When you see those 2 heartbeats on the sonogram, first embrace the joy and adventure of twins. So get ready, get ready, get ready. Organizing a baby nurse, having all the equipment ready before you need it, and gaining working knowledge of infant health issues before you find yourself in a red alert situation will only make your family’s life easier when those little packages arrive. .

Arrange adequate rest in the first weeks at home from the hospital- Conventional wisdom teaches new mothers to “sleep when the baby sleeps.” For twin moms and dads, particularly those with other children, this is not an option. Enlist friends, family, and neighbors to watch the twins for even a few hours a day, so you can rest.

Night sitters, or nannies, provide the vital service of allowing mothers to recover from the stress of “double birth.” By caring for babies at night, a nanny allows a mother to get the deep, restful sleep her body needs to stay healthy. For new parents, this dream is also obviously crucial. Older siblings who wake up at night adjusting to new babies also benefit from a night nurse, as it allows mother and father to be available to comfort the older child.

Stock up on diapers, wipes and Vaseline- Stock the house with size 1, newborn, and preemie diapers. Don’t wait until your babies outgrow without a diaper to buy the next size. Having the next size ready will make one less emergency trip to the store and minimize the masses. The average newborn feeds 8 times per 24-hour period. That means a minimum of 16 diaper changes a day for your twins! If we add accidents at the changing table to the equation, there are countless wet wipes, vaseline bottles… and 1,500 diapers in the first 3 months of life. Say it loud. One thousand. Five hundred. diapers

Buy straws- You will no longer be able to eat or drink with 2 hands. It sounds silly, but get plenty of straws for your water, protein shakes, and coffee. While you’re at it, drink plenty of water, protein shakes, and coffee.

Get the babies on the same schedule– While feeding and sleeping schedules can be erratic the first few weeks home from the hospital, do your best to keep those little ones on the same schedule. When one wakes up to eat, give milk to the other as well. When one awakens, it awakens the other. After 1-2 weeks, babies will synchronize sleeping and eating.

Learn About Baby Tummy Problems- Spitting up, gastroesophageal reflux, and gas are extremely common in babies. Know the symptoms of each one. Then decide how you would like to treat them if you notice symptoms. Of course, you’ll want to talk to your pediatrician about tummy problems, but as we all know, babies often need more help after hours. There are many over-the-counter remedies such as gas drops, probiotics, and gripe water that help your baby’s digestion and may provide temporary relief.

Since twins are almost always born before their due date, anticipating your family’s needs ahead of time is an easy tool to make your first few weeks home from the hospital as smooth as possible. Arranging an overnight baby nurse is perhaps the most important preparation, as adequate sleep allows the mother to recuperate and the whole family to function at its best.