Best shower gift for expectant mom of twins?

[Jaimee]

ETA: What would be a great gift to give to someone expecting boy/girl twins? I'm thinking around $50 (or less). She already has a nursing pillow- that was my original idea!

Thanks!


Original Post:

I have a friend expecting twins and she is not at all plugged into the parenting community or online forums. She is looking for suggestions on the following things:

1. What are the best, most necessary supplies for twins? (she does plan to breastfeed)

2. What are some great books and/or DVD's that helped with the special challenge of twins?

3. What are some great websites, forums, support groups, etc. for parents of multiples?


Thanks so much for your insight!
Best,
Jaimee

*ETA: I did check out the sticky already!

[Gena 22]

My wisdom?

You're not too far from me too! I spend lots of time in Baltimore, although right now I'm in DC.

1. Join her local twin mom's club. Whether or not she gets into their online list serv, she'll be able to gear up at sales for much less money. Plus, depending on what her delivery plans are, she can get a tip as to the best multiples OBs.

2. DO NOT BIRTH AT GBMC.

3. If she's into homebirth, I can hook her up with some great midwives. I had my twins at home in DC two years ago. Not for everyone, but I loved it.

4. She'll need an EZ2Nurse pillow for breastfeeding. Just do it! Lots of people may tell her she can't BF twins, but a lot of it is expectation. It's totally possible.

Hmmm, what else? Here are my favorite links:

http://www.uptodate.com/home/content...=labordel/5122
http://www.naturallyparentingtwins.com/
http://www.lookydaddy.com/weblog/200..._that_mos.html

Good luck to her!

And the more food you can provide her, the better. Food now (lots of protein and other goodies, leafy greens, etc.), and food when she's got newborns. That was the area I needed and got the most help. Feed her!

[Jaimee]

Thanks Gena, but my friend is in MA, not here in MD. I did suggest to her looking into homebirthing options, but she's not ready for that. Maybe if she has some subsequent kids! Thanks for the rest of the info, I passed it along to her and I know she'll be grateful!

[Gena 22]

Well, you'll have to play things by ear about encouraging a natural birth for your friend and her twins. Natural twin hospital birth is tough to come by, outside of homebirth. Many providers freak out a little at the thought of twins. I wouldn't have homebirthed if my OBs hadn't been so over medical with me. If I had a singleton I probably would have hoped for a natural hospital birth, with twins I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.

But that said, there are a lot of decent reasons to choose a hospital birth. Still, she should shop around for the best OB. Experience matters a lot with twins.

The Boston twin club is the BEST!!! Hope she's near enough to be part of it.

[DiannaK]

Isn't it funny, that our twins clubs are so different? I wouldn't necessarily recommend my local twins club. Seriously, the ONLY benefit for me was the twins sale, and I don't even always participate.

I wrote a post about how we survived these first TWO years (how did that happen?), and much of it is my support system. This message board has been beyond phenomenal with love and support.

I would strongly encourage your friend to join up here.

[Jaimee]