You’re in Week 33, mama! Can you believe that you’re just a few short weeks away from meeting your little ones?
By now, you’ve likely been busy preparing the nursery, organizing baby gear, and finalizing your birth plan. But with two new babies on the way, it’s also essential to prepare your family for this big change.
Whether you’re managing excited siblings, doting grandparents, or even curious pets, getting everyone ready for the arrival of twins is key to a smooth transition into twin life.
This week, we’re focusing on Preparing Your Family for Twins—let’s dive into how to get everyone involved and feeling ready for the new additions to your family!
How are you feeling mama?
Twin Pregnancy Symptoms at 33 Weeks
At 33 weeks, you’re probably feeling the physical and emotional weight of carrying twins. Your belly is likely growing rapidly, and you might be experiencing a mix of joy, excitement, and even some exhaustion. It’s common at this stage to feel more tired than usual, and swelling in your feet and hands may increase. Rest whenever you can, and don’t hesitate to ask for help, especially from your family.
Some other symptoms you may experience this week:
- Braxton Hicks contractions: These “practice” contractions may become more frequent. Stay hydrated, and let your care provider know if they become regular or painful.
- Shortness of breath: With your uterus pressing up into your diaphragm, deep breaths may be a challenge. Slow down and take breaks when needed.
- Frequent bathroom trips: Your bladder is under a lot of pressure, so expect more frequent bathroom visits.
Take it easy, mama. You’re in the homestretch, and self-care is critical as you prepare to bring your twins into this world.
What are your twins up to this week?
Your Twins at 33 Weeks – Height & Weight
At 33 weeks, your twins are each around 17 inches long (43 cm) and weigh approximately 4.2 pounds (1.9 kg). They are comparable to the size of pineapples!
Keep in mind that identical twins may be closer in size, while fraternal twins can have more variation in their growth patterns. Some might be slightly bigger or smaller depending on factors like genetics and placental function. As you will be having regular scans now to monitor their growth, your OB/GYN will be able to pick up on any warning signs that it might be time for your babies to arrive early to keep them as safe as possible.
Your Twins’ Fetal Development at 33 Weeks
At 33 weeks, your twins are hitting some exciting new milestones as they prepare for life outside the womb. One of the key developments this week is their breathing practice. Although their lungs aren’t fully mature yet, they are now consistently practicing breathing movements by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid. You might notice rhythmic hiccups, which is a sign that they’re getting ready for those first breaths after birth.
Their digestive systems are also continuing to mature. While they won’t fully function until after birth, your twins are now regularly swallowing amniotic fluid, which helps develop their digestive tracts. Their sucking and swallowing reflexes are improving too, allowing them to practice sucking their thumbs—important skills for feeding once they’re born.
Another major milestone is the development of their pupillary reflexes, which allows their eyes to adjust to light. Though it’s still dark in the womb, their pupils can now constrict and dilate. Combined with their heightened sense of hearing, your twins are now able to recognize your voice and other familiar sounds, making this a great time to talk or sing to them.
Your babies’ bones continue to strengthen, with more calcium being deposited into their skeletons. While their bones are hardening, their skulls remain soft to help them pass through the birth canal. They’re also building up fat reserves, giving them a more filled-out newborn appearance and helping them regulate their body temperature once they’re born.
With each passing week, they’re getting stronger and more ready to meet you!
What you might be wondering about this week
Preparing Your Family for Twins
With twins arriving soon, it’s not just you who needs to get ready—the whole family should be prepared for the big changes coming.
Let’s explore some key things you might want to think about now before your babies arrive.
Preparing Siblings for Twins
Setting Up a Routine for Siblings Before the Twins Arrive
When twins arrive, your family’s routine is going to change drastically, especially in those early weeks. Preparing older siblings with a structured routine before the twins arrive can help them feel secure and keep things running smoothly. Here’s how to approach this:
Establish Consistent Bedtime and Morning Routines: Set up a solid bedtime and wake-up routine that your older kids can follow on their own or with minimal help. This will help them maintain a sense of normalcy once the babies arrive and your attention is divided. Try to make mornings predictable with designated tasks like brushing teeth, picking out clothes, or grabbing breakfast.
Assign Responsibility: Depending on the age of your children, you can start giving them small responsibilities that will help maintain the household’s flow. For example, older children can help set the table for dinner or put their laundry in a basket. These tasks will become more important once you’re busy with the twins.
Explain Upcoming Changes: Start explaining to your older children how the family’s routine might change. For example, “When the babies come, mommy might need to feed them at night, so daddy will read your bedtime story.” Knowing what to expect helps prevent surprises and confusion for your older children.
Routine is comforting, and by laying the groundwork now, you’ll make the transition to life with twins easier for everyone involved.
Sibling Involvement with Twin Care
Including your older children in caring for the twins can help ease the transition. Depending on their age, they can help with simple tasks like bringing diapers, picking out baby clothes, or even gently holding the babies with your supervision.
Making them “big brother” or “big sister helpers” can give them a sense of pride and responsibility. These small acts of involvement will help create strong bonds between siblings early on.
Managing Sibling Jealousy
It’s natural for older siblings to feel a bit jealous when new babies arrive. To help minimize this, make sure to carve out one-on-one time with your older children. Whether it’s reading a bedtime story, going for a walk, or just snuggling on the couch, these moments will reassure them that they’re still important and loved.
Be mindful of their emotions, and encourage them to express how they’re feeling as they adjust to sharing your attention with the twins. It’s a massive adjustment for them, and they will need your guidance and support to help them through it.
Involving Your Partner in Twin Preparation
We will talk more about managing your relationship with twins next week, but it is worth another mention here.
It’s essential to include your partner in the process of preparing for twins. Both parents play key roles in supporting each other, taking care of the babies, and managing the household. Here are some ways to involve your partner:
Discuss Roles and Responsibilities Early: Have an open conversation with your partner about how you’ll divide tasks when the twins arrive. This could include night feeds, diaper changes, taking care of older children, or even meal preparation. Setting expectations ahead of time helps prevent frustration later.
Encourage Partner Participation in Prenatal Appointments: If your partner hasn’t been involved in every prenatal visit, this is a good time to invite them. This gives your partner a chance to ask questions and feel more engaged in the pregnancy, especially as you discuss birth plans or postpartum recovery.
Parenting Classes and Reading: Consider taking parenting classes together or reading up on twin-specific challenges, like tandem breastfeeding, sleep schedules, or handling two newborns. Working through this information together helps both of you feel prepared and on the same page.
Plan for Time Off: Discuss how much time your partner can take off after the babies are born. Whether it’s a few days, weeks, or more, this will be a critical time for bonding with the twins and supporting you through the early recovery period.
By involving your partner now, you’re building a foundation of teamwork that will help you navigate the twin journey together.
Grandparents and Extended Family: Preparing for Twin Life
Grandparents and extended family can be a wonderful source of support during and after your twin pregnancy, but it’s important to set expectations to ensure their help is useful rather than overwhelming. Here’s how you can approach this:
Communicate Your Needs: Let family members know exactly how they can help once the twins arrive. Be specific about what you need—whether it’s meals, childcare for older siblings, or help with household chores. Most family members will be eager to assist but may not know how, so providing guidance ensures they’re helping in ways that truly benefit you.
Set Boundaries for Visits: It’s natural for family members to want to visit right after the twins are born, but you’ll need time to recover and adjust to your new routine. Politely set boundaries around visits, such as requesting short visits, specific visiting hours, or asking for help rather than visitors just wanting to hold the babies. Make sure they understand the need for rest and privacy during the early days.
Prepare Family Members for Double the Baby Care: For grandparents or other relatives who haven’t experienced life with twins, it can be helpful to explain how it differs from caring for one baby. Twins will demand more time and attention, so having an extra set of hands is incredibly valuable.
Plan in Advance: If you’re expecting extended family to help with things like caring for your older children or staying over after the birth, discuss these plans in advance. This helps everyone know what to expect and ensures the support aligns with your postpartum needs.
Setting clear expectations with your extended family ensures you get the support you need while maintaining your personal space and boundaries.
Keeping Balance with Family Dynamics
Maintaining balance in your family dynamics is crucial, especially as you prepare to add two new babies to the mix. This can feel like juggling at times, but it’s possible to keep things running smoothly with some preparation.
Preserving Family Traditions: Whether it’s weekly pizza nights, movie marathons, or Saturday morning pancakes, keeping up with your family traditions can provide your older children with a sense of stability. While it might be tempting to press pause on certain activities once the twins arrive, try to continue these traditions even if you have to adjust the timing or scale them back a bit. This helps older children feel that some things are still “normal.”
Being Flexible: Balancing new babies with the needs of older siblings will require flexibility on everyone’s part. Talk with your partner about which routines you can modify and which ones need to stay the same to maintain a sense of normalcy. It’s okay if things don’t always go according to plan—being adaptable is part of family life with twins!
Communicating Openly: Keep lines of communication open with your partner and older children. Let them know that while the babies will need a lot of attention, their needs and feelings are still important. Regular family check-ins, where everyone can express how they’re feeling or any concerns they have, can help keep the family dynamic positive and balanced.
By maintaining some consistency in your routines and being flexible where needed, you’ll help everyone feel supported during this big transition.
Managing Pets and Twins
If you have pets, it’s important to prepare them for the arrival of the twins, too! Pets can be sensitive to changes in routine, and they may need time to adjust to the new dynamic.
Start Adjusting Routines Early: Before the twins are born, try to gradually shift your pet’s routine to what it will look like after the babies arrive. For example, if you know you’ll be feeding or walking them at different times, start making those changes now so they don’t feel like everything is happening all at once when the babies come home.
Introducing the Twins: When you first bring the babies home, introduce your pets to them in a calm, supervised way. Let your pet sniff baby blankets or clothes to get used to the babies’ scent before they meet in person. When they do meet, keep the interaction short and positive, offering your pet praise or a treat to reinforce good behavior.
Maintaining Pet Care: It can be easy to overlook your pet’s needs when you’re juggling two newborns, but maintaining their feeding, walking, and playtime schedule is important for their well-being. If possible, enlist help from family or friends to keep up with these routines so your pet doesn’t feel neglected.
With some preparation and patience, your pets can adjust to the new family members and coexist peacefully with your twins.
Wrapping Up Week 33: You’ve Got This, Mama!
Preparing your family for the arrival of twins involves some thoughtful planning and open conversations with your partner, older children, and extended family.
With everyone on board, this exciting new chapter can start off on the right foot. Remember, the love and support of your family will be invaluable in the coming weeks, and while things may feel chaotic at times, you’re building a strong foundation for a happy, healthy family dynamic.
Take it one day at a time, get your rest, and continue savoring these last few weeks before your beautiful twins make their debut!
Take care and much love.
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