The Microwave and the Bottle
Occasionally you may want to heat your baby’s bottle in a microwave
oven. That can be dangerous unless certain precautions are taken.
Microwaves heat foods unevenly, so be sure to shake the bottle well after
heating and squirt a dab of milk on your wrist to test for warmth. Unlike
formula, breast milk can be destroyed in the heating process if care is not
taken. When heating your baby’s bottle, be sure to loosen the top to allow
for heat expansion; otherwise it may explode.
Nursing Twins
For a mother to nurse twins successfully, the PDF plan is a must. Assign
a breast to each twin and keep them nursing that specified breast
throughout all feedings. This will help the supply to keep up with the
unique demand of each twin. Let one twin set the pace, and keep them
both on that schedule. If this means you must wake one, do so.
During the first few weeks postpartum, you can nurse your twins
simultaneously using a football hold—your arms are bent to support the
back of each baby while each head rests on a breast. As they grow, your
babies will have to nurse one at a time. Beyond that distinction, you will
be able to implement all other aspects of the parent-directed feeding plan,
including feeding routines and sleeping through the night. May you
thoroughly enjoy your “double portion”! (For a more complete discussion
of how to deal with a multiple birth, see chapter 10, “Multiple Birth: The
Endless Party.”)
Pacifiers and Thumb-Sucking
Breast-feeding mothers hoping to establish healthy feed/wake/sleep
cycles should not let themselves be used as pacifiers. Some infants have a
need to suck a little longer after feeding time. An actual pacifier is very
useful for them. That is especially true of infants who nurse so efficiently
that feeding time lasts a total of only five to ten minutes. Pacifiers can