I went in for my routine 20 week ultrasound and found out that I am carrying TWINS!! I was expecting to find out the sex of our baby and it was more like SURPRIZE there are 2!!! My husband and I are extreemly excited and up for the challenge. We do have a 3 year old boy and I am looking for some advice or tips from anyone who has had twins on how your life changes.
I remember when we first brought our son home that there were the everyday things that I couldn't believe that no one ever told me. For example, getting out of the house will take 5 times longer then before or that milk will shoot 4 feet from your boob if you wait to long to feed. Anything that you think might make the transition from a 3 person family to a family of 5 go alittle smoother.
As the mother of "Irish twins" (a 2 mo old and an 18 mo old) my only advice to you is SLEEP NOW WHILE YOU CAN. Good luck and congratulations!!!
My twins are 18 months. Take all the help you are offered. Try and get friends/family to come over and help for a few hours every day the first three weeks. Try and get supper brought in the first few weeks.
If the nurses/lactation consultant do not offer it, ask them to help you tandem breast feed in the hospital. Start tandem feeding right away to save time.
Learn the 5 S's if you didn't use them with your son from "Happiest Baby on the Block" SHHHH, Side, Swing, Suck, Swaddle. Works GREAT.
Put them in the same crib as close as possible and swaddle TIGHT.
Find your Mother's of Mutliples group now and get hooked up.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Use the same paci or bottle for both or interchangably, same spoon, whatever.
You don't need two of everything. We had one swing and one bouncy. We did like TWO baby Bumbo's and need our two pack n plays now.
Good Luck! We love our two wee ones and had a great first year!
Pregnancy YOGA ROCKS!!!! Your hospital may have a class. I made it to 37 1/2 weeks. I could not work the last month, but was not on bed rest.
Feel free to contact me if you like.
A.
I dont have experience with twins, but had to laugh at the shooting milk comment! LOL! Been there, done that! Congrats! Life will be wonderful.
S.
I have 2 yr old twins, an 11 mo old and one on the way. Take one day at a time, and enjoy every moment. If you have help use it - either helping with the laundry, making food or helping with the kids. There is a multiples club you can join that I hear is wonderful, I just don't have time to go! :) The bond between twins is amazing, congratulations on all your blessings. :)
YEAH...congratulations!!! I also have twins and an older daughter who just turned 4 after the babies were born. There is probably so much to tell you and yet I'm not sure what to say. I guess the biggest thing is don't be afraid to ask for help...especially in those early months. You will never realize how "easy" one baby is until you have two at the same time ;) A good resource for learning and asking questions about twins is www.twinstuff.com Also, feel free to email me ____@____.com
Good luck with your pregnancy!!!
Congratulations on your twins!
Twins are can be very fun and very challenging--especially in the first year or two. The best advice I ever got was to throw away the rulebook and do whatever works in your family at the time. Since you have already had one baby, I'm sure you can imagine what having two at the same time will be like. Sometimes you just can't do things the way you're "supposed" to. For example: feed them from the same spoon if you need to, they'll be fine :)
Get as much help as you can after they're born, especially since you have another little one to take care of as well. Having two babies at once is more than twice as much work.
Once they're mobile, make sure you babyproof like crazy--they're likely to go in two different directions and you'll find yourself making choices like: do I run after the child who is coloring the couch with permanent marker or the one who just ran into the street? if you aren't careful.
Most of all, have fun. Be flexible. Twins are an adventure, but a fun one.
Good luck!
J.
Mom to Emma & Devon, 4 year old twins, and Ethan 11 months
That is So cool that you are having twins. I do have a question for you. Did the doctor suspect that you were carring twins or where you measuring right on schedule? My sister in law is wondering if she might be?
Thanks
Hi there N. I also have 18mo old b/g twins and my experiences were very similar to those that have already responded. It is great advice to get help if it's offered I'm one that is always like oh I'm fine now looking back we made it through the first year without much help. I personally think while they were babies it seemed easier than now that they are mobile which you have some experience with! Besides when they were little u were probably more tired!! It is so amazing having twins I just love it I don't know what they would do without each other they have such an awesome bond that I can't even explain although they have there days were they fight to!!I if I were you like people say do what works for you I have always had my kids on a schedule and I really think with twins you don't have much of a choice! When they were little like in the middle of the night once my husband went back to work I would get one up feed one and then teh other one feed that one and then pump if I had the energy but by that time it was almost time to feed the other one again. I had them at 33wks so they were pretty little so they din not breastfeed the best!! But you know what it all worked out and they are growing like a weed. You are going to love it it's so fun I also go to a mothers of mutiples group in elk river and it's a great way to get out. You can join while you are pregnant and you get 2 free cases I believe of formula every little bit helps! If you have any questions or anything feel free to email me!! I also have ton of stuff from when they were little if you need anything!! Good Luck sorry it got so long! My email is ____@____.com
First of all Congratulations on your Double Blessing! The thing I found was that the first year of the babies'lives was spent caring for the babies. You will need to find what works best for you as far as schedules go. I found it easier to have them on the same schedule, while other twin moms I know had better luck with having them on schedules an hour or two apart. The best advice I got when I was expecting twins was to nap when they nap (which can mean just lying down with your 3 yo and enjoying mommy time with him) and to take any help that is offered to you. Don't try to do it all yourself!
I also joined (and am now president of)a Mothers of Twins Club. The support and encouragement from other parents who have been there is a huge help. If you need help locating a mothers of twins group in your immediate area you can check out www.nomotc.org - the National Org. of Mothers of Twins and they will be able to help you out. Or check out our website www.milwaukeemotc.org and we'd be happy to answer any questions that come up! Good luck to you!
J.
Congratulations!!! 19 yrs ago I was told the same thing. They were born preme they were to be born May 25 but came March 19. I've had many hurdles and I guess still am. If I can help you with pacific questions or just to chat you can Email me at ____@____.com twins in the subject, please.
