As the girls reach 11 months in two weeks, I started to think back of all the trial and errors of being a new mom, what worked and did not work as a mother of twins and advice I wished I listen to rather than thinking I knew everything there was to be a mom. To the new moms, soon to be moms and veterans, this blog is for you; my top ten advice I WISH I listened to.10. Do not stop breastfeeding: Around four months, I had enough. My milk supply was low and when the girls came home, it was tough to find time to pump. I could not get five minutes in without one of the girls crying.
9. You are having twins; plan the shower early: Well, I had the shower the day after Mya was released from the NICU.
8. Start with a bassinet first, not a crib: Like most new mothers, I was very eager to have the perfect nursery. In my mind, a nursery should have a crib. If you think that your baby is going to sleep in a crib for long periods of time or even at all, you are mistaken. Babies younger than 6 months do not know how to self soothe. It is must easier and less stressful to by a bassinet and for the first couple of months; the baby can sleep in the room with you. I learned the hard way.
7. Give the baby water: My doctor was adamant of not starting the girls on water until they turned 6 months. Four months later and the girls DETEST water. It is okay to give the baby 2 oz the max before 6 months; it helps flush their system.
6. Purchase two cribs: After listening to a mother of twins who stated that her children slept in one crib with no problem, I immediately thought my girls would do the same. Oh, how wrong I was. The spent almost a month in the NICU sleeping separately and therefore was already use to that arrangement. Mya came home first and had a week of being alone in the nursery. For moms of twins, buy two cribs, better yet, purchase two bassinets. It will save you a headache and give you a couple more minutes of sleep.
5. Follow a schedule: I was very against a schedule when the girls were born but as weeks went by with Mya, especially staying up half the night, I realized a set schedule was necessary; a routine is a better word for it. Now that they are older, I do not use a schedule as much but for bedtime I do.
4. Have Bottles Prepared: In total I prepare ten bottles a day. I found a different strategies in doing so, but when the girls were younger, I had a hard time getting bottles ready; I was too tired!
3. Do not forget diapers, wipes and bottles when you go out, even if it is for five minutes: I made this mistake when I went to the mall with the girls and did not bring their baby bag. Mya took a nasty stinky and my fiance had to flag a couple with an infant down to loan us a diaper. It was too small but it did the job.
2. Do not let the baby sleep in the bed with you: There are nights that I can't get Milani out of our bed!
1. When the girls are asleep YOU SLEEP!: I used that time to watch television, do homework and relaxed not realizing that when babies are a month old; they do not sleep that long! Now the girls are 10 months, sleep through the night and take longer naps, I sleep as well...I use to before I started working.
*What is your advice?"
