Twins?...RELAX: Your Essential Guide To Get You Through

By Sam D. Smith

So you are having twins. Two of everything. How can you possibly take care of two babies at the same time? Relax and take a deep breath. Twins are born every day, and yours will not be the last. This book has been written as a guide to help parents-to-be of twins by providing a straightforward structure for the essentials. Having twins is a blessed experience that you can live through and even enjoy.

Just follow your heart and implement the knowledge you have gained wisely. Whether it is due to lack of sleep or having to adapt to a new life, the first year of having twins is definitely the most difficult. However, before you know it, your twins will be running around the house, and you will miss the days when they were babies and you could caress them anytime, anywhere (now you have to catch them first!).

There are ways to relieve the stress of having twins, even if you have another child before you welcome them home. This is what you will get in my book. I have gone ahead on this path and am offering you the benefit of my experience. I wish you the best as you begin your own journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AKP Holdings, LLC
• Release date: Oct 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005586751

Book preview

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One: You Are Going To Have Twins

Chapter Two: You Need Other People’s Support For Your Twins

Chapter Three: Strange Questions When You Are Expecting Twins

Chapter Four: Setting Your Priorities Right

Chapter Five: Preparing For Twins And Other Kids

Chapter Six: Prepare To Live As One Big Family

Chapter Seven: Managing Night Duties

Chapter Eight: Breastfeeding The Twins

Chapter Nine: Bottle Feeding

Chapter Ten: Bathing

Chapter Eleven: Running Errands

Chapter Twelve: Going On A Car Ride With Your Twins

Chapter Thirteen: Going On Vacation

Closing Thoughts

INTRODUCTION

After the discovery of pregnancy, comes shock, and then great joy. When you have an ultrasound, you will receive a message telling you that you are pregnant with twins—that is, there are already two small hearts beating in your uterus. Then there will be anxiety and the next question: How can I take care of two babies at the same time? Everything will be doubled: clothes, diapers, and food, and certainly there will be a lot of work. But at that moment, the maternal feeling has appeared, and you are confident that you will have one of the best experiences in your life.

Many mothers are afraid when they find out that they are pregnant with twins that they will not be able to take care of two or more babies at the same time. Expert advice: Mothers always adapt to new needs, but, if possible, it is best to have someone help at the beginning.

There are techniques that you can use with twins to lower your stress, even if you have other children. I have had similar experiences, and in this book, I will provide tips and help as you begin your own journey.

CHAPTER ONE

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TWINS

You just heard the news. You’re having twins! You are euphoric—it’s a thing of joy to be blessed with twins. Knowing that you are going to have twins is really exciting. Although it seems that many people have twins these days, it still is an exclusive club. From the moment you tell the world, you will definitely receive extra attention from family, friends, and even strangers.

So what's different about twins? After all, this is not rocket science; it’s a baby..or two. Also, if you already have one or two children, then you have experience. The traditional view is that twins are twice as difficult as one child. That you have to do everything twice and buy twice as much.

The fact is that twin pregnancy is not like singleton pregnancy from the beginning, and raising twins requires more time, energy, and resources than parents of only one child or any new parents imagine. This is not only because you have two children. These two babies are learning some of the most basic tasks in life.

Things are different from the beginning. Expect more doctor visits and more tests during pregnancy. More people will be in the delivery room during delivery. You will want to save up some money, because twins are definitely more expensive, from the food to the type of car you will need to transport the new family. In the first few months, you will have much less time for yourself or your spouse. In addition, one or both of the twin may have special health needs. You may even have your own health problems. Therefore, knowledge and preparation are essential.

It’s no secret that having children is expensive, but having twins means you need to plan for future financial challenges. From the moment you find out, you will need to secure finances. You will have to buy more and more maternity clothes just to keep your belly covered. Even if you have medical insurance, you will probably have copays for consultations and exams. Of course, you will also need a bed, mattress, crib, high-chair, diaper bag, etc.

It’s a good idea to buy large quantities of things like diapers and baby wipes before the babies arrive. This will save money in the long run if you can buy in bulk. Study savings options for twins, such as high-interest savings accounts or buying low-cost stocks.

Explore flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts. Ideally, you can set them up before pregnancy, but even if you do it during pregnancy or at the birth of your twins, you can still use pre-tax funds for your medical expenses.

Before the twins arrive, make sure that your family car is going to work for you. When you have babies or young children, things like strollers, diaper bags, baby carriers, and clothes can make even a spacious car seem like a shoebox. Take some time to make sure your car has enough space.

In a typical single pregnancy, a woman can see the doctor or midwife 12 to 15 times before giving birth. You will see your doctor once a month for the first six months, then once a month for the seventh and eighth months, and finally once a week for the last two to four weeks.

Although your first visit can be performed at the same time as a woman with only one baby (from the week she finds out she is pregnant to a few weeks later, depending on your approach), the doctor will discuss it first. If you are having twins, you will probably see the doctor twice a month, and then once a week from the 32nd week. This represents a substantial increase in the number of visits for twin mothers.

You may need to make special arrangements to accommodate these medical appointments. Make sure to schedule extra time with your employer or arrange daycare if you need it. Remember, you also need to schedule time for other medical exams! If your pregnancy is a surprise, it may take some time to find out that you are having twins. From that point, you will have to undergo multiple examinations, including earlier and more frequent ultrasounds (usually at each visit), fetal heart rate monitoring as the pregnancy progresses, and frequent genetic testing.

Think about prenatal checkups

Older women usually have amniocentesis between sixteen to twenty weeks. However, if you are pregnant with twins, your doctor may want you to have a test called chorionic villus biopsy, or CVS. Unlike amniocentesis, the test is much earlier, usually between 11 and 12 weeks of pregnancy (many testing centers do not conduct testing after the 12th week). Therefore, if you are interested in prenatal testing or want a doctor’s recommendation, you should talk to your doctor in the early stages of pregnancy.

Attend a twin pregnancy class. This may be particularly useful for familiarizing you with childbirth and hospitalization experiences, especially for parents with multiple children. For example, in class, twins are usually shown and include a tour of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Make sure