Frequently Asked Questions
Affiliated to
TAMBA Twinline
is a confidential support, information
and listening service
for parents
and professionals involved in the care
of multiples.
0800 138 0509
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and 7pm to 10pm
every day
Disclaimer
Any advice given or suggestions
made are based entirely on personal expeniences and are not to
be taken as endorsed by any official body. For professional information
and support contact TAMBA
or the Multiple Births Foundation. Will I have to have a Caesarean?
What kind of buggy should I get?
Can my babies sleep together?
How should I feed my babies?
How will I cope?
Will I have to have a Caesarean?
Around 50% of mothers of twins
in the UK deliver their babies normally, but every multiple pregnancy
is different and it really depends on how your babies are lying towards the
end of the third trimester, along with any health issues you or they may have. Meetings
with your consultant will be more frequent than with a singleton pregnancy,
and your options should be made clear to you early on.What kind of buggy should I get?
Can my babies sleep together?
How should I feed my babies?
How will I cope?
Will I have to have a Caesarean?
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What kind of buggy should I get?
It depends largely on your lifestyle and budget but some key things to consider are the width of your front door, the size of your car boot, whether you will be getting more off-road or town use, ease of (un)folding, suitability for newborns, handle height (can be uncomfortable if you are tall) and buggy weight (both for pushing with babies in and lifting in and out of the car). A good buggy retailer will let you give it a test run before you buy.
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Can my babies sleep together?
In the early days they will probably be comforted by each others' presence and can certainly share a cot, if not a carrycot. Follow the usual cot death advice, placing babies in the 'feet to foot' position to avoid overheating. At some point you will need to have two cots, depending on your babies' sizes and sleeping habits.
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How should I feed my babies?
Although it is widely considered that 'breast is best', breastfeeding twins is physically very demanding and, although many mothers manage to exclusively breastfeed their twins for several months, as many opt for either mixed or exclusive bottle feeding. Your midwife should be able to put you in touch with a breastfeeding counsellor and advise on feeding positions.
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How will I cope?
There's no denying that things are going to be tough initially, but it will get easier. Some top tips: get into a routine as soon as possible; try to feed both babies together to save time; organise your home so you can find things easily; keep a bag packed with essentials for outings; go for walks; make contact with other parents via the twins club, your hospital or your local NCT; minimise household chores; share the broken nights if possible and accept any offers of help, however small.
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Useful Websites
www.kiddicare.com"Discounts for
multiple purchases."
www.twinsclub.co.uk"My lifeline."
www.twinsthings.co.uk"Lots of useful things
for multiples."
www.jusonne.co.uk" Some fantastic things and a huge selection of twin and triplet prams."
www.2became4.com"Worth a look for those great new products."
www.breastfeeding.com"Loads of info on feeding one or more."
www.twinslist.org"Useful information and discussion site."
