Help

In need of much needed help on getting my twin girls to sleep at night this is how things have been going.

I am waking them up during the day if they are sleeping for more than 3 hours and feeding them. I am bottle feeding them both. At night I started getting them ready for bed ar around 9 or so and where I'm having difficulty is one will go down fine but the other will not. Last night it took me 2 1/2 hours to get Marrin down and them she was up an hour later. I am swaddling them both and they are sleeping in a pack-n-play in our room, I have it elevated a little for them, plus I have towels rolled up on each side of them to keep them cozy. I'm wondering if right now they aren't going through a growth spurt, but regardless night time has been the worst for us if one goes down good the other does not. It doesn't help that I am by myself too, dh works nights, so I don't have any help or any relief. I'm thinking tonight I might just let them sleep in their swing or bouncy seat to see if that makes any difference.

Any good suggestions on feeding both at the same time, I have done it using a bobby pill and propping a bottle for the one, but that seems to take more time feeding both at the same time then if I did it seperately, because both need to burped and sometimes is takes a while to get them to do that. I know that things will get easier but right now my body is screaming for sleep and I need to figure out how to get that before I loose my mind.

Susanw

 

I don't have much advice. It sounds like you have tried or are trying all rational things. I just wanted to offer some empathy since it is incredibly difficult to bottle feed two babies less then three weeks old, especially on your own.

Hang in there...

Cat

 

It's called twin madness! Really, the first 3-4 months are very difficult for most twin mommies. The sleep deprivation is awful. Have you tried a swing, or vibrating bouncy. At this point, do ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING to get some sleep, and worry about breaking habits later! Emma slept in the swing for 3 months.

As far as feeding them both at the same time...here is what I did. Get the bottles ready, and a bed pillow. Lay one on one side of the bed pillow with her head in the middle, go get the other baby, sit down, pull the pillow onto your lap, lay baby #2 down, head to head with the other baby, and adjust the babies if needed. Grab the bottles that are sitting on the table within reach and feed those babies!!!! I fed them like this until they were about 4 months old, and started rolling away!

Good luck, it will get easier, hang in there!

 

James slept in a swing for the first few months, now he sleeps in his bed just fine. Right now, do what it takes to get sleep, then worry about habits later. You'll feel much better when you've gotten a little sleep.

 

OOOOH Baby! I feel you!

It is all about survival... you sound like you are doing all the right stuff, and like pp said, try all the bouncy, vibratie, swingie things you can get your hands on! I remember thinking "what did I get myself into?" You are so tired that you forget that this stage doesn't last forever! They will sleep and you will look back on this in awe! and send heplful hints onto moms in the midst of the chaos!

 

I remember the days of madness!! What I used to do feeding them is I would have one baby in the boppy and the other in my lap. I would sit next to the boppy and feed them bolth at the same time. I would stop feeding them and burp the baby in my lap after about an ounce and a half or so. Then when that baby burped I would trade and place the baby that had been burped in the boppy and burp his brother. Then feed the rest and do the burping thing all over again. My boys wanted to eat every two hours until they were three months old it was hard.

It is important to remember to sleep when they sleep. Just have the bottles pre made so you can just warm them up and go. Forget house work forget everything except the babies and sleep and making sure you eat something at least until you catch up a bit. It does get easier I swear. My husband worked nights too so I know just what you are going through. Good luck and hang in there your doing great.

Stephanie

 

Just wanted to send you hugs I'm sorry your having a rough time. Are the babies getting overtired ? Overtired babies have a harder time falling asleep and staying asleep.

I would suggest the book Healthy Sleep Habbits Healthy Child. Try not to let the babies be up for more than 2 hours max. Watch for there drowsy cues.

Have you tried a bath at bedtime, it does wonders for my boys. Fussiness peaks at around six weeks after due date, if they were early.

It will get easier. My boys are 4 months, wake up 2-3 times to nurse a night. However it's me with the sleeping problem, Ihave a rough time going back to sleep after the 2Am feed. As you can see I'm posting this at 4:30 am, so looks like my day started at 2 am

Good luck and hang in there.

Jessica

 

Its all about trial and error.....you'll find a system that works for you at bedtime. They are so little yet. I think at that age they were still in their bassinetts to sleep and my kiddos loved them ....they slept great in them....and they had wheels so I could just wheel them around the house. If I was by myself for feedings I would do them one at a time.....sometimes it was really hectic but I wanted that one on one time with them. When they got a little older I would put them each in a papasan and prop their bottles. Good Luck.

 

Oh I remember those days. I agree with all the advice about letting them sleep where they will. Some people here use swings (we did until almost 4 months old), some use their car seats...whatever works. It's all about surviving. Forget everything else but sleep, taking care of the babies, and some food for you. It will all be there when the babies grow a little. I fed mine together on the couch by using a pillow propped against the arm of the couch and laying them side by side. Burping was a problem, as one always cried while I was burping the other, but they will learn to wait their turn. You hang in there! You are doing a wonderful job and it WILL get better.