Anxiety soars high when a would-be mom is in for a double bundle of joy, writes Reshma K Sharma.
Preparing for motherhood brings a bag of mixed emotions for most would-be-moms. However the anxiousness, jitters and concerns are perhaps double-fold right through the pregnancy if a woman is expecting more than one baby. While it is a pleasurable phase for others to see twins dressed in identical clothes or just being together, it could be a daunting task for new mothers, especially for first-timers. Experts opine that the key to manage this phase is effective planning.
To avoid situations where you would get depressed about too many things falling on your lap make sure to get life simpler with good planning. This could be like getting enough clothes for both babies in advance, just in case you’re unable to get them washed everyday. Or it could be getting people to engage one baby at different schedules while you are busy with the other one. In other words, be aware of twin baby necessities right from their clothing requirements to crib to the daily schedule planned in advance if possible. Talk to others, who have had twins; it’ll help you go a long way. But most importantly, be flexible in your approach for last-minute changes in your life.
According to Dr Geetha Belliappa, Consultant Gynecologist & Obstetrician, “A twin pregnancy is as much a double blessing as it is a tough task. Twin pregnancies require more monitoring than single pregnancies. Twins can bring double the joy, but parenting twins means double the work - at least initially. The key is to be prepared. Physically, mentally, emotionally, and needless to say, financially.”
Dr Geeta shares a few insights that would-be-parents of twins or multiples may find useful:
* Breastfeed both babies simultaneously. It really is possible to feed both babies at the same time with one twin on each breast. But it takes great coordination and patience. But it saves you some time for yourself.
* Put the twins in the same crib initially. But shift them to separate cribs once they begin to roll. Otherwise, they may bump into one another and wake each other up. While one crib is fine, two car seats and a double-stroller are absolute musts for newborn twins.
* Twins may be similar, but they are also different. Encourage the differences between twins and never compare twins to one another. Separating the twins in the later stage is highly recommended. It is in their best interest to be separated and get their own group of friends.
* Parenting twins gets easier with time. Young twins are easier to raise as they have each other to play with, and sleep better than singletons once they reach the age of two.
Going by the practical experience of raising twin babies, now aged two, says Shilpa Nayak, a software engineer, “It is very essential to plan on who would be the actual hands-on mother or caretaker in the case of twins and be prepared for the journey. I had my mother all along and thankfully, because of her, I was able to get back to work. I felt that it was only their first year that was the toughest to handle. Especially when they learn to sit, crawl and move around, because you are constantly worried they might harm themselves. But once this phase passes, it’s a lot easier.
Another mother of 10-year-old twin boys, Jyoshna V, confirming this opinion, says “It is the initial one year that new mothers or parents have to cope up with. Challenges of sleep schedules, breast feeding, and potty training are hectic. After that I have felt that it is good as the twins give company to each other. It is indeed a fun experience to watch twins grow up.”
Twins, as most parents and experts feel, are good playmates and companions in the growing years. Many parents also feel it is a matter of time before you can sit back and feel that your job of raising two children is easier than going through parenting phase repeatedly. All it needs is a bit of sound planning and support from your loved ones, and you would be well on your way to bounce back in life.