When you see those 2 heartbeats on the sonogram, first embrace the joy and adventure of the twins. So get ready, get ready, get ready. Organizing a baby nurse, having all the equipment ready before you need it, and gaining a working knowledge of infant health issues before you find yourself in a red-alert situation will only make life easier for your family when those little packages arrive. .
Organize adequate rest in the first weeks at home from the hospital- Conventional wisdom teaches new mothers to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” For twin moms and dads, particularly those with other children, this is not an option. Recruit friends, family, and neighbors to care for the twins even for a few hours a day, so you can rest.
Night nannies, or babysitters, provide the vital service of allowing mothers to recover from the stress of “double childbirth.” By caring for babies at night, a nanny allows a mother to get the deep, restful sleep her body needs to stay healthy. For new parents, this dream is also obviously crucial. Older siblings who wake up at night adjusting to new babies also benefit from a night nurse, as it allows the mother and father to be available to comfort the older child.
Stock up on diapers, wipes and Vaseline- Stock the house with preemie, newborn, and size 1 diapers. Don’t wait until your babies are out of a diaper to buy the next size. Having the next size up will make for one less emergency trip to the store and minimize masses. The average newborn feeds 8 times per 24-hour period. That means a minimum of 16 diaper changes a day for your twins! If we add changing table accidents to the equation, that’s countless baby wipes, bottles of Vaseline… and 1,500 diapers in the first 3 months of life. Say it loud. One thousand. Five hundred. diapers
Buy straws- You will no longer be able to eat or drink with 2 hands. Sounds silly, but get plenty of straws for water, protein shakes, and coffee. While you’re at it, drink plenty of water, protein shakes, and coffee.
Get the babies on the same schedule– While feeding and sleeping schedules may be erratic the first few weeks home from the hospital, do your best to keep those little ones on the same schedule. When one wakes up to eat, give the other milk too. When one wakes up, it wakes up the other. After 1 to 2 weeks, babies will synchronize sleeping and feeding.
Learn about baby tummy problems- Spitting up, gastroesophageal reflux, and gas are extremely common in babies. Know the symptoms of each. Then decide how you would like to treat them if you notice symptoms. Of course, you’ll want to talk to your pediatrician about stomach problems, but as we all know, babies often need more help after business hours. There are many over-the-counter remedies, such as gas drops, probiotics, and gripe water, that help your baby’s digestion and may provide temporary relief.
Since twins are almost always born before their due date, anticipating your family’s needs ahead of time is an easy tool to make the first few weeks home from the hospital as smooth as possible. Arranging for an overnight baby nurse is perhaps the most important preparation, as adequate sleep allows the mother to recover and the entire family to function at its best.
