9 Things You Can Expect From The First Month With Newborn Twins

What to expect the first month with newborn twins

You survived a twin pregnancy and now you’re asking yourself how can you get through the first week and yet alone the first month with newborn twins?

That first month with twins can be rough and you will find yourself on an up and down journey.

Some days will be amazing and some you’re just trying to survive twin babies.

If you’re wanting to learn more about what you can expect from the first month with newborn twins then you’re at the right place.

These expectations are meant to help you and give you a reality of what life with newborn twins might look like.

Keep in mind that each twin baby is completely different so you might experience some different set of challenges.

Below are some of the things you could encounter in the first few weeks with twin babies. I will go into greater detail.

• Feeding a lot
• Amount of diapers you go through
• Crying
• Messy house
• Learning curve
• You’re tougher than you think
• Nobody truly understands you
• Some form of daily routine is your BFF
• Breastfeeding two babies is hard

1. Feeding a lot

Say hello to becoming an expert bartender. Yes, you will be preparing lots of drinks AKA bottles, and/or breastfeeding on demand.

One of the main goals of newborns is to feed, feed, and feed some more.

Their stomachs are very small and they can’t hold a lot of food at a time. This means you will be nursing or bottle feeding pretty frequent.

On a typical day expect to feed your twins anywhere from 8-12 times a day.

Keep in mind that this can vary per baby.

But just wanted to let you know how much of that first month you will spend feeding your twins.

And at times you will feel like all you do is feed twins but that’s ok. Is part of the course. Take it one day at a time.

Be flexible and show up every day ready to learn something new about your twin’s needs.

2. Diapers galore

I told my husband that if the number of diapers we go through could be exchanged for money or even gold we would have been rich.

You’re going to go through a lot of diapers. Especially that first month.

Again all twins will do during the newborn stage is feed, sleep, poop/pee, and repeat.

So how many diapers?

Here is a simple example. If you’re feeding your twins every 2 hours and also changing their diapers then…

That’s about 14 diapers per baby just for changing their diapers during the day. Not even including nighttime.

So like Oprah likes to give things to people. You get to give diapers to your twins.

So you get a diaper and you get a diaper and everyone gets a diaper.

So don’t underestimate the number of diapers you might need. If you’re ever unsure buy extra.

Just keep your receipts because you can always return them or exchange them for the next size.

Is better to be safe than sorry. Nothing worse than going to change a poop diaper and realize that you have no diapers or ran out of wipes. Yikes…

3. Crying

This one you won’t be able to avoid. You have two babies with two personalities and at times different needs.

There will be crying and you wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.

I know it sounds so bad but is true.

You might even find yourself crying because taking care of two babies takes a toll on you mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Especially when your two babies are crying and you can’t do anything about it.

One thing I have always told my postpartum moms is to think about it as a good sign.

If your baby is crying then your baby is breathing.

This is the perfect time to turn something negative into a positive thing.

At some point, you will experience crying. Whether is from one baby or both. So you need to mentally prepare for it.

Whether you find some humor, look at it as a positive thing, or just completely ignore it. You will need to find a way to deal with it.

Because if you don’t mom guilt will kick in and your brain will start playing mind tricks on you.

Try your best to not let yourself go there. Take deep breaths and now that you’re doing everything that you can possibly do.

But at times with two babies and one of you… shoot even if you have help your twins will still cry.

Don’t take it personally.

4. Messy house don’t care

Look that first month with twins is all about becoming a survivor. Tell yourself like Destiny Child’s song that “you’re a survivor and you’re going to make it”

So the way your house looks will need to go out of the window.

Yes, it will be messy, disorganized, chaotic, and your living area might resemble a daycare.

That’s ok.

You need to remember that is only temporary and eventually, you will get into a rhythm, and as your twins get older be able to create a schedule and get organized.

The quicker you learn to let things go and let them be the easier you will be able to adjust.

Remember prioritize. Taking care of you and your twins come first above all.

5. Huge learning curve

You just brought twins from the hospital and are trying to figure out your new life with twins.

There is going to be a lot you will need to learn. And to your luck, you will need to learn about two different babies.

This makes the whole process even more challenging.

Take it one day at a time. Is a lot you need to process.

• You’re learning about tandem nursing if you decide to breastfeed your twins at the same time
• How to bottle feed twins at the same time?
• How to take care of them and even more complicated if you don’t have help. How to take care of your twins alone?
• What are their hunger cues?
• Temperaments?
• Who likes to sleep more?
• Which one needs less sleep?
• Who eats more?
• Do they have the same amount of wet and/or dirty diapers?
• Allergies? sensitivities?
• If you have identical twins how can you tell them apart?

The list is endless of everything you will learn about your babies.

I could literally sit here and just type away but then you will be here all night reading.

So cut yourself some slack because this process alone takes time and you will never stop learning about your twins because each day that they are growing they’re also changing.

6. You’re tougher than you think

You might have anxiety about taking care of your twins and especially if you have to do it alone. OR

You might have all these little thoughts in your head telling you that you can’t do this, how hard it is, and so on.

But you need to understand that you were made for this. You were one of the few mamas out there that gets to experience life with twins.

You got this. You can do this.

Part of getting through it is having the right mindset. So try your best to not let your brain play mind games with you. I know is easier said than done.

But you’re equipped to take care of these babies. So don’t underestimate or undersell the power that you have to get it done.

You survived a twin delivery you can totally get through the twin newborn stage.

And once you get through each stage you will feel like a tough biach… And that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.

7. You will feel alone even when you have help

As much as you will have friends and family help you and do thank them for that.

You might still feel alone.

Why?

Because they don’t know what it’s like to raise twins. They’re only their temporary and as much as they would listen to you vent they have no idea what is like to be a twin mom.

This is why is crucial for you to seek a support system of other twin mamas who know your struggles, how you’re feeling, and can give you the confidence that you will get through it all.

So appreciate the help because I know some might not have it but also know that it is ok to still feel alone.

Acknowledge those feelings because they are real.

The people that are helping you have no idea of what you’re experiencing and what life with twins is truly like.

Having twins is a very unique experience that only other twin moms can possibly relate to.

8. Some form of daily twin routine is your BFF

This is no time for a strict schedule because the first couple of weeks with twins is all about feeding on demand. But you do need some form of routine to stay sane.

With twins, you don’t have the time or luxury to just do whatever at anytime. Unless you want to feed babies all day long you need to create a flexible schedule.

The schedule can be as simple as making sure you wake both babies up at the same time and feed them at the same time.

They will slowly develop a pattern and you will be able to build on that to continue to create a solid routine.

But for now, focus on creating the same and/or stager feeding routines. You need a small amount of sanity.

9. Breastfeeding two babies is hard

So I just said how feeding both babies at the same time will help you stay sane but at the same time doing it is freaking hard.

I only breastfeed my twins for two weeks but those two weeks were insane.

The logistics of getting set up, getting comfortable, latching one baby, and then the other is absolutely insane.

What happens when you don’t have help for someone to pass you the other baby and you need to latch them on by yourself?

What happens when both babies are crying and you can’t get them to latch on?

There is so much that goes into just preparing to breastfeed two babies that makes the whole process even more challenging.

Once you get both twins latched on…

Then you’re worried about…

Are they properly latch on? how painful would it be? how do you keep both of them latch on? what if they don’t nurse for the same amount of time?

So many moms talk about the beauty and how they were able to breastfeed their twins but what happens to us over here who tried or just felt like it was just too overwhelming?

Breastfeeding one baby is hard and you’re trying to breastfeed two and at the same time? You should get an award just for it.

So if you’re working through breastfeeding twins and are finding yourself frustrated at it then you definitely should because is hard.

Try and take it one day at a time, take a breather, ask for help, and at the end just focus on your journey and doing what’s best for your twins and yourself.

Nobody is going to judge for how you chose to feed your twins. Just feed them. And be happy and sane!

Last words for life with newborn twins

The first month with twins is hard. There is a huge learning curve. From trying to figure out your baby’s temperament to feeding, to also taking care of yourself is no easy task.

Take it one day at a time. Know that you’re not alone even when you feel like you are.

You’re a strong mom for waking up every single morning and taking care of not one but two babies.

You can do this. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for.

If you need anything please reach out.

Let me know how has life with your twins has been since you brought them home from the hospital. Drop a comment below.

Other twin related articles:

• How many diapers for twins?
• Best diapers for twins
• Tips for a healthy twin pregnancy
• Pros and cons of having twins
• How to take care of twins alone
• The best twin mom blogs and Youtubers
• How to get twins on a schedule
• The best online twin breastfeeding resources
• How to survive newborn twins

how do you survive the first month with newborn twins?