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 )The Truth and Nothing But The Truth…..
Posted on Instagram yesterday by “thebump.” Just loved it, although adapted it to fit our particular situation:
“Growing humans makes me feel like a superhero. A very tired, weak superhero that wants to eat all the time and isn’t allowed to lift heavy objects.” Unknown
thebump’s notation is equally on the mark: “Pregnancy is both empowering and exhausting.”
Never lose your sense of humour!!!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )“I want to have twins……”.
Fairly often a woman will ask how she can conceive twins. It goes along the lines that her whole life she has wished to have twins and how can she achieve this state? There are no guarantees, although there are some things that could put things in your favour:
1. The closer twins (or more) are to you in your Family Tree, the more likely you are to have them;
2. On the other hand, twins need to start somewhere on the Family Tree, so you could be the lucky one;
3. If you have already had a couple of children, you could conceive multiples;
4. Dizygotic (fraternal) twins are hereditary down the mother’s line because the mother has ‘dropped’ more than one egg in her menstrual cycle;
5. Chances go up of a woman expecting twins (or more) after the age of 30 years, and even greater chances of conceiving multiples as a woman ages;
6. Multiples do NOT necessarily skip a generation (that is an Old Wives’ Tale);
7. If you have conceived multiples spontaneously once, your chances rise again by about 50% of conceiving them again (good piece of information to be aware of); and
8. If you are using infertility assistance, you have a good chance of conceiving multiples.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Jumelle Twin, Triplets, Quadruplet Baby Tracker
For parents with twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets or two babies close together, many recognize the necessity need of a record of who did what and when and for how long. Parents need to keep track of number of dirty diapers, feeding habits and duration, naps and bedtimes. Such a tracking schedule can be very helpful to other caretakers (grandparents, family members, friends, nannies) who come into the house to assist with baby care. The formal record quickly identifies which baby may be facing a challenge, e.g. constipation, and allows the caregivers to step in a timely fashion to help rectify the situation. Careful tracking of each babies’ habits ensures that sleep-deprived parents are quickly on top of any issues with marginal room for error.
Questions NOT to ask multiples!!
There are some questions that multiples just Hate to be asked. Here are a few:
Whose smarter?
Double Trouble!
Why aren’t you more like your twin (triplet)?
Do you complete each other’s sentences?
Can you read each other’s minds?
Do you have the same friends?
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Are they spontaneous or did you have help?
It isn’t unusual for folks, even strangers, to want to know if your babies were ‘natural’ or did you have help conceiving them, even when it is none of their business. Firstly, I prefer ‘spontaneous’ over ‘natural.’ ‘Natural’ makes it feel that if infertility assistance was used, those babies are ‘unnatural.’ Some multiples are spontaneously conceived and some are conceived with some type of infertility assistance and how they were conceived is no one’s business other than the parents, who may or may not wish to share that background information. Indicating that you would rather not discuss the topic to the stranger in the mall who asked, is your right. Doesn’t have to be rude, angry or aggressive, just a “that is a subject we prefer not to discuss,” is perfectly acceptable.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Supplementing dilemma
It isn’t widely understood that after a baby’s suckles, the breasts are not “empty” as many people think they might be. Breasts never completely empty after a feed. Pumping for multiples after breastfeeding is very common with Moms of multiples and what is collected is saved, frozen and ready to use at another time. There won’t be a huge supply, but you can collect anywhere from maybe 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce additional milk. A bonus is that when pumping, your breasts are receiving the message that there is a greater demand and therefore the supply increases. Some Moms feels the need, and their babies indicate the need, to supplement. It is helpful to keep in mind that each time we supplement, we are by passing the message to our breasts of a greater demand, so it can feel necessary to continue supplementing due to ‘lack of supply.’ Supplementing can set up a vicious circle and cause Mom much anxiety as she may feel her babies are hungary and she really doesn’t have enough milk. Breast feeding the babies as they need/demand will, over 2-4 days, increase the milk supply to satisfy them.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Please vote for Multiple Births Canada
Multiple Births Canada has needed a new website for some time.
We may have found a way to get the donation to fund it from AVIVA.
All we need to do is get all our friends and family – and their friends and family – to vote for our project idea for the next 15 days.
Would you please consider helping us? You register once with your email address (and create a password – use “twinsplus” so it’s easy to remember). After that you just sign in and vote for the idea – which takes about 15 seconds a day.
Here’s the link with the details:
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13028
PLEASE VOTE FOR MULTIPLE BIRTHS CANADA
Multiple Births Canada has needed a new website for some time.
We may have found a way to get the donation to fund it from AVIVA.
All we need to do is get all our friends and family – and their friends and family – to vote for our project idea for the next 15 days.
Would you please consider helping us? You register once with your email address (and create a password – use “twinsplus” so it’s easy to remember). After that you just sign in and vote for the idea – which takes about 15 seconds a day.
Here’s the link with the details:
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf13028
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