Advice

Coping With Twins Or Multiples

Published

7 months ago

July 17, 2024

Contributing Together

Expert / 17 July, 2024 / My Baba

Finding out you’re pregnant with twins or multiples can stir up a whirlwind of emotions, and it’s true, coping with twins or multiples takes a little organisation. Fear not, Family Consultant and Norland Nanny Prue Beeby from A Mother’s Touch is on hand with some expert advice.

Twins or multiples on the way? Time to get organised

During the various stages of pregnancy, you will slowly gather all you need for the babies and yourself. The fourth trimester, which refers to the three months following your babies’ birth, is all about learning—learning how to parent, what your babies’ personalities are like and how to adapt to your new routines.

I always say get to know your products before the babies are here; this way, when you come to put them in the car seat for the first time or need to put the pram up or sterilise something, you can do it the first time without getting flustered.

The babies will be busy adapting to their new little lives, and you will be adapting to them, with feeding, sleeping, and nappy changes. Once the babies are here, skin-to-skin (also known as Kangaroo Care) is a wonderful thing for both parents to begin. Lots of skin-to-skin builds great bonds and regulates your baby’s temperature, breathing and heart rate.

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Arriving home from the hospital

Once you have driven back from the hospital at snail’s speed and the babies are home safely, you will find your own rhythm as a family unit. If you are breastfeeding, combi feeding or bottle feeding your babies, the best thing you can do is be organised. Minimise your chances of going into any feed feeling stressed.

Have the bottles sterilised and ready to go, and the cushions laid out so you are comfortable. Are you feeding them at the same time or separately? Make sure you have muslins near you just in case of unexpected dribbles. Babies have little tummies, so they will need feeding often. Make a note of feeds and times. Having a small whiteboard is a good idea, so everyone can see it. If you have been in NICU or SCBU and already have a feeding routine in place, it’s best to stick to it.

Breastfeeding twins or multiples

If you decide to breastfeed your babies, starting this as soon as possible after birth is best so they get the colostrum, the first form of milk your body makes. Colostrum is nutrient-dense, high in antibodies and antioxidants and is just right for your baby’s gut. Hopefully, the feeding team/midwives will help support you in starting your breastfeeding journey, but don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

It is your decision to feed twins or multiples separately or together. There are some great feeding pillows if you want to feed in tandem, and there are many positions to help with feeding; it will be trial and error in finding the positions that work for you all. Some parents allocate a breast to each baby, but it is best to alternate breasts in case one breast produces more milk than the other. Make sure to look after yourself by drinking lots of water and getting the right nutrition.

Bottle feeding twins or multiples

You might need to use bottles at some point in your parenting journey. The best ones I have used have been Lansinoh. The teats are designed to complement breastfeeding. The bottles are easy to clean and have a controlled-flow teat.

Having a steriliser that works for you as a family is also really important. There will be lots of bits to sterilise over the next 12 months, from dummies, bottles and pumping equipment to teething toys. There are many sterilisers on the market, from water, steam and now UV, but some of the best ones I have used have to be the Vital Baby Nurture Advance UV, Tommie Tippie Ultra and the Philips Avent Steam Steriliser.

More than one baby? Routine is key

Having a routine in place for twins and multiples helps everyone know what is coming next. Establishing a consistent schedule for feeds, sleep and awake times builds familiarity. Obviously, this won’t go according to plan every day, but I always say it’s best to start a proper routine after week six.

By week six, you all begin to know each other, how they feed and sleep. You might need to find a routine quicker than week six and that is perfectly fine, you might even fall into one without planning it. Again, this is fine. A routine will also help regulate their body clock, known as their circadian rhythm. Your routine should give you the confidence to go out to the shops, do a feed/nap while you’re out, or simply just for a walk to get a coffee and some much-needed fresh air.

Bathing newborns

Babies don’t necessarily need to be bathed every day. You can ‘Top & Tail’ by washing their face, neck, hands and bottom using a bowl of warm water and flannel or cotton wool pads rather than bathing them fully. If and when you start a routine, I always like to start at bath and bedtime, keeping that time consistent.

Safer sleeping tips for twins or multiples

You may like your babies to sleep in their own Moses baskets or cots from birth. Twins and multiples often like ‘Co-Bedding’ in the same cot together in the early weeks; this can increase the stability of each sibling and also help regulate their sleep cycles.

Make sure to follow safe sleeping guides. With twins, you can start sleeping them at opposite ends of their cot from the beginning – this means they’ll be on their backs in the ‘feet to foot’ position with their own bedding firmly tucked in. Or you can place them side-by-side again on their backs, ‘feet to foot,’ but only place them side-by-side in a cot in the early weeks, when they can’t roll over or onto each other. Ensure they are not close enough to touch and potentially obstruct each other’s breathing.

Sleeping bags v loose bedding

Triplets and quads can be placed across the cot with their feet touching the side of the cot for the first few weeks. Be sure not to place them too close together, and tuck in their own bedding or, better still, use age and age-appropriate sleeping bags.

For safe sleeping with all babies, have a firm, flat, waterproof mattress and keep the cot/ Moses basket clear of toys and loose bedding. Always keep the babies in the same bedroom as you for the first six months of their lives to reduce the risk of SIDS.

Changing your baby at home

Having two changing areas around the house means you won’t constantly have to go to the nursery / your room to change them. It is always best to stock up these areas with nappies, Sudocrem, Metatinum nappy rash ointment, nappy bags, cotton wool and a bowl of cooled boiled water or water wipes. Make sure there is something for them to listen to or look at to keep them calm. Babies love it when you talk or sing, so start practising your favourite nursery rhymes!

Getting out and about with twins

When considering how to get out and about with your babies, a routine will help you know when you have a window of opportunity. If suitable, you can always put the babies in their bassinet or the pram after a feed so that you are ready to go for a morning or afternoon walk. If you find the babies a little fractious, you can carry them in a baby sling or use an appropriate-sized baby carrier.

Choosing the right pram for your particular lifestyle and the area you live is really important. Make sure it fits through doorways or folds down easily to store in the boot of your car. I have used and can recommend Bugaboo Donkey, iCandy, Out ‘n’ and About Nipper Double.

Here is to your parenting adventure! Use your parent’s gut instinct. You know your babies best, so trust yourself.

Article by Prudence Beeby, Norland Nanny & Family Consultant, A Mother’s Touch
Instagram @prudence.beeby