Twinspiration: Real-Life Advice from Pregnancy through the First Year and Beyond

by Cheryl Lage

Overview

A hybrid of prescriptive "how-to" guidebook and intimate diary, Twinspiration recounts with unabashed personal detail the tribulations and triumphs of a twin pregnancy and first year of life with twins. Incorporating a conversational, humorous tone throughout, Cheryl Lage provides a double dose of user-friendly suggestions, real-life advice, and heartfelt empathy.

This updated and revised edition includes Q&A segments with readers, musings on life with growing multiples, and reflections on life beyond the first year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781630762339
Publisher:	Taylor Trade Publishing
Publication date:	08/01/2016
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Cheryl Lage is a freelance writer/editor, a part-time video post-producer, and a full-time wife and mom.

Her twin-centric family perspectives have appeared in a wide array of print, web, and broadcast media including: USAToday, Good Housekeeping, MSN.com, TWINS, Pregnancy, AmericanBaby.com, Parents.com, ePregnancy.com, Martha Stewart Living Radio, People’s Celebrity Baby Blog, RichmondMom.com, Richmond Parents Monthly, and her former web support site, Twinsights.com.

Currently, Cheryl Lage lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia. When she’s not working or expounding on the adventures of twin parenting, she’s a volunteer museum tourguide, is active in in her church and book club, but above all else, prefers basking in leisurely time with her husband and twins. Learn more about Cheryl and her family by visiting her blog, Twinfatuation.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword Dr. Lora Christian ix

Acknowledgments xi

After a Decade with Our Duo xiii

Twintroduction xv

Part I Trepidation, Seeking Information

Chapter 1 What?! There Are Two Buns in the Oven? 3

Chapter 2 You Are Not Alone (And May Never Re Again) 5

Part II Expectation

Chapter 3 So You Are Extra Knocked-Up: The Early Days of Twin Pregnancy (the First Trimester) 9

Chapter 4 Paranoia and the Plural Pregnancy 17

Chapter 5 The Coming Months: Moving Through the Middle (The Second Trimester) 29

Chapter 6 Tests, Ultrasounds, and Probes 39

Chapter 7 A-Child, B-Child, He-Child, She-Child (The Third Trimester) 51

Part III Preparation and Anticipation

Chapter 8 Prenatal Agreements 67

Chapter 9 Twice the Bibs, Twice the Cribs, and Other "You'll Need Twice as Much" Fibs 83

Chapter 10 Twice the Wash, Twice the "Omigosh!" and Twice the Butternut Squash 91

Chapter 11 Maximizing Modern Mommy Marvels 95

Part IV At Last, the New Generation

Chapter 12 A Labor Story 107

Chapter 13 You, in the Hospital, Postpartum 117

Chapter 14 You, at Home, Postpartum 121

Chapter 15 The Days of Haze: The First Few Weeks 131

Part V Navigation and Coordination

Chapter 16 Routine, Routine, Routine 137

Chapter 17 Breastfeeding Twins: Teats for TWO 143

Chapter 18 Breastfeeding Surprises, or Tit-Bits No One Talks About 153

Chapter 19 The Poo Log 163

Chapter 20 Mommy Is Outnumbered! 169

Chapter 21 Maneuvering Multiples: Logical Logistics 171

Chapter 22 Destination: Double-Duty Diaper Bag. 189

Chapter 23 Financial Finagling 193

Chapter 24 Air Travel with Twinfants 201

Chapter 25 Full Family Flu and Other Sagas in Sickness 209

Part VI Maturation

Chapter 26 Adventures in Solid Foods 219

Chapter 27 Avoiding Assessments 229

Chapter 28 From Foreplay to Floor Play: Your Evolving Relationship with Your Spouse 235

Chapter 29 Everyone Makes Mistakes, Oh Yes, They Do 243

Part VII Your Special Situation

Chapter 30 Twin Benefits 253

Chapter 31 Adults Say the Darnedest Things 259

Chapter 32 The Best Advice I Ever, and Never, Got 263

Chapter 33 Experience, Not Expertise: The First Year, Month-by-Month 269

Chapter 34 Frequently Asked Questions: Everything You Wanted to Know About Conceiving, Delivering, Raising Young Twins, but Were Afraid to Ask 299

Part VIII Celebration

Chapter 35 Your First-Year Graduation Speech-Congratulations! 309

Part IX After Their First Birthday… Twinfatuation

Chapter 36 Readers' Twinquiries Addressed! 313

Chapter 37 Musings on Life with Growing Multiples 331

Chapter 38 Those Twin Moms and Dads Were Right: It Does Get Easier… Sometimes 347

Glossary of Useful Twin Terms 349

Helpful Web Resources for Parents of Multiples 359

Index 361

About the Author 381

Editorial Reviews

When I found out I was having twins, I immediately went to the bookstore to find information about my pregnancy and post-partum twin experience. But most of the books were about medical nightmares! Twinspiration was exactly what I needed to understand and get excited about the highs and lows of becoming a parent of twins. Cheryl's witty writing style is perfect for an anxious mom-to-be. It's like getting the real scoop from a girlfriend who's been there! My husband even enjoyed reading her play-by-play labor story, now he's sure he's prepared for the real thing!

Pam Hervey

I turned to Twinspiration time and time again during my pregnancy and first years as a mother of twins. Reading Cheryl Lage’s practical tips, reassuring advice, and funny anecdotes is like chatting with a big sister or best friend who’s been there, done that, and is rooting for you all the way.

Jane Roper

With your pregnancy ups and downs multiplied by two, where do you go for guidance? How will you handle twins? What will raising twins really be like? In Twinspiration, Cheryl Lage provides insight into the life of twin parents, from the early stages of pregnancy through early toddlerdom. She provides the necessary information on how to prepare for and handle the twin-specific situations that are bound to arise. Her book is also chock full of twin-parenting advice that will help you keep your sanity and your twins in check. The more you and your partner are prepared for your "twin mommy/daddy" titles, the more you can look forward to your two bundles of joy. Be confident for your role as a parent of twins! If you're a new twin mommy, or a twin mommy to be, I highly recommend getting a copy of Twinspiration!

Rachel Lower

Twinspiration is the ultimate go-to guide for the mom-to-be with two or more babies on the way. Part pregnancy guide, part heart-to-heart conversation with another mom of twins who has made this exciting journey, this book deserves a place of honor in the mountain of twin pregnancy books accumulating on your bedside table.

Ann Douglas

All parents or parents-to-be of twins and higher-order multiples are going to receive their fair share of helpful and less-than-helpful advice on how to handle two-or-more babies, but will probably be lacking in battle-tested advice from parents who've been there, done that. With a nice combination of high humor and low hubris, Cheryl Lage provides a fun and practical handbook for parents of multiples. Written by a long-time, valued contributor to Twinstuff.com, we recommend this book to all moms and dads of multiples.

Craig Sanders

Mother of twins Darren and Sarah, Cheryl Lage uses humor, personal anecdotes and a friendly, conversational tone in her helpful book, Twinspiration. The host of the popular online twins website twinsights.com and a contributor to Twins™ Magazine, Lage provides insightful, honest advice and practical information for new and expecting parents of multiples.

Twins Magazine

[Cheryl's] writing is beautifully done and the information was excellent. I wish such a resource had been available 8 years ago when my girls were born. A book such as Twinspiration is needed out there for the common sense approach to raising twins, I think it will be well received. I would buy it and recommend it to future twin parent patients.

Lora G. Christian

Packed with advice, personal experiences, and humor(often at the author's expense), Twinspiration should be in the anxious hands of every doubly-blessed parent. In fact, any couple anticipating parenthood (or marriage, for that matter) would benefit from Mrs. Lage's thoughts under the heading "Prenatal Agreements". Failure to consider the topics in that chapter lands many couples in a therapist's office. You will be emotionally richer for reading this wise and witty book.

Katherine B. Coates

If you are the least bit curious about what to expect at each phase of your twins' development — and you need to know that you're not insane if the same kind of anecdotes that Cheryl (and Scott) share so humbly with us happen to you and your twins — then you need to read this book. I only wish that Cheryl had written it before my wife and I had our twins! People always say they wish their babies came with an instruction manual. While no book will give you all the answers, Twinspiration is as close as it comes — with a huge heaping of humor thrown in to let you know that the main criteria for getting through it all is something you were born with and the reason you decided to start a family in the first place: love. An absolutely wonderful book!

Bruce & Susan Lindeman

How does a mom handle pregnancy and life with twins? With careful planning, a positive attitude, a sense of adventure, and a copy of Twinspiration by her side. Even though nothing can help with sleep deprivation, the information in Twinspiration will help get new and expecting twin moms through the worry, confusion, and stress so they can enjoy the joy and excitement that all new babies bring.

Connie Correia Fisher -

The perfect mix of practical tips and honest advice from a veteran twin mom, Twinspiration was truly indispensable during my pregnancy and early years with twins. It was my go-to guide when I was raising twins; it's now my go-to gift for anyone expecting twins.

Gloria Fallon

Anyone who is expecting or has twins needs all the help they can get. Reading Twinspiration is a great start.

Carol Livoti

"The perfect mix of practical tips and honest advice from a veteran twin mom, Twinspiration was truly indispensable during my pregnancy and early years with twins. It was my go-to guide when I was raising twins; it's now my go-to gift for anyone expecting twins."
--Gloria Fallon, Humorist/Author

“I turned toTwinspirationtime and time again during my pregnancy and first years as a mother of twins. Reading Cheryl Lage’s practical tips, reassuring advice, and funny anecdotes is like chatting with a big sister or best friend who’s been there, done that, and is rooting for you all the way.”
--Jane Roper, author ofDouble Time: How I Survived—and Mostly Thrived—Through my First Three Years Mothering Twins.

From the Publisher