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Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Having twins- how much help will I need?
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Anonymous
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I am expecting twin girls in October and have been told by friends, doctors, books, the mailman, etc that I will DEFINITELY need some help the first 3-6 months after delivery. We have family covering the first few weeks, but will then need to hire some help. The question is, how much help and when? Is it better to have daytime help and if so, all day or can I get away with just a few hours? I'm pretty self-sufficient but would like to breastfeed if I can... also, money is a little on the tight side so I know full time round the clock isn't an option. To complicate things, we also have a DS (4 yo) with Autism, however he will be in school from 9-4 each day. Head spinning yet? Mine too. Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!
Thanks! |
Anonymous
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Every person has a different opinion (and frame of reference) for this question. I have 5 yo twins and made the mistake of hiring a 24 hour nurse for the first week they were home. I wish I had spread it out! I also had grandparents in the area who could pop in anytime we had a bad night (which was at least 3-4x per week during the first 2-3 months). If I had it to do all over I would do the following:
- hire a night nurse to come in as many nights a week as you can afford (if you can afford 3 that will allow you to get some solid nights sleep. If you want to nurse the night nurse can bring the babies in to you and then take them immediately and do the burping/changing diapers etc. so you can go right back to sleep.) - hire someone (or beg a friend) to do your laundry - hire a housekeeper if you don't already have one - while your son is at school (and the babies are sleeping) SLEEP as much as you can - work out a schedule with your husband for him to take one of the evening feedings and go to bed as early as you can. I expressed milk and my husband gave bottles at the midnight feeding so I could go to bed at 9 and sleep 5 or so hours. This didn't really work until the babies were about 2 months old and I was getting enough milk from pumping. - make a list of things for friends to do (grocery shopping -- PEAPOD!, pick-up and drop-off dry cleaning) and when they ask if they can do something say YES. So many people will want to come over and hold babies and truthfully that is of little help unless they allow you to take a nap while they do so. - Finally, join a multiples club in your area (FCMOM, NVPOM, MCPOM are a few in the area) and get support from other moms and dads going through the same thing. Best of luck to you! |
Anonymous
| Thanks for asking the question, my twins are due in October too! |
Anonymous
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I had a baby nurse who is very reasonable--you could try her and see if you could work out an arrangement for 24 hour care or 12 hour care--it winds up being cheaper for 24 hour care as she charges 250 for 24 care so she doesn't have to deal with subway than 12 which is I think 200. She also specializes in twins.
Jean Donaldson 301-6424619 Good luck! |
Anonymous
| OP here...Thank you thank you thank you-- this is exactly what I needed! |