u/YouthInternational14

…are killing me 😩

My twins are 5.5 months, 4.5 months adjusted. We have an older toddler so we’ve been through this before somewhat but dear god.

My twins are still taking five 30 minute naps a day most days. Their wake windows are rarely longer than 90 minutes. Every now and then they do four naps, usually if one of us goes in and holds them partway through a nap if they are stirring.

During their wake windows they mostly lay on a mat and play/do tummy time but they are constantly frustrated by the positions they get into and wanting to be picked up.

Overnight sleep is not great but could be worse. But the ups and downs of getting them down a combined 10 times a day plus bedtime is taking me out. I have a herniated disc (my PCP thinks anyway) probably from some combo of pregnancy hormones and shitty posture when tandem feeding. And the bending, lifting, carrying all day, my god.

I am solo parenting the twins this weekend because of my husband job, luckily other family nearby are taking care of my toddler and I’m extremely grateful. But my twins first nap started at 6:45 AM today and I just feel full of rage. Not to mention all the tricks people throw out for extending wake windows are so hard to do with two. With my singleton we held her for naps and so I think that’s why she could take slightly longer ones, even through this phase.

I also just finished weaning from pumping and breastfeeding so I am in a state, hormonally speaking. And our twins just started daycare which is sad and a relief simultaneously.

What age (actual and adjusted) did your twins consolidate naps?

I am seeing mixed info online about this. Can I put the water tank for the formula pro advanced in the dishwasher?

Thank you!

I am dealing with some weird pain in my mid back that presents as tingling up and down (not around rib cage) on either side of my spine. It started one day when I was leaning over to give my twins bottles in a very dumb position - I have since found a more ergonomic way to feed them.

But the tingling always comes back, especially when bending over, holding my twins, leaning forward…and there is a LOT of bending over/leaning forward/holding babies with twins (five months now. this started three months ago). Sometimes it hurts and sometimes it just feels creepy. Sometimes one side hurts more than the other.

I saw my doctor and the PT I was already seeing for pelvic floor stuff. I got x-rays. My doctor said she thought herniated disc, the PT said it sounded “disc-y” but nothing super conclusive. The PT gave me exercises to strengthen my serratus anterior and some sort of back expanding stretches. Also working on core strengthening and pelvic floor stuff because I am generally weak in there. I cannot tell if anything is helping because I always end up back in those movement patterns again and my twins just keep getting bigger 😭 the good news is they are starting daycare so my back can get a break most days. But all the movement is pretty non-negotiable the rest of the time.

When I read other peoples’ experiences with bulging/herniated thoracic discs it sounds more extreme than what I’m dealing with, but the tingling up and down on the sides still freaks me out and I don’t want it to get worse given how active I need to be with my twins + toddler. Doctor + PT both weren’t surprised this happened with how the body destabilizes during pregnancy but I’m super frustrated to not be in better shape to take care of my kids.

Has anybody else ever had mid back tingling up and down or more central rather than wrapping around ribs? Any amazing tips/tricks for bulging discs? General insight? Thanks in advance!

Does anybody have a good recommendation for a cooler that will fit 6-8 bottles for daycare? I saw a Stanley brand one at target but it was $100 and I would rather not spend that much!

Also, if you do formula, do your babies get more volume over time? My singleton only ever got breast milk. We just started combo feeding our 4.5 MOs and eventually they will just be on formula. My singleton took a long time to take to solids so let’s just assume if my twins aren’t getting a lot of calories when they first start solids…do they get more formula eventually?

Thanks for any input!

My twins are 12.5/13 lbs and each over 23.” Looking for a carrier to wear them including maybe tandem wearing. I used to be an SB Scout girly but I think with diastasis recti and pelvic floor stuff after twins I might benefit from a waterfall waist. I also do not like X backs. So I’m thinking a Tula is a good bet for me (I’ve used a toddler Tula before and liked it a lot). Should I get a FTG at this point or just go for a standard? We have been using an ergo embrace and ring slings but I am looking for something more structured for now.

Separate question, does anybody know how often hippie joeys restock? I am hoping to get one for very quick ups around the house (I know they are just an assist) but they are sold out of everyyyyything. TIA!

I’m 4.5 mo PP with twins. We’ve been on a journey of EPing and then mostly nursing/some pumping, back into EPing when I went back to work 3 weeks ago. I was doing 6 PPD getting 60-65 oz. Well I have decided to cut back and probably quit because I am tired and it’s hard to be a good mom to my twins and singleton (who I nursed 21 months 🥲) while making/removing this much milk.

I did manage to get down to 4 pumps a day and am probably making more like 45-48 oz a day (I don’t track too closely every day or drive myself crazy). I pump at 2:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

Anybody have advice on getting to three feeds/eventually being done? I want to do it slowly enough to be safe but also confidently because I have been wavering on it basically since they were born.

Unfortunately I find the “take one minute off each pump” advice tough bc I mainly use a handheld Medela! And sometimes an Elvie. But timing isn’t consistent w the Medela, I just go until empty normally (when not cutting back).

Should I do middle of the night pump first? Last? Start shortening all pumps or just one at a time? Today I couldn’t quite make it between morning and afternoon pumps, when that happens should I just remove a bit until I’m supposed to pump?

I was working with an IBCLC who was judgey about formula and so I’m hesitant to seek help from her on this. If anybody has advice I would appreciate it. I’m so scared of some of the physical and emotional side effects I see people experiencing it. Weaning my singleton was painful and we did it soooooo slowly so I am nervous about this but feel it’s time to be done.

Thanks in advance!

Not sure what I’m here for other than solidarity…but anyway I have been EBF (including pumping) my twins since they were born over four months ago. I have decided I need to start adding in some formula because making 65ish oz of breast milk a day is soooo exhausting (and I’m thankful I’m able to). I had a small stomach bug yesterday and I decided to kind of take that momentum of a supply dip and start to wean a bit. My goal for now is to get down to making 30-40 oz a day (or less, if that happens, would be okay too). But good god I feel AWFUL. I weaned my singleton last spring so I know how it sucks but I went sooo slowly with her. I know I should go decently slowly this time but if I go too slow I know I will just keep wavering because I’ve been torn about this forever.

I just feel so anxious/on edge and headachey. And not much appetite yet I’m still making SO MUCH milk that obviously I need food. Ugh. Please send me your strength, I knew it would be hard but just feels worse than I remembered. Do I keep going super slowly and just always feel mildly like shit or just have a few terribly shitty days?

My 14 week old (10 weeks adjusted) has been going throooough something and I cannot tell if it’s reflux, gas, both or neither. She’s alway been pretty fussy but the last week it’s like within a few minutes of eating she almost alway starts scream crying. At night it becomes almost unbearable. Until 9-10 PM when she just stops, goes to sleep, and sleeps fine all night waking once to feed. For naps and overnight she sleeps on her back. But when she’s upset, she’s often arching her back and kicking. She doesn’t spit up a lot, just a little bit so I’m wondering if it’s silent reflux. Her clinic has suggested I eliminate cruciferous vegetables and other gassy foods from my diet. We also use gas drops, I can’t tell if they do anything. And recently started BioGaia probiotics.

She also doesn’t have the best latch, we got a tongue tie release about a month ago and still working on it. Sometimes it seems like my letdown is pretty fast and I can hear air going down but she doesn’t seem upset nursing. In fact a few times recently she has refused a bottle and will only nurse.

It’s really hard to hold her upright 30 min after a feed with her twin sister and older sister in the picture. But an OT we talked to said laying on the left side should help with reflux and it doesn’t seem to help.

As I’m typing this out it I’m realizing maybe things are pointing more toward gas but I try lots of things to get her to fart and even when she does it doesn’t seem like she gets a lot of relief. Same with burping.

Sorry for the ramble! Any thoughts? I can’t switch to a bottl if she won’t take it and tandem feeding is kind of the only sane way to BF both twins, otherwise one is crying hysterically while I feed the other. It’s so sad, we get basically no happy awake time and it’s so hard to bond or even help her reach milestones when she’s just constantly mad 😭

If you successfully strengthened your pelvic floor after childbirth to the point you don’t leak anymore (or leak much less, or whatever your metric for success is) did you stop doing the exercises or are they just part of life forever? I just gave birth to twins and am working so hard at PT for leaking and my DR but I’m so bad at fitting it into my day, even if it only takes 15 min (it’s kind of a mental thing, not that I don’t have 15 minutes but ya know). Just wondering if this is part of life now or you get to a point where you can stop. I imagine it depends somewhat if you do other physical exercise which I hope to resume at some point. It feels like I’m never going to get stronger again so would love to hear from people who have!