information relating to parents of multiples is an added bonus as it makes it accessible and relevant to all families.
How easy is it to read?
You’ve probably gathered this already from the introduction above, but this book is super accessible. It’s really easy to read, with clear and concise explanations and even drawings and diagrams to explain things like breastfeeding / chestfeeding positions, how to hand express and how to check the fit of your pump’s flange. The chapters are by topic / age making it easy to dip in and out of depending on what stage you’re at and what your concerns are.
Key topics
The book is split into sections addressing concerns based on when a baby was born e.g. preterm versus late preterm / early term, and term. Each chapter includes a summary of top tips for quick reference. The chapters are as follows:
- Pregnancy – Discovering There is More Than One: this is a great introduction to the book and includes amazing insights into how the news can affect parents emotionally, not just from a breastfeeding / chestfeeding perspective, such as unhelpful comments like those I discussed in my previous post. Kathryn also makes an interesting point around how “The implications to milk production and establishing breastfeeding should always be considered alongside other risks to morbidity and mortality when discussing birth interventions, timing and medication.” Parents don’t always have as many choices, but it’s important that those they do make are informed.
- Preparing to Breastfeed: Kathryn includes a great analogy at the start of this chapter about how you wouldn’t learn to drive when heading down a slip road onto a motorway, similarly you shouldn’t wait until your baby is born to learn about breastfeeding / chestfeeding and equally importantly, normal newborn behaviours. Related to this is the fact that baby books and information you see online often treats babies as though we are ‘nest’ mammals, when in fact we are ‘carry’ mammals, meaning they feed frequently and don’t like being put down.
- Premature Birth: In each of the following section Kathryn includes the considerations that are specific to establishing breastfeeding / chestfeeding based on giving birth at that point. This chapter includes fantastic information about hand expressing and pumping to build supply while a baby is learning to feed and potentially in the NICU. She also then discusses how to move away from ‘triple feeding’ and get baby latching at the breast based on how they have been fed up to that point. She has also written this blog post that is useful regardless of whether you are a parent of multiples about moving away from top-ups after being discharged from hospital.
- Late Preterm and Early Term Babies: An important point Kathryn makes is that while 36+ weeks is considered ‘full term’ for a twin pregnancy, these babies are still premature as had they been a singleton they would have potentially had a further 4 to 6 weeks in the womb. There are therefore still additional considerations when it comes to breastfeeding / chestfeeding these babies. Even if babies are well enough to be discharged from hospital establishing breastfeeding / chestfeeding may not be straightforward. This chapter therefore discusses the additional considerations that comes with this, including supplementation (from syringe and finger feeding, to cup, SNS and paced bottle feeding) and triple feeding.
- Full Term Multiples: Something that is often forgotten, that Kathryn points out, is that all preterm and early term babies will develop into full term babies and therefore go through similar patterns of development, albeit somewhere in between their actual age and adjusted age. This chapter covers the importance of the first feed and the behaviours you’d expect to see at around this stage of development.
- Tandem Feeding: This chapter covers the pros and cons of tandem feeding i.e. feeding two babies at the same time, and the practicalities of doing so.
- Breastfeeding Continued…: Kathryn focusses on what normal baby behaviour looks like, as well as strategies to cope with broken sleep, including safe bed-sharing and safer sleep practices. The chapter covers lots of important topics including mental health and more practical aspects such as the storage of expressed milk.
- Common Problems: If you are experiencing any issues, whether it’s relating to your baby not latching, reflux, nursing strikes, sore / damaged nipples, engorgement or blocked ducts and mastitis, this chapter has you covered. There’s lots of useful strategies to try to resolve the problems. This chapter also contained two incredibly moving stories about breastfeeding a twin baby with Down’s Syndrome and another through serious illness – I was actually moved to tears by these experiences which highlight just how valuable breastfeeding / chestfeeding can be. On a related note, Lyndsey Hookway has founded Breastfeeding the Brave, which brings together lots of research and resources for parents and professionals supporting breastfed medically complex infants and children. Her book is definitely on my TBR!
- Breastfeeding Older Babies and Toddlers: this chapter talks about considerations when breastfeeding / chestfeeding beyond 6 months, such as introducing solids, returning to work and night weaning. Again, many of the things she discusses here apply to all breastfeeding / chestfeeding parents, the considerations may just be slightly nuanced if you are a parent of multiples.
My favourite parts
This book packs in so much great information about the basics of breastfeeding / chestfeeding and normal infant behaviour it’s hard to pick out favourite parts but I’ll give it a go!
I particularly love Kathryn’s explanations of normal baby behaviour and how to deal with cluster feeding and unsettled babies. This is advice that can apply to all babies, regardless of whether they are multiples or not. However, there are always sections giving more specific advice for parents of multiples.
The key thing Kathryn emphasises throughout the book is that if you want to breastfeed / chestfeed, then the most important thing is to protect your milk supply, either by feeding responsively, or if that’s not possible by pumping, in order to maximise your chances of meeting your feeding goals. I think this is something that can often be underappreciated in the whirlwind of those early days, especially if you’re also having to cope with other complications like babies being admitted to the NICU.
This book isn’t just for the breastfeeding / chestfeeding parent, anyone supporting from partners to family members can also benefit from reading this book. She gives advice on how they can help that doesn’t just involve feeding the baby, including ways to soothe a baby who might be waiting for a feed or have just fed such as rocking, patting, finger-sucking, baby-wearing, massaging, bathing, tiger in the tree hold, bouncing and going for a walk or drive.
Finally, I love that Kathryn talks about ‘Kangaroo care’ and her advocacy for “topless telly time”! Her parting message is an important one, that we should “value every drop”. It doesn’t matter how much or how long you breastfed / chestfed, it’s a huge achievement and should be celebrated.
Final thoughts
I think it’s clear how much of a fan I am of this book, for anyone, from parents of multiples and singletons, to family and friends supporting them and professionals alike. This is a must-read.
* This is an affiliate link, meaning I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.
Basil Road 
Leave a comment