Finding out you are pregnant with twins is a very daunting time. Your mind is in turmoil - can we cope, will we survive?
However, my twins are now 6 months old, and I have survived! When the girls were born, Abbie was 5lb 6oz, and rushed straight to Neo-Natal with breathing difficulties. Katie was a little smaller weighing just 5lb but came straight to the ward with me. After 5 days Abbie joined us in the ward, and 2 days later Neil took the 3 of us home. We have an elder daughter Ella, who initially was confused - there was only one baby, and now there are 2.!? Unfortunately after only a day, neither girl fed too well, and poor Abbie ended up back in Neo Natal with an infection. Another 2 weeks later before we were all home again.
Initially we were in turmoil with having one child in hospital about 10 miles away and 2 girls at home. It was hard work looking after Ella and Katie, and still trying to visit Abbie for as long as possible each day.
Eventually though Abbie came home, and the real struggle began. Neil was back at work almost as soon as she was home, and I was suddenly on my own with a 2 year old and newborn twins. Although on saying that, things weren't as bad as I anticipated. Friends and family become a lifeline. Even helping doing a feed just once a day is huge. Unfortunately both girls suffered from colic and poor Abbie had a little Acid Reflux. This made things so difficult. As a mother you want to cuddle all the pain away from your child - not so easy to do when 2 are crying at the exact same time.
The girls are now doing well. They both weigh 14lb14oz, and are thriving. They are almost sitting up on their own, and love nothing more than being up on their feet. The Jumparoo and Bumbo seats are a godsend!
So what is life with twins or other multiples like? Chaos and pretty hectic is the answer. Imagine all the stuff needed for just one child, and then double it. Then throw in a 2 year old and all her toys. There is barely enough room for us in the living room now. Going anywhere is like mobilising a small army. Loading the car for instance requires one trip to put change bag, potty, food etc in, 2nd trip to put pram in, 3rd trip to put one twin in a car seat in., 4th trip to put 2nd twin in and finally 5th trip to find 2 year old toddler and put her in. Getting out of the car is the same routine in reverse. At least it keeps you fit all those extra steps.
Your life becomes a roundabout of feeding and changing nappies. With Ella we allowed her to demand feed. With twins I would always say stick very rigidly to a feeding schedule. We are lucky both our girls follow the same feeding pattern - even when Abbie was in hospital. Some people say feed them both in car seats or bouncy chairs at the same time. It is not the easiest thing to do. I find feeding one and half way through stopping her and feeding the other works well for me. We have started weaning and we give one child a spoonful, then the other child. Turn-taking already and they don't realise it.
Having said all that, things do get easier. Now that the twins can hold their own heads up, it is much easier to carry the 2 at the same time. So now putting them to bed, means only one trip rather than 2.
My advice to anyone who is expecting twins, is to join a Twin Club. I delayed joining my local one, with feeble excuses like... 'it is during their feeding time', 'it is Ella's nap time' etc. I joined a few weeks ago though, and wish I had ignored the feeble excuses and joined months ago. Everyone there has been through what you are experiencing and they are there to help you. I walk in, and someone will help me with Ella ( particularly useful as we are toilet training) and someone else will take a crying baby off me. On top of that there is a network of people there to help you. My other piece of advice is to consider buying much of the equipment for twins second-hand. They only use some items for a very short period of time, and when you are buying 2 of everything, it gets very expensive.
Our biggest worry with twins, was how Ella would cope with their arrival. Despite her very young age, she has been brilliant. She was a little unsure of them at first, but within a few weeks she was wanting to hold them. Now there are sitting up more she loves nothing more than playing alongside them. If they are in the Jumparoo, she will swing them and help them bounce. When on the floor she will help teach them to roll over - albeit a little roughly, but they love it.
by
Fiona McDonald - Mum to Ella 2 and twins Katie and Abbie, 6 months
September 2011 |
How To Prepare Your Home For Twins
