Archive for May, 2017
MUSIC IS IMPORTANT TO BABIES’ WELL-BEING
Multiples and Postpartum Depression
This topic is Multiple Births Canada’s upcoming 28th May, 2017 subject for Multiple Birth Awareness Day (see http://www.multiplesbirthscanada.org for more information). While Postpartum Depression (PPD) can be a big issue for parents of singletons, parents of multiples can take a big hit with PPD and talking about it is an important step for any Mother to getting help.
Here is a personal story posted by Birth Without Fear and this Mom’s experience is a well-written article addressing PPD. Check it out here: http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/2017/05/17/i-sank-deeper-deeper-a-story-of-postpartum-depression/
Thank you to Birth Without Fear for shedding some light on a topic that many new Moms face and which still contains some stigma. PPD is a disease, can be treated and affects everyone in the family.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Twin and Triplets Humour….
Overheard at a Multiple Births Canada’s AGM:
When we brought home the twins, we threw out the plants.
One of my favorites:
“Twins” is just a word until they arrive.
Makes sense:
“TWINS:” They arrive together (T), yet are separate people (S). If we can remember this simple fact, everyone can “WIN” = “TWINS”
Have you got some multiple-birth humour you would like to share? Drop us a note and we will share it.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )MOTHERS OF MULTIPLES AND POST PARTUM DEPRESSION (PPD)
28th May is Canada’s Multiple Birth Awareness Day and Multiple Births Canada is leading the educational charge in making folks aware that parents with twins, triplets and more will very likely experience some degree of PPD after their babies are born. Yes, PPD can also occur when having a singleton child, but multiple-birth mothers are more likely to experience PPD because of all the hormones combined with caring for two, three or more infants simultaneously. Occasionally, due to extreme sleep deprivation and the on-call hard work, so will fathers/partners experience some degree of PPD.
PPD is no one’s fault, is a disease, can be treated and affects everyone in the family.
Multiple Births Canada can be reached at www.multiplebirthscanada.orgLearn more about multiples and PPD and/or share your story and experience.
P.S. 28th May is the Dionne Quintuplets birthday. We greatly acknowledge that Annette and Cecile (the surviving of the 5) so kindly allow Canadian multiple-birth families to celebrate their special families on their Birthday.
The Individuals Within the Group
Our multiples all arrive at the same time (obviously). Not so obviously, because they have (inadvertently) been identified as a group because of their births, they are also individuals within the group. They are not a package and you, as the parents, have the capability to make sure that their individuality is also celebrated. Some great hints to encourage their individuality while also respecting their special and unique bond, are following.
If you have any ways you helped encourage your babies’ individuality, please let us know.
~Don’t give them rhyming names, or even names beginning with the same letter. ~Don’t continually dress them alike. Once is a while won’t hurt, but not continually. ~Have a Baby Book and Photo Albums PER child. Otherwise, who does the one book belong to? ~Always have a birthday cake PER child ~Always sing Happy Birthday PER child ~Encourage family and friends not to send cards for Twins. Who opens the card? Who owns the one card? WW3 could start here. ~Do not compare the children to each other (your brother uses the potty, you need to as well) nor let others compare them. ~Because there is a built-in comparison with multiples, take the word “Twin” or “Triplet” out of the situation and deal with the solutions on individual basis. AS LONG AS EACH CHILD PROCEEDS AT HIS OR HER OWN RATE AND CONTINUES TO MEET MILESTONES, DON’T PUSH THINGS. BRINGING UP MULTIPLES IS NOT A RACE OR COMPETITION. Each child needs to be who they are, even in the multiple-birth setting.
Enjoy those babies and children!!!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Gestational length of twins
Some of the amazing Mommas on La Leche League’s Twin and Triplet Breastfeeding Facebook page in the U.S. were asking about how long some of the other reader’s had carried their babies. Here are some of the replies:
35 weeks, 2 days 38 weeks, 1 day 35 weeks, 5 days 38 weeks 37 weeks, 6 days 39 weeks, 5 days 36 weeks, 6 days 37 weeks, 1 day 35 weeks 39 weeks, 2 days My own was 40 weeks, 1 day: Spontaneous labour of 5 and 3/5 hours to the birth of the second twin. 18 minutes apart and no stretch marks, but belly muscles were shot. I needed a tummy tuck. My singleton children were an 8 hour and 22-hour labours. Go figure! LOL All worth it.
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I feel sad about breast feeding…..
Let me clarify. I feel sad because some women seem to need to loudly, strongly, rightly and aggressively defend their desire to breastfeed until forever, or nurse in public for that matter. My sadness comes from the”aggressively” part. I think women and their children have a right to breast feed as long as it works for them without judgement, harassment or any negativity whatsoever. I believe a nursing woman has the right to breast feed whenever and wherever she or her baby or babies need, as long as the location is safe for all. Preferably not while a climbing a cliff, as an example. LOL Adults eat in public, why shouldn’t babies and infants have the same rights and expectations?
I like to think that I am a bridge builder and a teacher. My problem is when a woman begins to fight and declare her, and her child’s rights, even before there is a battle to be fought. That attitude is not a teaching one nor a bridge-building one and, in fact, most encounters will end up with no winners. If you go looking for trouble, trust me, you will find it.
I would suggest waiting until each and every obstacle presents itself and gently stopping the person and asking them to come on board and be a part of a solution and not a part of a problem. Start with family and friends and explain, each and every time, that this is what your family has chosen and you would love them to be positive throughout this journey. Stopping negativity in a loving, caring, teaching way is the goal. There will always be someone who objects, shouts, judges, declares, and lots of other things, but we don’t have to play that game. We do not have to roar, respond, justify, give tit or tat (pardon the pun). As Michelle Obama says “When they go low, we go high.” When one walks with a Big Stick, one risks tripping over it.
It saddens me that women angrily anticipate negativity about nursing in public or the age their children should be weaned at. It isn’t any one else’s business but that particular family’s and whatever that family chooses in regards to breastfeeding won’t change what you have for supper, so don’t fight BEFORE there is a fight. Do what women do best: Teach, show patience, tolerance, love, smile, be firm and gentle. All of this goes along with, IMO, tons of strength.
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Lynda discusses multiple birth 