Things We Love: MAM and Dr. Brown's Bottles

One of the things I wasn't expecting when I had my twins was that they would have anything that was "different". I always pictured everything would be matchy-matchy, just in different colors. They are TWINS, right?!?! The logical thing is to have them in the same things, I thought. What a big ol' dummy I was! LOL Almost nothing of theirs is matchy-matchy - from clothes, to swings, to bouncers and jungle gyms. Every single one is different. And, predictably, so are the bottles they use. My kitchen counters have been overrun with bottles, rings, caps, and nipples.

And, of course, they are different. Complete chaos to my systematic mind.

Lauryn loves the MAM bottles, which are the same ones we used when Brayden was a baby. We chose these for Brayden because they are supposed to prevent colic - and Brady was a cranky baby. The nipples are wider and flatter - and the bottles are really wide. Shorter and wider. But as much as she prefers these bottles, it's not like feeding times with her are easy. She is the HARDEST baby to feed. She will only drink if she REALLY wants it, and skips way more feedings than Peytie.

Perhaps a little preview to their 4 month post: I recently weighed myself at home without the babies and then again with the babies (separately, of course), and discovered that Peytie for the first time has surpassed Lauryn in weight. BY A LOT!!! Maybe she should stop skipping those feedings. :) We'll see if it stays that way by the time they see the doc.

Lauryn is also super picky about HOW she is fed. Cradling her like a "normal" baby is NOT an option. She is the BOSS in our household...and I am her minion. (Try to hold your chuckles till the end.) To feed Lauryn, this is what you have to do:

Step 1: Put on her bib - QUICKLY! She will go from zero to complete meltdown in 0.2 seconds if you take too long.

Step 2: Stand up.

Step 3: Hold her facing ourward (preferably in front of the TV so she's distracted) and get that bottle in her mouth.

Step 4: Start WALKING. Yes, Lauryn prefers for you to walk while she eats. And I, as her faithful minion, always oblige.

Peyton is so much easier to feed. He did not like the MAM bottles at all, but I think that was because he was so small when he was born and his mouth was so tiny. Those wide nipples just weren't going to work for my little champ. I heard good things about Dr. Browns bottles and knew that a few friends were using them so I gave them a try. These bottles are supposed to reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas. They are long, slim, and come with standard size nipples - and they are perfect for my little guy.

Peytie, unlike Lauryn is very easy to feed and I love how he looks at me while I cradle him to feed. It's great and he finishes fast but...

He eats every 3 hours.

And not 3 hours after he's done with his bottle, but three hours from the time that he starts. Even at night - which would explain the zombie-look I have been sporting for the last three months. Lauryn sleeps through the night most nights, but not my Peytie. Before I went back to work it was fine, but now that I'm back it's killing me!

So while I don't love how difficult Lauryn is to feed, or the fact that Peytie wakes up all night long - I DO love the bottles they both use. I actually like that they are different. My obsession with organization loves that I can separate and distinguish which bottles belong to each baby, so that suits me just fine.

My Decision to Stop Breastfeeding

Recently, I made the decision to stop breastfeeding.

Now, I don't want to get an earful from hard core lactation Nazis advocates on how "breast is best" and women who don't are lazy, or bad moms. I am all for the promotion of breastfeeding, but unfortunately, it stigmatizes formula feeding at the same time. Let me say it here - for the record - that there is nothing wrong with formula feeding your child. Breastfeed. Formula feed. You do what is best for you and your family. I stopped breastfeeding, but I'm not a bad mom because if it.

Well, truth be told, I never really breastfed the babies (with the exception of one time with Lauryn), but I had been pumping breastmilk since they were born. I was renting an $80 a month breast pump from the hospital in order to get the strongest suck and the most breastmilk that I could. I had issues breastfeeding Brayden, so I knew I would need all the help I could get with these twins. I was determined to make it work this time. I had the very best intentions to breastfeed for as long as I possibly could.

I lasted 10 weeks.

Honestly, I wish I could have gone longer, but it was time. I had to give it up.

I. Was. Miserable.

Basically, I had no life. It's hard enough with one baby, but with twins - I can see why a lot of moms opt not to do it. Between pumping, feeding, and soothing crying babies...I had time for little else before the routine would start all over again. Meanwhile, Brayden is roaming around the house somewhere. Or finding Spongebob on the TV because he totally knows how to work the remote. It's kinda hard to reprimand your kid when you're stuck to a rocking chair for most of the day.

Oh - and have you ever had a blister on your nipple? Oh. My. Word. Holy painful. And that's just with a breast pump. I can't even imagine having those blisters while having a baby nurse at the same time. Why, oh why, does it have to hurt so bad?

There was also the problem of not having enough to pump for a whole feeding. At the twins' one month doctor appointment, the doctor asked how much they were eating. Apparently, 4 ounces is A LOT for that age. But that's what they eat at just about every feeding. That's 8 ounces every 2-3 hours. My body just wasn't havin' it. Those babies literally drained me.

Do I feel guilty about it? A little, not to mention the fact that our life is about to get a whole lot more expensive. I just couldn't do it anymore. It was a happy day when I realized that I had to take care of me so that I can better take care of the babies. And you wanna know what?

I enjoy them so much more.

To be clear - I have never not enjoyed them, of course, but I'm no longer the zombie that I was for the first 10 weeks of their lives. I'm no longer waking up in the middle of the night for no other reason than to pump. I'm as well-rested as I can be with babies that still wake up at night to feed. But rested I am.

And happy. So, so happy.