Page 30 - What to Expect

During your stay

Sometimes you may see someone else’s baby move from an incubator to a
cot, or drink more milk, or come off all the wires and tubes, or be breast-fed
or bottle-fed before yours. Don’t get too worried or depressed that your
baby isn’t keeping up with the others.

It is a difficult time for you. Remember that every baby is an individual and
will do things at his or her own pace, even if your baby is twice the size of a
baby who seems to be having a dream run.

More than one - multiples

Having more than one baby at a time can be hectic at the best of times,
but having both in the Unit can give parents twice the stress.

Most twins are kept in the same room together but every now and then
they may have to be separated in different rooms. Sometimes one twin
may even be able to go home, or to your local hospital if you are from out-
of-town, before his siblings.

It is possible to successfully breast-feed premature twins. You may like to
discuss this option with your midwife, your babies’ nurse or someone from
the Multiple Birth Group who has breast-fed twins.

Call free on 0800 489 467 (0800 4TWINS) to contact your local Multiple
Birth Club.

Feeding your baby

How do I go about breast-feeding?

If you have heard a rumour that you won’t be able to keep whatever milk
you may have because you have had a baby early, forget it. If you know
you are going to have your baby early, talk to the midwives to organise the
use of a pump and begin expressing breast milk soon after you have had
your baby. If you don’t have the opportunity to do this, talk to the midwife
about breast-feeding and expressing as soon as possible after the birth of
your baby.

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