A County Armagh mum of twins is encouraging other parents expecting multiples not to be put off breastfeeding after successfully feeding her twin boys for ten months and discovering benefits she never anticipated.

As the Public Health Agency (PHA) marks World Breastfeeding Awareness Week (1-7 August), Marianne Byrne is sharing her experience of breastfeeding her twin boys, Iarlaith and Rowan, describing it as one of the best decisions she made for her family.

While some expecting parents assume that breastfeeding twins is too difficult, or that milk supply may not be enough for two babies, Marianne's experience shows that, with the right support, breastfeeding multiples is entirely possible.

"From the very beginning I was determined to breastfeed," said Marianne.

"Efficiency was a big part of it. I'm a very practical person and I just felt it was the most efficient way to feed two babies, especially with tandem feeding. But the health benefits were huge too, for both me and the boys.”

Before her twins arrived, Marianne sought advice from an Infant Feeding Lead at the Southern Trust, to help prepare for her breastfeeding journey. 

"I'd seen so much online about twin mums pumping and I couldn't really get my head around all the information and why there seemed to be so much stuff involved," she said. "I had a call with Michelle, my lactation consultant, before the boys even arrived and she really cut through all of that noise. She helped me focus on the essentials first and take it one step at a time rather than overwhelming myself before I'd even started." 

Like many new mothers, Marianne experienced challenges during the early weeks.

"The first five or six weeks were really tough. I won't sugar-coat it," she said. "But I locked in, sought help early, and reached out to the midwives and Michelle. The home visit from Michelle was a real turning point. The reassurance that my milk supply was good and the small tweaks to positioning just lifted such a weight from my mental load. Once I hit that turning point, everything changed.

"My husband Kevin and family were also absolutely instrumental in those early weeks. Getting both myself and the tiny babies into the right position to tandem feed isn't something you can always do alone, and having my village step up the way they did made such a difference. I genuinely couldn't have got through those first weeks without them and Kevin - he was there for every feed and his support for my breastfeeding journey was so encouraging." 

Marianne said one of the aspects of breastfeeding that amazed her most was how her body adapted to meet her babies' needs.

"The fact that your body responds to what your babies need, that your milk can actually help treat them. I found that incredible."

Most women can make all the milk their baby needs, including mothers of multiples as breastmilk works by supply and demand. 

Tandem feeding, where both babies feed at the same time, can save time and sometimes helps encourage similar feeding and sleeping patterns. For Marianne, tandem feeding became a game changer.

"Being able to tandem feed meant I could feed both of them at the same time. It is hard in the beginning, but it massively drops off. And with two babies, once you get through those early weeks, it becomes the most efficient and convenient thing. Tandem feeding has been a game changer.

"The health benefits for both me and the boys have been brilliant," Marianne said. "But one of the biggest benefits, and one I hadn't really anticipated, was the reduction in mental load. 

"With twins, the anxiety alone around having one crying while you're feeding the other, having to pick one up over the other, especially when you're on your own, was a lot. Breastfeeding took that anxiety away. It was simply the quickest way to get them both fed, keep them settled and reduce the crying. That really drove me to persevere."

Breastfeeding is an important public health issue, and evidence shows that it brings significant benefits for both mothers and babies, improving health outcomes across the life course, but we know that it isn’t always easy and getting the right support and information can really improve experiences. 

Deirdre Ward, Interim Assistant Director for Starting Well at the PHA, said: "Breastfeeding provides many important health benefits for both babies and mothers. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop a range of infections and illnesses, while breastfeeding can also help protect mothers' health and wellbeing. 

“Marianne's experience is a wonderful example of how breastfeeding can work successfully for families with twins or more. While every breastfeeding journey is different, most women can make all the milk their babies need, including mothers of multiples.

"We would encourage any parent who is considering breastfeeding to seek support early. Help is available from midwives, health visitors, breastfeeding peer supporters and lactation specialists. With the right support, many mothers can overcome challenges and continue their breastfeeding journey for as long as they choose." 

As her confidence grew, Marianne found that breastfeeding offered practical benefits alongside the well-established health benefits for mothers and babies.

"Looking back, the time and financial saving has been a huge advantage too, especially with twins. No prepping bottles, no faff at 3am, and all of that cost of formula, bottles and sterilisers just gone. It's free, it's instant and it's always there."

Northern Ireland breastfeeding rates have steadily increased over the last decade, from 45.2% of mothers breastfeeding at hospital discharge in 2013 to 50.9% in 2023. However, we also see a drop-off in the number continuing to breast feed in the months following birth, which is why encouragement and support for families is essential.

The recently launched 2026 – 2029 NI Breastfeeding Action Plan aims to increase awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding and changing public attitudes. Co-developed by the Department of Health and the PHA, with valuable input from stakeholders across the health, community and voluntary sectors, the vision is to make Northern Ireland a society where breastfeeding is normalised, and women are empowered and supported to breastfeed. 

Looking back on her breastfeeding journey over the past ten months, Marianne's message to other parents is this: "Persevere. Seek help early. Reach out to your midwives and get a lactation consultant if you're having issues. Take it one feed at a time and trust the process. And most importantly, trust your babies. Follow their cues. If they're content, if they're showing the signs that they're fed and satisfied, trust that. They'll keep you right.

"I've had some truly magical moments breastfeeding the boys and, ten months in, I'm so glad I stuck at it. It's my favourite part of the day, my quiet time.”

For information support and advice on breastfeeding, visit: www.breastfedbabies.org