Can anyone recommend a really good twins book and / or general early days book?

[Nancy54]

Well, just what the title says really! I'm pregnant with twins, they're my first, i'm really excited but have no idea what to expect! I'm sure whatever i read will prob go out of the window once they come but i'd like to try and prepare anyway! :)

Congratulations
To be honest I would just post any questions on here or the TAMBA forums. Or just have a good read of the threads. I didnt read any twin books specifically but plenty of baby books and didnt like any of them.

Someone else may be along who found a good one though.

I found the Jo Tantum book really good. I also tried Baby Whisperer and Gina Ford but didn't find these as good!
As muckingfuddlesays, your best bet is probably forums, though.
Congratulations

hey, thanks. i'll have a look at that one then!

Yes i think the forums are gonna be my lifeline!!! Thank god for the internet!!!

Congrats But just a little bit of advice - read all you can before they arrive. You'll never have time afterwards.

Carol Cooper - Twins & Multiple Births was good when I was expecting triplets.

yeah everyone keeps telling me i won't have time to sneeze!

If there's one piece of advice I'd give, it's never to take any advice of ny sort from anyone who hasn't had twins!!
It is tiring but it's also doubly wonderful. We are the lucky ones x

ah thanks jumblejam, it is really exciting actually, feels really special to be having twins!!! albeit a little scary!!!

it's true that lots of people, none of whom have twins, are telling what i MUST / MUST NOT do, how tired i'll be etc....

You'll be fine. Our twins are the best thing that ever happened to me.
Just relax and try not to stress. You'll be all the better for being calm. Don't listen to scare stories, just chill.

Haha jumblejam - I think talking to other parents of twins on Forums has kept me sane. We dont have a Multiples group in our area but it is worth looking for one in yours Nancy.

Try Looking at William sears. Good advice. Not twin specific but I really rate his approach.

i'm gonna get on amazon and have a preview read of some of these.

Fuddle i live in France and hadn't even thought that there might be a multiples group in this town (don't know why!!!) but on your suggestion, i did a quick search and found one! so thanks! Good way to meet other mums too i imagine.

I'm also a fan of William Sears but I know its not everyone's cup of tea!

The most helpful advice I got was, erm, reading through these threads as everyone has actually had twins.

I second Dr Carol Cooper, and also Gina Ford. TAMBA have a number of publications you can download from their site such as how to feed multiples. But I learnt most from my local twin group mums, we are in constant email contact and meet up regularly to share tips/moan/ask 'is this normal' etc. If you happen to come to the UK before the birth its worth attending a TAMBA evening seminar or all day ante natal course.

Karen Gromada Mothering Multiples - absolutely brilliant and I even packed it in my hospital bag so I had it with me in the first few days.

'Mothering Multiples' is great, as rednellie says.

I heard some negative comments about Gina Ford but have to say her routines etc works wonders for my boys, I bought Contented House With Twins, Weaning and the First Year ha!

I read Dr Carol Cooper Twins & Multiple Births book, thought it was great. Even though I already had 3 boys to find out you're expecting twins was quite daunting. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking how do you feed two babies! My best advice to anyone is read everything but remember that your babies haven't!!

I liked Double Trouble: Twins and How to Survive Them ; not so much for advice but amusing and cheerful. And it repeatedly told me that I was amazing. The other book I had was Gina Fords twin book, I didn't follow it, but (except for the extra night feed) my routine was much the same. Since the point of GF seems to be reduced night feeding, I guess GF doesn't work, but good if you need an idea for routines, and the Alice Beer bits were good preparation.

If you're interested in Gina Ford get the book now because it's not the easiest to follow if you're a bit sleep deprived! It's not my fav. book but others have got on well with it I know. I'd recommend anything by Harvey Karp - not twin specific but he has some killer methods for soothing crying babies including ones that work without needing hands like putting them in a swing.

And don't listen to a word that anyone says unless they've got multiples themselves. The best advice I've had has been from twin mums and it's a relief to know that I'm not the only one who's not bathing the guys every day and things like that.

Nancy - are you a member of Message? I have lived here for over 3 years but just joined when I got pregnant (twins due October). They have a Paris twins group that meets centrally which I hope to get to at some point, and may have members with twins in your area too. Also, there is Jumeaux Et + which may be able to put you in touch with other twin mums. They negotiate discounts too.

hey thereistheball , no not a member of "Message" what is it? A twins ass?
I have joined jumeaux et plus , we're going to a réunion d'information in august so i'm hoping we'll meet some other twin parents or parents to be then!

No, it's an association for English-speaking families in France. It started out as a mothers' group in Paris, I think, but has grown and now has 2000+ members. I am finding their forum helpful. www.messageparis.org/public_website/