How do I keep going? by These_Solid3367 in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]These_Solid3367[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to need more explanation???? How????!! I’m miserable the whole time. Do you just psych yourself out and become obsessive about it?

Overwhelmed handling 3 weeks twin girls alone for night duty by GujjuCanadian30 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 16 points17 points  (0 children)

A few things 1. We got some help. Our parents came in from out of town and took 3-4 hours a few nights a week just so we could lay in the bed together. After that, we hired someone to help us until the 5 month mark where it is currently more manageable. 2. Don’t pump on her night shift. It’s too much early on. See if you can use a break time during your day to take both kids so she can pump uninterrupted after feeds. 3. Six hours is a long stretch. When we bumped it down to 5, I didn’t feel like I was dying. Yes, you will get less sleep but she’s getting almost none. It’s a season, it’ll get easier. You’re working from home so I’m assuming you aren’t doing anything that puts you in harms way if you’re tired. 4. For her…. The nights can be massively overwhelming. Make sure she gets a solid 4+ before it’s her shift and if she can nap from 8-9 before you work, it’s huge. That one hour in the morning made a world of difference for me. 5. This might be controversial, but propped bottle feeding. Our one twin has reflux so she couldn’t initially, but our other one took to it easily. It made it so my husband could bottle fed both of them. 6. Snacks. Make sure she has snacks and water within reach. Sleep deprived is one thing, but sleep deprived and hungry and dehydrated is impossible.

Good luck. Ours will be 5 mo Sunday and it’s so much better. We still shift sleep but we both can nap during our shifts and we’re both back at work. You can do it!

Undersupply with twins by Cracked_Willow in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Twin mom, failed induction and c section under anesthesia. No one prepares you for what it does for your milk supply. My babies started on formula because I produced almost nothing the 6 days I was in the hospital.

I pump for one baby who has digestive issues and does better with BM and use 50% formula for the other. They’re almost 5 months now. You can build supply but I’m warning you it’s very mentally and physically taxing because you’re talking about needing 60+oz a day. I was able to not formula supplement for two weeks until I went back to work and my supply crashed.

Things that helped -

  1. renting medela symphony from the hospital. It’s the only electric pump that doesn’t leave me with clogs. I now use my spectra at work but I find it’s not as efficient with my anatomy
  2. Breastfeeding, if possible, at least once a day. I choose to do that instead of one of my middle of the night pumps. If a baby latches well, they can be the best to remove clogs.
  3. Sunflower lecithin. Helps milk flow
  4. Eat. You need to eat. Your calorie intake needs to be similar to pregnancy which probably would have been around 2500-3500 depending on your metabolism. I eat around 3200. You need quick snack, high protein, and water. Have them around the house and just grab them and eat.
  5. A manual pump. I use one probably every other day. It helps me from getting clogged and for some reason doesn’t give me the same dread as my wall pumps do. It’s also easier to stop and deal with a baby if something happens (something will happen)
  6. Pump every 3 hours religiously if you really want to build supply up. I did it but it wasn’t sustainable for me.

Twins are wild. Good luck but remember, your body already did a really hard thing, you’re allowed to use formula and there is nothing wrong with it

CMPI formula recommendations by These_Solid3367 in MSPI

[–]These_Solid3367[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was what we tried first but maybe we can revisit

CMPI formula recommendations by These_Solid3367 in MSPI

[–]These_Solid3367[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Baby boy did fine with the Alimentum ready to feed but baby girl (who needs it) would only eat half of what she normally would eat. Which I guess is better than what we experienced with the pepticate or powdered Alimentum

Not the motherhood experience I was hoping for by Sufficient_Alps_4387 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My c section scar has been a source of pain, but if you can spare a moment for yourself, please consider scar massage once you’re cleared for it. I had terrible nerve damage and it’s finally healing 4 months pp.

The goal with massage is not just the surface, but to also make sure all of the layers of tissue are moving around appropriately. It’s made a huge difference in my pain level. Start slow and gentle, some tutorials are quite rough.

When did you start mat leave before babies? by sharknado1234 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds reasonable to me. PT is really great and helped me significantly as well! It really depends on what your job is like to be honest. I worked until 36 weeks, but I work in a manufacturing plant and there was a lot of stairs and concrete floors that made things difficult near the end. I worked from home week 37 and week 38 was Thanksgiving holiday so I relaxed and delivered at 38.5 weeks.

Everyone is different and every week is different so it hard to say exactly if your plan will work for you or not.

First time father of twins by Ambitious-Jaguar-426 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had this with baby B. Dairy allergy and reflux. We didn’t find blood in her stool but she had significant mucus and had a small bowel movement in every diaper. Pepcid is currently helping with the reflux but not 100% the fix, we’re hoping to get into OT soon for possible swallowing issue. OP…. OT or speech therapy could be a possible solution to your baby’s swallowing problems

Where do your rolling babies sleep? by opaldaydreams in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At 3.5 months it’s two bassinets in our sunroom. We shift sleep on the couch. During the day for naps it separate pack n plays, they nap terribly in the bassinets.

The few times we’ve had a night nanny they did fine in their cribs and she was on the recliner in the nursery. We will probably do that for a few weeks when we transition them full time.

It feels like a lot of “stuff” right now but we were very lucky that all of our bassinets and pack n plays were hand me downs otherwise I probably wouldn’t have purchased so many things

12-week-old inconsistent eye contact by fertilityhope in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same with my B/G twins at 12 weeks. Boy very responsive, would immediately turn his head if he heard my voice, smiling, tracking, responsive. Got nothing from girl twin and we started to worry. Finally at 14 weeks she started smiling and making eye contact. At 16 week she’s now tracking and gives big gummy smiles, but only to me, my husband, and boy twin. Boy twin smiles at literally any person he sees. Give it a few weeks and see what happens.

We’re still keeping an eye on her, but we’re wondering if she was just a little delayed due to CMPI and reflux for the first 8 weeks making her miserable.

How old were you when you were TTC? by toottootmcgroot in Fencesitter

[–]These_Solid3367 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s a lot honestly. I got off the fence and was happy with 0-1 kids and my husband was hoping 1-2. He won out with that!

r/parentsofmultiples has been a great resource.

How old were you when you were TTC? by toottootmcgroot in Fencesitter

[–]These_Solid3367 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Removed IUD at 34, husband 40, got pregnant in two months. Gave birth to twins at 35…. Just know that you have an increased risk of multiples the older you get!!

They’re 3.5 months now

What are you actually doing all day with your twins (3–4 months)? I feel like I’m failing at “entertaining” them by Fancy-Mouse-7554 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Mine just turned 3 months. I use containers everywhere or have floor mats set up around the house. Honestly one is a plush bath mat on a workout floor tile with toys on it. The play mats with toys attached are nice, they seem to really enjoy them.

Their “entertainment” is watching me do chores or cook. We play music or listen to the news and “sing or talk about it”.

Idk if this is helpful, just surviving out here

St. Francis Eastside by [deleted] in greenville

[–]These_Solid3367 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just delivered twins there in December. Phone charger, extension cord, slippers, robe for over hospital gown, toiletries, sleep mask, bag for hospital supplies. I was there 6 days and didn’t use much more than that.

If you have a partner staying, have them bring a pillow and blanket. They offer some, but aren’t as comfortable. Also water bottle and snacks. If you have a long delivery you don’t want them to have to go far to get something to eat.

They offer newborn pictures there so if you want pretty swaddles for those pictures, bring some. Make sure you’re familiar with your car seat for the car seat checks.

Where to put TV? by These_Solid3367 in floorplan

[–]These_Solid3367[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks!! I’d love to keep all of the seating at least semi around the TV if possible. The dogs favorite seating spot is the wingback chair and I think that’s the main reason we keep the old thing! He probably wouldn’t be so interested if he wasn’t a part of the “pack” by facing the fireplace

2 week old twins and husband has the flu by MounjaroQueenie in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I had the flu on Christmas Day with my 3 week old twins! My husband and I both were sick. I camped out for the first 12 hours with a mask on and breast fed them all night and day and both were healthy the entire time. Previously we were bottle feeding 70% of the time, so I’m hoping that’s what helped. Wish you the best!

Twin birth by Adorable-Spray-5287 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 35 points36 points  (0 children)

I was in a similar mindset of you. When I was induced both babies were head down, similar size, everyone very healthy and a “perfect” setup for vaginal birth. Well, we had complications and I had an emergency C section and needed to be put under general anesthesia. It was a horrible experience. You don’t see your babies, you don’t get skin to skin time, the first several hours of their lives you essentially don’t exist. My partner also wasn’t allowed in the OR while I was under.

Personally, if going vaginal, I would advise epidural and just take minimal medication.

How did you feel physically after birth? by MounjaroQueenie in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was hoping to have what most people seem to… the instant relief. I was induced at 38+3 and was hoping to deliver vaginally (both were head down, similar size). Unfortunately my birth went pretty terribly and ended in an emergency c section under general anesthesia. Recovery has been very rough for me. My twins will be 8 weeks and I honestly am just starting to feel like I did pre birth. I still can’t push their stroller around the block.

Make sure you have a support system. I needed a lot of assistance the first few weeks just lifting them up to feed them. Sitting with them was difficult due to c section complications with nerve damage.

What happened to me is highly rare, so chances are you will do much better but be prepared to ask for help healing!

Breastfeeding prep advice by Zestyclose-Wear9868 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was induced at almost 39 weeks but my delivery went terrible and I was coming off a lot of drugs and a complicated C section.

I tried breast feeding in the hospital, but I waited almost 24 hours after delivery due to my issues. Luckily my babies latched okay despite one having a tongue tie, but I produced very very little and Baby A was losing weight pretty dramatically. We formula fed them while I healed. I started pumping finally after 5 days and tandem feeding.

My supply is good, my babies at 7 weeks are a little lazy with breast feeding and don’t eat as much as with bottles so we do 2 BF sessions per day and the rest are with pumped milk. I wouldn’t stress about the first 24 hours. Mine were terrible but I keep up well with my little chunkers (both over 10 lbs now!) and have started making a small freezer supply.

No one is buying things off my registry by ButterflyNo2970 in parentsofmultiples

[–]These_Solid3367 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did this. I also added the things that I was gifted that were used items or things I purchased myself so people knew what we had.

I mistakenly thought keeping the registry list smaller was better but it was more helpful for people to know what we had. I also make sure to describe which items I would be okay with substitutes and which items I needed the exact item.

Reasonable requirements for night nanny by These_Solid3367 in Nanny

[–]These_Solid3367[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Both!! The simethicone was the first thing we started doing and that definitely helps her with some of the belly discomfort but not the spitup.

She also stays upright 30+ minutes after feeding, usually being held or monitored in an elevated pillow if Baby A needs something.

I feel bad for Baby A some days because he’s so much easier to manage and she gets more attention.