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The #1 Resource & Support Network for Parents of Twins

Expecting Twins Tips to Get You Started

Expecting Twins Tips to Get You Started

Last updated on November 25th, 2023 at 11:01 am

“Shock and Awe”, isn’t just a military mission, it’s also the initial reaction of a twin mom, and the folks she shares the news of TWO babies with.

There are a few things that can ease the transition from being a gal about town to a mommy on duty. Here are some basics that should be covered:

Does It Feel Like You Are Constantly Going to the Doctor?

Yes, because you actually are. Mothers of multiples (MoMs) visit their doctor 30% more than singleton moms. A great side effect of so many visits is that you get to see your babies a lot more! So make the best of it. Ask your doctor if you can bring a DVD to record your sonograms or just ask for LOTS of printouts. It will be great for show and tell through out their lives!

Expecting Twins Tips to Get You Started

Do You Have an FSA?

Something that is pretty important to investigate during the early days of your pregnancy is finding out if your company has a flexible spending account (FSA or sometimes called a Cafeteria Plan). Not all companies offer it, but if yours does, invest in it. Occasionally you need a “qualifying event” to make changes to your plan, and the birth of your twins is just that. You can use your FSA to help pay for any medical necessities. From acupuncture to prenatal vitamins, it will cover a lot of stuff.

Prenatal Vitamins

Speaking of prenatal vitamins, you know, the cost of those puppies gets higher and higher every year. Any good mom of multiples (or any mom for that matter) should always think about saving money. The cost of two college educations is enough to drive a gal mad. If you feel comfortable, ask your doctor for extra samples of prenatal vitamins. The doctor usually gets a ton from the pharmaceutical representative, so ask for more than just your share. If the doctor can spare it, why not?

Nature Made Prenatal with Folic Acid + DHA, Prenatal Vitamin and Mineral Supplement for Daily Nutritional Support, 60 Softgels, 60 Day Supply

on demand twins class

Have you taken your expecting twins class yet? We offer a great class on demand so you can take it on your own schedule! There are so many video modules covering everything from your twins’ baby registry to your first week at home with twins! Sign up today to get started before your twins arrive.

Schedule Your Appointments in Advance

Normally, a mom of a singleton could wait till her 30th week to schedule her hospital tour, but for us, we usually go into labor a bit sooner. Start thinking about taking your tour around 24 weeks and schedule it for around your 27th week. You definitely want to be comfortable while touring the hospital. Also, while on your tour, make sure you double check that you have seen ALL the areas that you could potentially stay in. Sometimes if a hospital has a new wing or new floor, they will proudly only show you that one, and not the floor that hasn’t been renovated since 1962!

baby safety course

Need some baby safety training? Take the Twiniversity Complete Baby Safety course, offered on-demand. Includes video modules on infant, toddler, and child CPR, first aid, and common medical ailments, plus car seat installation and safety and childproofing your home. Click here to learn more!

Skip Lamaze

What, skip Lamaze? Well, I’m not saying you should skip it 100%, but there are alternatives if you are on bed rest or just want to skip the extra trip to a class. There is a great DVD called “Laugh And Learn About Childbirth” by Sheri Bayles. You can watch it in the comfort of your home while you are resting in your PJs. This is a great option that not many moms know about, and you can even rent it on Netflix!

Laugh and Learn About Childbirth - Lamaze and Beyond [DVD]

What Classes SHOULD You Take?

If you could only attend one, it should be CPR. It’s an unfortunate fact that CPR needed to be performed on my daughter, not once, but twice. I decided when they were in the NICU that I would make it mandatory for anyone who was going to be spending time with my twins alone, that they needed to be CPR trained. This was my safety net that I’m glad I had in place. Another great class to take would be a twins prep class, like the one offered by Twiniversity. We even offer them online for parents to join from all over the world!

Expecting Twins Tips to Get You Started

What Books Should I Read?

Definitely pick up a copy of Nat’s book, “What to Do When You’re Having Two“, the top-selling expecting twins book! (Click here for Twiniversity’s list of recommended Twin Pregnancy Books To Read When You’re Having Two.)

What to Do When You're Having Two: The Twins Survival Guide from Pregnancy Through the First Year

Get Your Finances In Order Before the Twins Arrive

Pre-delivery is best to get your finances and legal life in order. It’s a great time to set up as many online bill payments as you can. Don’t wait till you realize your first payment is late to set this up. Once the twins come it will be one less thing to worry about. And boy oh boy, will you need less weight on your shoulders. It’s also a good time to find a lawyer to write your will. Yeah, not the best time to think about these things, but it’s good to know that you have all your legal ducks in a row should something catastrophic happen. On the brighter side, it’s also a great time to cash in your extra credit card miles/points to go on one final pre-birth hurrah with your honey. Smooch it up folks, you babies will be here soon enough taking your valuable romantic time away for a while.

delivery day bootcamp

So you’ve:

  • got your sonograms printouts
  • scored a few packs of complementary prenatal vitamins
  • you’ve taken your CPR class
  • watched your Lamaze DVD
  • attended your Twiniversity class

Keep A Journal

All the while, you should have been keeping a journal. Are you? It’s a great idea to keep a journal from the moment you read this if you haven’t started one already. When you have questions in the middle of the night, write them down. Don’t get out of bed and start googling, which rarely turns out well. Keeping all your questions in your journal will help you get the answers to them when visiting your doctor. Mommy’s brain doesn’t just begin post-delivery. It’s probably already happening if you are currently pregnant with twins.

digital pregnancy journal

Our new digital twin pregnancy journal is up for sale on the Twiniversity Etsy store! This is the first and only digital journal exclusively for twin pregnancy. It’s the perfect way to record your precious twin pregnancy memories to cherish for years to come.  Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our expecting twins classes and Twiniversity Shop!

Twiniversity Tip: when at the doctor, use your journal to write down your most recent test results. Those late-night googling sessions might require remembering what your latest results were, and it could help you sleep better that night. Also, should you require a quick trip to labor and delivery, having your most recent results will help the physician there that evening?

Finally, the most important thing you should do while waiting for your new arrivals is… rest. But get good rest. Catch up on the past seasons of True Blood or Top Chef. Lay in bed and read your favorite classic novel. Go to the park and watch the moms of twins chase their kiddos. That will be you soon enough, so enjoy the peace while you can.

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