3 weeks into this twin thing...

I know a lot of you guys said six weeks is really hard. I'm at 3 weeks and wondering what your 3 week experience was like? Pretty easy or pretty rough? They are preemies so I don't know if they are doing so well because they are not full term yet. (Well they are 38 weeks today so are they full term since they are past the 37 week mark?) I don't know. I'm just wondering if how they are now is an indication of how they will be?

I know it's never going to stay easy or be easy with twins, but I'm just waiting for one to bust out with colic or never sleep or something.

So basically, how was 3 weeks in correlation to 6 weeks for you guys? (Especially with preemies?)

 

Congrats on your boys! It's difficult for me to remember; well, at three weeks mine were just coming home from the NICU. But - my overarching thought is : HOORAY that it's been pretty easy and - there really is no way of predicting what it will be like. There are patterns, but honestly I think all babies are different. Ours both had reflux and i was dreading colic and - it never hit. So I'd try not to focus; (because there's no way you can really prepare yourself, I don't think; you have to be in the experience and then you deal with it), and just be happy that you are all doing so well!

I don't mean to sound preachy, rather, i mean to share that what I have found is that really experience each moment and not trying to anticipate has helped me a great deal. Because trust me, sometimes it really DOES hit the fan!

 

At three weeks I was going to be alone for the first time. My dh was heading back to work. I still had friends/family come out a few times every week for a while, but it was hard. Having two newborns at the same time is difficult. It does get better, especially when they have more control over their head and have somewhat of a sleep schedule!

:hi: Congrats on your twins!

 

Well, at three weeks my boys started with the not sleeping and crying to be held at the same time all the time! When we first came home (for almost three weeks) they went to sleep after every feeding and woke up every 2 or 3 hours and that was managable. Now I look back fondly! They were six weeks early (though no nicu ) and now I have to have my mother come stay with me for days at a time to stay up all night with them so I can get a few hours of sleep at a time. You are very lucky! I thank God every day for them and the fact that they are so healthy, but I also wonder when I will get a break! Oh well, I know how lucky I am. Congrats on the babies!!!!!!!

 

I'm not sure. Our boys are almost 8 weeks and really, it hasn't been that bad. I admit that it's a lot of work, and some days I do feel like all I do is feed them and hold them. But, to be honest, they're easy babies and it probably helps that I have two older children, so I've been through this before.

The only thing that's a little tough is when they're on the very edge of sleeping through the night. Reese and Riley are incredibly high maintenence from 9:00-12:00 each night. They eat constantly, so that gets a little frustrating.

 

Honestly... The first 6-8 weeks were the easiest for us. It was when the babies hit about 42 weeks gestation that things really started to get hard. They "wake up" then and it becomes tougher. Every baby is different though and what is difficult for one is fine for another so enjoy the calm while you can. There will be times when it gets crazy - everybody has them. Just hang in there and you'll get through it!

 

Things started to wear on me at the 6 week mark. I don't think that it necessarily got that much harder, it's just that the adernaline has worn off and the long term effects of the sleep deprivation are setting in. I feel like I have very few emotional reserves left at this point. But everyone says it gets better, so I'm holding on to that.

 

Ours were preemies too. They were 5 weeks early. I remember thinking how good they were. They never fussed, they slept in their cribs right away ... no reflux issues or breastfeeding issues ... I was like ... why do people think this is hard?? My help (as in my Mom, my mother-in-law) annoyed me more than the babies did. Now, I LOVE it when they are here. I would say that my girls "woke up" around 3 or 4 weeks. They started fussing more and not sleeping as well. Ours had full-blown colic with screaming from noon until 2AM with only a few hours break of sleep then screaming again. They probably averaged 8 hours of sleep a day with pretty much constant screaming in between. I hope that yours will not be like that! Odds are, they probably won't! I remember asking my pediatrician (when the girls were only a few weeks old) at what age things like colic and reflux happen ... that if they didn't have it now, were we out of the woods? He said about a month is typically when you see those things. Ours were pretty hard from 3 weeks until about 14 weeks or so. They are 17 weeks now (12 adjusted) and are still barely manageable by myself (which is too bad for me b/c I am married to an anesthesiology resident who is never home!!) Now whenever anyone comes I am like-thank God for you! That being said, I have two friends with twins about the same age as mine who are on a much more manageable schedule. Our biggest problem is that mine simply WON'T sleep unless they are held. Right now for 30 mins they have been talking to themselves and fussing in their cribs instead of napping. At least they aren't screaming, thank goodness for small favors. Don't count out that they will be difficult, but don't count out that they will be great, easy babies! Regardless, they are probably so darned cute that however they are, you will be OK!

 

right at 4 weeks was when the colic started (right at their due date - they were 36 weekers) and it continued for about a month and a half non stop till we realized it was the formula (they were milk intolerant and we switched to soy) - after that it got much better...they didn't nap consistantly until about 6 months but it got better after about the 8-10 wk mark

 

For us the first couple of months was not too bad except at night with all the night wakings and the reflux. But once they got out of the eat,sleep, poop mode (they were 8 weeks early) they began to cry and be much more demanding until about the 4 month adjusted mark. But once they could sit up and play a bit things were better.

 

I would agree that the very beginning was actually easy. It sucked because of the sleep deprivation, but the babies basically ate, slept almost anywhere, and pooped. And then repeat. I would say once we hit around 6-8 weeks we started experiencing their little personalities, and they were awake more. That's when it got a little tougher for me. They were up more, which made them needier. They started not sleeping just anywhere we put them. But I NEVER had colicky or reflux babies. So I never had a lot of issues with them. But they are too different babies so they just had different needs and all that ... so it took a little longer for that to come out. All babies are different .. I wouldn't say you are out of the woods yet, hehe, but who knows, you may never have to go into the woods!

 

QUOTE
I would agree that the very beginning was actually easy. It sucked because of the sleep deprivation, but the babies basically ate, slept almost anywhere, and pooped. And then repeat. I would say once we hit around 6-8 weeks we started experiencing their little personalities, and they were awake more. That's when it got a little tougher for me. They were up more, which made them needier. They started not sleeping just anywhere we put them.


I'd say pretty much the same here...at least from what I can remember through the fog of sleep-deprivation.

Who knows, maybe you'll just be lucky and have really easy babies! I hope so anyway.

 

QUOTE(caba @ Nov 13 2007, 10:58 AM) [snapback]493596[/snapback]
I would agree that the very beginning was actually easy. It sucked because of the sleep deprivation, but the babies basically ate, slept almost anywhere, and pooped. And then repeat. I would say once we hit around 6-8 weeks we started experiencing their little personalities, and they were awake more. That's when it got a little tougher for me. They were up more, which made them needier. They started not sleeping just anywhere we put them. But I NEVER had colicky or reflux babies. So I never had a lot of issues with them. But they are too different babies so they just had different needs and all that ... so it took a little longer for that to come out. All babies are different .. I wouldn't say you are out of the woods yet, hehe, but who knows, you may never have to go into the woods!


I agree with this totally!

 

I didnt have preemies.. But.. by 2 weeks i was already having feeding issues with my babies... Now that they are 10 weeks DS has been on 5 different formulas.. and we finally found one that has worked.. I think Its getting easier now.. they have a night schedule and they both arent fussy(as much)!

 

Mine were preeemies and i can say that i never have felt that it was too much. Mine never had colic, eating issues etc so i feel i was blessed with some luck after all he heck i went through to get them here. LOL... I can say at almost 7 months it has never been hard to me and i have done it all on my own, no help from anyone on the outside... I do work full time so i do get breaks that SAHM done get... I read some post and think wow i never felt overwelmed or anything it has always been smooth sailing and i can say i would take twins again in a heartbeat...

 

Are you breastfeeding? That's been hard since the beginning and is just now starting to get easier.

At 6 weeks the girls started crying a lot from 7 pm until midnight. Now, we are approaching the 10 week mark and they are just starting to get a little more mellow during those hours. The daytime has been a bit harder too because I'm just figuring out how to get them to take naps at the same time. Interesting process.

I do remember in the beginning thinking that it wasn't as hard as I expected but at 6 weeks...it really did get difficult. It still is but it's getting better.

Enjoy those precious little boys and congrats!

 

My girls were born a week later than yours. One acted full term, the other slept for 3 weeks STRAIGHT. She wouldn't wake for nuthin, we had to just put the bottle in her mouth so she would eat.

It started getting really tough when they outgrew their bouncy seats, activity center and swing (though eh, we still use the swing at 10 months) and started crawling around. That was about the 7 month mark. Oh, and when they started screaming every time mommy or daddy leaves the room (they realize we're leaving, but don't realize we will be BACK) so it's really hard to get anything done while they are awake.


Hopefully after a year when they're walking and realize mommy and daddy DO come back, things will get easier. And hopefully they'll start playing with each other more too, so we don't have to entertain quite as much.

 

Do you want the truth???
At three weeks I was raving about what good babies I had and then everything went crazy!! They stopped sleeping round the clock and the screaming began around then (I remember thinking it was when they hit 40 weeks gestation) and didn't stop until 12 weeks or so maybe even later. It is all a big fat blur between both girls having acid reflux, milk protein allergies and colic (or is colic really acid reflux???), my 2.5 year old tantruming in order to get attention, and my husband traveling constantly!I don't remember when I actually came up for air and found that they weren't screaming begining at 4:30 any more. That is the truth and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy BUT the wonderful smiley, happy, silly girls I have now at 4.5months make it all soooo worth it!

 

My twins are 8 months and honestly it has been GREAT! The first couple of weeks were tough since they babies were fussy night owls until about midnight/1am and I had a toddler trying to adjust. Otherwise it wasn't too bad. I've been blessed with happy babies most of time and it sounds like you have been too. Right now has probably been the hardest in a long time and it's not even that bad. The twins are both crawling now so it's harder keeping track of them plus I think they are teething so they're fussy.

Enjoy being a twin mom!

 

Mine started hitting the really fussy stage at about 5 weeks. I was looking out for colic because I had such a perfect baby with my older DD. I kept hearing, "they say it'll peak about 6-8 weeks". Well they are 7 weeks now and it is definetly difficult. My DH and I are really sleep deprived. I can't really say it's colic because my dd has reflux. She is better with medicine but not great. I am switching pediatricians since mine didn't return my call last week which left me through the weekend to watch my baby suffer when all I think she needed was an increase in meds or a different one. Anyway, dd just wants to be held 24/7. She won't sleep in the crib and won't sleep in the boppy between us until she's gotten her fill of being held which is anywhere from 1:30 am - 4:00 am (AUGH!). It's so hard when you are nodding off to sleep, trying not to let her fall off of you. I bought a sling...the fabric hammock style...which has been working really well so I can free up my hands and type comfortably. If I have to lie in bed with her in it...so be it!!! But, good luck. Like pp said every baby is different. My ds is pretty laid back and doesn't need to be held 24/7 but he doesn't mind And sometimes he wants to be held at night too. I can't wait to say "I'm so happy they are sleeping without me holding them".

 

My babies came out of the womb and decided they no longer needed sleep! All 3 of my boys (singletons) slept so nicely in the beginning! but these girls - if they do sleep, a leaf falling in the next county wakes them up! but being a twin mom is so amazing! I may be sleep deprived but I wouldn't trade it for the world!

congratulations!!

 

Thank you all so much for your wonderful and honest input. I really just need to learn to relax and realize that whatever happens is gonna happen. There's no way to prepare for the storm, and it's totally worth it. Thanks so much!