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Mommy & Baby: Having A Party With Multiples
By Kirsten Hawkins
So your ultrasound showed more than what you expected, huh? Congratulations! One baby is a blessing, so multiple babies equal multiple blessings!
As multiples are at a high risk for prematurity, you may have to deal with monitors and other issues that surround babies who have been in the NICU for several weeks. As you bring them home, you'll discover a whole new level of exhaustion—between middle of the night feedings and the alarm of apnea monitors, you will need to take sleep when the babies do and get as much help as you can.
It's perfectly acceptable to put two or even three small babies in the same crib—infants don't move around very much and they've been in tighter quarters than that crib for quite a while now! Do move them to individual cribs when they are able to wiggle around and could be a suffocation danger to each other.
You will go through an amazing number of diapers on a daily basis. If you opt for cloth and can keep your babies comfortable and don't mind the laundry, do it. If you don't want the extra work and don't mind the cost, disposables are easier on baby's skin and in comparison to cloth, you can get more bang out of each diaper. If you want cheaper diapers, check out Amazon.com and order multiple packages. Shipping is free with a $25 purchase, and the cost per package is at least $2 (per) lower than the cheapest megastore.
Newborns are sleepy, but preemies are even more sleepy. Premature babies respond to stimuli by withdrawing and sleeping—even through feedings, bathings, and diaper changings. Work with it and understand that as they approach their actual due date, they will "awaken" quite a bit and catch up to their peers in terms of alertness.
Preemies often have issues with reflux and spitting up more than full-term babies. Part of the late-term development is the sphincter in the stomach that keeps food down—oftentimes it is not fully developed in premature babies. Work with it, but don't overfeed because you fear that they've lost too much food. Wait until the next feeding and don't overfeed, as you'll see more spitting up again.
You will find that a routine will save your life with multiples; don't be rigid and a slave to the clock, but do keep in mind that until your children are adjusted and older, they will require sleep and lots of it. A good sleeper will in turn be a good eater, and a good eater will be a healthy, growing baby. This applies to multiples as much (sometimes more!) as to full-term babies.
About the Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a baby and parenting expert specializing new mothers and single parent issues. Visit http://www.babyhelp411.com/ for more information on how to raising healthy, happy children.
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