It’s one thing to learn that you’re going to be a dad; it’s a whole other thing to discover you’re going to have twins. You go through a whole whirlwind of emotions – from elation and excitement to nervousness and even downright fear that you are not equipped to deal with two babies simultaneously. The good news is that there are several steps you can take to get through the hurdles you will face. The even better news is that once you have survived the first week of parenting twins, it will get easier.
Dad’s guide for Surviving the First Week with Twins
- Create a routine
You’ve spent the last few months preparing for this moment – you’ve got everything from a double feeding pillow to twin rockers and yet, you feel like it just isn’t enough. Create a routine right from the start as this is a great way to get a handle on things so you don’t feel so overwhelmed. The first week is tough because it’s the initial phase when you’re figuring out what works best so remind yourself that it will get easier. Don’t try to follow a rigid schedule, instead have an adaptable plan that you can tweak to form a regular pattern.
- Use a big dry-erase board to track feeds
The first week of parenting twins is the toughest as you struggle to adapt to 3 am wake-ups and changing countless diapers. The lack of sleep will also leave you confused and hazy which is where a dry-erase board comes in to play. Hang a dry-erase board in a convenient spot so that you can track your babies’ feeds. Since you have twins, you can use a baby-friendly accessory such as a hospital bracelet to tell one from the other. You can also use this board to track naps and diaper changes once you get used to the routine.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for help
First-time parents find it difficult to ask for help because they assume that they should be able to manage it all by themselves. During the first week, you and your wife are learning new skills such as feeding, changing diapers and soothing a crying baby. This takes practice and is even more challenging since you’re dealing with twins. Your goal for the first week or two is just to get through each day so that you can ease into parenthood. Ask family and close friends if they can help out for the first week and create a schedule according to the chores they can handle. This simple step will help you survive and even flourish during the first week as you have more time to dedicate to your wife and twins.
- Power up with power naps
Ideally, you should aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep every night. Unfortunately, newborns require a feed every 2 to 3 hours which means it’s likely that you will be woken up several times through the night. Inadequate sleep can severely affect your memory and your cognitive processes and you’re likely to make mistakes at home or at work. The good news is that short power naps can help to reduce stress, boost mood and increase productivity. According to NASA scientists, 26 minutes is the ideal amount of time for a power nap.
- Be gentle with your spouse
The stress of constantly caring for not one, but two babies coupled with sleep deprivation will run you ragged and crazed within the first 3 to 4 days. You will be irritable and moody and it’s likely that you will argue with your wife over the most trivial matters. This is why you need to make sure that you and your spouse get at least some downtime on a daily basis, just to recharge and recoup some of your strength. Pregnancy wreaks havoc with a woman’s hormones and it will take a while for your wife’s hormones to come back to normal. Constantly remind yourself of this so that you understand her emotional outbursts and don’t react to them negatively.
You and your wife can read books about parenting twins to give you an idea of what you will face in the coming weeks and months. For instance, multiple-birth infants have a higher risk of developing pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. However, you can take several precautions such as giving them the Hib and Pneumococcal vaccines. You can also connect with other parents of twins for advice and guidance.
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