Mum Pens Honest Instagram Post About The Realities Of Breastfeeding Twins
A mum of twins has taken to Instagram to document her struggles with breastfeeding [Photo: Instagram/laylaygibson]
If the backlash against a certain celebrity chef’s recent comments on breastfeeding were proof of anything, it’s that nursing a baby isn’t always the easy breeze it’s sometimes made out to be. And lord help anyone who suggests otherwise. Yes we’re looking at you Jamie.
Many a frazzled new mum has taken to social media to document their breastfeeding struggle, heck even Kim Kardashian turned to the blogosphere to discuss her own nursing difficulties. But one new mum has more reason than some to want to vent about the frustration she’d experienced nursing, not one but two babies.
Elaina Bellis, gave birth to identical twin girls, Quincy Kay and Rowe James, last month and has taken to social media to share an honest account of the struggles she’s face tandem breastfeeding both daughters.
Elaina Bellis shared this photo of her tandem breastfeeding her twin girls on Instagram [Photo: Instagram/laylaygibson]
Sharing a candid photo of her feeding her little ones, the art director from California penned a short essay about an aspect of breastfeeding that is often not discussed – not producing enough milk.
“Breastfeeding: I tried everything in my power to build a supply for my girls,” she wrote on Instagram. “Pumping, lactation consultants, mothers milk tea/vitamins, formula wired to my nipples, up all hours of the night and having emotional breakdowns not understanding why my body couldn’t build up any milk over the last month.”
“Due to the way my birth went and excess of fluids in my body and trauma, my breasts aren’t able to supply even enough milk for one baby,” she continued.
Elaina has discussed a breastfeeding struggle that is often not spoken about - not producing enough milk [Photo: Instagram/laylaygibson]
Explaining to her 21K followers that she never imagined she would have problems breastfeeding, the mum-of-three, who lost her first baby, Lincoln James, has now turned to friends to help supply her girls with pumped milk.
Thanking her friends who stepped forward to donate milk for her babies, Elaina went on to encourage other mums to speak up about their breastfeeding struggles.
“I also feel like people don’t talk about how hard breastfeeding can be and if you can BF you’re incredibly lucky. I pump all day to be able to provide my girls with one ounce of my milk, and I’ve excepted that’s the best I can do. All I can give them is my love and that’s most important.”
Twin life! Despite her breastfeeding struggles Elaina is loving being a mum to twins [Photo: Instagram/laylaygibson]
Since sharing, Elaina’s post has had nearly 6,000 likes and almost 700 comments, many from other mums who’d been encouraged to share their own breastfeeding difficulties.
“This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing,” wrote one mother. “I had a very similar experience with my son. I had a traumatic labour and birth and only produced 1 ounce per day. I tried everything as well! It’s so important to share this side of breastfeeding for those who struggle.”
“I could have written this exact same post…minus the twins,” wrote another. “Pumping all night and day only to get one golden oz a day. Wiring milk to my nipples to encourage the latch. It’s OK!!! We beat ourselves up. We shouldn’t.”
Cuties. Elaine’s friends have stepped forward to donate pumped milk for the twins [Photo: Instagram/laylaygibson]
And some supporters were keen to express that the reality of motherhood is often very different from the expectation.
“Great. Work. Mama. It’s so hard,” one mum wrote. “And what lucky babies you have, to have a mama that tried so hard for them. Nothing is as we expect in motherhood. The realisation of this comes at different times for all of us - but it comes none the less.”
Do you think mums should speak out about their breastfeeding struggles? Let us know @YahooStyleUK
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