I think all new mummas are pretty amazing! But I have to give extra credit to mummas of multiples! This week, we spoke to an amazing twin mumma, Naomi from Twinfo, and she gave us some amazing tips for mums-to-be of multiples. Make sure you share this amazing blog post with twin mummas in your life! If you're buying gifts for Twins, make sure to use the discount code TWINS for 10% off the second one any of our gifts. Here are Naomi's five practical tips for surviving the first few months with twins or multiples.
Preparing for the birth and first few months of having twins or multiples can be a little daunting. Thinking about all the things you need to do, need to buy and trying to work out when you can factor in sleep may seem all too hard. There will be times that yes, it is hard and then there will be times when things won’t be so hard. Trying to prepare yourself for the first few months in advance will help you during this time and hopefully make it a little bit easier for you.
Clothing for twins or more
Don’t race off to the shops and buy two (or three) of everything brand new. Clothing can be so expensive. Save your hard earned dollars and put them towards getting some help – be it a cleaner, some homemade cooked meals or even a nanny. There are so many second hand buy swap and sell pages (many that sell matching clothing if that’s what you are looking for).
If you know someone who has recently had a baby and is looking to pass down their second hand clothes, jump at the chance! Babies grow so quickly and can some times grow out of a clothing size in a matter of weeks. Spending hundreds of dollars for a few weeks wear is not practical for twins or multiples – so if you can grab a bargain or borrow clothes it will definitely help.
Food for YOU (and the family)
If you have the time and energy before your babies arrive, cook up some meals that can be frozen for later use. This way you can ensure that you are still feeding yourself and getting your energy intake but also not having to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when you have multiple babies to also look after. You are going to be using up a lot of energy looking after your babies and your health is important as well.
Don’t forget to plan for some healthy snacks. Things you can freeze and just grab out and eat one handed are the best, especially if you are breastfeeding.
Pre-make ham and cheese (or cheese and tomato) sandwiches, and pop them in the freezer. Then you can just pop them in a toasted sandwich maker for a yummy lunch.
If someone asks you what you need, ask them to make you a couple of frozen dinners.
Sleep…………..and the lack of it.
The old “sleep when the baby sleeps” is easier said than done. When the babies are sleeping you know you will want to catch up on the cleaning, or fold some washing. But there are times when you will need to let all that slide and have the nap. Remember you are waking throughout the night to feed, not one but two (or three) babies. You need to ensure that you are getting enough sleep in a 24 hour period and if that means having an hour nap here or there then you need to do it.
See if you can get a friend or family member to come over and do the first feed of the night. You can go to bed early, they can sit and watch Netflix on your couch while you sleep until the babies wake up. Once they have fed them, they can quietly let themselves out and drive home. Even if you wake when the babies cry, knowing you can just roll over and go back to sleep is the best feeling!
Plan ahead
Think ahead……..does the dog need to go to the vet for its annual shots (call the vet and see if you can book in early). Does your cat need monthly flea treatments (if you can afford it, buy six months’ worth so you don’t need to go to the pet shop with newborn babies in tow). Do your other children need their annual dental appointments, (book them in before the babies arrive). Check what birthdays are coming up (buy, and wrap the presents now). If you have school ages children, go to the bank and get a bag of $1 and $2 coins and keep them aside for those days when they need a gold coin donation for something.
The more of those “pesky jobs” you can do now, will make your first three months much easier.
Ask for help
The number one tip for surviving the first few months at home with your babies is to ask for help when you need it. When people offer to come over to watch the babies so you can sleep or offer to cook or clean for you, say yes.
Even if they haven’t asked but you are feeling overwhelmed and struggling then ask for the help. Your family and friends are going to be excited for you and will want to help but some times they worry about offering the help. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for some help. Honestly, they would love to sit and cuddle you babies for a couple of hours while you have a nap.
Remember, they are only little for a short time. Make sure you just sit and enjoy them!
Bio
Passionate about all things multiple, Naomi is the founder of Twinfo and a twin mum herself. Twinfo is an online community for multiple birth parents. It is also a directory of services and products that truly meet the needs of multiple birth families. To find out more about Twinfo, visit us at www.twinfo.com.au and join us on Facebook @Twinfo https://www.facebook.com/TwinfoAustralia
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