Twins 101 E-Book

Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Ratgeber
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2008

Beschreibung

"A must-read for expectant or multitasking mothers of multiples by an academic pediatrician and mother of twins, Twins 101 provides practical tips and wise words in a readable style that fits into the fast pace of these mothers’ lives."
— Theodore Sectish, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; program director, Children’s Hospital Boston

Dr. Le-Bucklin's new parenting book is the first by a pediatrician who is also a mother of twins. No other pregnancy and parenting book for multiples offers this unique and much-needed perspective.

Twins 101 features practical advice and well-researched information in an easy-to-read format. From maintaining a healthy twin pregnancy to meeting the daily challenge of caring for twins, Twin 101 guides families through each stage with insightful tips, practical advice, useful resources, and inspirational stories.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Praise

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Why I Wrote This Book

How This Book Works

What Is My Background

CHAPTER 1 - Pregnancy

#1: Congratulate Yourself and Celebrate!

#2: Remember You Are Not Alone

#3: Don’t Worry About All the Horror Stories

#4: Find Out If Your Twins Are Identical or Fraternal

#5: Take Steps Early to Know If Your Twins Share a Placenta

#6: Get the Results of Every Test You Undergo

#7: Tell Your Doctor What You Fear the Most

#8: Build an Experienced Medical Team

#9: Lie Down on Your Side as Much as Possible

#10: Negotiate a Long Maternity Leave

#11: Let Your Own Home Get Messy, But Keep Your Baby’s Home Sparkling Clean

#12: Don’t Go on a Diet

#13: Bond with Your Unborn Babies

#14: Keep a Pregnancy Journal

#15: Remember That Humor Can Help Overcome All Obstacles

CHAPTER 2 - Delivery

#16: Ask About Delivery Options Early

#17: Be Alert for the Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Labor

#18: Don’t Worry About Having a Picture-Perfect Delivery

#19: Take Lots of Pictures

#20: Ask for a Private Room

CHAPTER 3 - The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

#21: Visit the NICU During Your Second Trimester

#22: Learn Some NICU Lingo

#23: Feel Free to Cry

#24: Remember These Are Still Your Beautiful Babies

#25: Cuddle Like a Kangaroo

#26: Find Out the Benchmarks for Going Home

CHAPTER 4 - Sensible Shopping

#27: You Don’t Have to Buy Two of Everything

#28: Pace, Not Waste

#29: Look for Bargains

#30: Shop Online If You Can’t Go Out

#31: Put Safety First

CHAPTER 5 - Staying Organized

#32: Be Sure You Can Tell Your Twins Apart

#33: Maintain a “Twin-Driven” Schedule

#34: Keep a Separate Journal for Each Baby

CHAPTER 6 - Feeding and Dressing Twins

#35: Be Open to Different Nursing Techniques

#36: Feed Solids That Are Convenient and Developmentally Appropriate

#37: Dress Them Alike If You Want To

#38: Consider Going Green

CHAPTER 7 - Sleep (or Lack Thereof )

#39: Divide and Conquer

#40: Snuggle Them Close, But Snuggle Them Safely

#41: Teach Healthy Sleep Habits

CHAPTER 8 - Crucial Survival Tip

#42: Make Doctor Visits Productive for You and Your Babies

#43: Get All the Help You Can

#44: Don’t Let Crying Stress You Out

#45: Aim for Fairness, Not Equality

#46: Make Time for Talk

#47: Make Time for Play

#48: Don’t Forget the Older Siblings

#49: Make Time for Yourselves

#50: Share Your Experience with Novice Mothers of Twins

RESOURCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

INDEX

More Praise forTwins 101

“When I found I was having twins, I searched for books that would be able to give me research- and experiential-based information, and there was nothing out there until Twins 101.”

—Eileen Andrade Kitching, M.S., C.C.L.S., child life director, University of California, Irvine; mother of twins

“Twins 101 is filled with practical advice and insights that will be welcome reading for all parents expecting or raising twins.”

—Henry Lee, M.D., neonatologist, Stanford University

“This book contains high-yield, easy-to-read tips, making it convenient for busy, on-the-go parents of multiples. Dr. Le-Bucklin demystifies the NICU and familiarizes readers with medical jargon that can be overwhelming to new parents. Nobody could have been better qualified to write this book than Dr. Le-Bucklin as a pediatrician and an amazing M.O.M.”

—Henry J. Legere III, M.D., Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston; pediatrician and author, Raising Healthy Eaters: 100 Tips for Parents

“This is a fantastic reference for any parent who has twins or multiples. This book provides exceptional insight for parents of twins that can relieve stress and anxiety in a fast-paced life.”

—Eric D. Schultz, D.O., M.P.H., pediatrician, Duke University Medical Center

Copyright © 2009 by Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin. All rights reserved.

Published by Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint 989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741—www.josseybass.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978-750-8400, fax [phone], or on the Web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201-748-6011, fax [phone], or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Readers should be aware that Internet Web sites offered as citations and/or sources for further information may have changed or disappeared between the time this was written and when it is read.

Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

The anecdotes in this book are based on the clinical experience and research of the author. To protect confidentiality, some of the names and identifying characteristics have been changed or represent composite identities.

Jossey-Bass books and products are available through most bookstores. To contact Jossey-Bass directly call our Customer Care Department within the U.S. at 800-956-7739, outside the U.S. at 317-572-3986, or fax [phone].

Jossey-Bass also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books.

eISBN : 978-0-470-44742-0

To all the mothers who have guided me on my parenting journeyand to all the mothers of twins to come.May this book connect us as parents of multiples.May the priceless wisdom of veteran mothers find its wayto blessed new mothers through this book.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Writing this book has been much like raising twins: at once challenging and thrilling. In the end, you know you have achieved something unique and wonderful. And you realize that you could not have accomplished any of it without the help of so many generous supporters along the way.

First, I thank all the mothers who have so kindly and graciously guided me through my ongoing journey as a mother of twins. I could not have written this book without their insight and wisdom.

My deep appreciation to Alan Rinzler, executive editor at Jossey-Bass, for being such an amazing literary mentor and believing in me as a writer. Alan, I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with you! Thank you to publisher, Paul Foster, for his support of this book. Thank you to all the staff at Jossey-Bass who helped with the editing, production, and marketing of this book, including Nana Twumasi, Beverly Miller, Carol Hartland, Jennifer Wenzel, Jeff Puda, Beverly Butterfield, Paula Goldstein, Sophia Ho, Michael Onorato, and Susan Geraghty. Thanks to Shii McDuff for taking photographs for the book.

Special thanks to Kimberly Douglas, Angela Sun, and Anh Tran for their insightful quotes and tips. Thanks to Alan Greene, Cheryl Greene, and Elise Proulx for paving the way for me to write this book.

I want to acknowledge the chair of my department at the University of California, Irvine, Feizal Waffarn, for his support, especially during my pregnancy. Thank you to Donna Peach, Margaret Zimmerman, Brinda Singh, Carla Busto, Carolyn Moser, Jodi Richardson, Kirat Malhi, and Jennifer Lai for keeping the residency running smoothly during my pregnancy and thereafter.

Thank you to Bich-Van Tran, Manuel Porto, Deborah Wing, Jack Sills, and Cherry Uy for providing exceptional medical care to me and my twin daughters, Faith and Hope. Thank you to all the nurses and other great doctors at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center who forever touched our lives with their kindness and brilliant clinical expertise.

I am deeply grateful to all our relatives and friends for their support, prayers, cooked meals, and free babysitting. Special thanks to my siblings and their spouses—Anh-Tuan Le, Linhsan Le, Jessica Le, Luke Dalfiume, Anne Le, Hong-Van Le, Jason Tuffs, Tasha Le, and Gustavo Delgado—for being like second parents to our children.

Thank you to Langdon and Rose Bucklin for their love, humor, and support. Thank you to my father, Tung Van Le, for giving me a passion for science and for always encouraging me to pursue my dreams. My wholehearted appreciation to my mother, Ngoc-Dieu Nguyen, for her steadfast love and immeasurable generosity in caring for me and my children.

A heartfelt thanks to my dear husband, Chris, who has been not only the love of my life but also a true friend and wonderful partner in parenthood. To my lovely children Hannah, Faith, and Hope, thank you for your never-ending smiles, hugs, and patience. You are the most amazing children, and I thank God every day for you.

Faith and Hope, your mere existence is a miracle. You are such survivors! You remind me that anything is possible with faith and hope. I love being a mother to you, and I am truly “doubly blessed” by you. Thank you for being the inspiration for this book.

Khanh-Van Le-Bucklin October 2008

INTRODUCTION

On a sunny February afternoon in Orange County, California, I decide to entrust my children, a pair of seven-month-old twin girls and their three-year-old sister, to their father while I take a break—a short drive to the local department store on a quest to replenish our dwindling supply of baby wipes and diapers.