Twin Talks: Pregnancy and Parenting Multiple Children

We know that having twins disrupts our plans. As expecting parents, we’ve been planning for their arrival with excitement and terror all at the same time. And if you already have one or more children, have you thought much about how welcome this new twosome is going to be? Today we’re here with twin mom and author Kerri Otto and here to talk about how to introduce your new twins to an older singleton so that they feel like they are still a big part of this growing family circus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a soon-to-be twin dad, there’s probably a million things running through your head each day, as it gets closer to The Big Day of your twins’ arrival. You probably have a long to-do list of things that your partner wants you to do and you might be anxious about how you’re going to manage all these details. You want to be supportive and well-informed, but just don’t have the time to sort through all the information out there. That’s where you need to get the low-down from a twin dad expert who can break it all down into what you need to know most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labor is just like any other athletic event in that women must prepare both their minds and bodies. However, women are frequently told: “Don’t start an exercise program if you haven’t been exercising.” The misconception here lies in the definition of exercise. Muscle strength, flexibility, relaxation and proper nutrition are the other components of fitness and are vital before, during and after a woman’s twin pregnancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We know that having twins disrupts our plans. As expecting parents, we’ve been planning for their arrival with excitement and terror all at the same time. And if you already have one or more children, have you thought much about how welcome this new twosome is going to be? Today we’re here with twin mom and author Kerri Otto and here to talk about how to introduce your new twins to an older singleton so that they feel like they are still a big part of this growing family circus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re a soon-to-be twin dad, there’s probably a million things running through your head each day, as it gets closer to The Big Day of your twins’ arrival. You probably have a long to-do list of things that your partner wants you to do and you might be anxious about how you’re going to manage all these details. You want to be supportive and well-informed, but just don’t have the time to sort through all the information out there. That’s where you need to get the low-down from a twin dad expert who can break it all down into what you need to know most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As twin parents, when we watch our kids grow and develop, we see our twins’ unique relationship manifested through cycles of sibling rivalry and interdependence. These cycles can last days, hours, or minutes but always seem to hinge on the element of sameness. So, how can we help nudge our twins towards alternatives? How can we help them embrace their twindom while still standing out in a crowd? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you planning on returning to work after having twins? If so, how can you find flexibility in your existing job or in a new job that allows to you be the hands-on parent that you desire and still be a breadwinner? Our twin moms share their personal experiences! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It seems like it’s a never ending marathon. We all know that the first year of being a twin parent can be overwhelming and put us into what we know as survival mode. But are we destined to just “survive?” Or is it possible to have a more fulfilling life than just “getting by” during this time? Our expert today is Kristen Eberly, twin mom, and twin mom coach. She’s the founder of Harmony in Multiples, who helps twin moms go from “surviving into thriving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ready to name your twins or triplets? Where do you even start? Today we're looking at the current trends when it comes to naming your new little bundles of joy! Should you be "matchy matchy" with your names? What are some cool ways to showcase their uniqueness without overdoing it? Plus, discover what Marvel and Game of Thrones character names are really popular right now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Going out in public with your twins in tow can be quite a challenge. Not to mention all the unsolicited comments from well-meaning strangers. What are some of the common questions asked? What's the best way to respond to them? And when it comes to really personal topics, such as IVF or other fertility options, how do you handle the situation gracefully without divulging too much information? Plus, what to do when people start asking your twins questions and bypass you altogether. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labor is just like any other athletic event in that women must prepare both their minds and bodies. However, women are frequently told: “Don’t start an exercise program if you haven’t been exercising.” The misconception here lies in the definition of exercise. Muscle strength, flexibility, relaxation and proper nutrition are the other components of fitness and are vital before, during and after a woman’s twin pregnancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have mo-di twins, you may have already heard of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. It's a complication that can happen during any twin pregnancy in which the babies share a placenta. How are pregnancies diagnosed with this condition? How can it impact your twins? And what options do you have to hopefully remedy the situation and keep your babies in utero for as long as possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're getting ready to send your twins to kindergarten, but are they really ready? How do you know? What if one child is ready and the other isn't, do you still send them both? Do you put them in the same class? Learn how various twin types may react to this new social environment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You may have been dreaming about having a homebirth when you were first planning your pregnancy. And then when you learned you were having twins, that vision may have gone out the window. Perhaps your doctor told you that delivering twins outside of a hospital is too risky. But is it? What is the real evidence for determining what is safe for you and your babies? Today we are talking with Dr. Victoria Flores, a fully licensed, obstetrically trained physician who has attended over a thousand births and about 100 out of hospital and we’re going to talk about evidence-based considerations for twin home births. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're carrying identical twins, they could be mo-di or monochorionic diamniotic. But what exactly does that mean for you and your babies? Does sharing the same placenta require additional monitoring? Should you expect additional care from your obstetrician or perinatologist? Mothers of mo-di twins share their personal experiences! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have infant twins, you already know that you can count on dressing them in multiple outfits each day. Not because they are fashionistas, but because of the inevitable spit-ups, blow-outs, spills, and everything else that gets them grimy. Between diapering and changing clothes multiple times a day, you just learn to grin and bear it. But what if there are ways to make this easier? Today we’re talking about hacks to make it easier to get twin babies dressed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your little ones could tell you what they are really thinking and how they feel about your twin parenting strategy, what would they say? Would they tell you that they love dressing alike or absolutely hate it? Will they ever appreciate all the effort that you have put into giving them opportunities to express themselves as an individual? Today we can hit the “fast forward button” and talk to adult twins about their experience growing up and what they wished their parents knew when they were young. And we will get a professional perspective from twin expert Dr. Joan Friedman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Working with twins? Is it really possible? Not everyone can afford full-time childcare, so what other options do you have if the traditional model of full-time work isn't an option? Where should you look for jobs that are a little more flexible? How can you adjust your resume if you've been out of work for a while? And what about the possibility of starting your own business? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As soon as we learned that we were pregnant with twins, we received a long list of to-dos and don’ts. We were told that our diet needed to change, even if we were healthy eaters before and that we need to ensure that we get the right nutrients for our bodies and the growing babies inside. Is it really different for twin pregnancies? Today we’re looking at how using prenatal vitamins might be different for twin pregnancies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've heard about postpartum depression and perhaps we have friends affected by it. But what about twin mamas? If you are carrying multiple babies, are you more prone to experiencing postpartum depression? What can you expect? And is there anything you can do to avoid it or perhaps minimize the risks? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices