BTDT Twin Moms

Im 35 weeks...and the babies are scheduled to come in a little over 3 weeks. I think we are pretty prepared....we have all the basics stocked and ready to go. But I have no idea what to expect. Do any of you wonderful ladies have some survival tips or suggestions that will help us through the first few weeks. Also I have a DD who is 2 and a half. Im worried about how she is going to react. Im going to try my best to give her special time and include her in everything. Im just starting to get overwhelmed with the thought of having a toddler, twins and recovering from a section.

I appreciate any advice!!!!

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

Ds was 26 months when my twins were born so i know exactly how you feel right now.
What helped ds was make everyone go say hi to him first before the babies. Like when one of the grandma would come over they would spend 10 mins just with Landon and then say "can you show me your new brother and sister" that really helped I think because he has no jealousy. He also became mommys helper. He would throw diapers out for me, bring me bibs, little things like that made him feel so important.
You are going to be exhausted with the babies. It's definitely hard, but as a btdt mom I feel we have an edge, because we already know what to expect with dealing with newborns. If i had twins first it would have been so much harder for me. My advice is to keep them on the same feeding schedule. You will quickly learn how to feed both at once and how to hold both at once. I would say nap when they nap but that is impossible with a 2.5 year old around. I didn't really take or need any help with the babies. I knew i would be on my own with them so i wanted to get used to it and have them on my schedule. But it was great to have someone come over and play with my 2.5 year old.
I am so excited for you!

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

I don't have a toddler but so far the best thing has been the hospital (they were in the NICU) getting them on a schedule. They had them eating every 3 hours a half hour apart and having the quicker feeder go first. Now I do them together but they have been great on the schedule.

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

ITA with keeping them on the same schedule! In other words when one wake to feed, feed the other as well regardless of whether they are hungry or not. Otherwise you will never get any sleep! I made all bottled at night for the following day and stocked them in the fridge. I have diapers, wipes, bibs, pacifiers etc in almost every room of my house so they ate easily accessible and I never have to leave one baby unattended. Good luck! It's def a lot work and takes some time to get into a routine but it's so rewarding! You will be fine!

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

My twins were my first kids so I don't have any advice on having a toddler and twins, but in regards to being a twin mommy, take all the help you are offered. SLeep when they sleep, or even rest, I never could nap but I would lay down. Get them on a schedule IMMEDIATELY!!!!! This will help so much. Mine were both NICU babies so they got them on the schedule for me, and I had only one home for a month, but a schedule sav ed me between getting child care so I could go visit the other one, with feedings etc.

I also always woke the second up in the middle of the night to feed. I did not want to have to fall back asleep and wake up an hour later. The one who cried first got fed first and if the other woke up while I was tending ot the first one, he had to wait. I would not ignore him but I could not pick him up. I would still feed the first one and talk to the second one. This really helped in them being able to not be held all the time. And also taught them to have to wait a bit and self soothe. THis also kept them on the same schedule or a 15 minute apart schedule so I could feed, change, feed the other change the other and this maximized the down time I had between the feedings so I could sleep, they could nap etc.

I also made all bottles for the day in the morning or at night before I went to bed. They were on two different formulas mixed with BM, so I needed to have a supply of each already made. I also used two different bottles for each one so that I knew which was which from across the room. This helped with having others feeding them at times. It was easier for them to not get confused.

GooD Luck, try not to stress and take it day by day. You will get it all togheter and before you know it you will be a well oiled machine.

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

Thanks everyone for the great advice!!! I really appreciate it!

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

Posted by jmf423

Posted by julz33

Ds was 26 months when my twins were born so i know exactly how you feel right now.
What helped ds was make everyone go say hi to him first before the babies. Like when one of the grandma would come over they would spend 10 mins just with Landon and then say "can you show me your new brother and sister" that really helped I think because he has no jealousy. He also became mommys helper. He would throw diapers out for me, bring me bibs, little things like that made him feel so important.
You are going to be exhausted with the babies. It's definitely hard, but as a btdt mom I feel we have an edge, because we already know what to expect with dealing with newborns. If i had twins first it would have been so much harder for me. My advice is to keep them on the same feeding schedule. You will quickly learn how to feed both at once and how to hold both at once. I would say nap when they nap but that is impossible with a 2.5 year old around. I didn't really take or need any help with the babies. I knew i would be on my own with them so i wanted to get used to it and have them on my schedule. But it was great to have someone come over and play with my 2.5 year old.
I am so excited for you!

Pretty much what Julie said! Except my DS was 2yrs 7mths when the twins were born. We made sure that everyone who came to see the twins made a huge fuss over the big brother first. That was a huge thing IMO. Then he would usually show them his brother and sister after a few minutes.

It is hard, and you are going to be tired but once you figure out the routine that works best for you things will be better. I always fed them together, every 3 hrs at first then every 4. So if one woke up - the other was getting up like it or not. If I didn't do that I felt like I was always feeding someone.

I remember that totally overwhelming feeling before they were born Just take it day by day and you will be fine!
Congrats!

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

wow i could have written this myself i am also 35 weeks with a boy and a girl and have a daughter who is 2 and a half and am overwhelmed too! feels good to know im not alone :)

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

Learn how to prop up the bottles!!!!!!!

Re: BTDT Twin Moms

Re: BTDT Twin Moms