Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Mom of octuplets plans to breastfeed her babies
editor
By now you've probably
read
all about the woman who gave birth to
octuplets. More good news was reported this morning
when doctors said
all eight of the babies were breathing on their own.
The babies were born nine weeks prematurely and will be in the
hospital for several more weeks.
Here's the little tidbit of info that amazes me:
Doctors
say the mom plans to breastfeed all eight babies.
Can you imagine the feeding schedule? Any nursing mama can tell you
that a newborn wants to eat often, but the official word from La
Leche League is that
a baby will average 8-12
feedings over 24 hours. Most newborns
drink about 25
ounces of breast milk a day. Multiply that times
eight babies and you've got one exhausted new mom whose body is
producing a lot of breast milk. Will she ever be able to leave the
house?
It wore me out to breastfeed one baby for a year. The thought of
nursing eight newborns would have scared me to pieces. So for
however long she manages to breastfeed, she's to be commended
for even trying.
I also hope she has an ongoing supply of
Soothies.
Update: The
babies have been given bottles of formula; the mom started pumping
breast milk for her little ones.
Related: octuplets, newborns, motherhood, breastfeeding
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Posted by DeAnn Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:16pm PST
I think this is going to be logistically impossible for her. It's hard enough to feed one, let alone a pair of twins. But human women were not meant to have litters, so there's no way she could feed that many little ones needing to nurse constantly.
The 11 gallon figure is especially telling. She would have to take in at least that much fluid per day, and the intake and release of THAT much liquid in the human body has never been done before. You die of multiple organ failure if you drink too much water. I honestly don't think her body will be up to this.
On the other hand, if she simply wishes to breastfeed who she can when she can and use donated breastmilk as the primary food source, then that is potentially doable. She'll have to be feeding/pumping nearly 24/7 though.
A noble goal to be sure, but certainly not something sustainable.
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Posted by Leigh Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:22pm PST
She couldn't eat enough calories in a day to sustain herself. I balieve it takes about 3500 calories a day to breastfeed twins- she doesn't have that kind of time.... I say get real... not possible...
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Posted by Sarah Y Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:31pm PST
Maybe if she starting pumping and freezing while the babies were in the NICU, she could get a jump start on producing the milk and then, some of the babies could be fed by bottle.... Seriously, though, I felt like I had no life with my first, b/c I breastfed. I really don't see how she will accomplish this daunting task. Plus, she would have to take in A LOT of calories, just to produce all of that milk. When she's not feeding the babies, she had better be eating like a truck driver!
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Posted by Jennifer Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:27pm PST
Working in a Doctors office I say this is impossible. I see mothers of triplets that cannot produce enough milk or stay awake enough to breast feed all of the children. She needs to start pumping and storing now, contact the Mothers Milk Bank, and increase her milk supply. Talking with other Doctors I think this will be imposible and that this mother should focus her energy on other things, like caring for, feeding and clothing 8 children!!! While I praise her for the though, desire, and effort, I think she should apply her energy elsewear!
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Posted by MochaMama42 Wed Jan 28, 2009 1:41pm PST
How can she possibly keep up with the demand?
I am also wondering why in the WORLD she has all these children at the same time. Fertility drugs? A reality show deal?
She needs to put her efforts into taking care of 8 infants, breastfeeding being the LEAST of her concerns.
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Posted by Linda W Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:38pm PST
First of all I would like to say congradulations to the mom with the rare 8...And if she wants to try to breastfeed them all, then good luck and thats great...Breast milk is really good for the babies. I myself had one baby and it seemed very hard at times to work and pump milk so I forfeited the idea and put her on a bottle at two months old. Not to mention I was a little bit tired or maybe lazy is the correct word. Ha ha ha...But let me say my intentions were good none the less...I have four very healthy children. I wish them good luck and health to their family...Lweekly2
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Posted by Beth Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:36pm PST
It's a noble choice, but I don't think she'll be able to do it. My boobs almost fell off nursing one baby through a growth spurt, I can't even imagine 2 or 3, let alone 8.
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Posted by skelter17 Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:18pm PST
Quoted from DeAnn "The 11 gallon figure is especially telling. She would have to take in at least that much fluid per day, and the intake and release of THAT much liquid in the human body has never been done before. You die of multiple organ failure if you drink too much water. I honestly don't think her body will be up to this."
Where does 11 gallons come from? 25oz per baby is 200 oz, or 1 gallon 72 oz or roughly 1.5 gallons -am I missing something or are your calculations grossly overstated? Additionally with all of the benefits of breastfeeding, even if the lady is only able to provide small rations of breastmilk and has to supplement with formula, the health benefits of breast milk makes it worth trying.
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Posted by texast Thu Jan 29, 2009 1:43am PST
I wanted to do it all, have my baby naturally, but, he had other plans, so, we had a C Section, I was ok with that, and it was alot better than my gall bladder removal 6 years earlier. If you compared them, I would take 2 C Sections over a gall bladder removal anyday! Then, I wanted to breastfeed. I told the nurses and the doctor. They took my son off to the nursery and popped a bottle in his mouth. Then, he would not breastfeed. I was a first time mom. I really tried. I even tried to pump breast milk. I never got enough rest or enough food or liquids to support him. Hes 25 months old now, and doing awesome
I congratulate this new mom of 8, best of luck to her. She can try to breast feed them all, but, if shes a first time mom, it was be a daunting and overwhelming task. she will need alot of help, and alot of hands. MORE than hers and her hubbys.
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