My fiance and I have been expecting a baby since mid-June. We went in for her first OBGYN appointment on the 16th of July, and found out we were having twins. Therefore I am looking for tips on preparing for these unexpected joys.

Congratulations!! It will be the most wonderful yet most challenging thing you and your wife will ever do. I have 2 yr old identical twin girls. How to prepare...hmm...where do I begin. Every parent of twins/multiples has different situations in the beginning, depending on if they are born prematurely or not. Mine were born at 37 weeks, weighing 5 and 1/2 pounds each and we all went home 3 days later with no complications. Hopefully your's will be just as healthy. Do you have close friends and/or family who can help you when they arrive? That's a big plus...I know I wanted to do it all myself when my girls were born but you really have to take all the help you can get. Stock up on diapers in size newborn, 1 and 2. They go through these sizes quickly and you can never have too many. The one thing that has been a God-send for us is our double stroller. Don't leave home without it!! I just keep mine in the back of my van and never take it out...because I am always somewhere where I need it. Nothing is more frustrating than when you get to the mall or grocery store and can't even go inside because you forgot your stroller!! Most stores aren't very twin friendly...or restaurants either for that matter. Most smaller restaurants only carry one high chair! So you kind of have to scope them out and become familiar with which ones they are. As far as sleeping is concerned...get them used to their cribs quickly...mine slept in their cribs from day 1 and have slept through the night since 3 months old. Sometimes it seems like it would be a lot easier to just lay them in bed next to you, but in the long run it's really better to keep them in their cribs. They need to get used to hearing each other cry, so that eventually they just sleep through it if one wakes up. Well, I could go on forever. If you want more info just let me know.

Thank you so much. All that is going to help us alot. We do have family, but they are all the way in the next town. The only family we have right here at the moment is my fiance's father, but he is disabled so he probably won't be able to help out quite as much as he would like to. We have been looking into the double stroller as well. It is kind of difficult though as the majority of the stores and what have you around here don't really have very many things with twins in mind.

I admire the fact that you're the dad and you're excited and anxious to best prepare yourselves- kudos to you! There's a TWINS magazine you may want to subscribe to, and most cities/towns have a local Mothers of Twins Club. I belong to a local mothers of multiples club who have provided me with priceless information & support. Try to enjoy every phase of your childrens' development- they truly grow sooo fast! Keep a videocamera in their room so you can document everything (you probably won't have much time to write things down!). And remember- they don't wake up every couple of hours forever- it's really only a couple of months, and yes, someday, you may actually miss seeing them in the middle of the night! Best wishes.

That's funny what you said about missing them in the middle of the night....I always tell people that same thing!! There honestly were nights in my girls' teeny tiny days that I didn't even get to step foot into my bedroom until 6 am. I vividly remember for some reason they would be up all night and fall asleep as soon as the sun would rise!!! It was so frustrating!! It's true though...sometimes I sit down in the rocking chair in their room and I'll remember sitting there with them at 3 am when they were soooo small....it goes by so fast and you really will miss it someday. Mine are only 2 and it seems like such a distant memory.

future_dad_55......do you have a Toys R Us store near you? The one we have has lots of double strollers. The best kind to get is the double stroller with matching infant car seats that both fit right onto the stroller. Although, now that mine are toddlers, I'm really enjoying my side by side double stroller better than I did the front to back. When we used the front to back stroller, whichever girl I sat in the back seat would do nothing but kick the back of the front seat, causing a big temper tantrum from the one in front...it just wasn't pretty But you'll just have to try and see what you like. Ebay is also a good place to look. Good luck!!

Oh, if we all had the little handbook that tells you exactly what you need to know! I have twin girls now 22 months. I also have 2 older children that were 3 and 18 months when the twins were born. They were 4 kids under 4 years old for about 6 months. I didn't have much help either. My mom is close but works and for me I found I would rather do it myself and keep on schedule and routine and everything seems to run so much smoother.
The one thing I had that helped me was some people I used to work with made meals for my family 3 days a week. On Mon., Wed. and Fri. someone would drop by with dinner. This went on for 3 weeks. It was wonderful, we usually had enoguh for leftovers too. If a group around you, maybe at work or church are wanting to do something maybe suggest that instead of giving gifts.
A must have-the double snap-n-go-stroller. It's just a stroller frame and the baby car seats snap right onto it. You don't have to take baby (probably sleeping) out of car seat to put in stroller. And like the other post, I now want a side-by-side double. The front back are hard to drive and yes the kids fight and they are much more expensive. You'll only use the snap-n-go for about 6 or 7 months but I couldn't have survived without it. Found mine and actually resold it on Ebay for about $30 new. Ebay is wonderful for strollers and other baby eq.
When you get to high chairs. I loved the First Years cair that sits in kitchen chair. Has own trays, removable/washable liner and reclines. All just like a regular high chair just smaller, doesn't take up as much floor room and much cheaper. Also, converts to a booster seat for toddlers.
The best advice I can give is yes you can do it. When I was pregnant with the twins I asked myself several times, how am I going to do this. The Lord only give you that which you can handle. He trust these babies with you so you make it happen. I'll be in Wal-Mart or somewhere with all 4 and people just stop me and say how do you do it. I just reply, what choice do I have, I make it happen. No matter what, if it's money, time, patience, room in your house you make it happen.
Mine were born vaginally (second breech) at 36 weeks after being induced and on 99% bedrest since 21 weeks. They weighed 5lbs.15oz and 6lbs. 1oz. We came home in 2 days and have been extrememly healthy ever since. I hope that for your twins as well.

harveys4under4....I agree the chairs that fit onto the kitchen chairs are much more economical than the full size high chairs...and you can take them with you somewhere a lot easier than you can a regular one too. I absolutely love the side by side stroller. Mine is a Graco DuoRider, which I got on ebay for about $75 brand new. The seats both fully recline, and you can recline them both or either one separately if you need to. I have also been able to get it through every doorway I've had to take it through with no problem. The only thing that's been a little bit of a challenge is in a clothing store where everything is so close together.

It also sounds like your pregnancy/delivery was very similar to mine I was put on bedrest at 14 weeks, because they thought at first that my girls were in the same sac and feared they may get entangled in each others' cords. Turned out that they weren't in the same sac but I was still kept on bedrest. Mine are identical....are yours? Mine were also born vaginally at 37 weeks with the second one breech...4 min apart...weighing 5 lbs 7oz and 5 lbs 1oz. We came home after 3 days and have also been extremely healthy!! They turned 2 in March. I feel so blessed, as I'm sure you do as well.

monoftwins05...Oh my gosh!!! Mine are exactly 4min. apart too!!! So many think that twins means automatic C-Section. Absolutely not!! Not against C's if needed but I have had so much good luck with vaginal deliveries. Almost no recovery time!
My girls are aboslutely not identical. Complete opposites in every way! I mean I'm talking blonde hair and curly and the other brown/straight hair. Their attitudes and personalities and complete opposite too. The only thing the same with those two are their birthdays.
Thanks for the info on the stroller. Where are you located. Email personally if you want!! harveys4under4@bellsouth.net
Jennifer

It's nice to see a little community...my husband and I just found out we were having twins also. Still in shock, we also have a 3 yr old. Excited, but surprised. Thank you to the veterans for the tips, keep them a comin' please. Thanks so so much.

Try joining a local Mothers of Multiples group- you can get advice & support from "veterans"! If it makes you feel any better, My oldest had just turned 2, and my triplets were 8 months old when I became pregnant again!! Talk about SHOCK! You'll get through it- listen to your doctor and your body. They're only little for such a short time- my "big" girl is now 6, and triplets entering kindergarten this year. Keep us posted & best wishes.

2winsacomin....good luck to you. Any questions, post 'em up here and we'd all be happy to help!! harveys4under4...i tried to email you back but it keeps coming back saying undeliverable. (?)

Hi all-Sorry haven't been on here in a while. Not sure why email is doing that. I got your first one. May work now. harveys4under4@bellsouth.net

My twins turned 23 months yesterday, the same day I found out we are expecting another!!!
Praying for ONE boy but'll take whatever comes my way, and this is it!!!!
I got a side-by side double, InStep, absolutely love it, goes through any door.
Any hints on getting twins to stay in a regular bed. Took sides off of cribs for about 3 days and gave up. One would get up and go over to the other and they would start giggling and playing. Kinda cute but gotta have the sleep.

My big boy(5) started Kindergarden Friday and my big girl(3) started pre-school on Tues. (2 days a week). So just busy, busy, busy here!

hey congrats! i will try to email you again. i think you'll really enjoy the stroller...i love mine. as far as the staying in bed...i don't have any advice there...as i speak i'm trying to keep mine in their cribs...it's a fight every night.

I don't know if this will help but I would only let my gang have pacifiers while in their toddler beds for naps & bedtime. Maybe (if they use pacifiers--or perhaps a favorite blankie or toy)you could try this. If mine got up, I'd take the pacis away. This worked sometimes, especially if they were very tired and needed a comfort item.

ok maybe i will try something like that...they don't have pacifiers anymore but maybe something will work. thanks

WOW! Thanks for all the great advice! Keep it comin'! I joined a little late but now 5 1/2 months pregnant with twin girls! I'm excited and very nervous! I worried about my finances as is everyone else I'm sure. Approximately, how many diapers do you all go thru in a week?