**Rose & twins**

sprads

A friend of mine and her husband have always wanted 4 kids so they have cranked them out every 2-3 years and are about halfway through with her 4th and final pregnancy.

Well, it came time for the big u/s and guess what - twins!!

She is freaking out and is trying to figure out what she will need 2 of...she asked me if I had any friends who are moms of twins and asked me to ask them if they have any advice....

...so, any words of wisdom?

Rose.9.6.03

How exciting (and overwhelming) for her!

My advice is to get Dr. Barbara Luke's When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads - it's the bible on multiple pregnancies. As for what she'll need two of the only things she absolutely needs two of are cribs, carseats, and highchairs/booster seats.  Everything else, depends on the babies.  We had two bouncy chairs that we couldn't live with out b/c my girls loved them.  But other babies don't like bouncy seats and prefer swings.  We also had two swings, but we maybe used them them at the same time only a handful of times.  Things like boppies, bumbos, exersaucers, jumperoos, etc. also vary from baby to baby.  How many might be better decided after the babies arrive.   If she's bottle feeding, she'll want double the bottles b/c it's better just to have to wash bottles once a day, rather than several.   Oh, and I puffy heart my double snap-n-go - it makes life sooooo much easier with twinfants.

As for general advice, get the babies' schedules in sync as early as she can - otherwise she'll never sleep (we always feed the babies at the same time, even if it meant waking one).   She might want to look into a mother's helper, particularly since she has older children, to help out at least a few hours each day.  We did that when the girls were 3 weeks old and it was a lifesaver - allowed me to nap, eat, or shower (sometimes all three).

My guess is that even though it will most likely be a bit choatic at first, her experience raising 3 other kids will be soooo helpful and that she'll manage just fine. 

Also, the bump has a very nice and supportive Multiples page, if she ever finds time to play on the computer.   

Congrats to your friend!