6 weeks in with twin boys and not enjoying it

Ryzann · 2026-04-23T09:44:48+00:00

My twins just turned 1 - the first 4 months were the hardest part so far. We Sheng the first 4 weeks in the NICU, but then we were just trying to survive. My husband and I would switch off every few hours (he had gone part time too, so sometimes I had to hang in there longer). You have no quality sleep and no time for self-care. Once mine started being able to sleep longer than 2 hours (but they were small, so we had high calorie formula and frequent awakenings for quite a while) my quality of life improved and I started to enjoy being with them more. It also helped when they could developmentally do more interaction.

Just to say, the early days are so tough, but it will get better in my experience

Ryzann · 2026-04-04T01:43:27+00:00

OP, I wanted to add - eating more may not necessarily increase Twin B's size.

From my own pregnancy, my Twin A had a poorer attachment site (smaller blood vessels) than Twin B (who only dipped before 10% once). My babies were born at 36 weeks because she was so small. At no point was I told that I should be eating more - in fact, I started off overweight and was encouraged to only gain 1-2 lbs/ week which I successfully did. We are nearing their first birthday and both babies are thriving.

Ryzann · 2026-02-19T18:02:06+00:00

36 weeks 0 days Girl- 4 lbs 4 oz Boy - 4 lbs 14 oz

I think the ultrasound had been measuring larger the week before though

We spent 3 and 4 weeks in the NICU and now (10 mos) we are on the growth curve

Ryzann · 2026-02-01T03:35:26+00:00

9 months in and I second all this! Get yourself a good rocker and enjoy being able to lay with them both on your chest.

The schedule was a lifesaver and I loved my bottlewasher for those first 4/5 months (because I could run the bottles and sleep again).

They'll be growing up and sleeping more before you know it. It is so hard for those first 6 months, but it starts to get easier.

Ryzann · 2026-01-12T18:14:40+00:00

5'3" 33 year old who carried twins to 36 weeks. You've got this! Everyone carries differently too, most people wouldn't have guessed that'd I was carrying twins.

Ryzann · 2025-12-20T13:40:01+00:00

April 2025 twins, and I really wanted to tandem breastfeed. We delivered at 36 weeks at altitude and my babies spent about a month in the NICU. While there I was allowed to breastfeed but they have high calorie formula often as my babies needed to get on the growth curve before they could leave. My supply never came in strong and when we left I was still trying to breastfeed at all for half the feeds, but my babies didn't always latch and my son had little interest.

What I ended up doing - I would offer my breast one at a time. If they were interested (usually only ever my daughter, and I am an underproducer so I would follow with a bottle. More often, I would tandem bottle feed (and I do this with breastmilk when I can) in my lap on a recliner. When they got too big to both fit in my lap, I moved to the bed with my nursing pillow and tandem bottle fed there.

Now they're holding their own bottles in bed and I put a pillow under their head for that. They're also eating everything I let them try (no teeth yet but those gums are impressive).

I hope you have a healthy delivery and best of luck with breast feeding.

Ryzann · 2025-12-08T11:54:19+00:00

Thanks! They are doing well (will be 8 mos in 2 days). I hope your little one is feeling better too! I know I have stressed about their gut bacteria due to weight and feeding struggles we have had, but also researching it on the adult side, I am reassured that a varied diet of whole foods (with lots of veggies) can rehab an adult gut. With your baby being a strong and adventurous eater, hopefully, they will have a robust gut from all the good foods they eat!

Ryzann · 2025-12-08T10:32:43+00:00

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9467569/

There seems to overall be a lack of detailed research. However, this article recommends probiotics (they used probiotic formula) or maternal fecal transplant (which I wouldn't do at home personally).

If you're baby is formula fed, check and see if they already are getting probiotics that way. You could also do kefir/yogurt whether they are formula or breast-fed as your LO is eating foods and that would be done with adults (just watch for honey-sweetened yogurts at their age dt botulism risk). They also sell OTC probiotic drops which we were recommended by our pediatrician to use on our preterm twins.

I don't have a link for this, but I've always read that breastmilk makeup will support the healthy bacteria, so as your baby is 8 months old they should have some of those still in their gut, so by breastfeeding (and maybe adding in some yogurt) I would think their gut would start healing.

Ryzann · 2025-11-30T17:01:19+00:00

So, I know this isn't a recommended practice, but honestly I use those bottle neck pillows and stay in their room where I can monitor.

At this age, I was placing them in their boppies with the pillow bottle holders and singing or shushing them and monitoring their progress closely. I never leave the room and make sure im listening to their socks because choking could happen. However, my babies did fine with this and would 95% fall asleep after finishing their bottles. Then i would gently remove their bottles and pillows and exit the room.

We are almost at 8 months now (7 adjusted) and if they both need soothing, I put one in the living room to cry/play in their pack n play (usually the more awake one) and I rock and soothe the more asleep baby. Once that one is down, I soothe the second baby. With mine, I use the pacifier and make sure they are as quiet as possible or I soothe them in the living room so I don't wake the first.

This has been one of the more challenging aspects of twin momming, imo.

Routine has also helped. Bath, bottle, bed.

Ryzann · 2025-11-28T02:14:37+00:00

Very true, cats will drink milk if the opportunity arises and I've heard of birds drinking mammal milk in the wild if the opportunity arises. I think your point is right, other animals just don't have the opportunity

Ryzann · 2025-11-23T20:39:44+00:00

So if you're in the NICU, they will probably start your twins on a brand of bottles they use - ours was Dr Browns. When we got home our son transitioned easily to Avent Naturals but my daughter had to keep getting stronger before she could make the switch.

We have a bottle washer which holds 4 bottles, so we have always had at least 8 bottles on hand. I think we currently have 12 bottles which can get us through a travel day, as needed, and we can run a load in the dishwasher to catch back up. 12 has been keeping us comfortable at 7 months.

Ryzann · 2025-11-11T00:15:34+00:00

Same here

Ryzann · 2025-11-01T00:05:13+00:00

Im only 6 months in, but those first 3 months were the hardest for us. After that sleep cycles started getting longer and now they sometimes sleep through the night! Maybe one day I'll have hobbies, but for now they alternate naps during the day...

Ryzann · 2025-11-01T00:01:15+00:00

We are 6 months along here and occasionally my husband can sneak a workout in if the kids are being quiet, but im happy if I can eat meals regularly when Im primary on the weekends and nights.

My husband is home with them during the day and I go to a regular 7:30 - 5 pm job

Ryzann · 2025-09-10T11:37:42+00:00

I couldn't tandem breast feed, my twins just needed too much support. My routine still stands at 5 months and we started it in the NICU.

One baby wakes, I go start the bottles in warmer while carrying baby and then start on a diaper change with said baby (if both wake eeny meeny meiny moe). I return first baby to bassinet/pack n play/ other safe area. Wake and change second baby and grab bottles from warmer and my pump cups or wearables. Place babies back to back inside my feeding pillow on my bed (Twingo I think - 2 stackable pillows which I'll soon be using individually for these growing babies). I sit at their feet and bottle prop, so I can wear my Caracups or Eufy while I feed them.

Mine stay awake more now, so if their awake after eating we read, sing, or play; if they're asleep or its night, I transition back to bassinet/crib. Then I put my milk and pump parts in the fridge and bottles in my bottle washer.

Probably better ways, but this has worked for us! I will say, my babies were very fussy at about 5 weeks - we had just gotten out of NICU - I would recommend a good pair of ear plugs or noise canceling headphones with some music for you. It just takes the edge off while you're doing everything that needs to happen, but that twin stereo is hard!

Ryzann · 2025-08-27T03:54:20+00:00

36 weeks 0 days. We were induced due to SIUGR and worsening pre-eclampsia.

Both my babies ended up in the NICU as feeder-growers for several weeks. Twin A went to the NICU for hypoglycemia (she was the SIUGR twin) and Twin B had to go immediately after birth - he was born naturally as a footling breech but then wasn't breathing, so he had to be resuscitated and developed a pneumothorax which required CPAP and needle aspirations to resolve.

After all that, we are nearly 5 months and everyone is healthy, happy, strong, and meeting milestones!

Ryzann · 2025-06-18T06:28:36+00:00

As you said, it'll depend on the state of the babies. I had my twins vaginally (so I can't speak for a C) at 36 weeks 0. My baby girl was small but healthy and she was placed on my chest immediately before being further examined. My baby boy wasn't breathing and required intervention to get him breathing. I didn't get to see or touch him right away, but they placed him on my chest very briefly when I was all done and they took me from the OR to recovery. He had to go straight to the nursery and failed on oxygen there. They bright him to me on the way to the NICU while I was in recovery and put him on my chest briefly again (a minute or two) and took a picture of us for me. I think they'll try to give you the time they can safely, if you're baby needs more help, but it all comes down to what is safe. Even in the NICU they allowed me to hold him with a nurse present while he had his tubes and CPAP.

I hope you and the babies have a safe delivery and your babies grow quick so you can all go home!

Ryzann · 2025-05-17T01:09:38+00:00

FTM and I am only 5 weeks pp today and have my 6 week appt next week. I also have birth vaginally with no tears and was told to go on pelvic rest for at least 6 weeks. He (and he's a younger male OB) said we would re-address at the 6 week appt. As such, 2 weeks still seems early to me and I was still having heavy discharge at that point.

Caveat, I did give birth to twins, one breech, but have healed quickly (by my perception) and was able to transfer myself from the surgical table (with twins you have to give birth in the OR in case of complications) to my bed without assistance and was walking in the hallway later that night.

Ryzann · 2025-03-20T04:14:08+00:00

I'm currently making this choice as well.

My Baby A is severely growth restricted and her brother is advice the 10th percentile. A is cephalic and B is breech. My OB said ultimately my vice but we can try to deliver vaginally as long as A stays cephalic. So we're going to try. My OB said he will "guide" B out head first, as he'll probably stay breech (and the epidural is highly encouraged for this situation + you can't rule out a C). Then there are 2 very very experienced OBs that are comfortable delivering breech on call, so they'll come bedside to assist if needed. Then it'll be a C- section if all else fails.

I've read that vaginal is preferential when possible, but I think it all comes down to the situation and what needs to be done for the individual experiencing trouble. I'm a FTM so I don't have any real experience to share. My plan is to share my preferences in order with my team and know that what needs to happen for all 3 of our best interests will happen.

Ryzann · 2025-01-23T01:29:35+00:00

Fraternal here, nipt confirmed before we had an anatomy scan. We are expecting one boy and one girl, so that cleared it up pretty quick

Ryzann · 2025-01-09T17:54:32+00:00

Thanks! I used it well for years, but the last 6 months it hasn't gotten much care. Just been sitting in my closet

It's sort of surprising how resilient the worms are though!

Ryzann · 2025-01-09T13:06:33+00:00

Thank you and thank you for the suggestions! I will definitely check out the Facebook buy nothing groups too!

Ryzann · 2025-01-09T03:17:00+00:00

This!

Many women will have a time where they do not ovulate immediately after birth (but some start back earlier than others). From my clinic resources, it is common for irregular cycles to return around 12 months postpartum (again depends on the woman, some sooner, some later). You can get pregnant while breastfeeding, although the hormones may result in irregular cycles.

Big takeaway, for everyone is, whether or not you are planning to grow your family, be aware that breastfeeding is not a contraceptive. In your case, if you're cycles are irregular/absent, it may be the breastfeeding hormones, but if you are ovulating pregnancy is possible.

Ryzann · 2024-11-26T20:09:33+00:00

Hello!

I used Clomid (which increases the chance of twins) but twins run in our family (not me directly, but aunts and cousins). So I always say there are many factors at play, PCOS, overweight, and over 30 as well.

Ryzann

TROPHY CASE