Bonding with Twins

Bonding is something every mother and newborn needs during the first year of life, however so many moms of multiples are finding it harder and harder to bond these days. I think with a few simple yet powerful steps, any mother of a newborn can bond even if you have more than one.

So here is what you need to know:

First if you are pregnant with multiples try and stay pregnant as long as possible. My twin pregnancy was amazing and I delivered at 36 weeks. The longer the babies are in the womb the healthier they should be at birth outside the womb. My twins were never taken away from me to the NICU which made it easier to bond.

Second have your babies to your breast almost immediately! This is a natural away both mother and baby bonds. Also the skin on skin contact with your newborn baby is key in keeping your babies temperature normal. With Twins have your partner take their shirt off and do the same skin on skin, this helps dads bond also. Plus you can always ask for the nurses or dad to help you hold both babies at your skin at the same time. It's very natural to want to have both breastfeeding at the same time or just near you.

Third once in your room with visitors, limit the amount of people holding your babies. Use your time in the hospital for bonding and nursing, while of course recovering. The more the babies are with you the more bonding time and emotions you will have. This is hard because everyone wants to hold your brand new babies, however bottom line is these babies need their momma!

Lastly don't forget about DAD. Dads are great with twins and bonding, they can always be bonding with one while you have the other. My husband and I would really enjoy once visiting hours where over because that meant just our time with the babies.

mamaRoo

I found this amazing looking swing at a " baby" Bed Bath & Beyond in Lancaster PA when I was 6 months pregnant with my twins. Since I already  saved my first swing from my daughter I knew I wanted one of these to have for the second time around.

This is the mamaRoo swing, by 4 moms. I never seen anything like this at my local BabiesRus or Walmart. This was pretty cool, with the reclined seat that looks like a bean shape, and the 5 unique motions, I knew this was a must have on my registry list. My son's favorite motions are the Car Ride and Tree Swing. It also comes with built in nature sounds, along with the connection for any MP3 player. Retail price is $199.99. I have not seen it any cheaper anywhere else. Amazon is about the same price along with shipping. However we did get so money off when we used a 20% coupon I got in the mail from Bed Bath & Beyond.

Here is my son Bentley who loves our mamaRoo!

The Big Sister

My biggest concern with bringing two newborns home was my 2 year old daughter. She was and still is the apple of my eye. She was the first grand-baby on both sides and was every ones little princess. I was worried what my daughter would think and feel when Mommy would have to stay in the hospital for a few days, we started to talk about it more and more as I got closer to my due date. I also worried how jealous she might become when the boys came home to live at her house. I knew this was going to be a big change for her, for all of us. Surprisingly my daughter did amazing with the transition with the twins. She came to see us the day after they were born, and was so excited to see them and hold them. She also missed me and while others held the twins me and her got to spend some time together. Family members helped out watching her overnight so my husband could stay in the hospital with me. I arranged play date with my friends and family for her during the days.

 My daughter has done great from the moment she met her brothers, I've had no jealously issues at all. She is my mother hen here at home! 

Twins BIRTH Day

When I found out I was having Twins my plan of a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) went out the window. I didn't think having a natural birth with twins was right for me. I also considered a Home birth which again with twins I didn't feel was right for me. I went along a scheduled a c-section, after my due date, yes that sounds different and it was. In my OBGYN practise there are 12 different doctors I wanted to schedule my delivery with the one I wanted and the only day he had available was 3 days after my due date. I knew in the back of my mind I would never make it to my due date and have to take the chance on who would deliver my babies.


At 36 weeks on Friday March 2nd I went to the hospital for my 4th regular Nonstress Test, which is normal with a mom pregnant with multiples. I was hooked up to the monitors and was clear after an hours of monitoring the babies heartbeats. I mentioned to the nurse I had been crappy the last 2 days and they wanted me to stay and have a midwife on call check me. The midwife came in and stated I was 4cm dilated. My heart kinda skipped a beat, I knew that wasn't the answer I needed to go home, she called my OBGYN on call doctor and he said for me to stay 2 hours and re-check me to see if I continued to progress if so I would be meeting my babies today. To make a long story short I called Hubby he came with overnight bag she waited upstairs was recheck and I was 5cm. So my doctor told us our c-section would be a 3pm that day.


Around 12:30 I met the Anesthesiologist and he informed me he would see me in the operating room soon. I was very nervous I thought it wasn't going to be until 3 now it was in a few minutes. I was prepped which included IV's,shaving,signing papers and changing into a gown. I was then told I would walk to the operating room. My husband was taken aside so he could change in his uniform scrubs. I sat on the table I was told I would get my spinal, and lay right down. I felt the warmness and heavy feeling in my legs which the anesthesiologist said I would. Ryan then ended and sat right at my head. I then started vomiting at random, my husband told me it was because my blood pressure dropped fast. Then before I knew it I was fine and I heard babies crying. My husband then went over and helped hold up my 2 newborn sons to me it was a great feeling. Here are a few of my picture of their birth.

Expecting Twins

It took myself a good 10 weeks to settle with the idea of Twins. The Roller Coaster of emotions started at the 8 weeks ultrasound. After that I had a hard time thinking about  2 babies at the same time. It was very very overwhelming. But soon the scary feelings subsided and I started to feel more and more blessed to have a body that could carry multiple babies. Then at our 18 weeks ultrasound we found out we were having 2 baby boys. As the months went on we became more and more excited for the arrival of our new babies. I had many ultrasounds which I wasn't prepared for, which the doctors say is "normal". At my last ultrasound my Baby B was in the breech position and it was recommended to move ahead with a c-section. I was very healthy during my twins pregnancy, gained 15lbs and carried my twins to 36 weeks 4 days. Then on March 2nd going to the Hospital for my routine none stress test, I was told I would be having my babies today!

Back with Double the Blessings!

My break from blogging took longer then I thought! My last post was in August 2011. Thank you for waiting patiently for my return. In August 2011 I learned I was pregnant for the second time. I also found out I was carrying 2 babies at one time. TWINS became the word of the day at my second ultrasound in my OBYGN's office. Soon the shock of twins was put on hold when the doctor told me my Baby B was not going to survive, for the baby's heart was too weak and would be gone at our 12 week ultrasound. We felt crushed, not only did you just tell us I am having twins but then you tell me one is going to not make it. Out hearts were heavy as we left the office. I remember the car ride home was quite and very emotional, I remember my husband starting to cry tell me he was sorry it was his fault. I told him it was no ones fault and I knew God would only give us what we could handle. We decided to go right out to his parent's to explain the journey we had ahead of us. I was 8 weeks pregnant and we hadn't told anyone I was pregnant. They we taking us down south that night and did not have much to say, other then did we still want to go to the beach. We wanted to keep everything the same and not change our plans mostly for our 2 year old daughter whom was looking forward to going to the ocean.

 My case was called Vanishing Twin Syndrome-A vanishing twin, also known as fetal resorption, is a fetus in a multi-gestation pregnancy which dies in utero and is then partially or completely reabsorbed by the twin.

Time would soon tell, and now we prepared for a loss at our 12 week ultrasound. As the ultrasound Tech. started moving across my belly said "This is Baby A and over here is Baby B". I was shocked, here was this little flicker of a heart beat and a black sac which according to the doctors wouldn't and shouldn't be there. Here we were pregnant with TWINS 2 healthy TWINS.