Surviving Twins

Well, you might be thinking “how did I end up with twins?” or possibly “what are my chances of having more?” As I’ve been researching the statistics, I’ve found plenty of helpful, and not-so-helpful, information. Either way, it’s been pretty interesting.

Most studies have found that twins occur in about 3% of pregnancies. However, there are many factors that will increase or decrease those chances. First and foremost is genetics. If you, your mother, or grandmother is a fraternal twin, your odds are much higher. And if you’ve had 1 set of fraternal twins alrady, you chances are 4 times higher than other women of having another set; about 1 in 12. But if you have identical twins, the statistics go way down. The chances of having identical twins are about 1 in 285. Other factors I found include age, weight, fertility treatments (of course), and even nationality. It turns out Nigeria has the highest number of twins than any other country; about 1 in 22.

I found many more facts and stasticts at these websites. Check them out!

multiples.about.com - odds of having twins/increase or decrease your chances

March of dimes statistics - choose a state and the facts you want, they’ll chart it

twinsworld - fun and crazy twin facts

multiplebirths.org.uk - twins statistics in the UK

So, as I was out walking with my girls, I realized that it’s getting much harder to control them. They are just old enough to be [mostly] independent, but not quite knowledgable to be safe. They still haven’t learned to not run right out into the middle of the street. And of course, when one runs one direction, the other one goes the opposite direction. So as I was thinking about this, I remembered an entry in a twin forum I belong to. Someone had mentioned this “By my Side” safety harness. It is specifically designed for twins, with 2 harnesses that can be attached to keep kids together, or used independently. Either way, they can both be attached to handles/belt for the parent.

Now, just so you know, I don’t own one of these. I’m actually still in the debating process. I have always been against child leashes. It looks like you’re treating your child like an animal. But that was before I had children, and before I had twins… who turned 2. Some would argue that it’s better to teach your child to obey than to force them to do something. But how many 2-year-olds are obedient from the beginning? And what about when you’re in a large crowd at the zoo, carnival, Disneyland, etc? You decide. If I decide to get one, I’ll definitely be writing more about it. Until then…

Many moms of twins, for whatever reason, end up not breastfeeding 1 or both babies. And trust me, there are plenty of reasons that make it very difficult to breastfeed twins. But one of the biggest complaints is that you aren’t producing enough milk for 2 babies. While no 1 way is guarunteed to do so, here are some suggestions to help increase your breast milk supply.
1.Drink plenty of water/liquids. I’ve heard this tip from many moms and nurses. All liquids are good, but many say water is the best.
2.Try not to stress. This is, I think, a much great factor than people think. Put off unimportant projects that are weighing on your mind. Take time to relax. Sometimes that alone will stimulate letdown.
3.Watch what you eat. I haven’t found any specific foods that increase or decrease your milk supply, but there are foods that your baby might react more strongly to. Every food you eat goes straight through your breast milk, and will even sometimes flavor your milk. If the taste is too strong, they may not want to eat as much. And the less they eat, the less milk you will produce. A well-balanced, healthy diet is good for mom and babies.
4.Fenugreek. This is a medicinal herb that is supposed to increase milk supply. Although I never tried this, I’ve heard Fenugreek really does work. I’ve been told the milk might have a “maple syrup” flavor. There are also many other natural herb supplements that can help.
5.Switch breasts every feeding. Hopefully you’ve heard this already, but remember to alternate which baby gets which breast. Usually one baby is a better eater, so you want each breast to produce the same amount of milk. The more stimluation a breast gets, the more milk it will produce.
6.Pump/massage between feedings. The more you feed/pump, the more your breast “realizes” it has to produce milk. So pumping in between feedings will help encourage more milk production. When you feel you are making enough milk, slowly stop pumping as to not produce too much milk. Usually by about 2 months, your breasts will find an equilibrium, and produce the amount your babies are eating.

If you have questions/issues, a great resource is La Leche League. They provide consultants nationwide, frequently asked questions/answers, forums about breastfeeding issues, etc.

Babies ‘R Us offers a multiple births discount (as do many other stores I’ve mentioned). They give 10% off 2 or more of the same item purchased in the same order. This discount applies to furniture, bedding sets, car seats, strollers, travel yards, highchairs, swings, gates, exersaucers/walkers and backpack/carriers. Discounts may also apply to double strollers. Check out their website here for more info, or ask a store near you for more details.

It seems that every time I try to put my girls in their stroller they kick and scream. They especially hate being buckled in, because it means they’ve lost their freedom. It does help to switch the strollers I use occasionally (from a side-by-side to a tandem) because it’s a change of scenery. But I’ve found a new solution- a wagon! Now, anything new will probably hold their attention longer, so who knows when that will wear off. But, it can be great for a short stroll around the neighborhood, a walk to the park, going to school, transportation at the zoo, and even (heaven forbid) if you have a child in a cast. And I bet they’ll even like to take turns pulling each other. After all, your arms can always use a break.