Knowledge | The Challenges of Life With Twins: Maureen Downey's Story
Maureen Downey and her husband Bo Emerson welcomed twins Rebecca and Joey through in vitro fertilization (IVF) 10 years ago. The Decatur, Georgia, couple already had two children conceived naturally, but Maureen experienced several miscarriages while trying for a third child, and they ultimately chose IVF. Maureen was 42 at the time, and two embryos were transferred. Although they were not specifically seeking twins, they were excited by the possibility.
Downey recalled her experience in an interview with WebMD:
“I very much hoped both embryos would implant and was delighted by the prospect of twins. I did not specifically ask for two, nor did I assume we would have twins.”
“If you have no children and this is your only chance, I completely understand why people are interested in twins. For us, though, this was going to be our third child and our goal was three children, so we were not specifically trying for twins.”
Downey's pregnancy was relatively uncomplicated and did not require bed rest, but she stopped working earlier than during her two singleton pregnancies and experienced new symptoms, including heartburn and various aches. She described the final six weeks of the twin pregnancy as “extremely difficult and exhausting.”
Rebecca and Joey were born near term at 39 weeks by planned cesarean delivery. Recovery, however, did not go as expected. Downey's uterus did not contract normally, causing severe blood loss. “I lost about one-third of my blood and went home feeling very weak and anemic.”
“It took a full year to regain my energy and strength.”
Before the twins were born, Downey and Emerson had carefully prepared the nursery, but on their first night home from the hospital they realized they were not prepared enough. “They went through so many little outfits that night, either wetting them or spitting up. We had to pull new clothes out of boxes and cut off the tags.”
The experience showed Downey how difficult raising twins could be, especially without extra help. “That first year is a complete blur, partly because we had no help, and partly because of the challenges of postpartum recovery and breastfeeding.”
“I like chaos. If your idea of the perfect family is one child, twins can be a major adjustment because they are like a tiny traveling circus.”
“They are noisy and active, and everything becomes more complicated. Taking two babies to the grocery store, securing both in their car seats, and making sure they are both in the car—it is all difficult.”
Despite the challenges, Downey and her husband became accustomed to the noise. They also noticed that friends with only one child often found the sound level in their home uncomfortable.
Knowledge | The Challenges of Life With Twins: Maureen Downey's Story
Knowledge | The Challenges of Life With Twins: Maureen Downey's Story
Maureen Downey and her husband Bo Emerson welcomed twins Rebecca and Joey through in vitro fertilization (IVF) 10 years ago. The Decatur, Georgia, couple already had two children conceived naturally, but Maureen experienced several miscarriages while trying for a third child, and they ultimately chose IVF. Maureen was 42 at the time, and two embryos were transferred. Although they were not specifically seeking twins, they were excited by the possibility.
Downey recalled her experience in an interview with WebMD:
“I very much hoped both embryos would implant and was delighted by the prospect of twins. I did not specifically ask for two, nor did I assume we would have twins.”
“If you have no children and this is your only chance, I completely understand why people are interested in twins. For us, though, this was going to be our third child and our goal was three children, so we were not specifically trying for twins.”
Downey's pregnancy was relatively uncomplicated and did not require bed rest, but she stopped working earlier than during her two singleton pregnancies and experienced new symptoms, including heartburn and various aches. She described the final six weeks of the twin pregnancy as “extremely difficult and exhausting.”
Rebecca and Joey were born near term at 39 weeks by planned cesarean delivery. Recovery, however, did not go as expected. Downey's uterus did not contract normally, causing severe blood loss. “I lost about one-third of my blood and went home feeling very weak and anemic.”
“It took a full year to regain my energy and strength.”
Before the twins were born, Downey and Emerson had carefully prepared the nursery, but on their first night home from the hospital they realized they were not prepared enough. “They went through so many little outfits that night, either wetting them or spitting up. We had to pull new clothes out of boxes and cut off the tags.”
The experience showed Downey how difficult raising twins could be, especially without extra help. “That first year is a complete blur, partly because we had no help, and partly because of the challenges of postpartum recovery and breastfeeding.”
“I like chaos. If your idea of the perfect family is one child, twins can be a major adjustment because they are like a tiny traveling circus.”
“They are noisy and active, and everything becomes more complicated. Taking two babies to the grocery store, securing both in their car seats, and making sure they are both in the car—it is all difficult.”
Despite the challenges, Downey and her husband became accustomed to the noise. They also noticed that friends with only one child often found the sound level in their home uncomfortable.
Story source:
Collected online