Last updated on July 31st, 2024 at 03:05 pm
Do you have twin delivery day regrets? I know I do. But for all those expectant MoMs out there, keep reading so our mistakes don’t become your mistakes too. Plus, enter to win 1 year of Cord Blood Banking (with a delivery day kit) from our friends at CBR.
So much happens on delivery day, some expected and some unexpected. At Twiniversity, we always say, “You don’t know what you don’t know,” so let us help you get in the know! We polled our Twiniversity community and compiled this list of twin delivery day regrets. Let the mistakes and mishaps of others be your lesson!
1. Pictures
“Not having a birth photographer” -laurengomez
“Didn’t get more photos of the birth or of the girls before they were taken to the NICU” -joyfulamy20
“Not taking enough photos” -afmorrell
The #1 twin delivery day regret is not taking enough pictures of that special (chaotic) day and those two newborns!
-mgunn615
“I don’t have any pics of me with my babies outside the OR”
There is a common theme with twins: BLUR. Delivery day will be a blur, those first few weeks at home will be a blur, and although the days will feel long, that first year will be a blur too. How do we fix this? TAKE PICTURES.
Make sure your spouse has plenty of memory for all the photos (during birth, after birth, skin-to-skin, etc.), or hire a birth photographer. These are moments you can not get back, so make sure you capture all those special moments.
2. Expecting Twins Class
“I wish I had taken a class specifically for expecting twins. It would have been so helpful to know what to expect and how to manage two babies at once” -twinmommy321
“100% not prepared for premature labor” -jhkervin
Attending an expecting twins class is the best way to ensure you’re fully prepared for the arrival of twins! This class will help prepare you for the delivery day by teaching you various pain relief techniques, providing information about the different stages of labor, and helping you understand what to expect post-delivery. These classes don’t just prepare you for delivery day, they help get you to delivery day.
“Not preparing/educating myself on what both vaginal & c-section processes look like”
-schickimabarnhardt
Twiniversity offers a Live (virtual) Expecting Twins class or an at-your-own-pace, On-Demand Expecting Twins class. Both of these classes cover everything you need to know about pre-delivery (week 26+), delivery day, and the 4th trimester (postpartum). This is the most comprehensive course for expecting parents of twins EVER!
Don’t let unpreparedness be your twin delivery day regret. Get informed and be prepared for whatever delivery day brings your way with an expecting twins class.
3. Cord Blood Banking
We at Twiniversity are the biggest advocates of storing cord blood. Cord blood stem cells can be used to treat more than 80 diseases, including genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, neurological disorders, and cancer. Plus, stem cells have been used in research studies for potential treatments of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
“I recently learned that my identical twins only have one kidney each. Although they are fine and can live a full life with one kidney, I wish I would have banked their cord blood. Because you just never know”
-mistiagh79
Storing the cord blood of your twins can provide peace of mind knowing that if they were needed in the future, you would have access to potentially life-saving treatments. Don’t miss out on this chance to give your twins a fighting chance should they need it.
I didn’t do cord blood banking when I had my twins. Honestly, I knew nothing about it. But now, knowing all it can be used for, I wish I had done it. Don’t be like me, don’t let cord blood banking be a delivery day regret.
Cord blood banking is the process of collecting blood from the umbilical cord and storing it for future medical use. Cord blood is retrieved within moments of giving birth. It has immense benefits for you, your babies, and even other family members.
Our new digital twin pregnancy journal is up for sale on the Twiniversity Etsy store! This is the first and only digital journal exclusively for twin pregnancy. It’s the perfect way to record your precious twin pregnancy memories to cherish for years to come. Click here to learn more… and while you’re at it, check out our expecting twins classes and Twiniversity Shop!
If you decide cord blood banking is for you, be sure to check out our friends and long-time partners, CBR. Plus, we have an exclusive twins code with CBR, use code DUO2 to get started today!
4. CPR/Safety Class
Taking a child safety course while pregnant is just plain smart. This will help ensure that you are prepared to handle a potential emergency situation involving your newborns. Having this knowledge can make a huge difference in an emergency situation, and it might even save your baby’s life.
“I wish I would have taken an infant safety class. One of my babies choked on breastmilk at 3 days old and ended up in the NICU for 9 days. I wish I would have had a better plan of action other than pure panic.”
-rigood50
A safety class will teach you how to recognize signs of distress in an infant and how to respond properly and quickly. It will also provide instructions on how to perform CPR, assist a choking infant/child, and many other necessary life-saving techniques.
We all want to keep our children safe, but doing all the research on CPR, first aid, and car seat safety, can be very overwhelming. Luckily you can get all the safety tips in one place, right here at Twiniversity! Get all the training you need to keep your children safe through the baby, toddler, and child stages of life with our Complete Baby Safety Course. This course is made up of 30 instructional videos and includes 23 pages of CPR, first aid, childproofing, and car seat safety handouts.
Need some baby safety training? Take the Twiniversity Complete Baby Safety course, offered on-demand. Includes video modules on infant, toddler, and child CPR, first aid, and common medical ailments, plus car seat installation and safety and childproofing your home. Click here to learn more!
If you weren’t planning on taking a CPR or Child Safety class, it’s definitely something to consider. Don’t let this be your twin delivery day regret. Prepare yourself for the unexpected events that may come after your twins arrive.
5. Alone Time With My New Family
“Honestly, having people come to the hospital” -lashar85
“Telling too many people the babies were born before we were ready”-allibabaa
“Not waiting longer to have visitors. I was so loopy I remember very little” -dallymama143
Delivery day is full of unexpected moments. You will not know the outcome until you are at the end.
I was quick to tell my family that we would call them after the babies were born and we would let them know when we were ready for visitors. I am so glad I did this. As it turned out, my babies were born via emergency c-section and were taken to the NICU before I even laid eyes on them. Had I allowed immediate visitors, my extended family would have met my twins before me.
“Not having alone time with my twins. There was always someone visiting”
-tati_724
Setting boundaries on when and how many visitors can visit is completely reasonable. Allow yourself and your spouse (and other children) to have alone time together! Bringing two babies into the world at the same time is life-altering. You are allowed to take some time to adjust and bond with these two incredible humans! If you change your mind minutes after delivery, just call everyone. They’ll be there ASAP, I promise.
Don’t allow yourself to regret something that is completely in your control! Plan ahead so that you get that much-needed bonding time with your new family unit!
Need some twin parent friends? Get the support you need with a Twiniversity Membership. Benefits include a monthly twin parent club meeting on Zoom, access to a private Facebook group just for twin parents, and a video library of twin parenting lessons. Visit Twiniversity.com/membership to join today!
6. Trusting My Intuition
“Not advocating for myself” -sarah.jack_
“Not speaking up for myself” -alicia_austerman
It is important to trust your intuition when it comes to making decisions regarding your twin delivery. While doctors and nurses may be knowledgeable about the medical side of things, you know what is best for you and your babies.
“Not speaking up when it didn’t feel right”
-nancywhy
Speak up for yourself if something does not feel right. Ask all the questions. This is your body and your babies. There are no dumb questions when you are asking about these!
7. Skin-to-Skin
If you have the opportunity to do skin-to-skin with your babies after birth, do it! Not only does it help create an emotional bond between you and your little ones, but also has many other benefits for both you and your babies. Doing skin-to-skin helps regulate your babies’ body temperature, breathing, heart rate, blood sugar levels, and stress hormone levels.
Plus, skin-to-skin has been linked to helping new moms make more breast milk and have an easier time breastfeeding. The World Health Organization recommends skin-to-skin as a safe, effective, and easy technique for parents to use.
“I was too inside my own head and passed up the chance to do skin to skin with my babies”
-algh81
Got twins? Us too! The Twiniversity Podcast with Natalie Diaz was created BY parents of twins FOR parents of twins, from your pregnancy days through your twin’s teenage years, this podcast covers it all. It’s all about parenting twins, offering plenty of strategies for making life better, parenting hacks, and, of course, humor. We are laughing WITH you every step of the way.
If skin-to-skin is something you want, make sure your partner and medical team knows. And if for some reason you are unable to do skin-to-skin, remember your spouse can step in. Don’t let this be your twin delivery day regret!
Twiniversity tip: Try The Aegis Wrap for skin-to-skin after a c-section. This is the ONLY FDA-cleared baby-wearing device for skin-to-skin in the operating room.
8. How to Spot Postpartum Depression
“I knew about the “baby blues,” but I didn’t know what signs to look for. So, when I started experiencing postpartum, I just thought I was supposed to feel like that.”
-ma_htz
Having twins can be a joyous yet overwhelming experience. It is important to know the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression (or “baby blues”) so that you can get the help and support that you need.
Common signs of Postpartum Depression (PPD):
- feeling overwhelmed
- irritable,
- sad
- extreme fatigue
- difficulty bonding with your babies
- feelings of guilt or shame
- loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
If you think you may be suffering from PPD, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, as there are many resources available to new mothers. For more information on available PPD resources.
9. Hangry
Having snacks and water on hand during the delivery of your twins can be a lifesaver. Snacking in between contractions helps keep energy levels up, and having plenty of water on hand allows you to stay hydrated throughout the process.
“Not Bringing Snacks”
-kpileggi08
Dried fruits and nuts are an excellent option due to their health benefits and their shelf life stability (no refrigeration needed). Apple sauce packets and granola/protein bars are also easy snacks to pack.
Ask your healthcare provider for snack recommendations. And don’t forget to pack some snacks for your spouse! Don’t risk being hangry during delivery; just remember to pack some snacks in your hospital bag!
Hopefully, by learning about our twin delivery day regrets, you won’t have the same experience. However, twin delivery day can be unpredictable. So take my advice: “Plan for the worst, and hope for the best,” especially when talking about multiples!
Twiniversity Staff Writer
More than a million parents have chosen to preserve their children’s newborn stem cells with CBR. Why? Not only are they locking in the benefits of newborn stem cells that are known today, they’re banking on the future of science and research. In the future, more doors may be open for their families if health issues arise.
Our trusted partner, CBR has been banking babies’ cord blood for over 20 years and is the largest family newborn stem cell bank in the world! CBR is the #1 choice of OB/GYNs and expecting parents. They partner with research institutions on FDA-regulated clinical trials to help advance newborn stem cell science (we are HUGE fans of science!). Plus, your family may qualify for free banking through CBR’s Newborn Possibilities Program®, where families with a qualifying medical need can receive free cord blood processing and five years of storage for cord blood and cord tissue.
