Managing Solo: Juggling Multiples Alone

In the early days, we hope you have some extra help around the house. Your partner, mom, or postpartum doula can help position babies for breastfeeding, and can help with burping, rocking, and of course, diaper changes. But chances are, at some point you’ll need to manage both babies by yourself.

Here are some tips:

Make yourself a nursing nest.  Bring together everything you might need for a long stretch of sitting with nursing babies. Have snacks, water, your phone, the TV remote, and anything else you might need nearby.  Make your nursing nest comfortable.  This may mean taking up residence on the couch, in bed, or even on the floor with lots of pillows for support.  Pick someplace where you will be comfortable and will have plenty of room to spread out. (This is a real mama’s nursing nest – she has a spot for each baby, her nursing pillow, water, and the phone and laptop within reach.)

Create safe spaces to rest babies while you are getting settled for breastfeeding. When they are younger and not yet rolling, placing them in the middle of the bed or in the back corner of the couch briefly may be sufficient.  As they get older, you may want to use infant lounger pillows or bouncy chairs to hold the babies as you get settled with your breastfeeding pillow, and again when you’re finished.  Both help keep the babies a bit upright after feeding, which may be helpful for some babies with gas or reflux.

If possible, make the transition gradual. This may mean your partner starts out back to work part time for a few days before going back to a regular schedule, or that your mom comes by in the afternoons to lend a hand for a while.  It’s helpful to know you have backup coming when you feel overwhelmed.  Once you’ve managed alone for a little while, you’ll have the confidence to handle longer stretches.

Finally, take things one day – or one hour – at a time.  It can seem overwhelming to care for your newborns alone, but you will make it!  Be gentle with yourself.  If possible, leave house cleaning, dishes, laundry or errands to handle when you have extra hands – especially at first.  Before you know it, you’ll be up and around with your babies like a pro!