The eighth interview in the Twinterview series is with newbie blogger, Tracey, who has started a blog called All About Twins, to compile her tips and advice on all things twin related.
The twin parenting community is really supportive and it’s always lovely to see another mama of multiples sharing her twin life hacks!
How did you feel when you first found out you were having twins?
I was completely shocked! We found out at our twelve-week scan and I honestly had no idea that there were two babies in there. I was glad I was lying down. I spent the next few days alternating between panicking and laughing hysterically.
Did you have a straightforward pregnancy?
Yes it was really straightforward. I didn’t have any morning sickness but I did feel exhausted for the full nine months. The last few months in particular were quite difficult, as twin bumps are really heavy and I had absolutely no energy at all.
I went off some food like Chinese Takeaways and couldn’t stand the smell of my perfumes. On the upside I could eat more chocolate, as the twins burned off all of my calories between them.
How was your birth experience?
My twins were both lying in a breech position so I was scheduled for an elective caesarean section. We turned up at the appointed time and several hours of hanging around trying to distract myself with a book later I had surgery and was suddenly a mother of two babies.
Elective caesarean sections are quite surreal because you turn up to hospital and suddenly have twins. Although you don’t feel anything you do hear everything that’s going on and I wasn’t prepared for how messy it would all sound! It all happened fairly quickly and afterwards I was whisked off to the recovery room and Ben (my second twin) spent that time in an incubator. We were all reunited a few hours later.
How did you cope with having twins in the early days?
The early days were definitely the most difficult; thankfully that’s the hardest it ever gets. I had to really swallow my pride and ask for help because I was physically weak after the caesarean.
It was all a bit overwhelming and I had the weeps for a few weeks which didn’t help. I also usually need lots of sleep and as everyone reading this knows you don’t get much sleep with newborn twins!
Both of our mums helped out a lot and my dad and his wife cooked us lots of lovely meals which they stuffed our freezer with – I’m still grateful!
Did/do you have an essential ‘must-have’ item and what is it?
We had a few really handy things that we found and it’s very difficult to pick just one! Digital thermometers, a back-saving changing station and Angelcare sensor monitors, to mention but a few.
But one less obvious item which turned out to be brilliant was a dedicated nappy bin. Each bin comes with its own specially designed bin liner cartridge which wraps each nappy in the lining. Amazingly it totally contains the nappy smells! That’s pretty brilliant when you consider how many nappies you go through each day. You can buy replacement cartridges in most supermarkets and shops like Mothercare.
What is the best thing about being a parent of multiples?
How much time do you have?! Twins are great fun at home and great company for each other when you go out anywhere.
They are so cute — especially when they learn to crawl and walk together — and hilarious at mealtimes. On a practical level, having twins means one routine and one set of meals to cook, one drop-off at playschool and one bedtime ritual in the evening.
They are so much fun and the greatest blessing of my life.
And the worst?
There aren’t too many downsides to being a parent of multiples once you get past those early difficult months. In those early days the sleep deprivation can drive you a bit loopy.
It can also be difficult to get out of the house with everyone so you can suffer from isolation and feel cut off from friends. This doesn’t last thankfully! It gets easier all the time as the babies grow bigger and sleep more and can start to do more for themselves.
And finally, what would your top tip be for any new — or soon to be —parent of twins?
Don’t let it get you down. Yes it’s overwhelming and exhausting in the beginning but you get through it. Hang in there, it will all get easier soon.
You can pop over to Tracey’s blog to read more about her helpful twin tips and stories — All About Twins — or follow her on Twitter.
If you have twins, triplets or more — and would like to share your experiences as a parent of multiples, in a ‘Twinterview’, please get in touch, I’d love to hear from you!
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
Great interview, makes me wish I have twins.. Now I want to read all of them :)
Aaah that’s lovely of you! Yes — they’re really worth a read — they’re all so different. Such a great collection of advice and tips for new parents of twins.
Another fab interview and so interesting! I found the early years the easiest (easier anyway) and the crawling/walking phase the hardest! Lovely interview and so good to hear other twin Mums take on life!!!!!! Jess x
Yep — I agree with you Jess. I found the early days pretty easy too — the boys were in such a great routine (almost as soon as we came out of hospital) and I spent the day breastfeeding and watching TOWIE, Made In Chelsea and Broadchurch!! I don’t get time to watch TV these days! ;)
I’m always amazed to read the twinterviews, I find the early months hard enough with one baby at a time, let alone with 2 of them! Totally agree about the nappy bins though, wouldn’t be without ours! Thanks for linking with #MaternityMondays
Thanks so much Caroline! It’s lovely that they are of interest for a non-twin mum too! Initially I thought it would be a good resource for new parents of multiples but it’s so fab that they make interesting reading for everyone else :)
I can’t imagine surviving the sleep deprivation caused by having two babies. I almost went crazy just with one. We also swear by having a dedicated nappy bin!
#twinklytuesdays
Weirdly my sleep deprivation wasn’t as bad as Tracey’s, I don’t think. My husband and I worked out a great routine between us and although it took a week or so, we usually got a decent amount of sleep. I think we’re incredibly lucky that our boys like their sleep as much as we do though ;)
Great interview. I always wanted twins, but since having M, she is hard enough!! I respect all you parents that have twins and seem so sane!!! ;-) xxx #twinklytuesday
Thanks lovely :) Personally though, I don’t think having twins is doubly hard… maybe 1 and a half times?! I take my hat off to mamas with kids of different ages — now THAT seems really hard to me! Different routines etc… at least my twins are in the same routine for everything! x
How amazing to find out you were having twins. I was convinced I was pregnant with twins this time (I wasn’t) but I would absolutely love them! I guess it’s hardest in the early days, and then when they can run in different directions and you’re torn over who to run after first! You must be having a great time with them though #twinklytuesday x
I cried when I found out I had two on board. And not sad tears either!! They were tears of joy — I was SO happy! x
Great interview, nice to meet Tracey :-) I’m always in awe of mothers who have twins, you guys are so amazing – I couldn’t do it! #twinklytuesday
Sabrina xx
Aah thanks Sabrina :) I bet you could if you were in the same boat though! Twin mums just get on with things. You just cope and learn to be very resilient and organised!! :)
What a fab interview. I always find these interviews so interesting to read. I found the early days with one baby hard enough. I don’t think I would have managed with two. But I imagine that you just get on with it because you have to. These interviews do make me yearn a little bit for twins. Shhhhh! Don’t tell Mr H. Hugs Mrs H xxxx
Thanks darling! I love reading them too! I absolutely love getting people’s answers back! So interesting and always different :)
That’s so sweet, I love what you say about having twins. I can imagine that the first few months would be really difficult. It’s wonderful how they are such great friends now. #TwinklyTuesday
Thanks for your lovely comment Becky! x
Really enjoy reading these types of posts, I am very nosey. Its interesting to read about other people lives.
Your post is positive and encouraging for parents of multiples.
I’m not sure how I would cope if I was to find out I was having twins.
#TwinklyTuesday
Me too Lianne — I’m nosy too! ;) I absolutely love reading about the experiences of other twin mums! :)
I can’t imagine how much harder it must be carrying & then taking care of twins! Let alone how much heavier when you are pregnant.
You should be so proud of yourself for giving birth to 2 beautiful children.
Congratulations :)
Very interesting read.
Thank you for sharing x
Thanks so much for your lovely comment Sarah! Yep — I can say with some conviction that twin bump is very heavy!! I did Pilates until 33 weeks of pregnancy — I think it was the only thing that kept my back in shape when I was pregnant with my the Twinkles!!
Interesting Interview! I’m a twin myself and I always said I never wanted twins but now I’m thinking it would be pretty cool! #twinklytuesday
Carolyn
Are you identical twins Carolyn or fraternal? If you’re fraternal — or non-identical — twins could possibly run in your family and you could possibly have twins yourself!! ;) It’s AMAZING having twins — I thank my lucky stars every day! x
I love meeting other twin mums! Congratulations for carrying your peanuts the full nine months and being able to leave the hospital together. That’s quite the accomplishment. I love hearing other MoMs who love the twin experience as much as I do. Certainly, there are difficult moments, but I agree, after the first few months, it becomes manageable, with twice the joy (maybe more!) of one baby.
Thanks for hosting #twinklytuesday and letting me on board!
Aah me too! I’ve so enjoyed compiling these twin mum interviews and ‘meeting’ all these fab twin mamas! Such inspiring stories and great advice for new mums (and dads) of twins. Thanks for your comment Sadia x
Another fab twinterview I am so in awe of twin parents, I found it hard with one little angel x
Thanks so much Sarah — it’s lovely to read everyone’s different experiences :) x
having food cooked is one of the best things you can do for a new mum I think! It made such a difference for me and it’s the one thing I try to do for friends/family with new babies too – one less thing to worry about xx
#twinklytuesday
I totally agree with that! Before we had our twins, my husband cooked loads of meals (he’s the chef in our house!) and put them in takeaway boxes in the freezer. It meant that we had lots of lovely home-cooked meals without having to worry about it when the twins were born! Have a hot meal when you’ve just had a baby — or two — is lovely! :)
Great interview, lovely to ‘meet’ another twin mummy sharing her tips online. I really admire the comment about not being too much that is ‘worse’ about being a twin Mum. Extra love is fab. Great tip about the changing table. Definitely an essential.
It’s so nice isn’t it, reading all about our fellow twin mums is lovely! It’s so nice to read about everyone else’s experiences xx
Another great interview, I really look forward to each new one! It can be overwhelming in those early days but it doesn’t last long. Getting people to fill out freezer with meals was probably the greatest thing for me, it was so useful! xx
Thanks lovely — me too!! ;) I think I felt most overwhelmed when my milk came in — fortunately my best had warned me about it (she told me to hug it out with Dickie!!). I don’t think it would have mattered if it was twins or a single baby; that was the single most overwhelming point for me, when I first became a mother.
Awwww, I can imagine twins are lots and lots of work in the early days and twice the fun too! =)
Weirdly, my experience is different to Tracey’s! I found it much easier when they were tiny! The hard work has definitely started since they’ve been on the move! ;)
My word! Chocolate in copious amounts?! I want in!! :-)
Lovely interview ladies xxx
HA! Its a GREAT excuse to eat chocolate!! For me, breast-feeding two babies in tandem deserved chocolate. After all, I had to keep my strength up ;)
Insightful interview … I wanted twins at the start of my pregnancy … i still can’t get my head around how those with twins cope … they obviously do though as this interview shows :-) #MaternityMondays
Well, I’ve got twins and I can say — hand on heart — it’s not as hard as I’d anticipated! I think there’s a real sense, with all the twin mums I’ve spoken to, of just ‘getting on with it’! :)
Another great interview! I’m loving reading all these different experiences of twins #MultipleMadness xxx
They’re so great aren’t they? Incredible the variety of answers you get to the same questions! Thanks for hosting pet x