Multiples are more likely to be born prematurely, at lower birth weights, or in medically complex circumstances. Human milk is especially protective for these infants, yet feeding more than one baby introduces physiologic, logistical, and emotional challenges that require nuanced clinical support.

This session equips health professionals with evidence-informed strategies to support families feeding multiples. Participants will explore common complications associated with multiple births, essential terminology, and tandem feeding techniques while also deepening their understanding of milk supply physiology, NICU considerations, growth monitoring, counseling language, and the psychosocial realities families face.

Through case-based discussion and practical tools, clinicians will leave prepared to create individualized, sustainable feeding plans that prioritize both infant outcomes and parental well-being.

Objectives:

• Identify at least three common medical or developmental complications associated with multiple births and describe how they influence feeding management.
• Define at least three key terms associated with multiple gestation (e.g., chorionicity, zygosity, tandem feeding) and explain their clinical relevance to feeding assessment.
• Recall and describe at least three positioning strategies for feeding more than one infant simultaneously.
• Explain how milk supply physiology supports the ability to nourish multiples and outline evidence-based strategies to protect supply.
• Apply case-based reasoning to develop individualized feeding plans for families with multiples, incorporating growth monitoring, supplementation considerations, and mental health awareness.
• Demonstrate patient-centered counseling language that supports sustainable feeding choices for families of multiples.