Multiples
Two or more babies at once can mean twice the joy, but it can also mean twice the fatigue and work. It also means that your body produced a higher level of hormones during pregnancy, which can mean a greater risk of postpartum depression and blues when the hormones fluctuate after your baby is born.
Breastfeeding Multiples
Many women breastfeed multiple babies successfully — often nursing two at the same time. It requires dedication, but if you're committed to making it work, you can. It's a good idea to get help, preferably from the first day, from a lactation consultant, La Leche League volunteer, or friend who's experienced with nursing twins.
Surviving the Daily Grind
Moms with newborn twins are often exhausted and may feel like they do nothing but hold and feed their babies all day. No doubt about it, taking care of more than one baby takes plenty of patience and energy, but there are some things you can do to make parenting multiples easier on yourself:
Adjust your expectations. It's impossible to care for two (or more) newborns and also keep a clean house, make home-cooked meals, and get out all those thank-you cards. Simplify your life and realize that, for now, some things simply aren't going to get done unless they're absolutely essential.
Learn the tricks of the trade. Get together with other moms of multiples (or find them online) to learn how they get things done. Visit
When you've got two babies, chances are good at least one of them will be in arms most of the time. Learning to wear two babies in slings at the same time can be a lifesaver. You can also wear one baby while the other spends some time in a bouncy seat, and switch back and forth every so often. Double strollers are another good investment.
Keep everything nearby and accessible. Keep baskets with everything you might need for the babies' care (and your care, too) in different areas of the house so that, once you're in one room, you don't have to run around the house to grab diapers, wipes, the phone, a bottle of water, etc.
Focus on your life as it is right now. One day, you'll be able to keep a clean house again, but for today, it may be enough just to make sure everybody's fed (that includes you).
Don't feel guilty about eating convenience foods. Something has to give, and home-cooked meals are probably off the agenda for several months — at least. Fruit, nuts, bagged salads, turkey sandwiches on whole-wheat bread, and whole-grain cold cereal may not be gourmet meals, but they're all relatively healthy foods that take little or no time to prepare.
Learn some deep breathing, visualization, or meditation exercises you can use while stressed. Stress is a contributor to postpartum depression, and you'll have multiple stressors, not to mention multiple reasons for sleep deprivation.
Alert
With multiples, it can be more difficult to get enough sleep, drink enough water, and eat well enough, which can make it more difficult to produce enough milk. If you don't think you're making enough milk, make sure your breasts are getting stimulated often and that you're eating well, drinking, and resting.
Finally, continually remind yourself that there is no such thing as a “perfect” mother or a “right” way to raise multiples. Observe your children and let their health and happiness — and your own — be your guide.
