Coping with twins
If anybody had told me what it was like to have babies with the same demands at the same time I think I might have run away before they were born!
Nobody could ever have prepared us for the enormous task of coping with twin girls. Especially the first six months when they’d been born six weeks early with extra needs and born at such tiny weights.
By the end of our first month at home with the girls our routine I think was working well, although we felt exhausted most of the time! I mean with one baby and the constant nappies and milk etc it is hard, but double it and it’s very hard but unless you have done it nobody realises how tiring it is.
I did think we were coping quite well, but looking back now I can see cracks were starting to appear. I suppose when you’re in the middle of it you don’t see it.
I would compare it to being a hamster in a wheel just constantly on auto pilot.
Looking back I now realise nobody offered to help, but we coped. It would have been nice if somebody had just taken the pressure off us.
I remember one particular week we were both totally exhausted and by the Saturday we just needed some sleep. I have three older children and they took the girls out for a walk and I remember lying down on the bed cuddling my wife and just drifting off to sleep. It was so needed at that moment!
As time went by my wife was finding it very hard while I was at work and thankfully a family friend stepped up and offered to help once a week which was great as it took the pressure off. It was just what we needed.
There are many occasions where I felt totally exhausted. One such time I remember giving M her bedtime bottle and falling asleep on the sofa and I nearly dropping her out of my arms, but thankfully I woke up in time. It frightened the hell out of me!
Still through all of this we stuck to the routine that the special care unit had taught us and as the months passed it would eventually make our lives easier.
6 Comments
Mama Owl
January 2, 2015 at 11:29 am
I can't even imagine, as you say I know the demands a single newborn places on you (especially when caring for other children, too) so hats off to you! They are beautiful wee things 🙂
zofloya11
January 2, 2015 at 8:50 pm
I can't even properly remember Boo's first months as they were a haze of nappies, feeding and lack of sleep so I cannot imagine it doubled!
Adorable pictures =)
Emily
January 3, 2015 at 12:42 pm
It was tough, but we got through it! Thanks for linking up to the #BinkyLinky
Rachel @ Parenthood Highs and Lows
January 3, 2015 at 2:51 pm
One baby is difficult enough, twins must be so hard at times – but so worth it! #binkylinky
diaryofamumof3.com
January 4, 2015 at 10:47 pm
They are adorable. I can't imagine how tiring it is with twins. I hope this are getting easier each day. #binkylinky
kizzyandizzy
February 9, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Double the trouble but double the fun too! The haze of sleep deprivation is tough enough with one baby, many a time I have fallen asleep mid – feed. Hope you are managing to get a bit more rest now!