Having twins can be an exciting time for you. While twins bring special joys, caringfor more than one baby at a time can cause considerable emotional, physical andfinancial stress on a family. You may often find yourself overwhelmed, stressed,fatigued and depressed at times.
From nappy changes to breastfeeding, soothing the babies to sleep, each routinemay seem an uphill task for you in the initial stages.
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Yet despite of all the challenges,handling twins may be less difficultthan you think through a little patience and determination. You willsoon get the hang of life with your twins. So enjoy the experience ofnew life, and do not let the challenges and responsibilitiesover shadow your happiness.
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Feeding your twins
Twins can be either breast- orbottle-fed successfully. However, it is a good idea to breastfeed yourbabies as the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous. Breast milk is theideal baby food and provides the exact nutrients that your babies need.
Mostwomen can breastfeed twins as increased demand actually creates anincreased supply of milk. That means, the more your babies nurse, themore milk you produce. | 
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You can breastfeed your babies at the same but it may be a littlechallenging int he beginning. This will help to get your babies on afeeding schedule and meant that you are not constantly feeding them.
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You need to know some basic positions to help nurse your babies either two at atime or singly. A twin nursing pillow, which AIDS in supporting both the babieswhile feeding, may also help.
It may also be useful to use a breast pump and store breastmilk so that your partneror other caregivers can feed your babies every once in a while to give you a break. |  |
Establishing sleep patterns- Establish a sleep routine by putting them to sleep at the same time, if at all possible.This will help them develop a healthy sleeping pattern and you will get some timeto relax..
- Follow a bedtime ritual like singing, talking, rocking, etc. so thatyour babies associate these activities with sleep. This will help them to sleepat the same time.
- Put your babies to sleep together in a same crib. Twins often hug or touch eachother and these physical contacts calm them. It is usually okay for babies to sleeptogether till they are 3 months old.
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Seeking help
Having someone to help you with the babies can be a saving grace when it comes tocaring for your twins. Accept any help from family and friends.
Do not be reluctant to look to others for a helping hand as it will make a big difference.You may think about hiring someone to help out with the housework. Try talking toyour partner how the duties of caring for the babies can be shared. |
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Taking care of yourself
To provide the best care to your babies, it is crucial to take care ofyourself. Mothers of twins are more likely to suffer from “baby blues” or “postpartumdepression” than the single mothers. You may feel a little depressed, easily upsetor worried, lose appetite or find that you cannot sleep well even when your babiesare asleep. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek your doctor’s help.
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It is best not to miss out on sleep as you will be sleeping less asyour babies require frequent feeding and care at night. So try to sleepwhenever possible. Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruitsand vegetables.
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Some dos and don’ts on parental tips for twins
Dos- Your babies may develop language skills more slowly than the singletons becauseof prematurity, birth weight or other factors. Speak and read regularly to eachbaby to help prevent the delay in language development.
- Encourage individuality. Give them distinctly different names.
- Spend time alone with each twin so that they know they are important as individualsand not just as twins.
- Try giving them their own toys and encourage sharing as they become older.
- Give your twins separate gifts and cake on their birthday.
- Unfortunately, many twins are born before their due dates. If your twins are bornpremature, be sure to maintain regular health care appointments and keep an eyeon their nutrition, development and growth.
- Expect to go on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, which is perfectly normal.In time, your emotions will begin to settle down. Be sure to find time for sleepand take every opportunity to rest.
- Talk to your partner about your feelings and problems.
- Find other parents of twins to talk with as you can get many helpful tips from them.You may also want to subscribe to books and magazines about taking care of twins.
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Don’ts- Avoid addressing them as “the twins”. Refer them by their names as it willhelp them to learn that they are different individuals. Do not pick names that rhymeor sound alike.
- Avoid dressing them alike, for the same reasons above.
- Do notmake comparisons between the twins as it may create competition between them.
- Do not forget the older siblings in the family. Try to set aside time regularlyto be alone with them.
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