Stresshead

[BecH]

Hi ladies,

I am definitely a stresser but I am finding lots of extra stresses with this twin pregnancy.
Can I ask some questions to those in the know?

Did you have home help?
In what form, a cleaner, friends and family, etc?
What did you find most useful?

My husband has a chronic medical condition and I want to get away without too much stress on him so I am wondering the best way of managing this.

Also how did older siblings cope? My daughter will be not quite 2, and she is such a beautiful (probably spoilt by family) toddler that I don't want her to feel completely neglected.

Any extra advice would be invaluable,

Thanks

[FiveInTheBed]

hey there...first up don't ask me how I have time to even turn the computer on!!! I guess you just find ways of squeezing everything in and multi tasking!!! its 2pm and the bubs are asleep, DS1 watching the wiggles and im cooking dinner!!!

The bubs have just turned 2months and its pretty full on... nappy change after nappy change feed after feed, but its gone so quick!!! My nan comes around on mondays to throw a few loads of washing in and sweep the floors for me and get a few cuddles of her great grand kids at the same time xxx Mum still works but takes Caelan for half the day up until nap time on 1 of her days off. A close friend comes around one day a week with her little one and her and caelan run wild together!!! Dad is home around 6ish (thankgod) dinner baths and bed. the day passes soooo quickly!!
On the days we are all by ourselves caelan loves helping around the house he is very gentle with the bubs ( i have a saftey gate on their nursery door though just in case) I have an auto swing from when Cae was a bubba and borrowed another from a friend, so the bubs spent their day time sleeps in them...so that we can still dance and sing and play and not have to creep around the house-the rockig sends them back off if they stir.

The first few weeks were a bit trying for all involved as caelan was very clingy and didnt want to go with any one else, but it soon settled down and now he loves showing them off and gets so excited if we pop on of them down to sit with him or share a bath... i've never told him to leave them alone or get down if we're feeding - he loves being a part of it all!!

some days the house is an absolute mess- but everyone is happy and thats the main thing!! tomorrow is another day and it can all be cleaned up then ( I love my dish washer!!)

We have a basic routine (not strictly by the clock but round about) so days are fairly the same and we all know what to expect!!

Am certain it is going to be alot more full on as they grow,so am looking forward to reading other mums posts.
good luck and try not to stress xx

[Dannielle]

Hi,

I had a few great friends that brought us dinner everyday for 2 weeks. They were a lifesaver! But another way around it would be to make and freeze dinners before the twins are due. If we didn't have the dinners made for us I honestly have no idea how we all would have managed.

My mum was and still is so helpful. Especially as only 2 months after my twins were born DD1 started school.

DD1 was 4 and a half when her twin sisters were born so older than your DD. But we bought a special doll for her from her sisters. She got it the first time she visited us in hospital after they were born. She also "helped" with her sisters. Even if she just hands you a nappy let her know how much you appreciate her help. I mind my niece and there is just over 2 years between her and my twins and they get so proud of themselves when I thank them for helping.

Oh, and other people have an awful habit of saying how cute the twins are and not even paying any attention to the older child holding onto the pram. Just make sure as soon as someone says anything about how cute they are that you straight away say how wonderful their big sister is. They will agree with you and acknowledge her and she wont realise that it was you that made them do it.

I found everyone was happier with a routine. It doesn't have to be really strict though. Also, I suggest when one wakes for a feed then wake the other one. I tried not waking them and no way did it work for us. I ended up with NO SLEEP!

My twins are just over 3 years old now so it was a while ago. Goodluck.

[BecH]

Thanks so much, sometimes it just helps to hear that others have survived. I'm sure we will too. I'll definitely take people up on some of there offers then.
Thanks again ladies,
Bec