Most parents worry about whether they will bond with their baby, but this is especially true for parents expecting twins or more. It’s understandable to be a little freaked out by the news that you are expecting two or more babies, and bonding may be just one of your worries at the moment. Here are some tips to help prepare you for the process of bonding with twins or more:

1. Be prepared – life as a new mum is tough, and all new parents should prepare for sleepless nights. As a mum of twins, you may find yourself severely lacking in time. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this. New babies are needy, and you’ll have two of them. Fill your freezer with food, stock up the pantry, and make sure you have enough essentials to last a few weeks.

2. Look after yourself – you need to take care of yourself as well as your babies. If you’re exhausted, emotional, hormonal and lacking in confidence, you may end up doubting your mothering abilities. If you feel like you need some time to yourself, ask your partner or a friend to watch the babies. Run a bath, lock the bathroom door and settle down for some good quality relaxation time. You’ll emerge refreshed and better able to care for both of your babies.

3. Have help on standby – you have no doubt been inundated with offers from potential babysitters, so make sure you cash them in. Ask a trusted friend or family member to take one of the babies for a walk, so that you can grab some quality bonding time with the other baby. Alternate babies each time, and make sure they each get a fair share of your time.

4. Hibernate – new mums are so busy showing off their babies, they sometimes forget to take the time to bond. Spend some time locked away as a family, getting to know each other and adjusting to your new role. Cuddle both your babies, and chat to them as you make eye contact.

5. Strip off – skin to skin is a great way to bond with your babies. Have your babies in just their nappies, and lie them on your bare chest.

6. Tandem carries – babywearing isn’t just for singleton parents, you can carry your twins, too. There are lots of different options available – woven and stretchy wraps are popular choices – so try a few carriers out before you buy. If there’s a sling library near you, ask for a consultation to help you find a carrier you love and to learn how to put two babies in two slings!

7. Make the most of it – it might be a nappy change or a feed, but make the most of the time together. Instead of rushing your way through one dirty nappy to get to the other, spend some time singing to and chatting with your baby. Make sure each baby gets special attention from you during these everyday tasks.

8. Give it time – bonding with a baby takes time, and you have twice the babies or half the time, so don’t worry if bonding takes longer than you expected. The first few weeks might be spent rushing from one baby to another, making sure they’re both ok, but sooner or later you will have more time for bonding.

9. Let the guilt go – it’s not uncommon for twin parents to report feeling guilty for not spending enough time with each baby. Let this guilt go. Don’t compare yourself to your singelton parent friends. Parenting twins is a totally different ballgame.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

And then there were two!

For most women who did not use fertility treatments, the news that they are having twins can be quite shocking, to say the least. Here you were expecting one bundle of joy – and just like that, you found out you are being blessed with two. (Or more!)

Most of the time, the amazing discovery of a twin pregnancy doesn’t occur until a woman has her first routine ultrasound. Or, until an attentive health care provider notices that either her hCG levels (through serum blood tests) are through the roof, or the height of her ‘fundus’ (the measurement of your uterus as you progress through pregnancy) is increasing more quickly than it should. Or maybe the provider thinks they may hear more than one heartbeat at the 9 week to 11 week office visit, and quickly orders an early ultrasound.

According to recent statistics from the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, around 3 out of every 100 women will carry twins. Also, just because YOU are a twin, or your dad is a twin, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will have twins yourself.  For instance, your chances of having identical twins (when a fertilized egg spontaneously splits in half) have nothing to do with genetics and is the ‘luck of the draw’, so to speak.  However, your chances of fraternal twins (when two eggs are fertilized by different sperm at the same time) ARE often part of your genetics. If someone in your family has fraternal twins, then you have an increased chance of having fraternal twins yourself. You also have an increased chance of having fraternal twins if you have undergone fertility treatments, are over the age of 30 (because older women often tend to release more than one egg during ovulation), are African-American, or have had a multiple pregnancy in the past.

If you suspect twins early on – chances are you want to know as quickly as possible!  Many women have an inkling that they are carrying twins from the beginning.  In particular, many women pregnant with twins have more severe pregnancy symptoms in early pregnancy due to higher hormone levels.  You also may measure larger than expected, or be gaining more weight than typical for your due date.  All of these things can prompt your health care provider to schedule an early ultrasound.

Specifically speaking however – a twin pregnancy can only be accurately detected with an ultrasound. And amazingly, an ultrasound can pick up a twin pregnancy by the existence of two fetal sacs as early as the 4^th week of pregnancy. Even so, many doctors will choose to wait to affirmatively diagnose a twin pregnancy until the 10-week or 12-week mark, due to the commonality of ‘vanishing twin syndrome,’ which is thought to occur when one of fetuses is not viable and is reabsorbed by the placenta during pregnancy – most often without the pregnant mother’s knowledge (and without harming the other baby).

Having twins can be a wonderful experience. Your maternal instinct may lead you to believe you are having twins just by the way you feel, and you may try to encourage your doctor to test you. However, the longer you wait for a diagnostic ultrasound to confirm that you are carrying more than one viable baby, the better off you will be in the long run.

Written By Stef, Mom of 4 @Mom-Spirational

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

If twins run in the family, you may be interested to find out if you are pregnant with twins. You may not find out whether you are carrying twins until your dating scan, which usually takes place sometime around weeks nine to 11. If that seems like too long to wait, you can have a look at the questions below to see whether you could be carrying twins.

1. Does your bump look big in this?
At each prenatal appointment, your healthcare provider will measure your bump. This allows them to track your baby’s growth, and detect potential problems early on. If you’re carrying twins, you may be measuring large for your stage of pregnancy. This is because there are two babies inside you, so your uterus will be expanding at an increased rate.

2. Are you headed for the toilet?
Morning sickness is a common complaint of pregnancy, and is caused by the rapidly increasing hormones during early pregnancy. Some, but not all, twin-mums suffer from excessive morning sickness thanks to all those pesky hormones.

3. Are you asleep right now?
Twin-mums often report experiencing fatigue during the first trimester. Fatigue is a common symptom of pregnancy, but you are believed to have an increased risk of it during multiple pregnancies. Your babies go through rapid development during the first trimester, and this is when all of the major organs and placenta are formed, so it’s no wonder you’re exhausted.

4. Are you piling on the pounds?
The days hellof eating for two (or three) are long gone, and you should be sure to monitor your weight during pregnancy. Eating a healthy, balanced diet, and taking regular exercise can help to keep your weight in check. Twin-mums are advised to put on up to 10 lbs more than their single-pregnancy friends. You may find your weight increasing during those early weeks if you are pregnant with multiples.

5. Did your midwife find an extra heartbeat?
At each prenatal check, your healthcare provider will use a doppler to listen to your baby’s heartbeat. Your healthcare provider will be checking the speed and regularity of the heartbeat, to make sure your baby is developing well. You healthcare provider will be able to pick up both yours and your baby’s heartbeat using the doppler. If they locate a third heartbeat, you are having twins. Most heartbeats can be heard towards the end of the first trimester, though some may be located weeks earlier.

Are you pregnant with twins, and if so, what gave it away?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.