So you’ve just discovered you’re pregnant with twins! You begin to get excited thinking about not one but two tiny bundles of joy!
Your excitement pretty quickly turns into panic when you imagine your life with two babies. Do two babies mean twice as many diapers? Twice as many feeds? Twice the equipment and double the cost?
Calm down! Take a deep breath while you still have time to take deep breaths and remember that you’re not alone and you’ve got this.
Don’t buy two of everything
Twins whether same-sex or not can share a lot of things. Items such as toys, change tables, baby monitors and diaper bags can be shared.
Items made specifically for twins will make your life a whole lot easier. These include twin prams, double feeding pillows and twin carriers.
Just remember that they cannot share everything. You will need two car seats and two cribs as well as anything else your twins are likely to be using at the same time.
Another important thing to note is that twins are often smaller than singletons. You may need to purchase clothing made for premature babies.
Get ready before the 30-week mark
Not only do twins almost always arrive early but you won’t be able to do much after the 30-week point.
Try to be as ready as possible by this time. This means you should have had your baby shower (if you were having one) and you should have all of the necessities assembled and ready to go.
Have your hospital bag packed and ready in advance so that you have everything on hand when the time comes.
Buy in bulk
You should expect to go through between 12 and 20 diaper changes per day if you have twins. That can be as much as 7300 diapers before your babies reach their first birthday!
Prepare yourself by buying diapers in bulk and on sale. Other items you can buy in bulk include baby food, diaper rash creams, wipes and baby toiletries.
If you always have these items on hand, you won’t have to worry about running out.
Get the right medical care
Choose an OBGYN that has experience with twin pregnancies to ensure that you get the best care. You need a doctor that understands twin developmental stages so that they can determine whether you babies are developing properly or not.
An experienced OBGYN will also ensure that you have the safest possible delivery, which is very important when it comes to delivering twins.
Surviving the first few months
Newborns need structure. Put in place a feeding and sleeping routine for your babies prior to their arrival.
Once you have your schedule don’t be afraid to ask for help from your partner, family and friends.
Note that twins can be fed at the same time. If you have a twin feeding pillow this will make feeding time a much smoother experience.
Get support
You won’t just need physical support you will also need emotional support.
Try to find twin groups in your area. Sharing tips and experiences with other parents of twins will make you feel like you’re not alone.
Closing notes
Remember that you can only do so much before the arrival. Just try to organise yourself physically, financially, and most importantly emotionally first!
Line up help from family and friends in advance and don’t forget to sleep! Try to sleep when your babies are sleeping and remember to take time for yourself.
Congratulations and good luck!
