Pregnant with twins, how to get organized? 5 tips

Silvia Rori, " professional organizer" and mother of twins, shares with us 5 practical tips for a serene twin pregnancy and (more or less) efficient day-to-day organization.

I remember as if it were yesterday the feeling I felt when I saw the puzzled expression of my gynecologist looking at the screen. I was afraid she was going to tell me something was wrong. I wanted to ask her questions, but I was afraid of the answers. She was finally the first to speak.

"Do you know what those two black dots mean?" pointing to the screen at my husband and me. You're pregnant with twins.

I can't really explain the emotion at the time because it was so unexpected and unimaginable, but I remember my husband asking for a chair so he wouldn't pass out (laughs). That moment marked the beginning of the biggest and most beautiful upheaval of our lives.

During my pregnancy, I read a lot about twins, because for me it was a completely new world. I gathered countless pieces of information from different sources in order to prepare myself as well as possible to manage this new life as a double mom (smile), but in reality, all the theory in the world is no match for practice.

Are you ready? We're off!

Planning
The first tip concerns planning. I advise you to start as soon as you're pregnant, as this will make your day-to-day life with children much easier. You can buy everything you need in advance (diapers... lots of them!). Organize the different baby areas in the house (bedroom, bathroom...) well in advance, so that you don't stress at the last minute and can enjoy your pregnancy with peace of mind.

Daily follow-up
In the beginning, with the intense rhythm of babies, it's easy to lose track of time, so I found it very useful to keep a diary in which I recorded the following information for each child:

Breastfeeding/bottle-feeding times (and amount of milk if possible)
Frequency of urination and bowel movements
Weight (it is not necessary to weigh them after each feed, unless recommended by the paediatrician/midwife)
Notes (sleep, mood...)

This tool was very useful for getting an overview of the situation at a time when you're particularly tired and can no longer tell the difference between day and night, but also for easily passing on correct information to the paediatrician.

Aligning rhythms
Try, as far as possible, toalign their rhythms. Obviously, each child has specific needs at different times, but try to set up routines to synchronize them as much as possible. This will save you time, energy and perhaps 5 minutes for a shower (smile).

Feed them at the same time
If you're breastfeeding, there are certain positions in which you can feed both babies at the same time. The most common is called the "rugby player" position, which takes its name from the fact that one child is placed under each arm, like a rugby ball. A breastfeeding cushion will make you less tired and more comfortable. If you're bottle-feeding, take your breastfeeding cushion and support one child on each side. If you're lucky enough to have help at home, take turns feeding your children.
Get them to sleep at the same times
It won't be immediate, but try to set up routines & rituals as soon as possible.

Outings
Pack a change of clothes for every outing! Don't forget to bring a toy and something to chew on if you're not breast-feeding, to help you avoid a few tantrums. If you're planning to eat out, take along some handy containers in which to store purées and other pre-prepared compotes.

Individual time
Like all children, twins also need exclusive time with their mother, father or anyone else who is important to them. Because they're always together, it's very important to pay special attention to each one individually, even if it's just for 5 or 10 minutes!

Small comments:

Your children will constantly ask you "what about me? If you decide to take one of them for a spin, be mentally prepared to have to do it again with the second.
As they get older, the silly things they do will double in number, one will be inspired by the other, and you'll easily lose control of the situation. Don't panic, it's normal, it'll pass.
If one gets sick (especially in the first year of school), be sure the other does too.

But the good news is that when you become the mother of twins, you'll become the queen of multitasking. Like an octopus, you'll develop unsuspected skills for doing a thousand things at once.

Having twins is an emotional tsunami. Admittedly, it takes a little time to get your bearings, but with organization and patience, you'll get the hang of it. Above all, having twins means twice as much happiness and love.