Charliejoy18

jacobandcrystal

I was just reading the new intros and see that we're in similar situations!  My first son just turned 3, second just turned 10 months, and now we're expecting twins.  I see your oldest is even younger than my oldest! 

I am really nervous about how things will go after the twins are born, driving Sam to preschool, trying to b/f twins with two munchkins running around, getting all 4 to sleep at the same time once in a while : )  I'm a SAHM but think I might still need some help!  Do you have any plans or ideas yet for life with 2 toddlers and 2 newborns?

sfshawna

Hi - I know I'm butting in, but I thought I could answer some of your questions since I'm in a similar situation.  My oldest turned three a couple weeks before my twins arrived, and my second DD was 19 months when they were born.  The twins are 3 months old, and so far, so good!  It's a lot of work, but I think it really helps that I have two older little ones, instead of just one.  They entertain each other, and seem to always be able to occupy themselves while I'm breastfeeding.  Although it's obviously more work, I'm really grateful that there are two of them!  I do get all four to sleep at the same time quite a bit.  My older two are pretty flexible for naps, so I put them down just before I'll need to feed the babies, and then by the time the babies are asleep again, I still have up to 2 hours when everyone is asleep.  My older 2 sleep in the same room and are on the same schedule.   I use that time to clean and sometimes make dinner (like a casserole or whatever that can be made ahead).

As for preschool, my oldest is starting in the fall, and the preschool has a drop-off zone out front  - I really don't think I could do it otherwise - getting everyone out of the car, etc.  Even with the drop-off, I'm sharing drop-off with my sister who has a son in the same prescool.  So, for a 2 day/week program, I really only need to rally that early in the morning once a week, and I'll just stay out of the house for the length of the class (3 hours) and use the time to take the younger ones to the park, run errands, etc.  That's my plan, anyway.  We'll see how it goes

Overall, some days are more challenging than others!  Good luck and I hope I can help you with any other questions, etc.  Take care of yourself during this pregnancy and make sure not to push yourself too hard, which is easier said than done with two little ones!! 

jacobandcrystal

Thank you!!

It's a relief to hear that your 2 oldest do entertain each other... with Sam being 3 right now and Hugh being 10 months, there's not a whole lot that they can do together, other than pushing cars around!  I was hoping that by the time Hugh is 16 or 17 months (36 or 40 wks for me) they will have more of the same interests and activity levels so that they do have fun together when I'm occupied with twin stuff.

As far as taking it easy... that's a big worry of mine right now because of all the bedrest and preterm labor I hear about.   I'm nervous that picking up/running around after my boys might put me at a higher risk, but I also feel like it would be impossible for me to go on bedrest because neither of our families live all that close.  Since you did make it through with 2 toddlers, do you mind if I ask how your pregnancy went??

 Thanks again

sfshawna

Hi again!

I, too, was really scared about bedrest and PTL, and at every peri appt, I was really nervous, because I didn't know what I would do if I had to go on bedrest.  As it turned out, I (stupidly) threw a party for my husband's birthday when I was 31 weeks, and I went in to see my peri the next week.  My cervix was shortened to about 2.5, and I was put on modified bedrest. It was a wake-up call that I had pushed myself too hard, and treated the pregnancy like a singleton pregnancy, which, for me, were both very easy and complication-free.  So, I was forced to let my husband do most things around the house, and my MIL came over a few times a week to help out with my older girls, or take them out for the day.  For the most part,  I just made it day to day, totally vegging around the house with my daughters - they watched a lot of Noggin In the end, I delivered at 38 weeks even, and was induced because of crazy swelling and showing signs of pre-e, something I didn't have with my first two pregnancies either.  I had a vaginal delivery that was very fast and very easy, thanks to it being the 3rd time around.  My baby A was head down, and baby B was breech, but my OB was comfortable delivering B breech, and she pulled her out feet first.

So, overall, my pregnancy was great, considering all that can go wrong with multiples.  Let me know if you have any other questions!  Good luck!

jacobandcrystal

Thank you... you have calmed one of my biggest fears!  I'll try not to plan any parties! hehe   I'm due in January, but obviously am prepared for a possible December delivery, so I'm trying to figure out how to do Christmas shopping this year!  Probably a lot of gift certificates!