From One Twin Mama to Another: For the Mama Expecting Twins

To the mama expecting twins,

Each week you post pictures of your growing belly, and I look back at my own from nine years ago. I love hearing about what changes are happening and getting a chance to reminisce about my own pregnancy. Your body will continue to grow and stretch over these next weeks. Eventually, you’ll get to the point that you are certain you are just going to burst. The babies will also be growing and stretching, and their movements will go from sweet to subconsciously wondering if they are finding an alternate escape route.

I can tell you from experience that twins are a lot of work, but it’s the most rewarding job you will ever have. What you are going to experience is unlike anything you have ever been through before, and no one can fully prepare you. I can tell you this, embrace each moment, starting with your pregnancy. Treasure each kick, even the painful ones. Before you know it, they will arrive and you will find yourself wondering where nine months just went.

Sleep is something you will soon learn to live without, or at least get in minimal doses. As with all newborns, these babies will be demanding of your time and attention; but believe me, the hard days do not last. Remember to laugh at the tough moments, like when one has a blowout all over you while the other is screaming to be fed. Just breathe. Take a hot shower whenever the option is available because those are the moments when you get to refocus. It’s easy to turn into a robot that just feeds, changes diapers, and rocks babies to sleep. You are still a human and you need to love yourself as well.

There might come a day when you look down and see the left-over pouch of skin that these two precious babies created. I know from experience that it can be frustrating and discouraging, regardless of the amount of exercise you put in. Just remember that belly grew two, healthy human beings. Your stretch marks (if you get any) are your warrior stripes, proving to the world just how strong the woman’s body truly is. That left-over pouch kept them safe, nourished them, and gave them the shelter to grow in. It’s the new, best feature a woman can have!

Please know that having twins will also release this weird phenomenon that you have probably noticed. Everyone you encounter either has twins knows twins or has a close relative/friend with twins.  There will be advice coming from all corners of the universe because they obviously know what’s best for your children. Take it all with a grain of salt, because mama always knows best. You will most likely have at least one person ask you the awkward question of “are they natural?” Hopefully, unlike me, you can come up with a witty one-liner to shut them up. I can’t say that people don’t mean to be rude, but I swear it’s normally just ignorance.

Whatever you do, cherish those moments when they’re fresh into this world. Soak up your time with them and take millions of photographs. Trust me, they will love those when they’re older. You will blink and wonder how in the world time has gone by so fast. Each stage brings more happiness and new memories to hold onto. God has a special place in heaven for the mothers of twins, that part I’m sure of!

You’ve got this, sister!

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