Caring for the twins

tlcdoula · 03-25-2007, 07:01 PM

Last night I did my first overnighter ever for a family with twins. Mom is not nursing so when I got there at 9 pm mom went right to bed and slept through until 6 am. The twins are on a schedule of eating every two hours and it took about an hour for each baby. Meaning - baby a would get up at midnight to get changed, eat, burp and then needs to be upright for 1/2 hour since he has acid reflux. Just when we would go down baby b would get up and the same thing. He would go down and baby a would be up.

I loved doing it, but I don't know how the heck the parents do it every single night. For me, it was one night of no sleep, but I couldn't imagine doing it every single day (I guess that is why they had me there

).

I am going back tomorrow for five hours, and then we will see if they want me to continue coming or not. I know mom mentioned possibly having me come for a few more overnighters

I have to admit that I am finding a very huge appreciation for pp work.

Tiffany · 03-25-2007, 07:35 PM

That is awesome Michelle.

jessa_bee · 03-25-2007, 08:24 PM

I just finished a month of overnights with twins -- phew!

I can't imagine that the family isn't going to want you back for loads more overnights!

- Jessa

doula Michele · 03-25-2007, 08:44 PM

Wow.. that sounds so fun!
i am really considering doing more post-partum work. When I visited the new mom I am now mentoring, my old boss commented on how I am 'the baby whisperer".
I sometimes forget how I love newborn to about 3 months.

Amydoula · 03-25-2007, 09:01 PM

Glad it went well!

Kacy · 03-25-2007, 09:16 PM

That's great!

Rachel G. · 03-27-2007, 12:13 PM

So glad that everything went well... I miss working with multiples my last nanny job was with twins. While going to massage school I lived with a family that had 2 todlers and triplets. Once you find a rythm and get into a schedual it's great.. Good luck I know she will want you to come back.

jesscardona · 03-27-2007, 12:18 PM

OMG!! I just read that post Michelle and I thought of my sister!!

Anyways.. I'm sure it's good money.. but you sure gotta love doing that..

tlcdoula · 03-27-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel G.

So glad that everything went well... I miss working with multiples my last nanny job was with twins. While going to massage school I lived with a family that had 2 todlers and triplets. Once you find a rythm and get into a schedual it's great.. Good luck I know she will want you to come back.

Yes, I was with them again yesterday and she invited me back this weekend for another overnighter.

I can't wait!!!! They are such adorable little boys and the family is so wonderful to work with - easy going, very kind people.

tlcdoula · 03-27-2007, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesscardona

OMG!! I just read that post Michelle and I thought of my sister!!

Anyways.. I'm sure it's good money.. but you sure gotta love doing that..

Yes, I actually do love doing it. The best part is that I can love them, enjoy them, put all my energy into them and then go home

. That is the one thing I love about pp work - I get to be with the babies, and actually hold them (something I tend not to do as a labor doula).

jesscardona · 03-27-2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcdoula

Yes, I actually do love doing it. The best part is that I can love them, enjoy them, put all my energy into them and then go home

. That is the one thing I love about pp work - I get to be with the babies, and actually hold them (something I tend not to do as a labor doula).

yeah that's true.. that's what I'm doing too with other babies.. I start to get that baby fever thing.. so I hold'em for a while.. I get enough and then I give em' back to their parents..

Neshama · 03-27-2007, 05:52 PM

Thats great, Michelle! Wow... I love that... I'm jealous!

cherishbirth · 03-27-2007, 06:35 PM

Hi- just wanted to add something- I'm a mummy of twins- and the feeding thing definatley takes a lot of time at first. I was given a twin feeding pillow- which was amazing as you can feed both babies at once!

I breastfed my bubs- so I didn't use the pillow until about 6 weeks- but I imagine with bottles you could use it earlier...

just a suggestion....
enjoy the twins!!

NewMoonDoula · 03-27-2007, 07:38 PM

Another mama of twins chiming in... those first few months are tough, I wish I had pp help! I don't know how I would have survived if it weren't for bfing... when ever one woke up, I would make the other get up and nurse too because otherwise they would just switch back and forth all night long! It can be overwhelming, what a lucky mama she is to have your help!

tlcdoula · 03-27-2007, 09:06 PM

Wow, I didn't realize that we had so many mamas to twins here

This mama doesn't want the boys on the same schedule. At first she said she did, but she isn't doing anything to get them on the same schedule and it isn't my place to push the issue. I am just going with the flow!!