Question for Parents of Twins

Anonymous
This is probably rather dumb, but are there any pediatricians that specialize in treating twins? Would there be any twin-specific issues that would be important to ask potential pediatricians about when we are interviewing them? Any other twin mom searching for a pediatrician advice?
Anonymous
Not a dumb question. Actually, it can be helpful to see a pediatrician who sees a lot of multiples because they may be more able to advise you on any possible premie issues, questions of whether they should be separated in class, etc. I started with pediatrician that saw a lot of twins (and singletons) but ultimately was more wowed by one of his colleagues from the same practice. I dont' think she has as much twin experience. So, ultimately I'd find the best dr you can but if it's someone with multiples experience, there is an advantage.
Anonymous
Thanks, I was worried I was being neurotic! Does anyone know any area pediatricians (preferably in NOVA) that have experience with multiples?
Anonymous
We see Dr. Halpin at Northern Virginia Peds and have done so for 5 years. My twins were preemies (33 weekers) and she was amazing with them seeing them weekly for a month after hospital release, and then monthly until they were 7 months old. I cannot say enough good things about her. I'm not sure if she is taking new patients, but if not we also love Dr. Baldrate in the practice.

Best of luck and if you have not done so already, join a multiples club (NVPOM, FCMOM). They were a lifesaver for me the first 2 years and beyond!
Anonymous
Mine were born at 35 weeks and so while they were small, we never had any preemie issues. I can't think of any other medical reasons why the care of twins would be different from that of a singleton. There are some social issues when they get a bit older that come from having two at one (controlling the fighting, encouraging sharing, etc) that you might turn to a ped. for advice on but I can't imagine these are any different with any 2 closely spaced siblings.
Plus in this area (lots of older mothers, lots of fertility clinics) any pediatrician will see LOTS of twins. There are simply lots of them around! I'm amazed by how many sets we now know and how many we run into on a daily basis.


Anonymous
I agree w/poster who mentioned that most doctors these days will end up seeing lots of twins. I haven't come across any ped who specializes in twins, but the practice that we go to (Children's Peds) in DC and our Dr (Dr. Kaplan) seem to have lots of twins in their practice. One consideration is that you might have a preemi, but they will be cared by a specialist in the NICU before they are released at a point where a normal ped is fine with caring for them. We're only at 9 months but have of yet haven't run into any issues that would require a twin ped specialist Best wishes. Having twins has been very fun (admittedly exhausting as well, but I wouldn't trade it for the world).
Anonymous
My kids weren't preemies (37 weeks) and had no health issues. While our pediatrician had certainly worked with other multiples, it wasn't a deciding factor.

And honestly, now that I've lived through twin infants and twin toddlers, no one (including a pediatrician) really understands parenting twins unless they have been there/done that. That is why parents of multiples groups are so important. Other parents who REALLY understand.
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