Twin Pregnancy Calendar: What To Do and When To Get Ready!

Last updated on May 28th, 2024 at 01:11 pm

Use this helpful twin pregnancy calendar to plan out your twin pregnancy so that you don’t miss out on any important things during this special time.

A twin pregnancy is extremely different from a singleton pregnancy. It’s going to be filled with extra doctors appointments, possibly more testing, more ultrasounds, and more discomfort than a singleton pregnancy.

Among all of the things that might worry you, twin pregnancy is double the joy. I have made this twin pregnancy calendar to-do list for you to use aside of your regular doctor appointments. I hope you have an amazing, healthy pregnancy, and above all, try to enjoy every moment, even when you’re uncomfortable. It goes by too fast!

Visit our new Twin Pregnancy Week-By-Week Timeline

Month 1 (1-4 Weeks) – While trying to conceive…

Start taking your prenatal vitamins.
Call your health insurance to learn your costs for prenatal care and delivery.

Month 2 (5-8 Weeks) – After receiving a positive pregnancy test and learning “IT’S TWINS!”

Start your prenatal vitamins if you haven’t already, and schedule your doctor appointments. If you don’t love your obstetrician, find one that you do. You’ll want to make sure they can deliver your babies at the hospital you prefer. Make sure to choose a hospital with at least a level 3 NICU.
Talk with your partner and discuss when you would like to announce your pregnancy.
My goal was to have as much as possible ready by 28 weeks. At 28 weeks with my twins, I was still able to move around pretty well, and my belly was about as big as my previous pregnancies were at full-term. The less stress you have from that moment on, the better.
Focus on staying positive! Finding out you’re having twins is a shock! Gather your thoughts, figure out what all needs to be done before your babes come, and relax.
Morning sickness is rough, so read up on how to keep it at bay. Eat small meals often throughout the day, avoid strong smells, and make sure you’re taking your B vitamins.

Month 3 (9-13 Weeks)

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Visit the Twiniversity Twin Pregnancy Week-By-Week Timeline
Talk to your doctor about screening for certain disorders or chromosomal abnormalities. They can be as easy as a simple blood test. Discuss possible complications that can arise during a twin pregnancy. Note any signs or symptoms that you need to be aware of in case of an emergency.
Look at baby names, you need two of each! Exciting!
Grab a copy of “What To Do When You’re Having Two: The Twin Survival Guide From Pregnancy Through the First Year”
Start a journal. Take weekly belly pictures, even before your twin bump starts to grow. Before and after pictures are really fun and its a great way to document your progress!
Start doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor
This is a good time to tell your family, and plan that really cute twin pregnancy announcement!

Want to get weekly emails about your twin pregnancy? Sign up for the Twiniversity email list! Subscribe today to get emails about giveaways, events, weekly article roundups, and more! We’ll be sending you a weekly twin pregnancy email to keep you on track with your pregnancy to-do list! Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our expecting twins classes and personal twin parent coaching services.

Month 4 (14-17 Weeks)

During Month 4, you may start to see your twin belly-bump pop! Get a Belly Band if you’re having trouble buttoning your pants. It’ll save you from having to buy maternity pants for a few more weeks!n pregnancy calendar
Buy your stretch-mark oil now and start putting it on your belly every night! The sooner you start, the better. Most stretch marks are going to be inevitable, but this can help lessen their appearance.
If your morning sickness is really rough, you may struggle to keep on weight, much less gain any. Don’t worry, because it will (hopefully!) lessen or stop this month.
Decide whether or not you’d like to find out your twins’ genders.
Read, read, read! The more knowledge you have about what to expect with twins, everything from pregnancy to breastfeeding, the better prepared you will be when you welcome your babies into the world.
Twins go through a ton of diapers. Start thinking about which diapering route you want to take and start a “stockpile” of diapers. It isn’t easy to get out in the early days with your twins, especially if its just a diaper run, so I would get a few boxes of Newborn size to get you through the first week or two.

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Twin Pregnancy Calendar: What To Do and When To Get Ready!

Month 5 (18-21 Weeks)

Research postpartum recovery and put things on your list that you think will help you through your recovery, such as a sitz bath.
Decide if you’ll use a pre- or postpartum doula, night nanny, mother’s helper, or household help for cleaning and start researching local contacts.
Put your favorite items in a baby registry. twin pr
Take off your rings! You will soon start to notice swelling and you don’t want to have to cut your favorite rings off. twin
Research cord blood banking and storage
Think about the nursery and sleeping arrangements for the early weeks when your twins come home.
Read up on preparing your pets for the babies.
Babyproof. Go ahead and install cabinet locks, outlet covers, anchor your TV and furniture, and read up on safety to-do’s for baby.
Register for an Infant CPR and First Aid class. Anyone that will be caring for your babies alone MUST take this class.
Look into classes for expecting twins. Twiniversity offers them live online and on-demand.
If you want to breastfeed, sign up for the Twiniversity Online Breastfeeding Twins Class
Find other twin moms to seek support during your pregnancy. It really helps to talk to other moms and it can be encouraging when you’re not feeling your best. Look for a Moms of Multiples club in your area. Check out the Twiniversity Mem b ership for support. twin pregnancy calendar
Find pregnancy affirmations. There are a few poems about twins that made the days so much better for me when I was struggling.

Have you taken your expecting twins class yet? We offer a great class on demand so you can take it on your own schedule! There are so many video modules covering everything from your twins’ baby registry to your first week at home with twins! Sign up today to get started before your twins arrive.

Month 6 (22-26 Weeks)

You’re probably going to be in maternity clothes this month! Splurge on yourself a little and go shopping. Make sure you buy things with plenty of room to grow.
Celebrate Week 24! 24 weeks is a major milestone in pregnancy, when your babies reach viability. You are one step closer to your delivery date.
Thinking about a gender reveal party? They are a great idea and it’s a lot of fun to include the family in this amazing moment!

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Feeling the weight of your twins yet? Sometimes it helps to buy a pregnancy support belt.
Your babies can hear you, so sing to them or talk to them. Spend quiet moments alone and connect with them.
Learn the signs of preterm labor. Get advice from your doctor about how to relax and what to do should you start feeling contractions. Prepare yourself for possibly going on bed rest.

Month 7 (27-30 Weeks)

Week 28 is coming up! Did you know the average length of a twin pregnancy is 36 weeks? Half of all twins are born before 37 weeks. twin pregnancy calendar
Find out the positions of your babies. The positions of your twins can tell you a lot about how your labor and delivery will go. Talk to your doctor about your options, and whether a vaginal delivery or a scheduled c-section would be best. If you have never had a c-section before, read about c-section procedures and tips for optimal recovery. Twin moms have about a 50/50 chance of having a c-section.
Get familiar with routine twin deliveries at the hospital and make sure to take a tour, including a visit to the NICU. Talk with your doctor about your hospital’s specific routines and procedures, and what will happen when your twins are born. It’s going to be a beautiful, exciting time, but it can come with unexpected road bumps. Prepare yourself for this by being flexible with your birth plan, having an open mind, and above all, staying positive!
Stay hydrated (aim for 1 gallon of water per day) and rest often. Make sure your to-do list is finished, or at least get big tasks done. Hire a company to come and deep clean your home.
Plan your maternity leave and discuss childcare options with your spouse.
Get some maternity photos done!
Do not push yourself physically. Pamper yourself. Lie down as often as you can. Take a warm bath, go out to eat, or get a prenatal massage.

Month 8 (31-35 Weeks)

Time to get the hospital bag ready! Pack lightly for you and your babies.
Get your labor and delivery game plans ready. Make sure any family and friends that are watching siblings are on-call. Make a baby-watch list for the people you want to notify when you go to the hospital.

Line up help for when you come home, and think about freezing meals. Ask a close friend to organize a Meal Train to coordinate friends and family to drop off meals in the early weeks at home.
Find a pediatrician. Talk to your pediatrician about the NICU and the possibility of having your twins early.
Make sure you have your car seats installed. Make an appointment to have your car seats tested for proper installation. Visit safercar.gov to find locations near you.

Now is a great time to get a hair cut! twin pregnancy calendar
Talk to your doctor about what to expect on delivery day. This is the most exciting part! This will also be one of the most uncomfortable times of your life. But it’ll go by in the blink of an eye. Take lots of pictures, and smile! You’re going to treasure your photos for years, and your twins will love them too.
Map out the best way to the hospital, and get familiar with alternate routes. Having a smart phone is great for this, but in case of an emergency, get a paper map to put in your car in case you can’t get directions from your phone. Plan with your spouse how you will coordinate cars and bags if you are separated and/or at work.

Month 9 (36-40 Weeks)

Spend some special time with your older children; get them pumped up about their big-kid jobs for when the babies come.
Enjoy a night out with your significant other, or go on a walk by yourself.

Sleep (if you can.)
Think about baby announcements and newborn photography. Contact your favorite photographer or find one specializing in newborn shoots.
Finally, watch for contractions! Download an app to help you time contractions and be on the lookout for the signs of labor. You may not notice any signs – you just have a “feeling” it’s time. Call your doctor if you feel something – anything – is off!

Congratulations! Twins are a true blessing and although I never thought we would have twins, I couldn’t imagine my life without them, or the experience of my twin pregnancy. I hope you spend as much time as you can enjoying your pregnancy, stay healthy, and be safe.

Make sure to visit the Twiniversity Twin Pregnancy Week by Week Timeline, which outlines weeks 8-38 of your twin pregnancy in full detail, including what to expect, tips and advice from twin moms, questions to ask your doctor, product recommendations, and more!

Brittany Suter is a stay at home mother of four, including a set of fraternal twins. She is a blogger dedicated to helping new moms make the most of their pregnancies and enjoy the early days with their twins.