When babies arrive in pairs, or more, parenting gets a lot more complicated. Lorraine McCarthy of the Irish Multiple Births Association, a mother of five-year-old twin girls, offers some tips:
Limit your visitors: If you can, limit visitors to just family in the first two weeks. Make sure all visitors bring food.
Say no: Be prepared to say no when visitors ask to pick up the babies for a cuddle. Newborns tire very quickly and too much handling can overtire them. However, if they're prepared to do a feed and change for you, that's a different story.
Say yes: Accept all offers of help, and ask for it too. Other people may not do things exactly as you would, but it will give you a much-needed break.
Sleep: Get as much sleep as you can: any chance you have, go back to bed and do not feel guilty. Sleep when the babies sleep, night or day, in the early weeks. The phone and housework can wait.
Do what works for you: It is possible to breastfeed multiples exclusively but it is more demanding than feeding a singleton. The best advice is do what works for you and enjoy your babies.
Keep notes: Keep a record of feeds and nappy changes: you can quickly get confused about which baby has done what when you are busy and sleep deprived.
Coping strategies: The first time the babies cry together is very stressful but you quickly develop strategies for coping. A sling is great for comforting one baby, leaving your hands free for another. Vibrating bouncer chairs or baby swings are also useful to have.
Join clubs: Join a local multiples club. It really does help to talk to other parents who are going through the same challenges.
For more information see imba.ie or ring the support line for parents of multiples: 01-8749056
