https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 17:10:35 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-706402 Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:19:29 +0000 sunshineandsushi 706402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I promise, it gets better! In the beginning, its craziness and you're adjusting to soo much. I struggled with supply issues at first and had major guilt issues I was laying on myself for having to supplement. This compounded some baby blues I felt from weeks 2-4 and I felt like the fog would never lift. But it does! Around 4 weeks, I stopped crying and beating myself up about not being able to exclusively feed them breast milk. And around 6 weeks, we hit groove and I felt like I was starting to learn each of them and their cues, creating some semblence of a routine. At 7 weeks, we started taking them out in public (we decided to wait until their first round of vaccinations because of flu season and other germs since they were born in January) and that really helped make me feel normal. It was a little daunting at first to take them out by myself, but I quickly got the hang of it. Now, at 13 weeks, they are so much fun to be around and sadly I have to go back towork tomorrow! The first 6 weeks I felt almost eager to return to work because at least I knew how to do my job, whereas I didn't really feel like I knew how to take care of them as well as I knew my job. Now, I'm so sad to go back and spent this week slowly transitioning them and me into the daycare routine.</p> <p>I can't even imagine having just one baby now! Twins really are a special blessing. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-698128 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:23:48 +0000 junebuglim 698128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Things will definitely get better! I think this is about the time my adrenaline ran out also (I don't know how in the first few weeks I made a few meals and a lasagna from scratch! I don't think I would even do that now!) very early on I gave up nursing at the breast and only pumped for them.. In the middle of the night the hubs would feed them while I pumped so that I could still get some sleep. It wasn't until they were 6 weeks adjusted (so at around 11 weeks?) when they started to sleep one stretch of 6 hours at night that I started to feel better. I think that's also when they started sleeping around 7:30 so hubs and I had time to ourselves, to winddown, and time to cook/eat dinner. </p> <p>I cried a lot in the first few months. I think it's absolutely normal as a new mom and then as a new mom of twins who is barely getting enough sleep.... It's painful and sometimes feels very lonely. I remember dreading going to sleep because itd only be a matter of a few hours before we had to just wake up feed/pump and do again before startin a long day agian! But reaching out to my mom friends helped and I just had faith that things would get better... And they did and they continue to do so.</p> <p>Hang in there! Have faith! Things will get better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-698125 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 23:18:51 +0000 twoofeverything 698125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>...6) (Can't believe I forgot this...I was so wrapped up in telling you everything else I know, lol)...You are AMAZING. Your kids are AMAZING. You are a wonderful Mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-698088 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:24:14 +0000 twoofeverything 698088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all, *HUGS*.</p> <p>1) This was the time I gave up breastfeeding. I know that's not an option for many people -- originally, it wasn't for me, either. That changed when I was crying more than I was sleeping. </p> <p>2) Sleep is going to be crap for another 2-3 months. I don't tell you that to make you panic, because I know how it feels to hear it. I just want you to have a realistic timeline. If you establish routine and stick with it every night, (and at every nap), it WILL. GET. BETTER. For us, it started improving when they hit 11 pounds. I'm a firm believer that weight has a LOT to do with sleep.</p> <p>3) You won't "sleep when they sleep." You just...won't. What you CAN do is hire a housekeeper, or a mother's helper. I did both, and while I still can't sleep while there are helpers here, at least I can go upstairs and spend 15 minutes to re-group or shower. If that's not possible, try to spend at least half of each nap working/doing dishes/making bottles/whatever, and half of each nap doing something for you. Even if that's just a shower.</p> <p>4) Make your DH do 50/50 on overnight getups. It doesn't matter if he works! Being a SAHM to twin infants is freaking EXHAUSTING, and if you're trying to do it all overnight, too, it's too much. </p> <p>5) Your life will be SO MUCH BETTER in about two months. I swear. If you can stick to a sleep routine, you will be a new woman with 7-8 hours of sleep :-)</p> <p>Please let me know if you need anything. I am happy to help! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-698047 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:51:47 +0000 twinmama 698047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It gets better. The 4th Trimester is definitely the hardest. It's so hard when you can't figure out what they need or want, but sometimes you just have to hold them while you all cry, and that's ok too. Honestly, I think babies have an empathy reflex, and mine often calmed down when I cried with them.</p> <p>As weird as it sounds, I actually got my head together when DH went back to work around 6 weeks. I had been dreading it, but once it happened, I was able to get into my own groove with the kids at home.</p> <p>It really helped me in the early days to come up with little efficiencies or routines that I/we could count on. We were having trouble actually making and eating dinner....so we figured out that we could get both kids tandem nursing, DH would make dinner while they ate and maybe took a little snooze, and then we could eat (usually I did with my plate propped on the arm of the couch or nursing pillow). And my family would cut up a bunch of fruit and fill tupperware whenever they visited. So whenever I needed a boost, there was always a fruitcup in the fridge. Sometimes the little things can help you keep it together :)</p> <p>DH and I also made a big effort to get out of the house as much as possible, and I have too since he went back to work. Getting out of the house with two tiny ones is so intimidating at first, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Since yours were early and early spring babies, you may have recommendations from your doc on taking them out though. But we got takeout and ate in the park, went on walks everyday, went to starbucks, and so on. Fresh air and human interaction did wonders for me, and still do. </p> <p>I catch myself thinking every month or so, 'wow! they are so much easier than before'. There are always new challenges and different phases of exhaustion, but you learn each other better the longer you're together.</p> <p>Hang in there Mama! You are doing a fantastic job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697902 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 20:19:09 +0000 charliewhiskey 697902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A singleton mom here with a 15 week old (also the older sibling of twins). I could have written your exact post minus the twins about 10-12 weeks ago! Once he hit about 6-7 weeks, things changed almost on a dime! I had to reevaluate things and made the decision to not pump unless I absolutely had to, I changed to a sensitive formula (we were giving formula at night to get more sleep), started Colic Calm, and did bicycles religiously. </p> <p>All the screaming and crying really got to me, and I was an emotional wreck from the lack of sleep. Just know that it's a phase and will be over soon! You are doing an amazing job, and will have double the reward when they make it through this and start enjoying life more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697874 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:43:02 +0000 littlehunny 697874@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt exactly the same way- I thought I was in the movie groundhog day as well. I also cried more in the first few weeks of having them home than I did throughout my entire pregnancy. It does get better!</p> <p>I first noticed at 8 weeks I didn't feel quite so crazy &amp; lost...</p> <p>At 12 weeks they started to nap a bit better and were a bit more independent...</p> <p>Now at 20.5 weeks they are playing with toys a bit more, smiling at each other, napping for a good stretch in the afternoon, and entertaining themselves for a few moments so I can get some stuff done.</p> <p>For the first few weeks it was a good day if I kept the babies alive &amp; had a nap myself. They are still eating every 3-4 hours, but will give me a 5 hour stretch at night most nights.</p> <p>One of my kids has crazy tummy pains &amp; gas too &amp; the doctor thinks he has reflux so he is taking zantac for it.</p> <p>I have a thought a day journal &amp; I try to make an effort to write something different down every day of what the kids did or even what we had for dinner(just a sentence or so). It helped me realize that something different was happening each day even if it didn't feel like it.</p> <p>It does get better....you're going a great job! Just take it one day at a time. Big giant hugs </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697770 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:25:08 +0000 immabeetoo 697770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: lol!!</p> <p>I'm a twin auntie and ill chime in that once they're a little older they'll amuse each other and you'll pity your singleton mama friends for having to provide entertainment! I </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697767 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:22:28 +0000 Bookish 697767@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have multiples (or even a LO yet!) but I just wanted to chime in with a hug and something my Dad told me the other day. I've got twin sisters who are 6 years younger than I am, and when talking to my Dad about various baby things, he said: "You know, those first couple of months with the twins, I would have traded them for a sack of potatoes. It was really rough. But we got through it and eventually got the hang of things, and I think they turned out ok!"</p> <p>So my point is, I think you are doing great and that it WILL get better!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697604 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:16:03 +0000 matador84 697604@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it will get better!! this is how it was with my singleton also. :-) i read the moms on call book--i have the kindle app on my iphone and downloaded the book via amazon. there is a section in it for twin moms. the nurses who wrote the book each have a set of twins. i don't follow the book to a "t" but i have referenced it multiple times and have found it to be an extremely helpful book in basic baby care and helping with scheduling for later on. you can do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697600 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:09:14 +0000 pl0508 697600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: it got much better before 11 weeks ! I would say by week 8 things were way better. You're gonna get there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697593 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:05:06 +0000 Mrs. Blue 697593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@coacheswife123: Pep talks from any source are welcome. :) Glad to know by 11 weeks, there is hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697582 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:51:04 +0000 pl0508 697582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>even though i don't have multiples I felt that way when J was about that age! I felt like I was living my life in 2-3 hr increments and after he would eat I would "reset" until the next nursing session. I know having twins must be so overwhelming. You are doing a really great job and your boys are so lucky to have you. I know you wanted multiple mommy advice but I just wanted to pop in and say it DOES get better. Promise! J is 11 weeks tomorrow and he has really grown out of that and is getting used to being in this crazy world! They are just adjusting! </p> <p>Gas is the worst - we've had luck with gas drops at each feeding, gripe water when he is really fussy/stiff/arching his back, and daily probiotic drops! As they get older and mature more that will ease up too, though! </p> <p>Hugs, mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/multiples-mamas-tell-me-about-your-first-few-months-need-a-pep-talk#post-697574 Sun, 07 Apr 2013 15:42:24 +0000 Mrs. Blue 697574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E &amp; F will be 4 weeks tomorrow, and yesterday was my actual due date, so their adjusted age is basically zero. The first three weeks were pretty good. I don't know if it was adrenaline, new mommy hormones, or that they were still very sleepy newborns. The last week, they've become fussy all the time. Part of it is probably them "waking up" more now that they are a few weeks older and the other part is that I think their little digestive systems aren't quite up to speed because they spit up, stiffen up like they are in pain, etc. after what seems like most feeding. We are pretty much on a schedule because they were on one in NICU and we've mostly stuck with it. But, by the time I get done BFing, supplementing, pumping, changing diapers, and getting both boys to sleep, I have pretty much zero sleep time before the next go round. Our ped wants us to keep waking them up for feedings for now because they are still pretty small--gaining weight and doing well, but they are still under 7 &amp; 6 pounds respectively.</p> <p>I have lots of help, but the last few days I'm just starting to feel like everything is out of control, and I'm crying all the time. I'm exhausted, feel like a terrible mother because I can't make them happy or figure out how to fix their tummy pains and it breaks my heart to feel like I'm doing something that's making them feel badly, and last, I feel like I'm living the movie Groundhog Day only my life just recycles every two amd a half to three hours. I'm so in love with them, but I'd like some hope that this stage won't go on forever. :)</p> <p>What were your first few months like with multiples? When did it start getting a little bit easier? </p>