Naomi catches up with Shanice who after hearing all sorts of dramatic and negative stories about twin pregnancy and birth went on to have a relatively uneventful pregnancy and birth.
Author: Melissa Biedak, Podiatrist, Children’s Podiatry Clinics
An amazing journey has just begun! Your multiples have just reached an exciting new milestone – walking.
Walking allows your children to explore the world like never before. Your children’s bodies are prepared for this new exploration, the bumps, the trips and the falls with it’s soft, flexible and elastic nature.
When a child begins to walk, they usually have a very flat footed stomp. You can hear them walking or running down the corridor. Stomp, stomp, stomp!
Once a few months have passed, your twins or triplets will become more confident with their walking pattern, and they will be wanting to explore new heights and adventures. This will eventually include climbing and running.
Usually, the best adventures around the house should be barefoot if the weather allows for it. Socks with little grips on the bottom may also be helpful if it is a little cold. This will help develop your child’s balance and co-ordination.
Within the first few months of walking, you may notice that one or all of your multiples are experimenting with their walking style. This is part of the process of gaining balance. Some children for a short time may tip toe walk at some point within the first few months of walking. Quite often this phase will resolve on its own, however, if it does not resolve within a short time an assessment with a health professional may be required.
Author: Amber Hort, Speech Pathologist, Nest Therapy Services
While there is lots of variation in language development for all children, research shows that language development in twins and multiples tends to take longer than their singleton peers and siblings to develop. Male multiples tend to be most at risk for language delays, often being around 6 months behind female multiples, and communication delays are more common in identical twins (suggesting there is a genetic link!). However, there are supports available!
Naomi and guest co-host Tiffany meet first time mum of twins, Rhianon.
They talk all things multiple birth pregnancy and Rhianon shares how she got suddenly really sick with pre-eclampsia once her girls were born.
Finding out the sex of your multiples can be a wonderful or an upsetting moment.
Nix and Naomi discuss is it ok to feel gender disappointment and is it a normal feeling particularly with multiples?
Author: Sarah Lavis
Is your colleague expecting twins, triplets or more? How can employers best support employees bringing multiple babies into the world?
Being pregnant with multiples is such an exciting time, but there are a few things employers should be aware of during the pregnancy, maternity leave period and the ultimate return to work. It’s quite different to expecting one baby and comes with a unique set of challenges. Being informed of what a multiple birth pregnancy entails, knowing how to support an expectant multiple birth parent and ultimately being their advocate will set your employee up for success in the workplace.
Note: This article is written about mothers welcoming twins, but much of it applies to those expecting triplets or more as well as partners.
Author: Kelly Poole
When I was a little girl, or even a teenager, I didn’t dream that I’d be a single mother. I had a plan for university, getting a job teaching, marriage, travel, house and then kids. By the time I was in my thirties, the job, travel and house had all fallen into place- but I was no closer to marriage and kids than I was when I finished high school. One by one, my friends, family and siblings all found their love, bought their homes, married and settled down to family life.
Make no mistake, my life was great. I travelled the world, I took on higher duties at work, I studied things that interested me, I bought my own house. However, it made me sad to think that I was going to miss out on having a family. The deeper I looked at my life and myself, I realised that I wasn’t sad that I didn’t have that special someone, I was sad that I’d miss out on kids. With that revelation, I did what I do, and I started my research. This is what is called the “thinking phase” of becoming a Single Mother By Choice (SMBC).
First, let’s be clear, there are lots of ways to be a single Mum, you probably know at least one Mum doing it all on her own. A SMBC is someone who has intentionally taken action to become a parent on their own, via donor conception (sperm, sperm and egg, embryo) foster care, adoption or foster care or any combination of these. The mother takes this action knowing that they will be the sole parent of their child – at least at the outset.
Author: Hannah Jarman
Congratulations, you’ve brought your twins (or more) home! Now the reality has hit you and you’ve realised you need to bathe them! So how do you do it?
Here are five options for bathing newborn twins or triplets, from one multi parent to another!
Author: Belinda Smith
I remember thinking early on in our multiple birth journey that there would be two milestones the babies were going to achieve that would be the most taxing on us as their parents – that being toilet training and learning to drive. Now my trio have only just turned 7 so stay tuned for the learning to drive blog. However, true to form, toilet training triplets did not disappoint.
I will preface this blog by saying that my boys are my first (and last!) children so I had absolutely no experience in teaching another human being how to listen to their body and use a toilet. Let alone toilet training triplets! Also, I am sure that you have seen the advertisements for apps or stories on Facebook that claim “Potty train your child in 3 days!” That might be all well and good if you are talking about training a singleton. I hate to break it to you, but for twins, triplets or more that is not going to be your reality.
Author: Stacey Spanos
“I am just so tired…” is the constant statement pumping through my veins. I try and try not to be, but I just am. This is who I am now – a mum of four, two of the four being the twins who unapologetically entered our lives like the bundles of perfection but little whirlwinds that they are.
My days are what I would describe as bittersweet. I enjoy the little moments, the cuddles and the laughter. But on the flip side, I have never been so exhausted in my life.
