1. Dr Carol Cooper Tamba, 6 June 2009

2.  Asking for help in the post-natal ward.  In SCBU, you can often hold, care for & feed your babies.  Videos & footprints.  Getting them home from hospital.  Make a list of what else you need.  Get someone to go out for it, or order online.

3.  Hopefully you have some support in place.  Grandparents, other relatives, neighbours, friends, paid help, volunteers.  Other parents of twins for valuable support and inspiration. Local twins club/tamba. Also internet.

4.  The first hour may not be that crucial.  Spend time with each baby.  Aim to tell them apart easily.  Names & eye contact.  Tag the photos.  Take some solo pics.  With other family too.

5.  Look after yourself.  Delegate.  Compromise.  Defer.  Get into a routine that suits you.  Learn to trust your instincts.  If things get too much, ask for help.

6.  Supply & demand, hence can feed two or more babies.  Prem babies benefit even more from breast-milk than term babies.  Breast-milk is sterile and always at the right temperature.  But modern formulas are very good.  Maybe you want your body back to yourself.  Or someone else to feed your babies at night.  You must do what is best for your circumstances.

7.  Breast-feeding – not easy to get position right and will need help.  V-shaped cushion useful. One baby tucked under each arm.  Feeding them singly to start?  Feed both twins if only one is hungry?  Mixing breast and bottle.

8.  Ideally make up each feed as you go along.  Feed at same time?  Different colour caps or bottles for your twins.  Holding your babies – closeness is possible if bottle-feeding.

9.  In same room as you. Back to sleep.  Sharing a cot? But bear in mind SIDS guidelines – feet to foot, head not covered, no pillows or duvets.  Sleeping with your twins/triplets? At the moment not recommended.  They should learn to doze off unaided.

10.  Keep changing gear handy. Safer to use mat on floor? Watch other babies at same time.  Baths. Could bathe them alternate days, and top/tail rest of the time.  Keep things easy – if you do bathe both, use same water.  Clothes should be non- iron. Forget pram-shoes and cute bootees.  Hygienic + warm + loved = plenty good enough.

11.  Is something wrong?  Cannot easily console two babies at once. Dummies.  Music? Vacuum cleaner?  Go outside w buggy or in car.  Get someone to take over.  Baby massage can soothe crying babies.  Colic? Try changing position. Talk to HV.  If you can’t cope with the crying, ask for help

12.  Unsafe to carry two babies in your arms for any distance. Buggy just to get to car?  Baby clinic visits – hard work.  Need to go every week? HV to come to you? Bend rules.

13.  Try not to tell anyone they’re useless.  Partner – “date night?”  Other children - keeping them involved but not exploited  A present from the twins?  Special privileges?  Watch out for rivalry – can take a while. Older sib may regress.

14. They’ve been fed, changed, and loved? They’ve had some time one-on-one? You got yourself dressed. And all of you out of the house? And haven’t needed to go to A&E?

15.  PND more common.  Distress or depression?  PND symptoms: tearful, exhausted, can’t sleep, feel worthless or guilty, can’t cope, hard to concentrate, no interest in sex. Less appetite.  Talk to someone you trust.  Medication vs “talking”.

16.  Tamba Twinline 0800 138 0509  Tamba booklet – the First Year  Push-chair, pram and buggy guide (2009)  Factsheets on Breastfeeding  Sleeping  Money matters  Twins & Multiple Births (CC, written with Tamba)  La Leche League 0845 120 2918  Bliss – the prem baby charity  Home-Start 0800 068 63 68  Maternity Action 020 7324 4740  Cry-sis 08451 228 669  Association for Postnatal Illness 020 7386 0868