Getting Your Babies Off to a Good Start

Last updated on November 1st, 2023 at 01:38 pm

Hey gang! We’ve got a great article for you on how to get your babies off to a good start

The right nutrition matters most in Baby’s First 1,000 Days, which lasts from pregnancy through their second birthday. During this vital window, what you feed yourself and Baby will forever define his or her wellness blueprint, both physically and mentally. Check out the Happy Family First 1,000 Days portal full of great info to set your twinnies up for a bright, happy future.

Pregnancy is such an exciting time! It’s the start of many women’s dreams; the moment when she can officially start building her family; her own family. But being pregnant is more than looking adorable and eating all you want; it’s about getting your babies off to the right start before they are even born. That starts in the womb. A place where they are safe and happy.

We want to bring your twins into the world feeling the same way. And when you are pregnant with more than one it is even more important to make sure you treat your body like gold. This means taking care of yourself. That is a hard thing for a woman to do. Put those feet up, eat those delicious fruits and veggies, and try not to stress, right?

Yeah, right! Babies are coming! I have to prep a nursery, buy double of everything, eat twice as much; I can’t relax! And as soon as we hear those double heartbeats and see those first sonograms, it is real. They. Are. Coming. SOON!

So what can a mother do to ensure we are doing the best we can for our bodies and our babies?

Let’s start with nutrition. A well rounded diet is more important than ever right now. What we eat is what the babies eat. Take a moment to really learn about what is OK to eat during pregnancy and what is not. Happy Family is a great place to visit for more information. They have sections geared towards the best plans for a healthy pregnancy, pre- and post-natal.

Here are some general rules for what to eat and what not to eat during your pregnancy:

Stay away from raw fish and mercury, non-pasteurized cheeses, and deli meat/hot dogs (unless it’s been thoroughly heated to steaming hot) for risk of listeria
Try to follow the dirty dozen and clean 15
Up your water intake for solid hydration – 1 gallon per day for twins!
Increase protein intake – aim for 130 grams of protein per day
Get a full dose of antioxidants, folic acid, iron, and even zinc
Avoid alcohol and tobacco products
Limit caffeine intake; the March of Dimes advises pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams per day, which is about one 12-ounce cup of coffee.

All of these healthy choices are setting mommy and baby up for a strong and healthy pregnancy and delivery. This will guide the babies into a smooth transition and hopefully a well-rounded palate when they start eating.

When we avoid sugars, caffeine, and alcohol, we are providing our bodies with the gateway it needs to be as strong and energetic as possible. Not only do we need to follow these habits throughout the pregnancy and even before, but after the babies are born. Even if you chose not to breastfeed it’s important to maintain your health so you can keep up with the little ones and show them how to take care of their bodies through your own role modeling.

If you need help getting the proper intake, look into delicious smoothies that offer a full range of nutrients and vitamins. All pregnant moms and moms who are breastfeeding should be taking prenatal vitamins. I actually continue to take them even though I am finished nursing and having kids. They seem to be the easiest on my stomach.

A few other pregnancy tips:

Avoid processed foods
Maintain a healthy weight, per your doctor’s recommendations
Keep exercising, even a simple daily walk will do
Put those feet up and lie down, taking pressure off your pelvis
Take some time for quiet before the beautiful chaos arrives

Once the babies are born it is extremely important to continue to feed them with plenty of the same deliciousness you treated yourself. Breastmilk or formula is going to be their main source of nutrients for many months. If you are breastfeeding, continue to treat your body like gold so that power passes onto the babies.

Once your babies start to eat solids, be sure to keep their plates full of color and diversity. Now is the time to cultivate an open palate. Introduce them to all the fun, heathy food you already eat. Teach them now to love fruits and vegetables before the masses of sugar and processed foods get to them. It’s much easier in those first two or three years to teach them to love and appreciate good foods instead of later trying to correct bad habits.

Kerry Bergeman is the founder and the mastermind behind New2Two.com peek at my life as a Mother of fraternal AND identical twins! Kerry is a full-time stay at home mother of six year old fraternal twin girls and one year old identical twin girls. She also teaches part-time at the local community college and runs Mommies of Multiples on Facebook (a group dedicated to helping moms of multiples with their daily questions and concerns). Her blog, New2Two is about life with twins, dealing with infertility, raising awareness for bully prevention and the challenges of having a daughter with a severe intolerance to dairy. What does she do on her time off? She is the Brand Ambassador of the Twingaroo twin carrier- the first and only ergonomic twin carrier that features a built in diaper bag (yes, that’s her on the box)! She sells Usborne Books to help encourage all to read! She’s bringing the book back one kid at a time!