We're Having Twins!

[ginghamkim]

Hi!

Just found out last week at 20 week ultrasound that we are having another boy and a girl! Whew!

Any advice? Do I need more high protein foods? Help!

Thanks,

Kim

[Ursa Major]

Here is my advice: Make what you eat count, meaning no junk (or just as an occasional treat). Also, eat, eat, eat. My oldest daughter has twins (they will be six in two weeks, a boy and a girl). Her midwife told her when she was pregnant, that most of the time twins come early and weigh only around five pounds because their mothers don't eat enough, and so the babies have to come, or they will starve.

My daughter (who is 5'6" and never manages to weigh more than 120 pounds) ate small amounts from the time she got up until she went to bed for the duration of her pregnancy, besides her regular meals. She delivered them full term, both weighing over seven pounds (together they were exactly 15 pounds).

Make very sure you get enough vitamins, and don't forget the extremely important folic acid.

Get plenty of rest, it is hard work for your body to make TWO babies!

And yes, you may want to make sure you get enough protein and saturated fat, as that is very important for your babies brain development.

Oh, and congratulations, it is exciting to have twins!

[jerseyangel]

Can't think of anything to add to Ursa's advice, but I wanted to say congratulations!

[HiDee]

And yes, you may want to make sure you get enough protein and saturated fat, as that is very important for your babies brain development.

Do you mean UNsaturated fats? Aren't saturated fats the bad kind?

I eat hot cereal almost every morning with a couple tablespoons of ground flax seed added for the fiber and omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids which, as Ursa said are good for the brain development. I also have an egg for protein (you can also buy eggs with the omega-3 in them) and then I eat a lot of snacks (always a little protein in my snacks too - nuts, milk, cheese) throughout the day, again as Ursa suggested. My main thing is to have a small snack every few hours or I get sick and a high protein snack before bed so that I can make it through the night and not wake up nauseated and throwing up (which still happens for me even 30 weeks along if I don't eat enough protein and such).

Another suggestion, I've started using a belly support belt and it helps a lot with back pain and leg pain. You're probably not too big yet but I imagine you will be with twins! When my sister was pregnant, her doctor wrote a prescription for a support belt and support/compression pantyhose (she is on her feet a lot as a teacher) so that her insurance would pay for them. I've found pelvic tilts help me with my lower back pain as well, I'm just not as diligent about doing them every day !

Also, I try to take a daily walk for energy and later as my toddler is napping I take time to put my feet up and rest which is also very helpful.

Good luck!

[Ursa Major]

Do you mean UNsaturated fats? Aren't saturated fats the bad kind?

No, I mean saturated fat. It is NOT bad for you in the least! It has been proven many times over that it is extremely unhealthy to only eat vegetable fats, you set yourself up for cancer if that is all you get.

Every cell in our bodies needs saturated fat to function. It has been shown that diets low in saturated fat will cause colon cancer (in men primarily) and breast cancer! Plus, low fat diets CAUSE heart attacks, rather than prevent them.

Besides, what most people don't know is, that the fat in meat turns almost completely to monounsaturated fat during cooking, which is the same kind of fat as olive oil!

The fat that is deadly is hydrogenated fat and should be avoided like the plague it is. And also, almost all oils you buy in the supermarket are rancid and unhealthy as a result.

Cold pressed olive oil is great for salads, but terrible for cooking, as it turns toxic when heated. A fabulous saturated fat, that is one of the healthiest fats on earth is cold pressed, non-hydrogenated coconut oil.

The support belt is a great idea, and my daughter had that as well. Otherwise you may end up with a hernia.

[HiDee]

Thanks for the info on fats! I'm glad to know I'm going to be alright eating 3 servings (sometimes more since I'm pregnant and they are a good source of protein and iron) a day of meat with all its saturated fatness.

[ginghamkim]

Thanks Ursa and HiDee for the advice. I've noticed that since I found out about the twins, I have given myself permission to (1) feel extremely pregnant (2) eat when I'm hungry which has considerably diminished my nausea and (3) put my feet up (as long as my 2 1/2 year old allows it).

Keep the advice coming. I need help from the trenches...what is the simpliest way to get the nursery ready (low stress). Bottle or breast? How do you go to the grocery?

Love this forum,

Kim

P.S. Enjoyed apple buckwheat pancakes and 1 free-range fried egg at 9:00pm tonight!!!! Only time I can get away with it.

[Ursa Major]

Thanks Ursa and HiDee for the advice. I've noticed that since I found out about the twins, I have given myself permission to (1) feel extremely pregnant (2) eat when I'm hungry which has considerably diminished my nausea and (3) put my feet up (as long as my 2 1/2 year old allows it).

Keep the advice coming. I need help from the trenches...what is the simpliest way to get the nursery ready (low stress). Bottle or breast? How do you go to the grocery?

Love this forum,

Kim

P.S. Enjoyed apple buckwheat pancakes and 1 free-range fried egg at 9:00pm tonight!!!! Only time I can get away with it.

Breastfeeding is always best for the babies. My daughter breastfed her twins for over a year, and didn't give them any solids until they were seven months old. I have even heard of a woman who exclusively breastfed triplets!

My daughter would feed the babies at the same time, it is called 'tandem feeding'. Make sure you see a lactation specialist to learn how.

You try to go grocery shopping without the babies if you can, or have your husband go. Hire a teenager for an hour in the afternoon when your toddler is napping, feed those babies and leave immediately.

I've seen shopping carts with two baby seats before, but most stores wouldn't have those. I can't imagine going shopping with a twin stroller and a toddler as well!

My daughter (who had a 25 month old when the twins came) would go shopping with her husband on Saturdays only. Little Emily and one of the babies would be in the twin stroller, and the other baby in a sling, while my son-in-law would push the shopping cart.

What do you expect to have in the nursery? Will you have the babies in bassinets in your bedroom for the first few months, so you hear them and can feed them in bed (I would never have considered actually getting up in the middle of the night, I'd put the baby in bed with me and dozed while the baby drank, and changed the diaper right on the bed).

[blueeyedmanda]

Just wanted to say congrats on the twins!

[ItchyMeredith]

Congrats! That is so exciting!!!!

Check out the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper. It is like a bassinet but it is attached to your bed. I used one for both of my babies in the first months. There is a pic of twins too!

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[fedora]

congradulations

I have a boy/girl set of twins. They are 7 years old. I had a 3 year old son when they were born.

Eat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read in an expert's book on multiple pregnancies that twins come early becuase they are hungry. It said by 24 weeks to gain 24 pounds. I did. I went full term(3 days over actually). My son was 8.5 pounds and my daughter was 7 pounds.

Oil your belly. Order an over the shoulder belly support(make sure it goes over the shoulders). Read about twins written by parents of twins. They know lots of tricks.

Get your protein and iron. I ate lots of spinach, took florivital(it is gluten free liquid iron and vit B supplement), peanut butter, eggs, beans, cheese*(spanish omelots yum), powder protein shakes. beets, beet juice, carrot juice.

I nursed them till they were two.

Do not hesitate to write me with any questions.

take care

[ginghamkim]

Hi!

Just wanted to give an update.

Born September 29th, 2008 at 37 weeks:

Samantha Claire - 6# 3.5oz, 20" long

Nicholas Isaac - 6# 0.5oz, 18.5" long

Healthy beautiful babies! Thanks everyone for your advice and prayers.

Kim

[lizard00]

Hi!

Just wanted to give an update.

Born September 29th, 2008 at 37 weeks:

Samantha Claire - 6# 3.5oz, 20" long

Nicholas Isaac - 6# 0.5oz, 18.5" long

Healthy beautiful babies! Thanks everyone for your advice and prayers.

Kim

Congratulations!!!

[jerseyangel]

Oh Kim, how wonderful!! Congratulations

What beautiful names, too!

[Darn210]

Fantastic!!!! Congratulations!!!

[irish]

Kim,

Congratulations to you.

Loretta

[fedora]

congradulations,

you made it to 37 weeks and they are good sizes too

Hope you get some rest and enjoy those babies

[Mom2Twins]

Hi, I haven't read the entire post, but just wanted to let you know (as my name implies) that I have twins, too. A boy and a girl, 15 months old. If you have any questions, feel free to send me a message! Having twin babies is HARD work.

Congrats!!!