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Caring For Marvelous Multiples Suzanne O'Neill, R.N., an educator who teaches the Marvelous Multiples class for the Women's Health Department at Saint Barnabas, is intimately familiar with her subject matter. As the mother of 18-month-old twin boys, Ms. O'Neill has learned to keep an open mind in her child rearing and encourages the same for other mothers-to-be. "Some things work for some people and others do not," she relates. "A lot of times that means that you try it yourself and then stick with what works." For example, many expectant parents of twins ask the question of what to do when one infant wakes up in the night while the other remains asleep. Ms. O'Neill had success with the more dominant baby controlling the feeding schedule. After feeding one baby, she would then rouse the sleeping baby and feed him. This allowed her to form a schedule and also gain some sleep time for herself. However, she is quick to add that other parents may not be comfortable waking a sleeping baby and may prefer to feed on demand. In this matter, she recommends that parents "do what works for them." The Twin Life Ms. O'Neill kept her boys in one crib until about three months of age. She read that twins tend to synchronize their heartbeats in the same crib and provide a comfort to each other. Even if one twin awoke, it did not seem to wake the other. In terms of feeding, Ms. O'Neill found that she preferred to feed one at a time. Only once did she breastfeed them both at the same time, "because they were screaming and I panicked. "However, she knows other moms who have enjoyed simultaneous breastfeeding and found that it saves time. Another benefit, the baby who is the stronger nurser can encourage the milk flow for the weaker nurser. As bonded as the O'Neill boys have become, their personalities are very different, as can often be the case with twins. "The firstborn is the one who is up first and eats quickly," she says. "The other little guy is more laid-back and can eat whenever." The O'Neills try to spend separate time with the boys, with her husband taking one twin for a walk while she plays with the other. In this way they can appreciate the pleasures of one-on-one attention. Big Changes for the Family
On the other hand, she has found an instant connection with mothers of twins and a throng of admirers everywhere she and the boys travel. She says this is a common experience for new parents with twins. "I go to the mall and can't walk two feet without someone coming up to the stroller," she laughs. "You get so much attention. When we took them for a walk at the beach this year there were grandmothers coming down off their porches to see them." Despite the extra work, Ms. O'Neill says there are extra rewards for the parents of twins. Watching the special relationship unfolds between the two and sharing that bond is a priceless experience. Tips for Parents Don't feel that you have to buy two of everything. Try to buy one set and then borrow another.
To learn more about the Marvelous Multiples class, please call the Women's Health Department at (973) 322 5360. [ top ] |
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Even though she is getting more sleep now than when the twins were first born, Ms. O'Neill says that sometimes it can be "a really long day." Perhaps the biggest hurdle has been fitting in old hobbies and interests to maintain a sense of her former self. Also complicated by the birth of twins has been relationships with friends who do not have children and can't relate to the experience.
