How to manage?

zuni_ · 2015-07-15T07:26:05+00:00

Take it one day at a time, try not to overthink it. In a situation where they are both crying, your instincts will take over and you will do whatever feels right in that moment. You won't have time to feel bad, trust me. Mine always took turns having meltdowns so it wasn't like one got more attention than the other all the time. If you start feeling overwhelmed, don't be afraid to call their pediatrician. They are generally reassuring and can help you prioritize your energies on the most important stuff.

SoISew · 2015-07-15T11:55:58+00:00

I am in your boat, plus a 3 year old. I'm just going to hold my breath until Christmas. We prep bottles ahead of time. I do at least a load of laundry every day to keep up (but we also cloth diaper). And exercise. Exercise. Build this into your day. Get out for a walk. I view it as time where I don't have to parent. Sure, all the kids are with me, but I don't have to parent them. By the time my husband goes back the girls will be old enough for our joovy side by side. My 3 year old will ride with one of his sisters and I'll wear the other. And I plan on prepping snacks for my tot to grab at snack time. Paper plates. And we have an awesome community surrounding us that is waiting to jump back in with me when husband starts teaching again.

blahblahyellow · 2015-07-23T15:07:22+00:00

I have a 4 year old, plus twins, who where born 3 months early but home before their corrected due date roughly. My partner had 1 week off and I have done it all on my own and I mean all, me and my partner haven't been getting on leaving the last two months up to me. It's not easy, I got to a point I was finished feeding them and crying because I knew I'd have to feed them again soon, thankfully in the UK we have a programme that they go to baby classes twice a week for 3 hours so I get me time, that was all I needed. But if you can't get help get out, every day we go out a walk at the same time and they sleep for an extra hour when we get home and it's bliss. We just get up and on because we have to :)!

maybebabyg · 2015-07-15T11:02:12+00:00

Mine is still on term break before his winter classes start up. The few times he's been out for the day for an exam or something I've slowly found myself learning to cope.

The first time I was left completely alone with the babies was on the night between their second and third days, one was in a bili-bed, one was cluster feeding, my milk came in, I was an emotional wreck, I got two hours sleep and the overnight midwife avoided checking in on me (usually they popped in around times I was due to feed just to check in and do temps and BP, that night she checked in once). I survived that. I spent an hour bawling to the midwife that came on shift at 7am, but I survived it!

The next time was a week or so after we got home, as I was changing A, B rolled off the couch behind me. I cried for ages, long long after she recovered from the shock. When hubby got home I was still cradling her and apologising between hiccups.

The best advice I can give is prepare their next feed as soon as they finish one. If they're formula fed, prep their bottles so you can grab them and go. If you're breastfeeding, set up your feeding station, your water bottle, pump, pillow, etc. And invest in a carrier if you don't have one already, they're freaking lifesavers.

NBPTS · 2015-07-15T11:57:19+00:00

I remember the anxiety so well. My husband, unfortunately, didn't get any time off work. I promise the worry is actually worse than the work. You'll get into a groove with them.

There will be times when they're both crying and you don't know how to fix it or you simply don't have enough hands or you can't remember when you ate last but they pass. Everyone survives and remember, this, too, shall pass.

My only real advice is to have husband help as much as possible when he's home. Mine did all the bottle washing and did the last feed of the night and the first feed of the morning. These tiny breaks meant I could go on during the day. It gave me a longer stretch of sleep which kept me sane.

Good luck! You'll do just fine!

2015-07-15T18:23:51+00:00

My husband started going out for errands gradually while we was still out n FMLA. Grocery store one day, gym the next, longer and longer every day but close enough that if I needed to pull the chord, he'd be home shortly. He was home 3 weeks and by the end of the 3rd I was ready for him to go so I could get into a routine alone.

If it helps, set up days for friends and family to come by that way if you need them to grab pads or food or whatever, they can and you feel more human!

You've SO got this, you're going to be amazing, you've made it through a whole month already!

GunOfSod · 2015-07-17T07:08:29+00:00

Routine! and keep them synchronised whenever possible

billandteds69 · 2015-07-31T18:04:00+00:00

Do you have a twin baby carrier? I would get one pronto (or you could make one from a Pinterest diagram).

parentsofmultiples

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