Moms of multiples have new Mom advice for Jennifer Lopez.
Bringing home twins ain't for the faint of heart! Just ask Mom of 3-year-old twin boys, Jennifer Levinson, who's currently pregnant again with...wait for it...twins again! "The first year with twins is exhausting, overwhelming and at times, just seems like an endless marathon of changing diapers and midnight feedings," she says.
Although J.Lo can afford to hire all the help she needs, we turned to moms of multiples for help.
Twin mama Jennifer Levinson, Mom•Logic staffer and mother of
triplets Dulce, and clinical psychologist and mother of twins, Dr.
Pamela Varady have this advice for those expecting multiples:
Be Prepared! Stock up a few months in advance for the birth, as multiples are often born prematurely. Buy diapers, wipes, infant bottles and some small cans of formula, wash clothes and blankets and other clothing ahead of time and have all the baby gear purchased and assembled. You'll be scrambling enough without having to put together a crib last minute.
Create A Schedule. Develop and stick to a schedule for everything. Keep the babies on the same feeding and sleep schedule--it will allow for things to be as easy and less stressful as possible. Write down every time there is a diaper change (even how it looks), any medication given and every feeding including amount taken, time and day. This is incredibly useful to reference back to in case there's a question about one of the babies and you just can't remember who did what and when!
Ask for Help!
Having twins is a gift, but the work and stress that comes along with them can sometimes be overwhelming. Sleep deprivation and two newborns is a recipe for disaster! Let friends and family help. Schedule with your partner to be "on baby duty" at different given times
Give Yourself a Break. Realize that you may bond with them as a group before you bond to them one-on-one. Don't beat up on yourself for this.
Share the Love. It gets hard. You're only one person and you're outnumbered--sometimes you've got to put one down and pick the other one up. They demand a lot of attention!
Dulce adds, "You'll get sleep when they hit 2 years old. But all of that hard stuff doesn't matter when you look in their little faces and they both (or all) smile at you at the same time." Levinson agrees, "Twins are wonderful and amazing. Parenting twins is unlike anything you can imagine until you experience it."
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