Raising Multiples

I have had the privilege of being a mother to identical twins for the past three years. It is hard to explain what it's like to give birth to two beautiful babies that look almost exactly alike. They both require the exact amount of love and attention. Neither can understand why they have to share their parents with the other.

I found out I was pregnant with twin girls after one round of IVF. I was shocked and relieved. I didn't know what to expect and could not have prepared for the adventure that lie ahead.

Raising Multiples is a unique experience and I am honored to have it.

Our home has never known the cry of a single child. My first born is head strong and very demanding she made me a first time mother. One minute later her sister arrived and made us an instant family of four.

Our life is an adventure. Our daughters share parents, a room, clothes, diapers, and toys but they definitely do not share personalities. I almost forget how similar they look until it is pointed out by strangers.

I am glad I had twins before my singleton. The sleepless nights, endless feedings and diaper changes were our normalcy. We had no other baby to compare them to. How did we survive the first few months? How do I survive 24 hours alone with twin toddlers?

Twice the stress Twice the Tears Twice the Joy

Our twin daughters were born nine weeks early. They were little but very healthy. Sofia, my youngest by one minute and the smaller of the two didn't have the strength to eat after a few days. She was given a feeding tube. It was heartbreaking. I wanted to hold them. I missed them so much the first few nights. Thankfully I was allowed to live at the hospital while they were in the NICU

Do your research people will tell you not to look things up on the internet but knowledge is power

Care for your babies don't be afraid to touch them Do everything the nurses will allow you to do. Feed them hold them bathe them

Know there will be set backs there will be mistakes Sofia got down to 3 lbs. before they placed her feeding tube. They both also suffered from sleep apnea and bradycardia. We found their isolate turned off one night because it had been moved and the nurses forgot to plug it back in. A nursing student didn't know how to stimulate my Sofia one evening and let her oxygen levels drop very low.

Take a time out go home to take a shower and have a real meal

Get to know the nurses you want them to see your child for the tiny human being they are and not just another patient. Remember your nurses are humans too and sometimes make mistakes.

Know that this too shall pass!!

Sleep Apnea in Twin Infants

Both of our daughters suffered from sleep apnea and bradycardia. It got to the point that Sofia would stop breathing over 20 times a day. I prayed each time God would bring her back to me and that she would just take a breath. It was horrible and probably the hardest thing we have ever experienced. Sleep apnea is common in premature babies. The lungs are immature and they usually grow out of it once they near thier due date. Our Sofia just wasn't ready. Her sleep apnea continued to get worse. Her spells became more frequent and lasted longer. She was given a battery of test to rule out any infections or abnormalities. She was finally released to us after spending 69 days in the hospital. We brought our twin girls home on apnea monitors and pulse oximeters.

Fight for your babies!! The doctors were completely opposed to sending the girls home on monitors. Our twin girls needed to come home and be in our arms. The monitors saved thier lives more then once. They were on monitors until they were 6 months old

Sofia's Story Surviving Apnea of Prematurity
I am not sure my heart will every completely heal from Sofia's stay in the hospital. I mourn for the times she was alone in a hospital crib and the times I c...

We were so excited to have our girls home. I don't think the reality of having two babies set in until we were too exhausted to know what was going on. The first few months of raising multiples are the hardest.

My husband and I had made a plan for feeding time and diaper changes but we failed to make a plan to take care of ourselves.

Our girls had their days and nights mixed up. They would take a few naps throughout the night but they slept the majority of the day. We were a mini assembly line. The girls ate every two and a half hours. My husband would diaper and change one baby, pass her two me feed while he diapered and rocked the other baby.

It only took a few days before we were completely exhausted and irritable. I don't think we established a good routine until the girls were about six months old.

I understand people are very interested in twins. It is hard to resist two little girls that look almost exactly alike. Unfortunately, I sometimes feel like people think my children are an open invitation to ask personal questions. It is hard not to be rude to people that stop us when we are in a hurry or the children are cranky.

Our daughters receive a lot of attention when we go out to the grocery store. People have always stopped us to ask questions or ask to touch them. Our twins have really become more antisocial. They hate talking to people and would rather no one approach us at the stores.

I would much rather people simply say something nice with a quick comment.

1. Are They Twins?

   A: Yes our girls are twins they look almost exactly alike. They are also the same height and weight.

2. Are They Identical?

   A: Yes they are identical twins. They are a result of one fertilized egg splitting into two people.

3. Can You Tell Them Apart?

   A: Of Course I can tell them apart I am thier mother.

4. How Do You Tell Them Apart?

   A: They have very different personalities, one daughter has a high pitch voice the other has a raspy voice. One has a large birthmark and the other doesn't.

5. Do You Ever Get Them confused?

   A: It is difficult to tell them apart in photos. I have also called them by the wrong name when they are running around and I am trying to catch them.

6. Did You Have Fertility Treatments?

   A: Yes My girls were conceived through IVF.

7. Are you going to Have More Children?

   A: Yes my husband and I now have a beautiful baby boy and would love to have more children. We waited a long time to have children!